[REVIEW] Sofirn C8A "XP-L2 2,000 lumen Hot Rod" (XP-L2, 1x18650) (Pictures, Beamshots, etc.)

A $18 light that does 2000 lumens? Hmmm do you have any outdoor shots?

Driver have two FET chips, one for lower current,and second bigger for direct drive.
Awesome light and it does have 3 mode option just do a 3 fast half clicks while its on and the light will blink 2 times and switch between mode groups.
19Mm copper DTP board transfer heat gorgeously and it will get very hot in just a minute, luckily there is a step down after 3 minutes. Also no pwm at any mode…
I have a C8T xpl-hi version, and after some tweaks I did yesterday it makes 1400 lumens, and 85Kcd for nearly 600 meters of throw !!

Great review SoCalTiger :+1:

Here is a video a made for C8T couple days ago

Actually minus 2$ after using store coupon for purchase more than 15$

OK I’m sold

Just ordered one, so this will only be my 4th C8-style light (2 stock Convoys, 1 modded UltraFire, all with different emitters) :laughing:

You can never have too many C8s! :slight_smile:

Imagine if we could convinse Sofirn to bring one out with a XPG2 S4 2b

Related: Sofirn C8T premier review/test - Like!

Just received my C8A.

Will try to do some outdoor beamshots :stuck_out_tongue:

Here. Sorry not great quality (phone camera) but hopefully you get the idea (Highest mode on both lights) :slight_smile:

(both lights powered by Sanyo NCR18650GA, 3500mAH, unprotected, flat top)

If they would master chemical dedome with protective coating or slicing with a machine this would be so much better

Thanks for the review, SoCal. I really like what I’ve been seeing from Sofirn. They sent me a SF36 to review (here) and I thought it was a nice light. I ordered their C8 host from their Aliexpress store about a month back, should be coming in soon. I like my Convoy C8’s, but I see a couple advantages with what I’m expecting from Sofirn’s C8:

  • Anodizing - sometimes I feel like Convoy’s matte is just too matte. Sofirn’s seems very nice.
  • AR lens - some, but not all Convoys come with AR. I like that it’s included with Sofirn’s.
  • Body tube - nice, something a little different than the standard gnurling
  • Tailcap - I like that the cap is formed into the saddle shape. I find it a bit easier to press, and it shows off a lit tailcap more when viewed from the side.

I can’t wait for my host to come in and start playing with it!

Mmm, yep. Nice smooth coating like on my ’502 which I always loved, same like on my new Q8 and TK4A.

The finish on my L2 is, to me, just too rough and chalky.

Nah, I’d prefer a protruding button, forward-clicky switch, just like on an L2M.

Else more ridges or something, but I’m not a fan of the “saddle” shaped rim.

Thanks for the review mate. How many lumens after it steps down?

Hi folks,

I am new here and this is my first post. Please be patient with me!

I have made following observation on the C8A:

If you power the 1700 lumens rated Sofirn C8A with the mystery cell provided by Sofirn it is a little bit dominated by a 900 lumens rated Thorfire C8S powered by a LG high drain cell. If you put the LG high drain cell into the Sofirn C8A and the Sofirn cell into the Thorfire C8S the Thorfire gets 100% destroyed by the Sofirn.

Also with the Sofirn cell the Sofirn C8A only gets lukewarm after 3min while with the LG high drain cell it can almost burn your hand after 3min. The multimeter shows that the C8A pulls more amps from a LG high train cell which translates into much more lumens and heat. With the LG cell the Sofirn C8A delivers more than 1750 lumens considering the warmer light color.

Also see my review of the two lights here:

Nice video review :+1:

You can get the C8A without battery, from Sofirn’s Aliexpress store.

Thanks! So I am not crazy and the “Sofirn mystery cell” indeed limits the C8A. The Panasonic NCR18650GA must be a beast of a protected cell if it still manages to get the maximum out of the Sofirn C8A!

Interesting that you find Sofirn battery less powerful than LG HG2, since many here reported that under the wrap is Samsung 30Q.
Maybe they offering standard cell with C8A, and High drain only with C8F since it have triple emitter…
Btw my C8T XP-l hi after all wires changed to 20awg now pushing 1550 lumens after 30 sec and over 1600 at start !
Amazing performance with close to 100Kcd

My light gets much hotter with the LG cell, much brighter and pulls more amps. But anyway I love to see that Sofirn pushes the C8 design!

What’s the advantage/disadvantage of C8A versus C8T?

The C8T has more throw (but less lumens) due to the XP-L HI emitter, the C8A has a more balanced beam and more lumens.

It was. The cell that came with my C8 trip is differently wrapped, but didn’t look too closely. If it’s 3400mAH, it might be a panny-B of sanny-A under the wrap, but my first Sofirn cells measured a tad over 2800mAH like a 30Q would. Quite nice.

Will look later…