Astrolux MF04 thrower review (The BLF-GT killer?)

Looks like your GT is underperforming quite a bit.

And too bad about the missing momentary turbo. That’s the greatest thing.

There’s a typo in the first table saying XHP35-HD.

Nice review! :smiley:
Interesting that even going from 10 to 15 meters gives you such a big difference. I measured 1.1Mcd at 14m. But sadly that’s about the whole length of our house, so I can’t go away any further. Is yours cool or neutral?

P.S.: In your specifications it says XHP35-HD

Thats what I thought already from the beginning. But that might have been my lux meter I thought. But after all my MF04 outperformed my GT.

Good point. The GT is neutral and MF04 is CW.

Edit: table updated with correct LED

Thanks for the review!

How many Lumens is it? I do not see that mentioned.

It certainly throws very far! I would say it may be the longest throwing STOCK flashlight in the world!

The TN42vn w/ Oslon and GTvn W/ CFT-90 throw further. The Oslon w/ much less lumen and the CFT-90 with much more.

My TN42vn 90 is close in output but w/ the huge hot spot and massive lumens is my choice.

I prefer a light w/ more lumens and great throw like the MF04 and especially my TN42vn 90 [5000L/1Mcd} than a pencil beam light.Although, my only Oslon thrower is an Eagletac M25C2vn T and it is 552Kcd!

TN42vn w/ Oslon

Spec 5 Oslon Flat Black 6500K - Pencil beam, Max Throw, Low output
Lumen: 700-850
Intensity: 1.1-1.3Mcd
Throw: 2098-2280m

TN42vn 90

*Spec 6 CFT-90 5500K - Best Lumen with near max throw in neutral tint
Lumen: 5000
Intensity: 1Mcd
Throw: 2000m

  • For the CFT-90 CW and NW have the same specs/output. That is not the norm but for this LED it is.

GT w/ CFT-90
Spec 5: CFT-90 5500K, ~4500-5000 Lumen, +1.5Mcd, +2450m Throw

Nothing is set in stone. There are obviously some variables. the biggest is these are measured by Three different people w/ Astrolux having very high numbers. I would tend to believe V54’s numbers and your numbers,even if they are a bit low.

I am sure if those[Oslon/CFT-90] LED’S were put in the MF04 it would also do very well! :sunglasses:

Very nice review!! Thorough & straight forward. Thank you…… :+1:

Hey Chibi, have you tried hitting a white building from around the claimed 2416m away yet?

Just measured them. My Protected Keeppowers are the same length as my Protected NCR18650B's from HKE but my NCR's from Banggood are a few mm longer.

Last week I went out and tried to do a short video.... failed... I saw the beams really clear in the sky, but the camera on my phone didnt pick it up. I probably have to go out and do it again. So there was a building I shined upon, but I dont know how far that was.. probably only 1km or less.

Also I dont have a way to measure lumens yet. I bought a styrofoam ball which should become a sort of integrating sphere... but havent come round yet.

Thanks Klrman. so it might be the different protection used on these cells.. Mine didnt fit.

MT35Plus (left), MT35 (right):
Virtually the same dimensions, aluminium ends on the +, brass on the MT35, with protected Samsungs bought from FT several years ago.


I have a mf04 and like reading reviews… thanks for doing it…

Most astrolux will take any flat top and doesnt have to remove the white insulator…

I think mf04 have about 250 more lumen than blf gt.

Op, which do you like better ?

Thought they were the same.

I have a spare battery cage and just tried to insert my longest protected NCR18650B from Bangood into and it went in no problem. Maybe your batteries are even longer, who knows but I did zoom into your pic with the NCR's in the cage and I have a feeling they may fit as the bottom spring is not fully compressed in the picture. I need to fully compresses my spring to fit the NCRs in, but it takes no effort to do so.

Mine really dont fit, even if I use force. My favorite would be the MF04, because of the smaller size and weight..even though its front heavy. I also like the easy UI, without program modes.

Has to be the longer batteries then.

That’s weird… I can insert keeppower protected button top and acebeam protected into mf04 carrier… fits perfect… length is 69 mm.


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Look at the fist picture of the battery carrier. It just won't fit. I might have to change the decription as it might be specifically jist my protected pannies, but probably depending on the brand/protection.

Great review!
I’m going to buy the mf04 and batteries.
I just had a few questions. Does it have to be unprotected cells? And also, is button tops to be prefered?

i wouldn't get protected button tops! Unprotected button tops are what you need!

Okay, thanks!
Found the Samsung 30Q button top on NKON, will go for them then.

Sounds like a good plan!