AFAIK, it’s 6000-6500K. IIRC, they are still selling the first batch that comes without ATR.
Shipping single batteries has become a real problem for many logistics service providers, at least for air freight. For air transport these batteries are considered as dangerous goods. Legal restrictions are much stricter now, so there are few companies left and they probably charge a leg and an arm for shipping lithium ion batteries. It is easier to ship batteries while they are inserted in a flashlight.
I am not sure if this answers your question but I don’t mind to have a throwy light with a hot spot in the beam while taking a walk. It depends on the user’s preference and the environment. If I had to walk along a convoluted foodpath and if it was misty outside, I would rather pick a floody flashlight or headlamp to only light up the area in front of my feet. I have made good experiences in using a floody headlamp around my neck and a handheld flashlight for medium/large distances.
Concerning SP35 in particular, I cannot tell you my opinion yet as I do not have a sample of it.
Very smooth beams usually come from TIR while reflectors usually have some sort of hotspot. If you want to get away from a hotspot, you probably want a light with a TIR.
You commented right after I posted beamshots in my review of the SP35 so I figure you’ve seen those, right? I feel like it shows a pretty distinct hotspot.
Sofirn should consider offering this light with LH351D, although I suppose that creates competition within the product line. I am not interested in low-CRI EDC lights, but I would buy an LH351D version.
I originally considered swapping a LH351D into mine, but decided not too. Pushing a LH351D at 6 amps is past it’s peak and well past it’s sweet spot.
It probably won’t be anything revolutionary, but I ordered some 3V XHP50.2 to try in my SP35. I’m curious in the impact on raw output (lumens) and to see if it runs any cooler in Turbo (depends on how the vF compares vs the SST40). We’ll see. I know the beam will be ugly but I can’t help playing around.
Just curious, what is a safe sustained max current for an LH351D (assuming somewhat properly cooled)?
I tested tailcap current of SP35 (with a nearly full charged battery), and getting around 5 Amps max current consumption on Turbo mode (using a UT210E clamp meter), with a nearly full-charged 21700 battery. (although I’m not sure if the power consumption will vary depending on battery voltage for the SP35 — since it uses a buck driver.)
I got 2 units SP35, ordered at slightly different time (from 2 different official Sofirn online stores).
Was wondering why their beam pattern has a bit of difference.
The units looks physically the same, nothing that I can visibly observe that’s different with their head or reflector (I haven’t tried to get out their reflectors to take measurements).
As can be seen, the head/reflectors look the same:
but there is a slight difference in beam pattern:
The left side is a slightly newer SP35, while the right side is the earlier SP35.
The left side SP35 has a more solid hotspot, whereas the right side SP35 has a smaller hotspot, but the hotspot (or is it the corona) is bigger.
Marginally. According to djozz’s test it looks like at 6 amps, the Luxeon V has a VF that’s 0.1 volts lower. Probably not enough to make a big difference though. Lumen output looks nearly identical despite the Luxeon V being a 4000K LED. So if you’re going for a CCT change, the Luxeon V could be a good fit. You might have to modify the V’s 4040 MCPCB a little to accommodate the screw sticking up to prevent it rotating. I measured the stock MCPCB at 16.7 mm. Honestly, swapping for a different SST40 would be a much easier option.
I recently tried swapping mine with an 3V XHP50.2 just for fun. Lumens increased a little, but it also got hotter faster. I will say, I expected the tint shift to be worse than it is. On a while wall, I can see it but it’s really not too bad.
Odd that the 50.2 made more heat with a regulated driver. Do you have data of high on the SST40? I wonder if it just conducted it faster? Better mcpcb or thermal paste / clamping in your swapped setup? My best guess here is that the lower voltage of the 50.2 allowed the driver to squeeze out a little more current. Above 7A the 40’s Vf isn’t that low.
