Zooming Model List (2018 Updated) Tell us about your newest zoomie!

[Tom_E]

No, I'd rather buy another Xanes P10, modded here. It's known well to me, though would be nice to try a different LED.

[Agro]

Some new 16340 zoomie, huge considering how small cell it uses. One could fit 26650 in these dimmensions.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000221534312.html

[Agro]

This 18650 zoomie was shown in this already but now someone added a gel sleeve:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32965686781.html

And a few more 18650 zoomies:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32845524680.html

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000204249750.html

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000286276379.html

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32803721694.html

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000041289315.html

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32796640868.html

[Agro]

Oh, 2 more that I found but forgot to add to the previous post.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32990176053.html

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32909097795.html

Clearly 18650 zoomies with side switches are in fashion nowadays.

[luminarium_iaculator]

Side switch zoomie? imho——> That is is forced style by manufacturers for faster production… Nothing else.

[Tom_E]

I like side switch zoomies and want to see more, better ones. The one below did 72 kcd stock, now does 700 kcd running Anduril, controlling the green and blue LED's:

[Agro]

I also like side switch zoomies. I wish I had skills to build one like this above…

[Agro]

Sofirn S11 twisty (found by Funtastic):

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001162162117.html

AA UV zoomie from Supfire:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32835589652.html

[Agro]

I’m looking for a zoomie host advice. I want a new camping light with warm LED and Andruil.

What I need is:

• 21700 or 18650 or 26650 (in this order)
• perfectly smooth flood with sharp cutoff
• overall at least fair quality
• e-switch
• smooth push-pull
• fairly modable so I can have Andruil in it
• at most 170x55 mm
• not very expensive, I’m not buying a Led Lenser even if it’s a perfect option

Within the limits above I want something somewhat compact for the cell it accepts and the lens diameter it has. I know I can’t expect too much as most zoomies are awfully huge and junk quality.

What looks promising is Lumintop Zoom1. It is said to have a flood beam that matches my needs. Quality is way above my minimum. Compactness is good. It doesn’t focus well but that’s OK and may actually open some interesting possibilities like quad die emitter.
But I don’t know if it’s reasonably possible to turn it to Andruil.

Maybe someone can share some insight on it?

The other light that comes to my mind is Wowtac A3S. Vinh mods it with his drivers so I assume it’s doable. Considering that it has a smaller cell, smaller lens and aspheric instead of TIR it’s quite a bit larger than Zoom1 but definitely not bad. Quality is said to be top notch.
I’ve read that it has very thick o-rings which make zooming very stiff. It’s a deal breaker unless I can fix it. But I assume replacing them with something looser is an option…

Any thought?
Any other choices?

[Tom_E]

Sorry, don't have the Zoom1 - was turned off for some reason, not sure. I got a couple A3's and could not get the bezel off - think I tried my pine board method that has worked on everything else. It's been a while. Not sure of anything else - got cheaper zoomies, 18650, think couple are quite moddable.

Firelight2 got it off here: https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/54714

I love the light, just wish I could open it up. I can't repeat Firelight2's method.

[GDF]

On a similar vein, I’m also looking for a high-cri/warm flaslight with a led lenser style focusing and Anduril. I have a led lenser MT10 which came with an angry blue emitter. I’ve disassembled the head and looked at the pillar and tiny MCPCB and considered the best way to swap it with a warm led. I’ve only swapped emitters on lights that are easy to mod, so I’m still debating whether to attempt it on the MT10 with my limited skill. But even if I succeed, I still have no clue on how to deal with the crappy UI. So, I’ve left the light alone for now and looking for a good host instead. The search continues…

[MascaratumB]

@Agro

What looks promising is Lumintop Zoom1. It is said to have a flood beam that matches my needs. Quality is way above my minimum. Compactness is good. It doesn’t focus well but that’s OK and may actually open some interesting possibilities like quad die emitter.
But I don’t know if it’s reasonably possible to turn it to Andruil.

The driver seems a bit tricky as shown here, by member nkresho: [Unboxing] LuminTop ZOOM1 - #15 by nkresho

Lumintop zoom1 teardown

Also, you’d probably lose the built-in charging, unless you could mod it to accomodate both things (Anduril and USB). That is far beyond my knowledge, though :zipper_mouth_face:

[contactcr]

What is the point of the zoom1? It just unfocuses the LED right? Just get a normal zoomie or a small thrower with a diffusing cap.

[MascaratumB]

Agro, did you thought about the YLP Falcon 15? It has side switch (I presume e-switch, but couldn’t find more info on the driver).
https://ylplight.com/en/katalog/1/falcon-f15/

[contactcr]

None of these TIR ones meet his sharp cutoff criteria

[MascaratumB]

@contactcr

None of these TIR ones meet his sharp cutoff criteria

I am sorry, but I don’t know what does it mean contactcr :person_facepalming:
Any kind of lens format/shape?

[contactcr]

The distinct circle that aspheric zoom lights have. No gradual spill that fades out. I think that is what he is looking for.

[Agro]

Thanks for the answers guys!

