The Q8 IS an update to the venerable SRK, BLF members redesigned it for optimization. Interesting that Ifowner states that it looks like an F12 which is a small tube light, the M170 is what his link goes to, which is still a lot different light as a triple and with XM-L outdated emitters and a high price tag. Neat looking light though, might have some potential were it not for that price point…
On my Sofirn Q8 I found a fault. After setting the step down temperature, then turn it on with a long press for ramping it’ll start at max then quickly drop to moonlight and ramp up. It’ll remain like this until I disable thermal step down or change it to timed step down. The temperature setting is causing this
I think this is a known bug that shows up on a few lights. One of my custom drivers has this. It’s best to do one click to turn on, then ramp up. Or cover the end of the light with your hand temporarily if you have to start at moonlight.
The difficulty for the company is that they have to invest in the leds up front. They have to buy them in a reel. If sales of the WW version are not good, they are stuck with all these leds and they loose money.
Doing it yourself is definitely the quickest way. Another option might be taking the blf version and slicing the domes off. That would probably make the color a bit warmer, plus give more throw distance.
If i remember correctly, when i tested my UCL glass lenses on the lux meter (which is broken now after a few good years of non-usage, i think the electronics inside corroded, my place environment sucks! ), they are around 98.x% transmittance. So it depends on how much the original lens is letting through, if it’s a 91-93% thick glass then the gains are going to be relative more vs good original glass.
It’s all in percentages, if you have a 30k lumens light then of course the gain in absolute lumens would be quite a bit more than a 3k lumens light. Also if the original glass sucks (thick + non-AR etc), then the gain would also be more.