Sofirn C01S SST-20 4.000K 95CRI / Low-High version available again!

Still 2-mode driver, right?

Those colours look great!

Yes, as far as I am informed it still uses the 2-mode driver/UI. I don't know if they can put the new dual-modegroup 3-mode UI of C01R onto the MCU of C01S. The driver of C01R cannot be used "as is" for C01S as it is developed for LEDs with a very low forward voltage, e.g. XP-E2 photo red or maybe Osram Whiteflat 1mmĀ². I wish they were able to source some Nichia E21A with 1.800K - 2.200K 98CRI to test a mule version of C01S but the odds look rather bad.

I would definitely buy a C01S with the 3 mode driver and a 4500k Nichia E21A. Doesnā€™t need to be a mule.

I think in a mid-term perspective the odds look good to see the 3-mode UI in C01S, too. Most probably Sofirn still has quite some 2-mode UI drivers left on stock and retrofitting these with the 3-mode UI will not be reasonable in terms of costs. I talked to Barry about Nichia in general some months ago when discussing UV LEDs and he mentioned that it's very difficult for them to get Nichia LEDs. However, I'm confident that with enough demand there would be some way to get these. Hank Wang also got them for his KR4 lights. The question is: What demand would be necessary to achieve at least a breakeven with these special emitters. Maybe I should create a new "interest check"? ;-)

Making an interest check sounds like a really good idea. :+1:
Would Nichia LED and a 3-mode UI raise the cost to a $30-40?

Seems these colors are on the Sofirnlight website! Green and no-ano donā€™t seem to have images up yet, unless my browsers are both acting up.

These colors (desert tan, orange) just got put up on amazon, as well as a ā€œno-anodizationā€ version. The no-ano one shows the BLF-C01S style polished/machined no-ano finish. I wonder if this version of the no-ano is making a comeback, or if this is just misrepresented bead blasted stock?


UPDATE: Sofirn has messaged me on amazon to state the no-ano is out of stock

Is the new silver like colour non anodized or ckear anodized?

Edit: Maybe Lux-Perpetua or Barry can confirm, but I talked to Zoe from Sofirn and was told that ā€œthe warehouseā€ doesnā€™t have the no-ano version. It has been taken of amazon so Iā€™m pretty sure the correspondence Iā€™ve had has been solely in reference to what is available via amazon, despite my more general request for information about getting these colors elsewhere. Iā€™ve ordered off Sofirnlight instead since itā€™s cheaper anyway.

I also noticed the sofirnlight website has been updated with new product images for all colors. including a raw, no-ano version which quite noticeably doesnā€™t show ā€œBLF C01Sā€ but the standard ā€œSofirn C01Sā€. They also updated the missing green ano image.




I will ask Barry.

If they would willing to source and use nichia LEDs also for a few others existing models, the demand could expand more largely than for the C01 only.

I cant even think of a light they have an E21A is suitable for. This is the closest one and still may require new optics.

Anything FET, no.
Anything reflector, no.

Well there goes their whole lineup.

Edit; there is one, the lantern.

Actually, there is a feasibility check for C01S with Nichia E21A already...

https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/62571

It seems 2.000K and 3.500K are highly requested by BLF members. You are right about the TIR optic. It will probably require to use a frosted wide angle lens to reduce tint shift. I donā€™t know if the new C01R boost driver (approx. 1.2A at max with XP-E2 PR using a Vf of 2.4V) would work best with E21A but it looks very promising.

Barry just told me the new silver C01S is bare polished aluminum just like the first batch of C01S BLF edition.

Good to hear, thanks for getting us a final word! I already ordered 2 off the Sofirnlight web store, so Iā€™m glad to hear the product images shown were accurate.

I ordered the orange one, in addition to C01R. Maybe gonna one more colour soon. If only it got a true (usually 4 hour) middle mode like some other AAA light. Then itā€™s easy choice for me to order a couple more.

I ordered a green-bodied version a few days ago. A package showed up today. I said: ā€œno way they got it here this quicklyā€. Nope, it was the C01R I had ordered and since forgotten about!

Well, the C01R is pretty amazing. The three modes of pure red are incredible. Iā€™ll play with it more when night comes but just looking into closets, Iā€™m impressed. The low is perfect for preserving night vision. The medium Iā€™ll have to explore more. The high is surprisingly bright. Anyone know what the run times are like for the different modes here?

There are just 2 modes: high (100 lumens) and low (3 lumens).

The colors look great.

Will these colors, or at least some of them eventually be available for the LT1? I think thatā€™s a great shade of green in particular for the lantern.