REVIEW: Sofirn SD05 Scuba Diving Flashlight

Thanks pennzy!

Wanting to go high CRI… 144 was my only good option at 6V. 3V opens a lot of doors.

Anybody have information about the new SD05 SST70, and how it compares to the XHP50.2?

(Other than what’s on Sofirn website.)

I would imagine any reviews or beamshots on the website are from the XPH50.2

Seems like they ran out of XHP50.2 and changed to SST70.

They say better throw, it would be nice to see a comparison.

Hey Deeuubee, That's interesting about the SST70. According to Djozz test, https://i.imgur.com/3YlpAhC.jpg

and if the driver doesn't push that Luminus more than 8 amps, it should be quite similar. Perhaps a throwier beam!

Nachtfeuerzeug - Thank you for all the information. It’s overwhelming sometimes trying to figure changes out.

I think I’m just gonna have to guinea pig it. :slight_smile:

I bet it is quite a bit of tighter beam. Wouldn’t be surprised if its nearly double the cd/lm.

What kind of driver did the old and new sd05 uses? Which one are more efficient? I want to buy them but cancelled buying since I don’t know what other difference they made to the light.

The old was regulated and the new is not . Old emitter was 6 v and new is 3 v. There are differing opinions as to which is better. I have the new and the one good thing is it does not have a timed stepdown, only thermal stepdown. This could be a huge difference in actual use, especially in water.

The new one using fet driver?
And I guess the new one have pwm?

Yes, FET driver. I can’t see pwm but I am not sensitive to it.

Pretty sure yes to both (fet/pwm). With that said, this is one of my favorite winter outdoor 21700 lights (in the rev2 with the XHP-50.2; no step down). It THROWS for it’s size and doesn’t heat up as fast as my IF25a. Beam isn’t too bad color-wise either.

I WAS going to do an actual diving review for the (XHP 50.2) SD-05 last August for Sofirn, but Covid “effed” those plans up. We tried again for this X-mas in Cozumel and had to cancel again when Covid got “hot” again this fall.

I have an old SD-02 that worked well for a night dive taken back a few years ago. What was cool is our dive-master was using a small dive light to “strobe” so our group didn’t get mixed up with several other groups on the same reef that night. This was the FIRST time I though of a strobe being VERY useful.

Time will tell on the SST70 and I do hope it’s not too narrow in output. I typically “hang” a few feet off the coral and like turning under for cave or shelf views from between 3 ft. away to 15 ft. I want a nice wide beam but some “punch” on high if I need to see further. From what I can tell on land so far- the SD-05 XHP-50.2 will do good when I get it down (one day) :sunglasses:

What I understand, the old 6V 50.2 is regulated.
The newer 50.2 3V is not regulated.
And the newest sst70 is not regulated.
Am I correct?

The SST70 is 6V which means they must be using the old driver

So the sst70 should probably be regulated?

Waiting for review of the new sd05 with sst70

I doubt there’ll be a review when Sofirn are changing back to the XHP50.2 version once they’re available again, there’s a supply issue.

That’s unfortunate. So what do you think the differences in the sst70 and xhp50.2 do you think are there?

And somewhat related will they again use xhp35 for c8g again?

So For non diving use do you think someone who already have IF25A need to get the SD05 or it’s very similar?

I probably get the SD05 anyway. :smiley: Just waiting for SST70 review.

All bets are off as the SST70 is an unknown (kinda, in this light anyway). But generally speaking… the SD-05 has more MASS than the IF25a and so it CAN run longer given basic physics. I WAS waiting for the 5k forever and now I see only the 6.5k SST70 and so… I’ll “stay on the fence like you and wait for the review” :smiley:

Would it be safer to use a protected battery in the SD05 just in case water does creep in and creates a short? I've always been using protected in my Sofirn SD02 diving light just in case.

Hum… I’m not sure protected Vs. unprotected would matter much if water were a factor. I’d guess the protection circuit would be “bi-passed” by the water itself- but not sure. I have dove with the SD-02 and didn’t think twice about it :smiley:

You’ll be limited to finding a charger that takes protected 21700’s though