I just got back from testing my Z1 down in the ravine. Awesome!
The HXP-35 HI is about as perfect in this light as you can get. The throw is amazing when zoomed, lighting up the distance with full clarity, and there isn’t any annoying visible matrix.
When deployed in spot mode, it will easily illuminate the entire infield of a ballpark well enough to play. (I was standing at home plate)
I do love what’s coming out of this build, but you also have to realize that I have nothing to compare it to, such as the same Z1 host with an XPL HI. Besides the XHP-35 being 12V with four mini dies, I have no idea what the visual comparison and output would be between the two. Besides that, I’m impressed enough that I ordered another host last night.
Now I have to decide what to put in it.
My Z1 got an Luminus SBT-70 for the round die and it’s ensuing round hot spot. I like it, as I simply adore the way they build this emitter, but it’s not an absolute kind of light due to horrible inefficiency of this emitter. One thing I do not like is the blue rectangle from around the perimeter of the substrate. It’s normal for this light, not seen in a reflectored light (I have several) but the zoomed in image clearly shows it, even in the field.
What most impressed me most was the area that was illuminated at a long distance on zoom. Not just a small square of light moving around, but a large illuminated piece of real estate. The square shape isn’t a factor once it’s greatly enlarged. I could clearly see what was in the distance, not just a hot point of light that throws far, but unable to discern the big picture. No visible matrix or bond wires sold me. It’s easy to adapt to the squarish beam, but magnified quad matrixes and bond wires is annoying. I’m about as happy as a clam with how this light performs with the XHP-35 HI.
And you used a driver from Richard to do this?
I just ordered one from him for a 3V Buck set-up, probably have to get another now… I already have some XHP-35’s and 6 of the 26350’s. Didn’t the Z1 come with an extension tube? I forget, my box is stored and I haven’t gone to the issue of getting to it yet.
Yes, I used a 4S-16.8A MTN MAX buck driver set at 2.5A. (I got 2.8A at the tail)
I just ordered another Z1, and it shows an extension is include. My last one included the extension also.
I really wanted to give the XHP-35 a try, but the 12V made it look like a no go. Luckily those 26350 come out at the same time as I got my Z1host, and I was first in line.
Glad you brought up the “box” Dale. Could you tell me what kind of box your host came it? I just ordered a factory Z1 and it didn’t come with the factory box shown in the pictures. It came in a plain white box just large enough to fit the light in and the accessories were just loose in the shipping box? Is this normal packaging for recent Z1’s?
I got the two factory built ones from Banggood back before they got banned from carrying them.
I got the two hosts from Jaxman on Aliexpress.
All of them were in the Classic brown box with nice foam padding, I don’t remember any of them shipping from Singapore though.