Aliexpress store of Simon Mao is the original source of Convoy lights. The price is a bit higher than at gearbest or fasttech, but all customization options are available and you can even ask Simon for any customization not listed on product page.
If you find the exact configuration you want on gearbest or fasttech - you can save a few dollars.
Here is the configuration from Simon I would order:
mattjberry wrote:
“I want it to be as bright as possible”
As always, you should get what you want. Here’s my opinion.
S2+ are good, floody lights, and I certainly appreciate wanting the brightest.
However, on HI, the difference between 7135x8 and 7135x6 is slight.
With 7135x8, the difference between MED and HI isn’t very much.
With 7135x6, the difference between MED and HI seems proper to me.
In other words, the mode spacing compresses and suffers at higher power, and 8x7135 gets hot quickly.
7135x6 gets this small flashlight plenty warm, but I don’t say hot.
I now have four S2+ 7135x6 (red, blue, grey, black), and think the LO-MED-HI mode spacing is about perfect.
The grey arrived looking sickly - sort of a pastel blue-hued grey - not what I was expecting.
I would second a 6x 7135 driver, the brightness you lose visually is minimal, but the runtime you get in return more than makes up for it. Also, the mode spacing mentioned above looks better at the 6x than the 8x driver.
Don’t listen to these guys, they don’t know anything
Well, except for that part about S2+ looking better in black than in gray, somehow he got that right
7135 × 8 is the way to go. If you order with “default mode” the medium is 40, but if you order with “mode option 2” as I recommend, the medium is 30 and the mode spacing is just perfect.
The answer to the OP question depends on use case.
If you want max brightness for each number of 7135 chips, get the U2 1A.
If you want better CRI, or a more neutral or warm tint, look at the other tint options (of which images are in the product page on Simon’s Aliexpress website).
If you only need to run the S2+ max brightness for a few minutes, get the 8*7135
If you need to run on max brightness for longer, consider the 6*7135 or 4*7135 versions. Obviously the max brightness will be less for each model.
If you want the best of both worlds or more mode options, maybe wait for new firmware.
Another question about Simon’s mode option 2. Do you just put a note in the message box in the order to make it “option 2”? I don’t see anywhere to choose that in the order, so I’m assuming a message is all he needs.
It might not make the highest lumens, but unless you have some way of measuring them (most people don’t), then you’d never be tell by eye. Tint however you’ll notice whatever you use the light on and no matter what output mode you are using.
