Challenger for other C8 hosts
Sofirn C8. I did edit this review and put it also in diy side. Hope that’s ok. I should have put this review there in first place.
I got to the point that I must find good quality C8 host other than Convoy C8. Finally my eye catches up from Aliexpress all C8: s one that looked like what I really needed. Yes, it was Sofirn C8. After some message changing with seller Cissy from Sofirn she gets her boss to change driver plate size from odd 18.9mm to normal C8 size 17mm. Led board is 20mm. Finally they started to do their own new C8 host. Oh boy was I happy to receive that beautiful C8 host!
I had my voice heard in design but one thing missed, knurling of the body. That bothered me at first but now I kind of like that smooth body of this arrival. There is retaining ring above the
driver plate like in Convoy. There is also intergrated head like in Convoy C8.
And tailcap/ switch, very good quality u-shaped tailcap and great switch. !!!!
If I must find something about this host that is not good? If so, it’s the fact that reflectors led hole in Sofirn C8 is odd 6.5mm.
And led plate is too low machined. I tried spare reflector with 7mm led hole and Kaidomains butterfly gasket. It made with normal size led gasket gap between bezel and head. So normal size 7mm XP gasket bought from Kaidomain is too thick because that low machined led plate. With host comes tiny gasket for 3.5mm footprint leds. If one uses only 3.5*3.5mm leds it’s ok but other size leds have no gasket according Sofirn. And there comes screws to attach led board to the plate and lanyard with two spare o-rings.
C8S: It has 20.8mm driver plate and 20mm ledplate. In that reflector is with 9mm led hole. In C8S there is no problem with led plate. XHP 50.2 led and H1-A boost driver fits great. And again this hosts quality is very good.
I have one Sofirn C8 that is made by Sofirn. It sure has lots of light but tint could be colder in my opinion. Same thing in this, quality much over average C8. Look at those C8:s, three different version.
Simply put these hosts earns their place to be one of the best C8 hosts available. Only Convoy has been one that pleases me. But now Sofirn C8 is what I prefer at lower price point and such a great value and quality. And Sofirns customer service; nobody can’t reach to same level as Cissy does even many has good customer service. And look at other ledlights in Sofirn, what a great quality in some of them. I do not get any money or other goods to do this review. I did get first two host for free for further investigation but that does not affect to my review at all. I’m just telling my thoughts of these new C8 series hosts. And thanks Matt of encourage and reading this before release! Dark nights to all of you flashaholics 
Edit: Just heard that if one orders 20pcs at least one can have his own logo laser engraved to the host. And I beg the factory to CNC led plate deeper.
Update 10.10.2017
These gaskets are just thin enough to not make gap between bezel and head with 7mm led hole spare reflector. Those are also sold by Kaidomain.
Update 11.10.17
Drivers can be ordered separately. They don’t tell Amps, according Cissy from Sofirn driver is direct driven.
Edit: Now there is in add that driver is direct drive…
Update 11.10.17
Led gasket is chanced for little better but still only for 3.5mm footprint leds:
Is the Sofirn (not host) that you have called C8F? I would be interested to hear anyone’s thoughts on that model, with it’s triple reflector.
Also, do you dislike paragraph separations for some reason? That was painful to read.
edit:
Wow! That looks nice now! Haha!
It is Sofirn C8A. I do not dislike paragraph separations but I’m quite newbie here so I don’t know how to put them here
Sorry about that!
Use the Enter key and Preview your post.
How to Post Images on BLF // Many knives for sale (USA only)
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“Use the Enter key and Preview your post.”??? I tried to Insert Image but after Preview could not see photos??
Just preview your post until it looks right.
How to Post Images on BLF // Many knives for sale (USA only)
How to move a thread
Also, here's a guide on how to post images on BLF:
http://budgetlightforum.com/node/56178
How to Post Images on BLF // Many knives for sale (USA only)
How to move a thread
Thanks of link, I’ll try again.
[quote=korpzgrinda]Is the Sofirn (not host) that you have called C8F? I would be interested to hear anyone’s thoughts on that model, with it’s triple reflector.
I can ask Cissy to sent me that C8F if nobody does have it. They now are in some Chinese holiday till 6.10.
Edit: Hope that then I’m able to add photos here
Please edit that post so it’s easier to read. This is hard to look at.
Just press enter sometimes.
Btw. I have C8F somewhere in mail, soon to arrive if anyone wants to know.
“The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.” - Isaac Asimov
"With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censured...the first thought forbidden...the first freedom denied – chains us all, irrevocably."
My reviews:
Sofirn SF36 /// Thorfire VG10S /// Sofirn C8F /// Zanflare F1
I will right when my wife gets home. I did try many ways, just could not do it, sorry. Newbie is newbie…
Edit: Just noticed; maybe the photo file is in wrong format? There is no format that guide tells to fit here. In led hole photo address ends in letters FzOVKU??? Now I try to open photo in new window when it’s in .jpg format.
Edit 2: And that finally worked for me
Sure I would like to know about that C8F. I have C8A by Sofirn and I could take some measurements/ photos with it after I learn to add photos in here
I get it
jpg was the reason.
