REVIEW: Imalent DDT40 - 2016v. (4x XM-L2 U4 + side leds 2x XP-L , 4x18650)

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First impressions:
Shipped from: Imalent http://www.imalent.com/flashlight/LED/D-series/DDT40_2016VERSION\_\_39_39.html

It’s arrived in a safe cardboard box, figuring some basics info about its specifications.
This is the biggest flashlight produced by Imalent.
This manufacturer is well known for adding a display in most of its line of products , maybe a strange feature still not implemented by others, but which is still attracting many new users….flashlight enthusiasts like us!

At first glance it’s big, no… wait…it’s small.
In reality it’s big and small at the same time! Really short with only 14cm height/lenght but quite fat to allocate 4 side by side XM-L2 U4 leds and 4x 18650 batteries in parallel.

There are some tangible improvements over the 2015 version:
A - has memory function
B - side flood lights can be turned on one by one, not always both on
C - reliability is much better than before
D – make use of new XM-L2 U4 leds, side lights are warm white, better for camping















Modes , display and estimated lumens:
Switch type: ELECTRONIC
There are infinite levels of brightness, all selectable using the oled display and the + and – touch panels that are “capacitive buttons”, no click, no press. They are like the touch buttons you can find below any android display (back, home,menu… )

A nice (and quite rare to find on other flashlight) feature of this Imalent product, is the utilization of a display (Oled technology) that’s ready to point out many informations:
1 – lumens level
2 – voltage of battery
3 – digital compass
4 – temperature
5 – residue runtime

To see each info you have to press the RIGHT SIDE “electronic” switch (near the side xp-l led), at every press you see next info, in infinite circle. NONE ACTION/function on long press.

Of course there are hidden modes like SROBO, BEACON and SOS.

To activate each one mode (in this sequence) you simply have to press the LEFT SIDE “electronic” switch (near the left side xp-l led) for more than 0,5 second, and there is STROBO mode, another 0,5 sec press…. BEACON mode, another 0,5 sec press… SOS and so on on infinite circle.

BUT, WHAT ABOUT THE ACTIVATION OF THE 2 SIDE FLOOD LIGHTS ??
It’s easy, simply use the same LEFT SIDE switch, just press/click it normally and the leds are activaded in this precise sequence:
4 front leds ON – right side led ON – left side led ON – both side leds ON

PRECISATION: you CAN’T use all 6 leds ON at the same time!

I’m not able to estimate the real lumens of this flashlight, on such huge lumens numbers is really difficult to understand it, but for what i can see i think it’s really a 4200lumens (4 front leds) monster.

OK, BUT HOW TO TURN ON AND OFF?
In the lower part of the flashlight (near the tripod hole), from the opposite side of the display there is a clicky electronic switch what allows to turn on the flashlight with 1 click, but while leds are on you have to long press it to turn it off.
WHY?
If you simply click the power switch while other leds are on, you enter into a LOCK MODE, deactivating the display and the capacitive buttons.
Wow…… i feel like scientist after all this explanations, but don’t worry… after you get used to this and you try all this in your hands…. It will be easyer than reading it!!!

>>LIGHT >>> The angle of refraction:

Weight and dimensions measurements (made myself, not by specs):
This flashlight weighs precisely 380 gr
Height 14,1 cm
Diameter 5 cm
Head diameter 6,5 cm

Construction quality:
I’m really impressed by the futuristic design used with this flashlight, everything is well machined and the anodization seems of very high quality.
As you can see the cooling fins are not soo deep as you could expect from an high-powered flashlight, but anyway i did’t experience any extreme trouble related to the excessive heat produced by 4 front leds.
Fins often add significant surface area and can aid in cooling, and they require air flow to perform better, but IMALENT focused on keeping the overall greatness to the smallest possible, infact it’s one of the smallest flashlight “over 4000lm” in the market… KEEPING IN MIND the additional internal space required my electronic to include 2x XP-L leds, the oled display and a charging port hole.

Differently from the 2015 version, the new one adopts the same flat back base which allows for a nice tailstand capability, BUT uses a refreshed design with nice embossing labeling… showing “ DDT40 IMALENT shark series”, while the old 2015 used a simple smooth flat base (with no labels).

Last but not least important, the feeling with the 2 lateral rubber electronic switch is calibrated to be not too much tough or tender on the finger pressure.

Lanyard hole: NOT PRESENT
There is a threaded hole for tripod mount 1/4”

Threads came FULLY GREASED and i appreciated it.


























Led Tint, reflector and lense:
The 4 leds are well centered and their tint is COLD white, while the 2 side leds tint is a very pleasing WARM white, perfect for camping situations
Reflector made of: SMOOTH – ALUMINUM
Lense made of: GLASS with anti-reflective coating







Outside beamshot at 25 meters, only at FULL power (same place for all my reviews)
(1GIF)

Wall beamshot at 250 centimeters, from lower to higher power (same place for all my reviews)

Ceiling bounce test with LUXmeter:


PROS:

- UNIQUE: helpful oled display + capacitive buttons

- strong light output… so many lumens

- 2 side flood leds… a nice addition

- sold at a fair price

- tripod mount is possible

- usable with only one 18650 in emergencies

  • built in charging port

CONS:

- a little heavy, but it’s normal

  • i can’t find anything else at the moment

Final thoughts and why you should buy it:
It’s not the classic “cheap” flashlight to advise your mom and dad… neither your friends that are far away from the strange and misunderstood world of the flashlight ENTHUSIASTS !!! (they could never understand how much nice it is)
But….if you’re reading this review i’m pretty sure you are that kind of person that CAN buy this flashlight !! (or at least desire to do so)

I appreciated the overall construction quality and the passion involved in the production of this little piece of art by IMALENT, they didn’t just created a flashlight with massive output and stop….that’s all.
There’s much more here, capacitive buttons, display, charging port, side flood lights, therefore there isn’t just ONE reason to buy it … but a BUNCH of reasons to do it!

If you have the money to purchase it, even if Christmast is just passed…… DONATE A GIFT TO YOURSELF :wink:

Thanks for reading……
….and if you notice some bad written phrases, feel free to correct me suggesting the right way to write it!! :slight_smile:

Thank you very much for the thorough review and excellent pictures. I hope you’ll decide to update the review with some wide-open space outdoor beamshots.

Your English, by the way, is better than I see on my local Craigslist most of the time… Dave

yes… i will add the outdoor pictures as soon as possible!

Thanks! It’s awesome that they gave the light mode memory on the main emitters. I didn’t like that it always started out on maximum last time.

yes, i confirm it ….nice feature

Very cool. I think it would be sweet to have side area lights like that, but I definitely can’t afford one of these. Looks like I need to find a host to drill some holes in….

I don’t like the capacitive buttons though. I usually keep my fingers on the button as I walk around. With this light, I’d be constantly making unintended changes

from the review: “If you simply click the power switch while other leds are on, you enter into a LOCK MODE, deactivating the display and the capacitive buttons.”

but even if you forget to press the lock button… just after some seconds… maybe 20…( i didn’t test) the display and capacitive buttons(blue led) will turn OFF …so no problem at all for unintentional press :wink:

ahh, thanks, I didn’t read the whole thing (I just like the pictures :wink: )

Thank you for very nice review.
Kind regards