Thinking about getting a TK35 but

Before I pull the trigger on a TK35, I'm wondering this. Is the beam pattern, throw or output enough different than the Jetbeam BC40 to make me want it? I know it has a different shape (which I'm not too fond of at least having not held one) and more modes. I really don't want to buy a TK35 if the output is about the same.

TK35 will throw better than the BC40. Hotpsots are around the same but brighter on the tk35. You’ll love the tk35, it takes time to adjust to the form factor.

Well I don't have a BC40 yet to compare to my TK35. But going off the goinggear videos on youtube I would say the BC40 will out throw the TK35. His seem to reach out about 300yds. I took this shot at about 200yds with the TK35 and I can tell you right now that the TK35 is not a very good thrower. But it is an awesome light up close and for all around use. Notice in the picture below you can't hardly even see the woods past the last electric pole.

Here's the SR51 just so you can see how it did.

No way does the BC40 out throw the TK35 espcially by 100 yards.

The BC40 has a 48mm size head with and OP reflector

The TK35 has 51mm size head with a SMO reflector

If youre looking for something to completely blow you away compared to the BC40, the TK35 is probably not your light. It has decent throw and nice output but its not going to be a huge difference compared to your BC40.

If I had to do it again I would still purchase the TK35 just because I like the parallel configuration rather than the unnecessarily long series configuration.

Unless you really needed it or just want to throw money in the wind, I wouldnt buy both. As far as throw/flood/output go, they perform nearly the same function. It really just comes down to aesthetics. If you already own one, the other isnt going to wow you.

Well going by this video I would say it would be safe to say that the BC40 in this video will out throw my TK35 at 200yds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NahPQrNyBp8

And my BC40 is on it's way. So I will know for sure.

I also have a BC40 on order from MF but it is on backorder. Where is yours coming from Ilikeflashlights?

Dino Direct

Here's a picture I just took of the LED lenser P17 220 lumen flashlight. It will out throw the TK35.

The TK35 waste a lot of its beam in the spill department, but up close that is why it is such a useful light. Fenix says that it will throw 331 meters I think. I can tell you personally it won't come close.

I loved my tk35 and it threw like a beast. The form factor is much more convenient to me than a long skinny light. It fits the hand perfect and takes up less space. Awesome light.

My BC40 was the first light I bought that I would call a thrower. When I got it I was a little disappointed that it didn't out throw my Olight M20 by much. I later got an Olight M3X and Fenix TK41 and the throw game ended. Throw from both of these lights are night and day difference from the BC40. The BC40 was then mounted on my AR15 and will probably stay there.

If there isn't a substantial difference in the beam quality, throw and output over the BC40, I will not buy a TK35. From looking at Goinggears tests, there isn't much difference.

If you want throw. Get a Skyray STL-V2 . One of my favorite throwers.

+1

I won't say you shouldn't get a TK 35 or BC40. I have a few name-brand lights myself and enjoy them. Well, honestly, I barely ever pick them up anymore.

But I will reiterate the point I already made--cheaper lights usually translate to more used lights because there is a difference in the way we treat them. And as to quality, there is only a slight difference between the budgeters and the high and mighties. The big names want you to pay for the names themselves. It's not so much just quality. And honestly, you're out big money if the big name breaks, but if the budgeter breaks, you can buy 4 or 5 or more for the price of 1 premium brand.

Just sayin. ;-)

I agree.

However it's not just the name. The name above all should represent the Quality Control. Budgetlights can arrive in different conditions. Happened to me, happened to others. Hardly a Jetbeam is going to have issues out for 100 pieces sold, so that carefulness is reflected in the price.

Usually those small differences make the higher cost, reflectors coated to reflect very good, glass that only cuts 2%, useful knurling not just criss-cross cuts. Generally budget lights are not like that. Also there's the machining time that rises the cost. For example the Jetbeam BC40 is cheaper than other light from big brands because the circular machining takes shorter time to complete. Magnetic ring controllers rise the price again (Sunwayman) and driver efficiency.

In the end still Ultrafire is the company that probably makes more money than Suwnayman and I am sure that Suwayman knows that.

This is not the right way to compare flashlights. The tk35 is so on its widest point, not on the head-reflector. The reflectors of both flashlights have same almost in diameter but fenix has smooth reflector and jetbeam has a deeper reflector. Overall, Jetbeam outthrows tk35 by very little, practically there is no difference.

So, choosing between the two, has to do with what you want from a flashlight. Jetbeam is cheaper and can be mounted on weapon. On the other hand Fenix, has better current controlled levels, better runtimes, dual switch for one hand operation(Jetbeam requires both hands to change the mode) and a more compact design. Having both, i like the both but if i had to keep one, i would definitely choose fenix tk35.

Ok, I'm with you. I don't disagree. There is that notch, that next level of improvement. Certainly better machining and care in quality control. But in regards to shorts, connectivity issues, and emitter failures and such, it's the same can of worms.

I'm thinking of the Nitecore TM11--a terribly troublesome piece o' crap. Flickers and makes poor contact. Or the TK70--can't utilize its power supply properly, and therefore, won't work in all modes depending on batteries. Emitters fail, arrive DOA, burn out, etc. Our Inova T4 died after 2 years of use. I know a guy whose Streamlight Polytac literally fell apart out of the box. It happens.

The more people I come to know who work and play with all types of illumination tools, the more convinced I become that the difference in quality is less than we are led to believe (if just a little).