I don't think there's a photo limit.
How to Post Images on BLF // Many knives for sale (USA only)
How to move a thread
thanks for the review. seen those lights on AE and was wondering how good they were. might pick up a few.
The review is looking much better now.
How to Post Images on BLF // Many knives for sale (USA only)
How to move a thread
Hi Jouna, thanks for these pictures. C8S host in my wishlist, both 20mm driver and MCPCB very nice. May do some fully regulated DIY torch with one in the future.
I'm waiting for a C8T to be reviewed, hope I can at least get some meaningful measurements for that new dual MOSFET driver.
With regards to the photographs, I'd improve focus and increase exposure. If you're using an Android smartphone I recommend Open Camera (F-Droid, G00gl€ Play), most stock smartphone camera applications are a joke.
Cheers
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Please avoid fully quoting lenghty posts, namely with nested quotes. Trim quotes down to the essential. Helps with neatness and legibility. Thanks.
I recommend saying no to Covid vaccine. Listen to your soul.
Yes, I know photos suck. This was my first “real” review so I try to do better next time
I did take photos with my old Panasonic DMC-LZ5 camera even better systems camera was few meters away 
Of C8S: That needs little bit centering with H1-A driver but that’s not so bad 
And thank you all!
For the photos, they’re too dark to see anything meaningful- just use one of your other flashlights to provide some better illumination during the shots.
Very funny. I did update some photos, is there anything else you would need Jason?
Interesting photo, but it seems random. Could we have some context?
That photo is clearly from my album in cloud. I don’t know if you are kidding or not but photo is for showing what is “integrated head”. There is same kind of photo with more light in my “quick review”.
Interesting, thanks. How does it compare to Thorfire C8?
“Its a removable pill…” From Thorfire C8 review. Not integrated at least in that review.
Indeed, thanks for pointing out.
The Thorfire C8 has not had a removable pill for a long time. An integral shelf. Screwed down MCPCB. And a “fully regulated” buck driver, generating about 900 lumens in standard form. (moddable) Nice simple UI, with useful ultra-low. Also compatible with 2S cells, 18350 or CR123 for example. A personal favourite. Still worth considering.
Not bought one in a while, just reporting my most recent experience, this year.
Interesting information Tom Tom. What you say sounds like a sort of LD-29 driver, also one of my favourites like all sorts of fully regulated drivers. Modified a pair of TA13 torches with H2-C drivers recently.
Cheers
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Please avoid fully quoting lenghty posts, namely with nested quotes. Trim quotes down to the essential. Helps with neatness and legibility. Thanks.
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Take a look, usually on Amazon fulfilled at a decent price. Sometimes in a package with a (good) cell, charger and a bike mount. Their grey anodising is soft, but I like the way they wear with use.
Disclosure: I received one of the first (with pill) for review here, and liked it so much I bought several more. The emitters are on Al MCPCBs, cool white but OK, and the larger XM rather than eg. XP footprint and appropriate SMO reflector, so not perhaps the ultimate throwers. The driver seems very good and balanced to me, but maybe does not appeal to those obsessed with max. amps. I like it, and it seems very efficient to me (run time).
Banggood has it. Just saw this C8s CPF review too. Do you know, by any chance, how deep is its driver boot? Driver pics?
Cheers
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Please avoid fully quoting lenghty posts, namely with nested quotes. Trim quotes down to the essential. Helps with neatness and legibility. Thanks.
I recommend saying no to Covid vaccine. Listen to your soul.
Not sure what you mean by driver boot. If depth of cavity, well I only have my review sample with separate pill, so not relevant to current production. There was enough room left that I considered packing it with a piece of thermally conductive silicone, but didn’t.
Mine takes I think a 17mm driver (screwed into the pill with a nice ring), and a 20mm MCPCB. But don’t quote me on that. The driver is mostly obscured by a big wound inductor on a hefty toroid core, taking up pretty much the full diameter of the cavity. Not the sort of square sealed component I’m used to seeing these days.
But everything may have changed since then, you will just have to take a chance and see for yourself. I don’t think you will be disappointed.
This is a review of the same vintage as mine:
http://budgetlightforum.com/node/40861
Yes Tom Tom, depth of cavity.
Nice inductor, not so nice current sensing resistor. 82mΩ is too big, causing a lot of voltage drop and power loss in the driver. If current for high mode is 2.8A, Pshunt = I² × R = 7.84A² × 0.082Ω = 642.88mW. Looks like sense voltage is set at ≈0.23V.
An LD-29 uses a 25mΩ shunt for the same 2.8A maximum driving current. This is much nicer: PLD-29shunt = I² × R = 7.84A² × 0.025Ω = 196mW. Sense voltage is 0.07V. How good would it fit I don't know.
Cheers
Deleting a just published post causes the forum thread answer notification to fail. Thus, if you need to change your just published post, edit it. Thanks.
Please avoid fully quoting lenghty posts, namely with nested quotes. Trim quotes down to the essential. Helps with neatness and legibility. Thanks.
I recommend saying no to Covid vaccine. Listen to your soul.
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