I just discovered this new Sofirn light quad emitter light on Aliexpress. It has some amazing features.
USB-C recharge
Variable CCT 2700K to 6500K (SST-20 emitters)
21700
This will be sweet. I’m hoping they release another version with the same LH351D 2700k and 5000K 90CRI used in the BLF LT1.
This is an interesting light but it would have to be high CRI. Since SST-20 isn’t even available in CRI90+ at CCTs over 4000K, I’m assuming it’s CRI70 all the way. No thanks. They should’ve used LH351D like the LT1 lantern.
Please find the English manual of Sofirn's IF25 on my sharepoint:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1De_MmcMGuhuxvfccCWKHTcWVXCfZFRAk
It uses 2x SST-20 2.700K 95CRI and 2x SST-20 6.500K 70CRI (apparently L4-bin code AFAIK). The driver is stated as a constant current driver that can also work in 2S configuration with 2x CR123A (6V), i.e. it seems to be using a buck converter. Like Sofirn's LT1 this flashlight has tint ramping but uses a proprietary user interface. Tint ramping can be accessed by click + hold ("2H" in terms of the Andúril UI explanation), i.e. press, release, press and hold. Like Sofirn's SP33 V3 the IF25 uses an updated thermal management (ATR) without any timed stepdowns.
It’s a strange design choice to make the stepless and stepped ramp modes change output modes in different ways. Hold for output ramping but click for output mode selection. I assume the light turns off with a single click in ramping mode even though the manual doesn’t say how to turn it off. This is weird since you need to hold the switch for off in stepped mode.
Also, I would like to be able to switch the light off immediately after tint ramping (click + hold), but you can’t do that in the stepped mode, since the tint ramping just changes direction if you press the switch within 1.5 seconds. Does a single click still turn off the light in ramping mode?
Thank you maukka. I just updated the manual. The light will be turned off by a single click in ramping mode. In stepped mode you need to keep holding the button for 0.5s to turn the light off.
About your concerns of a conflict between tint ramping and stepped modes:
To turn off the light: Press and hold 0.5s (=1H)
To change the tint: Press, release, then press and hold (=2H)
So, if you use tint ramping in stepped mode and want to turn off the light immediately, just release the button after tint ramping and then press and hold to turn off. The tint ramping will only start again if you click (= press, release) and then press and hold.
The IF25's UI was Sofirn's decision but they did it differently on the SP33 V3 (consistently between ramping and stepped modes). I will soon get a sample of the IF25 and will report if there is any conflict between turning the light off in stepped mode and using tint ramping before.
Oh man the UI is confusing as heck. I wish they stuck to the SP33 UI with click for off instead of click and hold for off. Also the UI could have been so much simpler if it had a tail switch also. The UI could be simple like this.
1) Click tail-switch for on-off
2) Click side switch to change brightness modes
3) Hold side switch to change color temperature
Well at least they updated their ATR to get rid of the timed step down, which I really hated.
The website shows it is no longer available. Two pairs of high CRI emitters and a separate button to ramp the tint would be nice; maybe use the 8CF as host with the tail button reconfigured to adjust the tint.
Sofirn was so kind to send me a late prototype of their IF25 for testing and for reporting any recommendations what to improve in later batches. Many thanks for that to Sofirn. The IF25 prototype arrived here on 10/25/2019 and I would like to share my initial impressions with you. Further tests like a thermographical analysis of heat transfer and regulation as well as measuring tailcap currents are still pending for I did not have the time to do that yet.
All in all, I'm quite satisfied with the IF25 and can recommend this flashlight to anyone who is interested in a handy and versatile 21700 EDC light with tint ramping. The points of criticism and suggestions for improvement that I have noted below relate mainly to details that could further enhance the user experience and appeal to an even larger group of buyers. As always, I have tried to express my feedback as objectively and unbiasedly as possible.
@ maukka: I tested following scenario for possible conflicts in the UI:
Alternatively, it would be better to use Samsung LH351D of consistent CRI values to balance the performance gap of the LEDs. However, the beam profile will then become more floody, which could only be influenced by changing the optics.
Sofirn finally got rid of a timed stepdown. The thermal regulation has also been revised and automatically intervenes in 3 stages (45°C, 55°C, 65°C) to regulate heat generation.
The regulation seems a little too "aggressive" to me personally, i.e. the IF25 steps down quite far, subsequently cools down more than necessary and thus gives away some potential.
Sofirn's ATR could be somewhat less conservative and allow a warmer, regulated continuous temperature.
Tint Ramping for changing the colour temperature works extremely well and intuitively.
Unfortunately, the IF25 has no mode memory for Moonlight in ramping mode, i.e. it starts at least at a low mode above moonlight. It would be desirable that the mode memory works to the lowest setting.
I’m getting one of these lights, but I will be replacing those ugly, cold, blue LEDs.
Thanks for the review.
I definitely prefer the IF25 beam profile over that of the optic in that Convoy S2.
Thanks for the review. I hope they can “fix” the UI so it is always “click” for on/off and even better if they can implement tail switch so it will be muggle friendly. I wonder why they didn’t use the LH351D like in the BLF LT1. The SST-20 2700K is great but the 5000K and 6500K is very green and the difference is forward voltage makes them not a good combination.
If they can make these improvements before Christmas, I would buy a bunch as this would be the ultimate gift light.
