I recently received 2 C8F 21700 hosts, along with a driver kindly sent by Sofirn, and today I found the time to assemble 1.
I used 2 pieces of 16AWG wire (about 4-5cm each), 3x XP-L2 V4 4500k 80CRI 3-step, and the Sofirn driver.
And I was really amazed by the result, I measured 17.8A max at the tailcap, with a 30T @ 4.2V
THANKS Sofirn.
That will be just under 5000 on-LED lumens, right? 
Anyone know if the 21700 host will show back up in aliexpress store?
From a test to ceiling bounce, I estimate about 4700-4800 lumens.
Not too shabby!
I modded up a C8F 21700 host with 3 351D 4000K 90 CRI's and also measured 17.8A at the tail! Mine does 4150 at start, 3750 at 30 secs, but that's not ANSI lumens, more like manufacturer lumens. Measured 33 kcd throw. I used 20 AWG LED wires (long to re-program), and swapped the tail bypass to 20 AWG.
I got one more 21700 host on the way (hope so), and got in 3 C8F 18650 hosts, 2 modded up.
One C8F with XP-L2 V6 5000K actually read 19.1 amps on a VTC5D cell, 5640-5050 lumens, 42.5 kcd.
I hope they get in more - doesn't sound or look good. They don't seem to sell the 18650 versions any longer as well.
I forgot to mention:
Sofirn said they will make a single led Version 21700 C8.
It will be the same design and driver and firmware and double switch as the triple but with single led with smooth reflector. The led options not clear yet but XP-L HI is definietly on the list.
That sound great … with bigger head for +150 kcd will be nice.
No other changes just single C8 reflector. I tb nk it will be the same as C8T and C8A
Hope not - hoping it has a side switch w/LED's..
Sorry if I was misunderstoodable. Reflector same as C8A C8T. Switches stay same as C8F 21700 dual switch with leds.
How many people like C8F with 3* SST20 4000K 95CRI？It will be quicker and easier.
I know some say a single XHP family + bigger head + 21700 tube or 26650 tube light gives 15k+ cd, it’s a new light which takes longer time to fulfill.
Furthermore, there is already a light such as thrunite Catapult V6 like that, how could Sofirn makes it better?
Note:
If you guys want tell new ideas for Sofirn light, please just PM me, but contact aliexpress sales only for order related topics. Simple and clear communication helps us making acurate plan.
I think quite a number of people have modified or built their Sofirn C8F to have 3x Samsung LH351D (4000K 90CRI or 5000K 80CRI), maybe could also have that as an option?
I think both the SST20 4000K 95CRI and the LH351D 4000K 90CRI would be a great emitter choice for the C8F. I’m weighing up which of these two options to put into my own C8F.
I can’t say I’d defiantly buy another C8F just because they became available with SST20 4000K 95CRI emitters, but I would choose the SST20 over the current XP-L.
3x white flat LED since you guys like cool white so much. Stand out some, Nightwatch just released what you are proposing anyways.
Yep I have the Nightwatch NA40 SE with SST-40 emitters and it measure 3,970 lumens at 1s. I love the usb-c recharge being separate from the head so you can swap the driver and still retain usb recharge. They are now offering SST-20 3000k and 4000k option. The SST-20 3000k they are using has a very good below the BBL tint. I think it is most likely the HD2 tint bin.
Sofirn, do you have any idea what tint bin and flux bin you are getting with the SST-20 or LH351D?
Also putting in the CSLMN1.TG or CSLPM1.TG in the C8F would be good. Usb-c recharge would be very nice to have.
xpl hi makes ugly rings around the hotspot
I haven’t tried with sst20
I put 3 LH351D 4000k in mine and the overall result is great, I love the tint, and the rings can only be seen when pointing to a white wall (the rings exists also with the stock leds)
I liked SSt-20 4000K cri95 so much I built my own from 21700 host!
… oh and added SS bezel too.
Yours looks way more centered than mine. I used the older 18650 host and did 3x SST-20 4K sliced dome. I would probably leave dome on if I did it over again but I was re-using LEDs from another build.
@Contractcr, centering rings did all the work, ALTHOUGH I did have to slightly widen the MCPCB-to-Reflector screw hole slightly (~0.4mm) because it was not aligned with reflector (thanks to DJozz for first pointing this out)
Hopefully Sofirn can correct this problem and/or improve QC.