You can see the archived poll results on the Wayback Machine:
https://web.archive.org/web/20221220093741/https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/72502
So, I am now an owner of the Solarforce L2P. In short, it's a very nice host, but not worth the price in my opinion. I am interested in the knockoffs, which some people claim to be very nice or even better than the original while others say they are no match for the real thing. I am especially interested in the nice smooth bezel that comes out of the box with all the fakes that I listed above.
I can only speak for my only fake solarforce l2 i got from MF, compared to the real l2 it is very well built clone of a clone.
Ah, that's right, I forgot about the fake L2 from MF. Thanks! Added as a choice.
I really like the UF504B i got from MF. its got the flat bezel and looks real good in silver. threading is good and clean.did'nt come lubed but real nice.
I agree that's a great looking light. And you can't beat the price.
im actually over the solarforce obsession even though i would still recommend it to people. yes for the price it comes with the flat bezel, the knurling is more functional(grippy), tailstands and it just looks nice and shiny.
I agree that Solarforce does make a nice product. It's just that the budget part of my mind makes me think there's probably an almost as nice copy for less money. :)
I'd vote for the 504B or the Uniquefire L2 (They are both the same body). But there is a newer body style 504B which is a different animal - personally, I don't like it, but other do.
"Old" Style - every part interchangeable with the Solarforce
"New" Style - almost no parts commonality. There's nothing wrong with this body, but I prefer the old style.
For completeness here's the Uniquefire L2 and the silver 504B
I have Solarforce and Ultrafire.. L2 is little higher as quality but you may also consider that someone received a "defective" body so maybe you have also to be lucky to receive a perfect SF. So, considering the price, my vote goes to 504. i have the silver version and i love it.
a little off topic but does anyone know if there is a deep reflectored p60 sized light. seems like that would've been a direction the p60 dropin could evolve into. a longer l2 head with a deep p60 dropin.
Thanks Don for the clear pictures!
The differences are minor , and dare I say will vary from sample to sample ..
I have a fake from LT - DX - and a 504 from Manafont , and there is very little between them ..
If I had to rate them , DX - LT - Manafont and the variation from best to worst might be 5% over all ... Once the lights are tightened up and ready to go you can see , feel 0 variation , and again I think it comes down to the individual sample rather than the product line .
Still a few more L2 clones out there [ dont know about LEGO ability with the Solarforce ]
Ultrafire L2 , Spiderfire L2 , [ been meaning to buy a Spiderfire L2 ]
The Ultrafire L2 wont LEGO , but the one I have is nice , and is hosting a SST 50 .
The problem with this poll is that the fakes of even the same label don't always come from the same factory, esp popular models since new manufacturers just copy the same label and sell it to the supplier for like 5 cents less. I have a 504b from DX, and the knurling on it is not the same (has notches on the diamonds), and it's not polished at all and kinda crap overall.
The fake solarforce l2 I have from KD (which looks to be the same as LT and MF's) is quite nice. Very shiny and silver.
Still, I think the L2's (not l2p) from SF is worth the extra few dollars. Significantly better consistency and details.
The host I'm interested in though is the uniquefire m2. Available with ok ultrafire dropin for $20
Another vote for the Ultrafire 504B, I have several.
Another nice light that is priced like the 504b, serves the same function, but has different looks is the Sky Ray host at Manafont. It is a light that feels very good to hold, and has a sort of futuristic look to it. It is a clone of a light called a Seraph. $8 at manafont.
+1
Joel
I have 3 of the Manafont 504Bs and 1 of the DX 504Bs all in black and they are all identical and I absolutely love them and will probably buy more.
The DX 504B was $20 bucks with a direct drive 5 mode XML that pulls 4+ amps on high and is as bright as the Manafont drop in except with a super nasty strobe.
Bob I sent the driver to my UF980L back to Jim at Manafaont in China to repair it and it was only about a dollar to mail it. Try a PM to Jim on the forum here.
The L2 has a thicker battery tube (~2mm dia) and needs less packing for heat transfer from the drop in. That makes the L2 about 20g heavier than the the 504b.
Otherwise the differences are mostly aesthetics eg. gloss finish instead of the satin finish of the UF.