The UF980L is a pretty good thrower, but I think it could be better.. less spill, smaller beam.. maybe collimator lense? I like the tailcap clicky and the 3 mode with memory, but none of that is essential.
Is there any chance on a better thrower for about under 50$?
I found this Dongrui to be a really good cheap thrower. See my post here. It's not the greatest quality, but ok. My pictures definitely don't do it justice.
So many BLF'ers praised this thrower: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120710615523?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649 that I've oredered one. Can't (yet) speak from experience as it's still on its way, but enough knowledgable members recommend it that I trust their opinions. No idea how it compares to the UF 980L but pretty sure it's a lot cheaper. There are a few threads around here, this one, for example: https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/3904
I almost stated in my post that I believe my Dongrui is very similar to that Super Tactics. I don't yet have one of them to compare them side by side. Not sure if it is higher quality than my Dongrui either.
That body is fine but the driver is weak. I switched mine to a single mode 1.4A driver and it then threw very well.
Then I went a bit insane. I switched the pill for this R2 pill as it fits the USA168 as well. Then I fitted one of these drivers It ended up giving the emitter around 2.2A on High and 1A on Medium with a fully charged TF R&B 2400. So I now use the High as a short burst Turbo mode (10 minute max) and use the Medium most of the time. It throws like crazy but it is a pure pencil beam. Even on the High after 10 minutes there is no sign of instant emitter damage, such as blue tinting or scorching on the star. However, I'm sure that the emitters life span will be very significantly shortened. Having said that I doubt the light will ever get more than 500 hours use before I'm gone and boxed. 500 hours is an awful lot of use for a thrower. (Of course YMMV.)
I've been eying that Dongrui myself and am really tempted to get it for the price. I really like the styling (mini-STL V2) and have some MF points to put toward the purchase before they expire...
Thanks for all the answers, some interesting lights there.. but, I already do own 2 Q5 lights.. so I would only buy another one if it definately outperforms the UF980L (spot size ~12cm @ 1m). If thats not possible, I'd rather buy a flooder.
I would not call the Dongrui a pencil beam. I'd say the hotspot was about 5 foot diameter at about 60 feet. At 620 feet it will light up the entire side of a barn.
But viewing the distant target along the still too bright XM-L spill, makes the target image misty, low in contrast and resolution. If an assistant holds the light some 5+m to the side of the viewer, then the line of sight avoids the brightest part of spill trace and the target image sharpens a lot.
To me, with targets above 100m, XR-E throwers still yield a more detailed (more useful) view.
Well, I'm not fixated on XM-L. I just want something to outperform the UF980L in throw. The recflector is only 26mm deep and I think ManualMan said something true [url=https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/5667#comment-107402]here[/url], stating that the reflector should be at least 50mm, as the UF980L does create a lot of spill.
As I crashed one of my small flashlights, now I really have to get a new one. No X-ML because I want a pencil beam.. and no strobe/sos/whatsoever. Best would be high-mid-lo, high-anything or on-off.
When zoomed for max throw, the square image of the emitter is projected. If you defocus slightly, you get color fringing on beam edge. You seem to be looking at the light at the end of a tunnel. The feel is a lot different from a refelectored thrower.
When zoomed for flood, the beam is boringly flat.
But that is all charcteristic for aspheric lights. On the other hand, the total absence of any spill (or corona), makes for a very crisp target image, which is important to me.
I dislike strobes as well but I’m only interested in this light as a thrower and therefore only care about high mode. It starts in high so I never have to deal with the strobe.
You might want to reconsider depending on how you will use this light.
(Of course YMMV.)