Sofirn SP32A V2.0
Update: Sofirn has provided a 20% off coupon code for the new SP32A V2.0 for Amazon: RFQ9UA5J
I was kindly offered this light for review by Tracy at Sofirn. I have made my best attempt at keeping all remarks honest, fair, and impartial.
Packaging: the SP32A V2.0 arrived in a nice sturdy retail box with the usual suspects - an instructions card, o-ring, and a lanyard. The instructions were for the original SP32A, but the operation is pretty similar.
LED Tint: the LED is listed as an XP-L2 with 5350-5700K tint which looks about right to my eyes. Like most XP-L2 lights there is a bit of tint shift that is evident, but I didn’t find it overly bothersome, even indoors.
Modes: the SP32A V2.0 has a pretty unique UI compared to the rest of my flashlights, providing the option of traditional stepped modes and a ramping mode. It’s pretty easy to switch back and forth between them. In ramping mode, I counted about 5 seconds of ramp time between the low and high ends. In traditional mode, there are 4 modes plus turbo (and strobe).
Low | Med1 | Med2 | High | Turbo | |
Measured Lumens | 5 | 56 | 169 | 537 | 1262 |
Spec Lumens | 5 | 50 | 160 | 500 | 1300 |
Spec Runtime | 260hr | 26hr30min | 9hr30min | 3hr35min | 2hr30min |
UI: in stepped mode, the order goes L > M1 > M2 > H with memory. Click to turn on, hold to turn off. From any mode (including off), a double click goes to turbo and triple click goes to strobe. Ramping has the same double/triple click option. Hold the button to ramp up and down. In ramping mode, a click turns the light on and off. Overall, a pretty flexible and nice UI.
Styling & Build Quality: I really like the styling of the Sofirn SP32A V2.0. The compact size is great. Everything feels nice and solid. I like that they skipped the “attack bezel” and went with a smooth one. The button protrudes slightly, making it easier to find, and is firm to press. The threads on both ends of the battery tube are anodized and beautifly square and smooth. While the clip isn’t reversible, the battery tube is, so in effect you can reverse the clip. The glass appears to have AR coating. The anodizing is typical of Sofirn lights, a nice smooth black and very even. While my model is the black one, they’re also offering the SP32A V2.0 in silver and pale gold; which according to pictures, look amazing.
Runtime: I’ll say that Sofirn’s measurements matched mine really well. I put the flashlight in my lumen tube on Turbo and walked away. When I came back nearly 7 hours later, the SP32A V2.0 was still chugging along with 4 lumens. The battery indicator was blinking. I took the cell out and it measure 2.95V, a good safe voltage.
Notes: turbo ran for 3 minutes at around 1200 lumens, then stepped down to high (500 lm). After 3 hours on high, it stepped down to med2, then med1, and eventually to low. It ran in low for a few more hours before I stopped the test.
Conclusion: I really like the size and quality of this light. This light will definitely see some use. Good job, Sofirn!
Here’s a lineup with some brothers and cousins (left to right): TF TK01, TF TK05, Sofirn SF14, Sofirn SP32A V2.0, TF TK15, TF TK15S, Sofirn C8 (from host)
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Edit: here’s some additional pics
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Typical XP-L2 beam pattern. If you’re staring at a plain white wall, it’s annoying. In practice though, it’s not too bad.
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Edit 2: amp measurements, taken with a Sanyo GA at 4.13V:
- Standby: 0.01 mA
- Low: 0.008 A (8 mA)
- Med1: 0.083 A (83 mA)
- Med2: 0.242 A
- High: 0.920 A
- Turbo: 2.86 A