So I really like the look/idea of the Astrolux S41 (Manker E14). But before I commit, is there anything else I should look at? The Emisar D4 looks pretty cool - but with the heat output, it looks like it might be bordering on impractical. I'm really liking the huge copper heatsink on the S41/E14 and direct path to it.
In the year or so since the S41 has been around, is there anything else that begs to be purchased ahead of the S41?
The S41 ia a great light, but the D4 is even better.
I have several of both and at the same brightness level the D4 gets no warmer than the S41 (the D4 can output A LOT more light at max than the S41). With the D4:s great thermal regulation (something the S41 doesn’t have) it’s also much easier to maintain a higher output over time.
I love my S41, but if you ordered an S2+, you might want to try one of these, or these with it sometime.
I like the “wall of light” from my S41, but it’s heavy, and it gets pretty hot on turbo. My EDC at the moment is a Jaxman E2 (nichia) head with the TIR on an S2+ 18350 body. For indoors, and < 20 yard use, it I love it. The warm tint, and perfectly even hot-spot-free beam just make it easier to see stuff for my normal flashlight usage. It’s not as bright as an S41, and no wow-factor, but I find it really useful and safe.
D4 can sustain around 1000 lumen (am guessing) at max 70’C settings so don’t worry about the heat as long as you don’t max out at 4,300lm continuosly (it will step down anyway if it goes above 70’C) D4 is the perfect light IMHO :+1:
S2+ with shorty tube for an 18350, and 20mm TIR lens.
I’m on a TIR rampage lately, and TIRs cure a multitude of sins.
—
I see someone recommended a pebbled TIR lens. Never tried one, but MascB did side-by-side tests for them, and they may be exactly what you’re looking for.
Yep, same as with most of my lights. No need to light up a sports-arena with a single flashlight, so what I got suits me just fine.
And if a regular S2+ gets scalding hot left on high (8×7135) for too long, I imagine it’ll get even hotter and faster with a shorty tube, and with that much less thermal mass and surface area!
TIR, yep me to LB just love the beam profile and like with the DQG’s with the luminous tape around the top edge that glow is beautiful.
And it’s D4 all the way over the S41 style lights for me and I have bunches of them mostly because they are so darn nice looking, I love copper, but for performance and beam the D4 just stomps mud holes in the S41, not to mention the option of the 18350 and 500 tubes which by the way will be interchangeable with the upcoming D1 thrower, I’ve seen beam shots of the D1 and it is awesome, highly recommended if the OP is still trying to find a light and looking at the A6 still, oh hey, here you go here’s some beam shots, D4 and D1 beam shots
I think I do own one 8x S2+, but based on the lack of heat on high, lack of chips on the back of the driver, and the stated max of 370 lumens, I suspect my Jaxman E2 is 4x-ish.
I’m trying to resist the D4 (and soon, the D1), because I frequently hand my EDC light to people ages 3 and up for a few minutes. I just don’t need, and keep telling myself I don’t even want, any more hot-rods. Well, after I get a Q8 and a GT, THEN I won’t need any more hot-rods.