I need some advise to start my search

Welcome to BLF!

That is an interesting list you got there :wink:
Subbed because I am curious to see what the recommendations will be.
(Seeing that G700 type zoomie you got now there are a lot much better lights to discover!)

Subscribed. In the market for an SK98/clone myself, and the only nice one I’ve found is the Yupard at Aliexpress.

Convoy BD04
It’s a zoomie + Convoy flashlights are generally good.
Just my 2 cents. I don’t have this particular flashlight.

have the BD01 and BD06
not zoomies but the switch and charging is the same
EXCELLENT! Charging is so nice, clipon thingy so no connector inside the light
Memoryso no need to see blinkies

Thanks for the advise.
I don’t have enough knowledge to comment on it besides that I like the fact I can pick a 5 or 3 mode setting. The 3 mode setting has no strobe and SOS.

I don’t know how reliable that description is because elsewhere it states:

I looked at some pictures and an unboxing on YouTube but I see no side switch.

The text states the model is “CREE XML2 U2-1A” but a few lines below it gives specs of a different model.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FHTQ7Q4/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?\_encoding=UTF8&colid=WHJKMS1T8WWH&coliid=IKRXGFOXJPF1U

On this site nothing is mentioned about the ability to ‘configure away’ strobe and SOS
http://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_211027.html

The clip is a nice extra.

I noticed the flashlights come with quite a few different LEDs. Is there a good reference guide to the pros and cons of the most frequently used types?
I think they differ in color and efficiency.
Natural color is a nice bonus but more efficiency is more important for me because it means brighter light and/or more usage hours.

Do they work with flattop 18650’s? I have a dozen of them from a laptop battery.

Blinkies are flashes. Isn’t a flashlight that doesn’t flash, broken? :crown:

Color rendering IMHO is very important and the lumens you lose to gain a better tint and color are your best investment . all lights are bright as hell anyway .
your (g700) Outlite A100 with a$3 ~ $5 driver and a 5$ emitter swap is probably not a horrible zoomie light .
Most zoomies suck unless modded so search for the desirable ones people are modding and at least buy one of those .
Bynite 158, supfirel2-f3, zeusray(if you can get a real one )
Slide switches don’t exist ….*Are you making stuff up ?? :slight_smile:
26650 batteries are over-rated imho and will never catch up to 18650’s …i don’t know of any 2X 18650 zoomies …at least none good …just carry a spare cell or a second light .
Zoomies are basiclly noob lights but that doesn’t mean they are simple and modding them to make them better can be a bit complicated if you really want them to throw maximun distances.
do a search on the forum and spend some time reading about zoomies .

Boaz,
The Outlite is quite good to my standards. But I’ve never seen a quality flashlight to compare. The clicky switch is very irritating. It remembers the last mode and when switched back on it starts in the next mode.
I’m not making up the slide switch thing. :innocent: They do exist. Or at least did. I’m making no claims about today and LED lights but way back in my youth I had a flashlight with a sliding multi setting switch.

Neutral white (3C/3D) has my preference in tint.

The Jaxman Z1 must be one of the best zoomies around.
single cell, double cell, XML2 XHP LEDs, wide hoice to
But more expensive and the Convoy is really nice.
The side button is a clicky, not electronic.

“The clicky switch is very irritating. It remembers the last mode and when switched back on it starts in the next mode.”
All BLF members will agree with you, next mode memory (NMM) is not liked at all, over here . But I don’t believe that NMM is caused by the clicky switch. Some flashlight drivers are NMM, some are not. Generally, cheap drivers are NMM, more expensive ones are not.

Yup.
“next mode memory (NMM) … is caused by … Some … cheap drivers”

Clarify if you want a “slide” or a “side” switch?
A slide switch (like the old 2D cell flashlights) would be on the side.
Haven’t seen one in years except on cheap incandescent flashlights.
Most switches now are round buttons you press in halfway to change mode, all the way to click on/off

I don’t see a side switch on the Convoy BD04, but I don’t understand its setup — tailcap button, sliding battery holder, USB charger I guess also connects to the tail somehow.

