Review: Black Shadow Terminator 4*U3/4*18650

I want to see a Terminator vs TM26. U3 vs U3 of course.

Needless to say, the winner has my business.

tm26 is u2 - honestly i would think you could only tell the difference side by side… and maybe not even then since they both put out gobs of light

i bought from illumination supply… they are out of stock but if you buy from them and use the code blackshadow its the best price in the us right now… edit - whoops - you might want to try doing outdoor - they are selling a u3 version for even cheaper (since you are in the Philippines )

other than lumen output there is no way to tell other than asking blackshadow to check the serial number and the vendor you bought it from

Oh, I had no idea, I don’t know why I presumed it was U3, cheers for the info. I’d still love to see em go head to head.

Actually, I already have two terminators that I got from doingoutdoor and they say it’s U2. I was just hoping mine was a mis-labelled U3.

Could you please PM me that email add of blackshadow? I feel that I have to know which one I got so I’ll ask them.

If you don’t mind me asking, when did you order yours and what color screws does yours have?

I ordered mine Feb. 18 and the screws are black/grey. It’s the U2 version according to doingoutdoor.

4 left for U3, it is fast. I remember it started from 20?

Hmmm. Any owners have problems with the switch yet? I know a friend who purchased the terminator, after a few days the switch failed. He put it down to poor/flimsy design. I’m wondering if he had a bad apple or wether the switch could be poorly constructed.

Do you have a Fenix TK75?

there you go. :slight_smile:

Don’t get a chance to read this forum much but every time I do the result is me buying a new light! I’m ready now to throw down for a new “super light” So the question is BW Terminator 3C NW, Terminator U3 or Fenix TK75? Price is only about $23 more for the TK 75 ($157.99 for the TK75@ HK Equip.with coupon code) So for me they’re both in the same ball park on price. I’m no expert here so I’d like to find out some opinions from anyone here who would be kind enough to offer any input to help with my decision.

My use would be a portable light for bug out and for home security to scan my 2 1/2 acre yard that has nearly no trees (I can view the whole area from the house), my longest range light currently is an HD2010, but I’d like to have something with more flood to it. Also the HD2010 has a mind of its own and sometimes doesn’t turn on at first, which renders it pretty much useless for my purpose. So I need something more reliable too.

I also have another concern: The tint, NW IMO is better to see with outdoors compared to CW, with the NW I can see an object better. The CW seems to be so white in the center it kinda slightly blinds me from seeing the object. So I’m wondering if I would be happy with the brightness of a NW Terminator since it would be less bright than the U3 (I don’t think the TK75 is available in NW?) or should I just go for the U3 for sheer power factor?

Don’t have the terminator but I friend of mine did, and had to send it back as after a few days the switch failed. It may have just been a bad apple which can happen in any line of product, but he has a lot of experience with flashlights and I can’t help but wonder. One thing you may want to consider is which one would last longer. The TK75 has a 2 year warrenty and is very well designed, nothing fancy but the machining and balance of weight and feel in hand is, well, superior Fenix quality. Everything about it seems solid and looks built to last. The tint is interesting, it is a little green at the lower levels, but on high and turbo it seems to change to more of a creamy white tint which isn’t at all too bad on the eyes. Not NW, but nice all the same. Spill is bright and almost as wide as my J18, which I feel I have no use for now I have the TK75, and you know the TK75 will out-throw the competition.

So based on my personal experience, it’s obvious which light I would recommend. Not trying to dish anyone here, just my opinion of course. If I had to choose a high quality, do it all in one multi-emitter light again I know my money’s safe on the TK75.

You’re a flashaholoc indeed and there’s now way my terminator can beat your pair of 55-watt HIDs. :slight_smile:

I was able put my BS Terminator to real test recently during the search and rescue activities here in my work area (Leyte landslide last March 1) and I found out that the beam of my BST cannot penetrate thick fog and rain pretty well. Yes my BST is far brighter than my K40 or BC40 or X10 but the landslide area is located in a forested and hilly area where rain and fog is prevalent. At night and under these conditions, the BST can illuminate up to maybe 60 meters away but I can no longer see 300 meters below the ravine or whether there are still boulders at risk of falling at the cliff 100 meters above. Of course without the fog and the rain the BST performs well, but I think I need something brighter to suit my needs. :weary:

Thanks for your input JR, since my post I have done a bit more research that has me leaning greatly towards the Terminator. I do agree with you on the benefit that Fenix is a more respected brand that has been around longer and also the 2 year warranty is great. However I’m starting to think I like the form factor of the Term over the TK, I really like the “lantern” style carry handle. With how fat the battery tube is on the TK Fenix should offer a detachable (Terminator style) handle, I feel that would be a great accessory for that light, it could even be made of a composite material. More on the size issue I now see the Term is much smaller than the TK making it much more portable and therefore more versatile. Also as far as the quality, even though one buyer reported a bad switch, from what I’ve read here the Term is quite well made.

After seeing both in the same photo (What you got today #4362) for size (and now price) comparison IMO it really pretty much puts them in a different class from each other. Price wise the Term is starting to look like it is more budget priced than I originally thought, I have found one (a U3) for a really great price (pre-order) that is hard to pass up. Although the TK may now be something I’ll be keeping an eye on for a future purchase, I think I’m going to pull the trigger on a Terminator U3.

No worries, I like the design of the Terminator as well. You wouldn’t want to add a handle to the TK75 though, the balance, ridging on the body tube and weight makes it feel great in hand. I was lucky as I got to play around with a lot of these multi-emitter lights in store before choosing, but I missed out on the terminator as they didn’t have stock. I originally narrowed the field down to the Sunwayman T60CS or jetbeam RRT3 XML, but was really impressed with the TK75 and ended up paying through the nose for it (almost $300):

I’m hearing you on the budget and yes they are different kinds of multi emitter lights. Anyway, sounds like you’re set. Might as well get both in the long run. :wink:

What is the length of the screw of the lanyard attachment or the depth of the lanyard attachment hole?
What is the maximum length of a screw that can be accommodated?
In case people look for alternative mounts or attachments with 1/4” screw threads.

Good review,I saw a similar flashlight,EYE40, we can go to compare with this one.
there is the link:
http://stores.ebay.com/Thrunite-Flashlight/EYE40-/\_i.html?\_fsub=4013801012&\_sid=1127024652&\_trksid=p4634.c0.m322

You excelent review was the major reason for my choosing the Dark Shadow Terminator as my first new light in about a year. I paid just a little more for this light than I did for my beloved Olight M3x and Fenix TK41 lights. Not cheap but a great buy when compared with other lights in it’s class. I’m really impressed with this light. I will see how I feel after a month or two when the newness wears off.
I argee with you on the little green light on the button being quite brite. It does light up the room at night and makes a great night light. I was a little concerned when I first put the batteries in as the green LED in the button was only lighting up one side of the button but after I called Going Gear, they checked another Terminator and found it was the same. Great review and great light.

Just checked mine and yep only one side lights up,hadn’t noticed that before lol.Doesen’t bother me in the least,i have also gotten used to the handle,.

Yes one fatal (or minor) flaw is the green button! It not only is distracting, the button does not light up evenly but brighter on the side with the LED! Didn’t pry open and see, probably it’s two LEDs, one red one green side by side.

But the LED helps in that every time I don’t use the light, I would know how much turn I need to lock out the light.