Don’t forget that when the GT nano was in development, everything pointed to a 10440 battery, then it came out with a 10180! So in my point of view is a expectation vs reality issue.
BTW I bought it anyway, but also have ordered the tube now.
Your post makes a lot of sense. I don’t take my nano out as a functioning EDC, it’s more a novelty that I surprise people with when they show interest in my lights shelf. While not the most useful light it tells the led light evolution story so well to someone, their eyes jump out of their head when they see it’s beam outside at night for the first time. I’ve got fairly big hands and want the body tube so I can hold it a bit better and perhaps with some extra mAh’s I can let my little nephews take it out for night walks. My light collection is so much better off due to this forum BLF, clever folks exploring what’s all things possible & bringing their ideas to market. I have a heap of BLF designed lights and you can tell there designed by minds wanting better, not just about making profit. I’m kinda a sucker too for short tubes, long tubes and accessories in general. I’m fairly new to led lights & this forum has taught me so much which I’m really thankful for.
Quoted for truth. Made for better, not profit. Lumintop have milked the GT and FWxx series in an unedifying fashion. The Nano was always about 10440 - they know it as we knew it. Shame.
And Astrolux doesn’t do the same thing?
MF01-MF01S-MF01 MINI
FT-02-FT-02S
FT03 FT03 MINI
and so on.
Don’t get me wrong, it pisses me off also.
does not piss me off, that is how it goes and I kind of like that.
If intellectual property rights were a thing in China that would have a serious downside, and don’t get me wrong: I do think that they are important. The BLF developments from the last 7 years (from BLF-A6 to the GT and LT1) would not have happened if intellectual property rights were respected, no manufacturer would have stepped in making our ideas into products, too risky too niche. Shamelessly using our ideas and designs into other products that make profits adds to the fruitful dynamics of BLF and manufacturers, so that at present BLF-developments can be found in hundreds of flashlights and parts. In my opinion to the advantage of our hobby.
Agree - IP would be a killer here. Betta the BLF projects would not even had happened, or if they did, at 5X the cost.
I’ll just put it here …
Now that’s interesting!
They have had this exact Nano copy up for a while…that’s China for you. What’s interesting is the light is roughly 2x the MSRP of the Lumintop original! Work that one out :person_facepalming:
If it’s a copy they’ve altered the photos to make the light look even smaller then it actually is. Of course the beamshots and the price are ridiculous. Smiling Shark rebrands flashlights to sell under their own name. It’s possible these are Lumintop OEM.
One Chinese/Taiwan source for it: https://shopee.tw/Smiling-Shark-ES01-%E5%BE%AE%E7%AC%91%E9%AF%8A%E5%B0%8F%E5%9E%8B%E8%BF%B7%E4%BD%A0%E8%80%90%E7%94%A8%E9%9A%A8%E8%BA%AB%E4%BE%BF%E6%94%9C%E6%89%8B%E9%9B%BB%E7%AD%92%E7%B2%BE%E7%BE%8E%E8%A8%AD%E8%A8%88%E7%84%A1%E6%A5%B5%E8%AA%BF%E5%85%89%E7%85%A7%E6%98%8E-i.322496167.3881400338
Interesting they call it the ES01, while the Amutorch ES01 clone (rebranded?) is called the Smiling Shark ES03.
I have a Smiling Shark ES03 on order from FT, of course I'll tear it down when I get it. Dang! The price went down since I ordered 
.
Suspect these are re-branded - there's no loyalty there, could be a supplier/sub-contractor, or who knows, all these brands could be the same company or same guy.
With really nice manicures.
I just got one about a week ago…crazy little light…looks like something you would get as a prize inside a popcorn box! Do a ceiling bounce with Turbo on with all lights off and be surprised! HB
Marketing by marketing, but I still find it difficult to understand why a 10440 pipe for the Nano costs almost as much as a Lumintop EDC01 flashlight on Ali …
The Chinese copy each other. Would not be the first time or the last. They copied the Apple phone and the entire Apple store.
Greed
It’s a premium product.
Does anyone know if Neal also has the 10440 tube for the GT Nano?
Not. Just watched it today.
Thanks! I also went to the site today and couldn’t find it, but wanted to be sure!
Thanks :+1:
Just fyi, I got the Smiling Shark ES03 from Fasttech, and it's as good as the Amutorch E3S - same exact quality with the optic, SS trim, threading, quality of the housing, UI in the firmware, tail assembly/spring is the same, driver and driver spring appear to be the same (haven't opened it up yet). I would say it was made in the same factory, just with different styling on the main housing - maybe an earlier version of the Amutorch that was later re-styled, who knows...