Been waiting for some more lights with adjustable colour temp. I’ll get one if they can fix the UI and increase the throw a bit.
Edit: oh yh and also use only 90+ cri emmiters
Sofirn told me they tested another prototype with LH351D but the beam quality was dissatisfying.
The solution is LH351C, available in 90 CRI at all CCT’s, but that led has never taken off very well.
link to djozz tests
I heard the LH351C is very positive in DUV (greenish tint). At least we know the SST-20 2700K and LH351D is not far from the BBL. Per Maukka’s recent review of the TO50R, the LH351D 5000K used in the latest version is actually not too far above the BBL. The older version of the LH351D 5000K is very far above the BBL.
thank you for the thread and update of sofirn New model IF25
Sofirn official Store-Aliexpress
Wholesale/Agent/OEM/ODM-Alibaba
Facebook
IF25
t ouellette
Lux thanks for putting in the work on the mini-review. It helps a lot.
Does anyone know the cd? I’m trying to figure out if it’s too floody for me.
Just got the IF25 I ordered on 11.11 sale. Quite impressive light. Very small actually for a 21700 light. Brightness and tint ramping not as smooth as Anduril in the BLF lantern but good enough.
Rough measurement around 1400 and 1000 lumens turbo for 6500K and 2700K respectively drawing around 5A at the tail. Current is stabilized when changing cct.
Like most SST20s, the 6500K is very green at low levels but tint improves at higher levels which is very evident when ramping brightness. Mixing some 2700K also improves the tint at mid CCTs. The 2700Ks are lovely.
So far haven’t been able to remove the bezel which is quite tight or maybe glued. Will try to replace the 6500K with 5700K 219c I got from convoy. If they don’t mix well with the 2700K SST20 will replace those with 3000K 219cs I have. The 34mm diffuser from nitecore fits perfectly so this should be a nice photo/video light.
Multiple cct has been long due in flashlights, but I really think that there should be a few fixed ones, each provided by a single high cri LED. The selection would preferably be mechanical, by turning the bezel, but in any case separate from the main switch that regulates brightness
these 4 leds shine all together or separetly? cant understand it:)
i study the ui and in reality is it useless…..especially with my nerves:)
EDC-Amutorch X9 XHP50 nw,Sofirn If-25A cw
Headlamp-Thrunite TH30 nw
What’s the point of Moonlight being memorized when a press and hold starts from moonlight like NarsilM
Turbo on 6500K is 1650 at 30 sec. That’s a long way from their claimed 2,300. Very annyoing
910 at 2700K
Texas Ace Lumen Tube calibrated with maukka lights
New Zealand store – https://www.piercingthedarkness.co.nz (NZ customers only)
Please tell me how to switch between mode 1 and mode 2 (ramp).
In the manual it says that from on (on) quadruple click.
but this way I don’t change modes.
Thank you very much.
Swapped 6500K leds with 219C 5700K from Simon at Convoy. The mix is actually not that bad at all despite the difference in die size. Definitely not as bad as I anticipated. At mid cct mix I notice a higher CCT tint shift around the hotspot but only on white wall and not noticeable in real use. Also, I just realized that the optics is not the same as Carclo 106xx series so could not try with the carclos I have.
Overall, I like it better. High cri all throughout the CCT range, less tint shift when changing brightness, and most important, no more green at higher CCTs. Downsides would be upper CCT only up to 5700K vs 6500K and less throw overall.
Some beam photos below vs PL47G2 sst20 FA3?. WB ~5500K.
@~2700K
@~4000K
@~5700K
Thanks for the pictures. Looks much better than the greenish SST-20 6500k.
Barry mentioned that Sofirnlight.com allows picking customized emitter options so I was hoping to buy some Sofirn lights with some mixed tint emitters like this. However, after PM and emails on how to purchase, I get no replies for about a month already. Oh well, I will wait until after CNY.
Waiting after CNY would be a good idea. Barry was very responsive with my request. I requested IF25 driver and MCPCB along with SP14 driver and he made it available in the website. I don’t think it has been shipped yet though because of CNY. I think BLF people might have flooded him with requests too.
I ordered one and just got it today. I really like it... takes some fooling with it and I had to RTFM.
Tint ramping works! Lesser lights are now obsolete. 
Nice, hefty, solid build. Semi-gloss without looking cheap. Heat sinking must be good-gets hot very, very fast.
I'd love to see an SP36 size version of this with 6 emitters, 3 cool, 3 warm. Two switches-one for normal light operation and a dedicated one for tint ramping. Sofirn, are you listening?
"I am the flashlight king! I can light anything!"
how much amps is it on high??
EDC-Amutorch X9 XHP50 nw,Sofirn If-25A cw
Headlamp-Thrunite TH30 nw
Today I take some measurements on tailcap of my IF25. Results are:
Moon – 5 mA
Low – 100 mA
Med 1 – 237 mA
Med 2 – 740 mA
High – 2.45 A
Turbo 7.2-7.3 A
Battery is fresh charged Samsung INR21700-40T.
Can you post some images of IF25 driver when you received. I am interesting to view is that some sort of linear or switch mode driver. It is interesting because in ramping mode I measured between 5-7.4A on high. It is interesting to view is that trully 2 channell CC driver or PWM.
Some measures and dissasembles were here
http://forum.fonarevka.ru/showthread.php?p=1244768#post1244768
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