Soda can size 4x18650 flashlight recommendations

Hi,
I’m looking for a can size flashlight, but something that can emit low brightness (sub 100lm). Also it would be great if it can have similar UI to that of a zebralight. I know about the meteor m43, but is it still being sold?

Thanks

Thorfire BLF Q8 or Sofirn version.

Great bang for your buck.

Emisar D18 and Astrolux MF01S

BLF Q8

Q8 (“BLF” or “Sofirn”) is on top of the heap IMO; just get it, you won’t be sorry. Ramping interface is more fun that my Zebras and just as easy to use. Low is about 1 lumen (I can look straight at it) and high is 5000 lumens, brighter than car headlights. Runs on 4 18650s, but is able to run on just 1 if necessary.

MF01S is nearly 700g so a bit heavy for pocket carry. The throw is pretty impressive though for a high output soda can light. If you want something more compact I’d say get the D18. Don’t own it myself but I’ve heard nothing but great things about it and Emisar in general. Q8 is good aswell but not as bright at max and more throwy…also much cheaper.

size comparisons of some soda-can lights (some take 3x18650, like the Fireflies ROT66, Emisar D18 and Sofirn SP36. The others use 4x 18650, eg. the BLF Q8, Sofirn Q8, Astrolux MF01S, Haikelite MT03 TA). [Astrolux MF01S not in this group picture]

ROT66 gen 1 use Narsil, ROT66 gen 2 uses Anduril
Emisar D18 uses Anduril
Sofirn SP36 available in Narsil and Anduril (but different LED types)
BLF Q8 and Sofirn Q8 come in Narsil (but can be flashed to Anduril with a programmer device)
MF01S comes in Anduril
Haikelite MT03 TA comes in Narsil.

Both Narsil and Anduril allow a low mode, however, I can’t be sure if they can reach sub-lumens levels with multiple LEDs.

Sofirn SP36 BLF Anduril: https://sofirnlight.com/sp36-blf-anduril-with-3-batteries-p0023.html

It’s actually 3x18650 flashlight but it has internal USB-C charging and amazing emitter options:

  • LH351D 5000K 90CRI
  • LH351D 4000K 90CRI
  • LH351D 2700K 90CRI

My pick also.

Definitely go with 3 18650. You get the same capability as 4 18650, but maybe less run time. The Sofirn Q8 is by far the best for the money. The SP36 has high cri emitters, but the Q8 is brighter and throws farther. More runtime as well off 4P 18650.

Thanks for the suggestion. I think I will go with the Emisar D18. I just need some more explanation on the ramping cfg on Anduril. Couldn’t find any info on how to set the ceiling. What I’d like to know is - can I click 150 times, so the ceiling would be the same as the turbo? You can see in the attached image.

Also another thing, is where can I find a screenshot between the floody optics and the default optics.

Thanks

Don’t think you can really go wrong with any of the options discussed here, but have to agree with the other comments that the 3x18650 form feels noticably better for walking around and using the light than 4x, except maybe for those with huge hands (I wear a size large glove fwiw).

The Sofirn SP36 is an excellent light, especially if you catch it on sale.

Convoy 4x18 ?

4x18 is a great light, very good quality. Unlike the others, it’s a single emitter with 4P li-ion and a boost driver to run the 6v xhp70.2. It’s expensive for what it is (in my opinion), and for a little less money you can get the BLF edition SP36 with batteries and the Samsung high cri 5000k LEDs. It will make more light and have a better beam quality. Mayne not as intense or throwy as the 4x18 though. Plus I think the 4x18 is better for modding options.

Now we will set maximum light output in ramping mode to Turbo equivalent, then we will set maximum light output in stepping mode to Turbo equivalent.

First, click once to turn on the light. Next, four (4) quick clicks. The light clicks once to confirm that you have mastered this critical step. Next, the light flashes very rapidly, to indicate that right now, you need to click once to set the ramping minimum to the minimum. Do so, by clicking once, then wait and do nothing for four (4) seconds. After the four seconds passes, the flashlight will flash twice, to indicate that the flashlight will now flash very rapidly, to indicate that right now, you need to click once, to set the ramping maximum to Turbo. Do so, by clicking once. Then wait and do nothing for four (4) seconds. After the four seconds passes, the flashlight will go steady to indicate that now you have Turbo as maximum in ramping mode. Now turn the light off, to avoid entering uncharted territory. Press once to turn the light on, hold to max ramp, then double click for Turbo. The Turbo will not be any brighter than the max ramp. Yay!

Next, do the above in stepping mode. First, turn on the light. Then three quick clicks. Now you are in stepping mode. Now, four (4) quick clicks. The light clicks once to confirm that you have mastered this step. Next, the light flashes very rapidly, to indicate that right now, you need to click once to set the stepping minimum to the minimum. Do so, by clicking once, then wait and do nothing for four (4) seconds. After the four seconds passes, the flashlight will flash twice, to indicate that the flashlight will now flash very rapidly, to indicate that right now, you need to click once, to set the stepping maximum to Turbo. Do so, by clicking once. Then wait and do nothing for four (4) seconds. After the four seconds passes, the flashlight will go steady to indicate that now you have Turbo as maximum in stepping mode. Now turn the light off, to avoid entering uncharted territory. Press once to turn the light on, hold to max step, then double click for Turbo. The Turbo will not be any brighter than the max step. Yay!

Wow! Thank you for the detailed explanation.

And about the flood optics do you have any experience - about the difference between the two beams?

Restating a bit, but:

BLF Q8 – floodier and warmer than the Sofirn, which I prefer.

Sofirn Q8 – cooler and throwier than the BLF, which I’m not crazy about.

Airpro DC7 – probably defunct, but like the Sofirn (as in cooler/throwier), lobotomised ramping UI but still fully functional with shortcuts to moonlight/turbo, built-in usb-c charging.

Sofirn SP36 – 3 cells vs 4 in the others, also built-in charging.

These beamshots just give an idea but may not be that meaningful since the distance they were taken were a bit close (the center hotspot of light gets over-exposed, meaning the light is supposed to go much farther if not blocked by the wall)

I tried to stay at a similar position (but don’t have a ’marker” on my standing position when I hold the flashlights, and these are taken at different times, also sometimes I point the flashlight a bit higher or lower on the wall).

But the camera settings are always set to the same settings:
white-balance: set to “daylight” shutter speed: 1/10th second ISO: 800 aperture: f/2.8

1) Sofirn Q8 (4x XPL-Hi cool-white)

2) BLF Q8 (4x XPL-HD neutral-white)

3) Sofirn SP36 (4x XP-L2 cool-white)

4) Sofirn SP36 (4x LH351D neutral-white)

5) Convoy M3 (XHP70.2 neutral-white)

6) Haikelite MT03 TA Devourer (3x XHP70.2 neutral-white)

(I have another set of the same shots taken at the same camera settings but with shutter speed: 1/100th second, will need to collate them)

Good choice. D18’s a boss.

I have a Thrunite TN36 Limited and a D18 SST20 4000k.

Similar output but the D18 is much lighter and smaller, making for a much more useable light in many cases. The high CRI is cream on top. As you can see, the D18 is also quite a bit smaller than the Q8, which I also have.

I use the D18 almost as much as my D4V2s (I bought 4 different Ti flavors of this very collectible light).

The poor Thrunite, while an absolutely excellent light, sits on my desk chilling most of the time. The Emisar is just more fun, more flexible.

Yeah my first choice was Thrunite before I knew about emisar. And yes I am looking for a high CRI flashlight - so aside from the UI the D18 ticks all the boxes for me.