Very nice review!
Do you know if those optics are sold seperately anywhere and if they make them in different beam angles, frosted, etc…?
This is a bit confusing. Hank should probably change this wording to:
Driven direct by FET from 5A and up. Below 5A it uses linear constant regulation.
I can’t believe you found the tint to be greenish even with that dramatic mix of CCTs. I would have thought it’d end up super green. The 5000k and 6500k SST20s must be quite green.
I also would have imagined the beam pattern on this light to be floodier than say, the M43, MF01, and ROT66. So the individual optics are more throwy than the ones used in those lights (assuming both use SST20s.)
I am not aware of any way to get the optics by themselves. I don’t know what they are, or if they come in more than one style.
I haven’t seen a SST-20 which wasn’t greenish on low modes. It’s just how that particular product line works.
As maukka showed, the tint green-shifts on low, and red-shifts on high:
Tint-mixing helps with this, but I think I had too many 4000K + 5000K emitters to pull the low-mode tint below the BBL.
No, this is significantly more throwy than M43 or ROT66. M43 has a big wide hotspot and basically no spill. ROT66 has a slightly smaller hotspot, and also has spill around it. D18 has a significantly smaller/tighter hotspot and even more spill. SP36 is even more throwy, with its larger reflectors, but it only comes in cool white so far and its spill area is kind of a mess.
I’ll get the cd/lm measurements in a bit; kinda waiting for something in the mail. In any case though, the D18 is more throwy than the other many-emitter soda can lights, and it also puts out a lot more lumens.
I’m really interested to see what kind of numbers Vinh can get using the Osram emitters with this host then, given the throwier nature of these individual optics.
Nicely done, thank you for the detailed look…
Great review! Thanks 
Review much appreciated, thanks for posting
Amazing review, ToyKeeper!
If I didn't hate side buttons so much, I would have to get an Emisar flashlight. 
TK, Review is thorough and very much appreciated, Thanks for your effort. Too bad Nichia 219B’s are not available anymore without 3000 piece min order. They would be great and would not have to be driven too hard.
One can still dream…
Nice review ToyKeeper.
If you have time, could you please unscrew the batteries copper board and take a picture of the spring side and end of the batteries tube ?
A pity that there is no chamfer on the whole periphery of the lanyard cut out and also batteries cut out while Emisar has generally good fit and finish and attention to details.
Why don’t you like side buttons flashlights?
The flashlights that I use most live in my pants/shorts pocket, and they always accidentally turn on in my pocket if they have a side button.
I believe Emisars feature both physical and soft lockout. I suppose you don’t like either?
TK, weight, weight weight? Please
No, I don't.
Tail buttons are far more convenient.
Thanks for your hard work TK!
Thanks TK, you are awesome.
Such a provocative statement))
D18 is bigger, has smaller runtime,worse stabilisation( require hidrain cells too).Has simple fet+ linear driver vs. boost in m43 (pwm low efficiency, simpler fw), has no indication in button, no new features. All this “improvement” takes 4 years.
Bidger output of D18? M43 can be simply moded to increase power in 1.5times.
Is it upgrade ?)
Not so sure about that. M43 output isn’t stable at low levels and at higher levels it can’t sustain flat output either due to high temp.
I wouldn’t compare the Meteor and D18 at all. Meteor is clearly in a class higher with its driver, but the D18 has a better UI. Maybe that’s why the D18 isn’t a Noctigon after all. If the tint is alright, I’ll probably prefer the D18 overall.