Hank, Yes a slide switch like on those ancient D cell flashlights. I would really like to slide trough all modes in a split second. Second best would be a mode switch and separate on/off switch. It's already clear the chance to find that is next to zero. I just thought if I don't ask I'll always be in the dark :FACEPALM: Alcius, Good news about the memory. But I still prefer something without strobe or SOS. Or 5 instead of 3 'normal' modes. But 3 is good enough if spaced decently. Ideal, for me, would be if the light always starts up in the same mode I have configured. (not last used) On my Outlite high is brighter than medium but doesn't add much to visibility, so it drains batteries for no good reason.

One more thing about the price... I would prefer something about $21. Where I live importing things up to $21 is free. After that tax is added. Not much on a flashlight but the post office guys charge $15 handling fee to collect that tax.
So a $22 flashlight costs me $37 + taxes. I visit friend in the USA (Indiana) twice a year, so I could have my flashlight shipped to them IF there are no insane taxes. Anyone knows about such taxes/costs?

I never heard of a tax being applied to a flashlight here in the ’states. I’ve never paid one. Anyone else?

Will you pay duty when you clear customs?

Here is the latest in “slide switches”…………

The Rest of the Story

Not cheap though……… :wink:

Luckily it’s not a zoomie so I can say “Nice light but no zoomie.” instead of “I’m to stingy for such a light.” :smiley:

I’ve seen one or two similar flashlights for divers. One had a dimmer switch. (stepless light output). They advised to remove the battery because (magnetic?) sliding switches have a small power leak….?
So they do exist. Perhaps only in the (somewhat) more expensive price range.
I’m preferring the around $20 but if a light meets most of my wishes I’m willing to at least double that.

General question: If the specs state “18650 battery” without more detail does that mean all 18650’s fit? Protected, unprotected, flat top, button top or a combination.

No. 18650 means the battery is nominally 18mm diameter x 65mm height, But in practice there is quite a bit of variation, & the protection circuit adds an additional 2-3mm approx.

And if they are button top, then that adds to the length as well.

Thus unfortunately, there often is an issue fitting a particular battery into a particular flashlight. So always check before buying either one.

Best Regards,

George

Take a look at this thread I started recently, I have a list with links to zoomies I’ve been looking at recently:

Although it’s way over your budget for this the Fenix FD40 may be the only zoomie with a side switch, at least I can’t think of any other.
And there aren’t many low price zoomies without blinky modes.
_

I agree with Alcius, I think the Convoy BD04 may be the best option for you:

  • Price under $21 (with 15% BLF discount)
  • No strobe or SOS if you chose 3-mode (mode option 2)
  • You can choose your preferred tint color
  • Looks like a metal on/off mode switch on the tail
  • Fits protected or unprotected batteries (flattops)
  • Has built in USB charging, if that’s something you could use.
  • Convoy is known for good quality

You can get all the options if you buy it direct from Convoy, (send message to request BLF discount) here’s a link:
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Convoy-BD04-zoomable-flashlight

I’m seriously considering getting a Convoy BD04

BTW Thorfire also makes the BD04 but it’s priced a lot higher and I don’t think there are any options for modes or tints like the Convoy has.

The Convoy BD04 looks nice. Zoomie, clip, no blinky, good memory, price is ok.

I have flattop 18650 batteries. Diameter 18mm, length 64mm. I’m wondering they will work in that flashlight. Not because of the size, which is very close to keengeorge’s numbers, but because the flattop may not make electrical contact.

Unfortunately the batteries are unbranded red without anything on it. They come from a Dell laptop battery pack which had ‘Made in Japan’ on it,

My current light is a Outlite A100 Cree XML-T6 LED Bulb,Adjustable focus, Zoom out 500-700 Lumen,Zoom in 700-900 Lumen.
The BD04 is 600 Lumen.
In theory it looks the Outlite is a little brighter. But is that really so? The advertised numbers quite often seem to be overly positive, not to say a scam.

I really like the option of USB charging because I have lots op USB cables and chargers, also in my car. That adds a lot of flexibility which is good.
It worries me a bit that USB charging thingy gets misplaced. Anyone knows I can leave it permanently on the flashlight with it falling off. That’s likely how I would use it because after every (short) use I’ll likely put it my car charger. That means I have to have that thing with me at all times.