Sofirn SP36, impressions of a sample

yeah. i guess you’re right …

Hey guys . So anyone knows the CRI for the LEDs? Of course I’m not using it for all time photography but it’ll be nice to take a pic or two once a while with it lighting things up haha. Thanks !

Edit : My research on the XP-L2 says that it should be atleast 70 in CRI? . Do we know what’s the CRI is in our flashlight?

Dunno if anyone tested them but I'm sure no higher than 80, probably 70 or 70+ rated.

I got in my SP36 and the tint/beam is the typical horrible XP-L2 pattern: white hot spot, yellow ~3000K ring around the hotspot, then the bluish white spill, ~6500K. Least this is the way it looks to me - not good for photographic use. I'm gonna swap these as soon as i get a chance, probably with 351D's.

yeah. although if i only need to hotspot . it should be okay ye? the hotspot seems white enough ye

Gearbest, Banggood, AliExpress cannot ship batteries to my country (AliExpress used to be able to ship “some” [that was about a year ago; now the only battery shipping options to my country that I see on AliExpress are DHL/Fedex shipping that cost $50+; unlike before where the AliExpress battery store will ship via some obscure shipping method to bypass battery shipping restrictions] — as in, like out of 5 orders, only 2 orders will arrive in the country, and the rest I have to open dispute — I ordered button-top 18650s from AliExpress before, but unfortunately, they were the ones that did not get thru shipping…)

That’s also the reason why I do not have button-top cells, at least not good ones. The only button-top cells I got are those that are bundled by flashlights (eg. the Sofirn 18650 that are ordered as “kit”, or the other button-top batteries bundled by Wuben flashlight).

I could not get button-top Samsung 30Q (I’ve been looking for over 1 year now), they just cannot be shipped to the Philippines…

I did grab a few pieces button-top 18650s when I personally visited Neal in China, but unfortunately, the China airport security confiscated my batteries just before boarding the airplane coming back to my country — the Chinese airport security said those (button-top Samsung 30Q) batteries have no mAh capacity rating (and no rating = “over” the capacity rating allowed to be hand-carried).

I just basically given up hope of getting button-top Samsung 30Q or Sony VTC6 high-drain cells. :frowning:

Guys another question. Is it fine to use the Nitecore SG7 grease? It’s silicone based as far as I know. But I don’t know if it’s safe to use with our orings. Thanks ! Also any suggestions on cleaning the old grease? Using alcohol swab should do it I think ye?

PTFE/Teflon Super Lube works pretty well, and is cheap and easy to get in many places. Typically it’s a grey squeezy tube with a rainbow on the front.

I see I see

Is the top of the ramp the brightest mode? Or is it only accessible with double click?

As far as I know . The highest ramp is the turbo

With NarsilM 1.2, the top of the ramp should be the same as turbo. If Sofirn makes Anduril versions of the light though, the default settings put the top of the ramp at about half power. Turbo is still available with a double click though, and the user can move the ends of the ramp to any level.

I have a problem. It's one of the spring. It was fine and all. Until I tried one of my button top GA. And for some reason. It deformed the spring. now it's not even and I can't use my VTC6's . Never experienced this before on a flashlight etc... The spring is so weak. Is it a defect on mine? I only put my protected GA and that happened. I have PMed Sofirn and asked if they can send me a replacement battery holder for my SP36. Haven't been replied yet. I panicked when it happened lol. Never experienced this before. And it's just weird in my opinion. The spring should be able to just handle the button top GA without deforming. Anyways here are the images.

https://imgur.com/a/cUio1sR

Kinda disappointed with how easy it was to deform the spring with my button top GA. tho I'm not sure it's supposed to be like that. Prob mine is defective. The spring

Edit : I just tried prying it up with a small head screwdriver and no go. It's stuck in that position. From the top looking at the holder. It looks just fine.

Edit 2 : I just remembered that i have tried using that battery before and tried my Pana B's button top pack . and it was fine. i guess my spring is defective and it has decided to give up. because i remembered that i tried my button top Pana B's and that GA at first just to test it out when it first got here and it was just fine.

OK is there a possibility you put it in backwards?

nope there is no way lol. im not that dumb :stuck_out_tongue: . i know how dangerous it is to put it backwards. and also . its button top. the button top is always on top. the picture there with my vtc6 are just so you guys can see that it is much lower than other springs.

The inner and outer springs may be entangled. If you take the end cap off, unscrew the board, you can get access to the springs and see better what's going on.

Take pics if you want us to help further.

wait. we can take the end cap off? what way ?

I thought mine simply unscrews - I could be wrong...

yep after some force it came off. wait gonna see

PBWilson shows the screws here: https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/53450/240 from removing the end cap, but didn't show the board removed. Dunno if anyone else posted pics of it. I could, but right now can't get access to my shop.

When I have to get aggressive with breaking a glued seal, this is what I use:

it seems like. the screws are so tight … i tried to remove one screw. and i destroyed the screw. tried the second one. and it almost destroys it . remember… my screwdriver is the one with many sizes . ive used the size closest to the actual screw. with no go (the screw number one) and other sizes and the number 2 is beginning to become destroyed. i didnt use too much force. just usual force. idk. its weird