So, near as I can tell, the appeal of the C8 is that it is available from multiple sources, that there is some amount of interchangeability among them, that the reflector is big enough to have some throw, the heads are meaty enough to handle some thermal challenges, and that they are pretty much all inexpensive. Also, some people like the looks, but others don’t.
Mini C8s are generally ~1cm shorter and ~1cm narrower than the equivalent full-sized C8. This is largely due to shrinking the head and reflector. The shrunken head changes the looks somewhat, though the minis still clearly partake of C8ness. The shrunken reflector throws less well, and the shrunken heads conducts, sink, and dissipate heat less well. Finally, they are pretty uncommon, and they are all $18-25. In other words, they are, in almost every way, inferior to C8s.
I point this out not to dismiss them out of hand, but rather to try and tease out what really differentiates a C8 from some similar lights, like the EE X6 (5mm narrower 1cm shorter than a typical C8, about the same price as an average miniC8). Or perhaps this well made, $8 light (aluminum pill, ~3-4mm wider than a mini-C8 for less than half the price).
A mini C8 fits in my pocket better. That’s one thing I like about them.
The biggest one for me, though is I can get a Jaxman M8 with a nichia emitter, and that is one purty beam.
Mini c8’s usually throw enough for a lot of twilight/sunrise biking. Even some pitch dark rides. So a C8 isn’t significantly better in those cases, just bigger.
I have another Jaxman M8 on the way me. I gave the first one away. I will modify this one with a Led4Power driver and a Led4Power illuminated tailcap. They are very nice little lights. This one will be my new EDC and I’m sure I’m gone love this one even more than the first one.
I had some time ago the Jaxman.
I think to my eye, it was throwing about as well with XPL-HI as a regular C8 with XM-L or so.
Feel and clicky function were good and overall finish also.
I liked it, but my friend wanted to buy it from me so I ended up selling it. Now I have only a regular C8…
I have the Jaxman M8 XPL-HI + smooth reflector. I visually tested it once side by side with a Convoy C8 + XM-L2, 6x7135 configuration. I thought the M8 looked visually similar to the XM-L2 C8. So my impression was that this M8 was a nice pocket thrower for its size.
Side note, I also liked that Jaxman has a floody M8 + XM-L2 + OP reflector. Together, they’d make a good budget hiking flashlight pair of the same size. The floody M8 to watch the trail and the area near you while you hike, the thrower to check further down the trail to see beyond the floody flashlight’s range.
Not quite the same, but my ’502 is a sort of “mini-C8”. Has a larger head, somewhat, for a drop-in light it still conducts heat pretty well (at least the way I set it up), and with an XP-L it throws decently, ’though I swapped in an OP reflector to smooth out the beam a bit. Now it’s nigh-perfect as an all-around light. Not overly floody, not overly throwy, just a pretty decent compromise. (And usually, a compromise means “it does neither very well”, but not in this case, not really.)
Just pick up a few 8buk Thorfire C8Ses if still available.
Or for, well, more than 8bux, pick up a nice happy C8F. You’ll be smilin’ for sure.
I have one of the Manta Ray Mini C8’s. I picked it up on Amazon for $12.50 a while back. It’s a nice little light, and I’d probably give up to $20 to get another if I lost it. The led is cooler than I’d like, but nice white tint in the hotspot and spill. It is surprisingly throwy for its size, and fits in any pocket that my Convoy S2+ would just fine. The driver is similar to Convoy’s 3/5 mode driver, with memory and nice spacing. The blink on low to switch mode groups blinks later than the Convoy, making it less likely to accidentally change groups, at least for me. The overall quality is pretty nice, about what you would expect from Convoy for a light in this price range. The removable pill should make modding easy, and fits in the body pretty well, providing a decent thermal path. I just wouldn’t go crazy with a high wattage build. Honestly the only thing I plan to change on mine will be a warmer high cri xpl hi. I think these would be fun to mod with dedomed, colored xpe2’s for foggy night light saber fights.
I have both Manta Ray and Jaxman. Side by side Jaxman is little shorter and looks better quality. Both are xpl-hi, Manta Ray is cool white and 8*7135, Jaxman is only 6*7135 neutral, so looks a tad dimmer. If you compare them side by side you will choose Jaxman, otherwise both are OK. Still with mini C8 you get less light than regular C8 for the money.
I have I believe 6 of the Jaxman M8’s XPL-HI and I can tell you it is one of the best around, needs a bit of modding IMO but even out of the box it’s great, high quality light. Jaxman also sells a great holster that fits the M8 perfectly.
I really like the mini C8. Very good quality for the price, nice appearance and cool small size. The only downside is that it has no retaining ring, but the driver has to be soldered to the pill.
Hey guys! Thanks for the time to give your answers and impressions on these lights
I’ve read the pros and cons pointed out, thanks for indicating them!!
I only recently saw the Manta Ray and the OTR versions, while the Jaxman is a long time dating! I like the look of these lights, and the possibility to get them in a pocket or a holster in the backack, without being “excessively” big as the regular C8s, are the major reasons why I wanted to try one.
For what you’ve said, the Jaxman with XPL-HI and SMO reflector will fit my needs better, as I am looking more for a “thrower” than a “flooder”.
One concern mentioned about: heat dissipation! If or when get one, I wanted to use it with a MTN 17mm driver with guppy3drv FW.
Do you think it will it handle the heat properly?
Also, do the Jaxman M8 come glued, and if so, is it hard to remove the glue?
And last question: does the Jaxman shorty tube (18350) fits that light? Sorry but I really don’t know about the dimmensions :person_facepalming:
I appreciate your help in advance! Thanks for all the answers
No glue with the M8, but the driver is soldered to the pill but not a big deal, make sure and grab the holster, it’s the only one they have for sale.
By the way if your a good at modifying lights the M2 that sells as a 2 AA light is another real sleeper.
I bought one and quickly realized that it will take a 17mm driver with a 16mm MCPCB, so needless to say it was time to convert that light to a 2 14500, not really recommending this over the M8, just a thought and a cool light. Holster for M8 M8 Throw M2 Sleeper light easy mod to 14500
Thanks for you answers again
Too bad the shorty tube doesn’t fit
I thought I could make a pocket thrower with the M8 Not anymore, though…
Hum, driver soldered to the pill? Like the ones in S2+? I have soldering iron (not the most powerful one) maybe it can work to remove it if I opt to replace it!
About the M2, I’ve seen that light - somewhat comparable in shape to the Zanflare F2 - but I am not a great enthusiast for that shape of light and taking 2 AA or 2 14500s. I recognize it is pretty solid but I prefer smaller lights
I will probably get a Jaxman E3 (when the driver is 3 modes) and eventually mod the driver as well
I appreciate the recommendation, though
Also, thanks for the tip on the holster! I have some Convoy holsters around, but I’m not sure the M8 will fit! So I’ll probably get one wit the light!!
Thanks again for the suggestions and opinions
And keep bringing them :+1:
…so you can drop the pill into place, use solder-paste or just lay down a length of solder around the border, then heat the pill around the edge and let the solder melt in-place.
If there’s too much of a gap between driver and pill, a short length of wire pressed in-between helps bridge the gap.
Just be fast. As soon as the solder melts, the rest of the pill will already be quite hot, so you could just breeze right along the rest of the edge and get out as fast as possible.
If you could then pick up the pill with tongs and lay it on a big honkin’ chunk o’ metal to wick away the heat, that’d help cool it down, too.
Not anymore, though…