@Tom E

Sorry, don’t have the Zoom1 - was turned off for some reason, not sure. I got a couple A3’s and could not get the bezel off - think I tried my pine board method that has worked on everything else. It’s been a while. Not sure of anything else - got cheaper zoomies, 18650, think couple are quite moddable.

Firelight2 got it off here: https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/54714

I love the light, just wish I could open it up. I can’t repeat Firelight2’s method.

Thanks for the warning. It doesn’t seem so good for me then.

@GDF

On a similar vein, I’m also looking for a high-cri/warm flaslight with a led lenser style focusing and Anduril. I have a led lenser MT10 which came with an angry blue emitter. I’ve disassembled the head and looked at the pillar and tiny MCPCB and considered the best way to swap it with a warm led. I’ve only swapped emitters on lights that are easy to mod, so I’m still debating whether to attempt it on the MT10 with my limited skill. But even if I succeed, I still have no clue on how to deal with the crappy UI. So, I’ve left the light alone for now and looking for a good host instead. The search continues…

I’m also poor at modding and my method so far is to mod cheap lights and ask better modders to work on the more expensive ones. I believe it’s a reasonable option, enables me to have top notch lights and it’s actually cheaper than modding (and breaking) myself. And by working on cheaper lights I still learn some.

@MascaratumB

@Agro

What looks promising is Lumintop Zoom1. It is said to have a flood beam that matches my needs. Quality is way above my minimum. Compactness is good. It doesn’t focus well but that’s OK and may actually open some interesting possibilities like quad die emitter.
But I don’t know if it’s reasonably possible to turn it to Andruil.

The driver seems a bit tricky as shown here, by member nkresho: [Unboxing] LuminTop ZOOM1 - #15 by nkresho

Lumintop zoom1 teardown

Also, you’d probably lose the built-in charging, unless you could mod it to accomodate both things (Anduril and USB). That is far beyond my knowledge, though :zipper_mouth_face:

I don’t really care whether I have USB or not. A powerbank would be great but is infeasible so far.
But the pics look OK!
One could:

• remove the board with USB
• remove all components from the other board except for the switch and spring
• solder-then-glue a single-sided driver from Lexel (effectively FET+1)

Not as easy as I would hope but skilled hands should be able to do it.

@contactcr

What is the point of the zoom1? It just unfocuses the LED right? Just get a normal zoomie or a small thrower with a diffusing cap.

The point is that I don’t actually need a thrower. I need a flooder and if it gets some throw that’s a nice bonus.
And a diffused thrower beam is not good for my uses.
There are always people at campsites. Sometimes the places are tightly packed. It is very unkind to shine at these people because it blinds them. And it’s very unkind to shine at their tents because it may disturb people sleeping inside.
So it’s very important for me to be able to control where does the light go and where it doesn’t. That’s why I need sharp beam cutoff. BTW zooming helps this cause as well because sometimes I partially focus the beam with the purpose of not making it brighter but rather making it narrower.
Get a normal zoomie? Yeah, that would be a perfectly fine choice and I’m still open to getting one. Zoom1 is a quality zoomie and one of the most compact e-switch ones which made it an appealing option.
But if I could get something which was also very good but simpler I would be happy with that.

@MascaratumB

Agro, did you thought about the YLP Falcon 15? It has side switch (I presume e-switch, but couldn’t find more info on the driver).
Falcon F15 — Online store — YLP light

I have it. It’s glued.
And it’s very stiff which makes me never use it despite the fact that I like the LED tint and I like the quality of it.
The switch is unusual, a clicky e-switch. It latches at position one, if you click it latches at position 2. Click again, it’s 1. There are half-presses as well.
Overall the UI behaves almost like a reverse clicky one but as you connect power the light is always off, regardless of how you left it.

@contactcr

None of these TIR ones meet his sharp cutoff criteria

bmengineer says otherwise:

[Review] Lumintop Zoom1

This review was originally posted on my site - read it there for the best experience. The Product [image] Lumintop sent me their latest light, the Zoom1, for review. This is a single 18650 light with an adjustable focus. The light has a single side switch for control, and features integrated micro-USB charging. Spoiler Focusing lights, or "zoomies" seem to have a very polarizing effect. Most enthusiasts are strongly against them, and many non-enthusiasts refuse to use anything else. This …

@bmengineer

Many focusing lights use an aspheric lens, but this one is a bit different - it’s actually a TIR lens, with an aspheric portion in the center. When zoomed out to a floody beam, looking through the lens gives an enlarged view of the LED. The beam is a smooth circle with sharp edges.

(…)

Zoomed out, looking into the lens seems less focused and is far more enlarged. The beam of light gets a more intense hot spot, but also has a bit of spill unlike aspheric beams.

[MascaratumB]

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000911139389.html

And the one that is on the way now
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001177537842.html

[luminarium_iaculator]

Finally! Old school zoomie!

30$ is not expensive considering everything in a package but I wonder why can’t I order light only for less money?

I have hundreds oh 18650 cells and chargers at home and I really don’t need more of that…