WalkIntoTheLight, thanks for the review. I got an Astrolux C8 last week and it’s my new favorite in the C8 style. It makes a good pair with my BLF A6 due to the drivers being the same.
I also have on order one of the Manta Ray C8s that uses 12*7135 current regulators (4.2Amps). We’ll see which feels better to use. smilesAmazon.com
Thanks for the review!
That is one impressive little light with so much punch. I am teetering on the edge, to get it or not…probably will before the day is over.
It would be interesting to see a brightness comparison between a FET driver (the Astrolux C8) and a 12x7135 design. The FET will win of course (you can’t do better than direct-drive, unless you have a boost circuit), but I wonder by how much?
I haven’t been too impressed by how the Convoy 8x7135 holds up brightness as the battery drains, which makes me suspect that too many 7135’s drop voltage too much and can’t power the light as much as intended. I’m suspicious that 12x7135 might not do much better than 8x7135.
Anyway, if you get a chance, please let us know how it performs against a 8x7135 design.
I like the idea of having a thrower that has the same interface as my EDC A6.
The whole tint thing confuses me - is the 1A or 3B tint prefered in a thrower? I think I recall that one is perceived as brighter at a distance even if color rendition is not as good?
Yes, it’s noticeable on a white-wall. The Astrolux is a bit more “crisp” than the Convoy. However, when I did lux tests, I didn’t notice any difference in hot-spot intensity that wasn’t attributable to the extra brightness of the Astrolux. So, I’m not sure it makes much difference in real usage. It might make a few percent difference, but that’s within my margin of error.
The extra 60% brightness is by far the biggest factor.
hard to believe this little light throws as far (or further) compared to my Thorfire S70S. Will be interesting to compare the two.
Of course the Thorfire will have much more light over-all. Amazing how much $20 can get you nowadays.
Yes, it is. Up until I bought a couple of Convoy C8’s this year, I was mainly using one of my 4xAA lights as a compact “thrower”. They did the job almost as well, but are heavy, bulky, and significantly more expensive.
I really like the C8 format for a compact thrower. Coupled with a FET driver like in the Astrolux, it really throws well.
You can get spoiled if using a multiple-18650 light that both throws and blasts a wall of light. But, they’re not very practical to carry because of their bulk.