this is very helpful insight for me JaredM, thank you. And it is nice to be reminded of the practical size. And as much as i want the K75 thats why i havent bought it. I owned the mf02s and i actually used it as it was only 1/2” longer and barely wider then the ft03 & K1.
The only other serious contender im considering beside the mt90/ mf02s v2, is the Lumintop sd90. Its head is 6mm wider the mt90, but it is 2.5” longer because there is an integrated charger in Handle like the old Lumintop SD75 had.
Id be curious to hear your feedback on the LT sd90’s size, you think even that is too big? in your opinion? sorry, im just torn. then again the mt90 is $50 cheaper then the SD90, so that makes it a little easier to pick.
Form factor and style wise, I’d go with the MT90, but that’s subjective. I hear the UI of the MT90 isn’t great, and never saw a review of the SD90, so that’s a wild card to me. Personally, the styling does nothing for me either. The size of the SD90 IMO crosses over the point were you might as well go straight to the MF05 or GT90. Again, YMMV. Price difference here also weighs in the MT90’s favor (consider resale value as well)
In my own little world I have dividing lines between light size classes. When it comes to throwers, or just larger dia lights in general, my opinion is that 160% larger frontal area is ‘one full step’. So these lights to me are a half step apart, and the MT90 is already dangling on the too big to ever be used / pure toy range. When going on a trip, I try and only take lights full steps apart… Otherwise I’m a weirdo lugging around a dozen lights lol.
I consider how I’m going to transport it to even play with it. My TN31 and K40M are already lights that push the limits of practicality and in the combined 10 or more years I’ve owned them couldn’t have put even a handful of full discharge cycles on either of them. Even at their relatively tiny dimensions, they don’t come along for any adventure or job unless it’s a dedicated car ride to do beamshots.
Sorry if that doesn’t help. I’d say if you think it’ll make you temporarily happy and you can justify the cost, follow your gut. This is just a hobby after all! Don’t stress it
Im trying not to stress out, always seems more important before the purchase, then its just fun after it comes in. Lol. I will make the decision, and i can always sell it if i want to try another. Never stopped me before LOL.
“Is that a modded TN42 V1?” Yes “What driver did you use to go from xhp35 6V (or 12V?) to sbt90.2 3V?” Lexel TN42 Narsil driver
“Nice Collection!” Thanks “is that the Nitecore TM series in there?” correct Gen1 TM36
Considering Portability / Size vs throw - which do you like better the BLF GT or the TN42 sbt90? Like them all…but if I had to choose between the GT or TN42… then it would be the TN42…I use the FT03 with QB26800 cell the most…
great info, thank you kawiboy1428. I had a feeling you that may have been your answer for the gt90 / tn42 sbt90. And that is one reason why i just ordered the mf02v2 instead of the k75. not that i didnt want the K75 more, but i will start this large light journey with one that i will hopefully use more. Although i see myself using my K1 sbt90 the most still anyway.
I now have the Thrunite TN42 V2 and here are my thoughts so far. The only modest gains in throw are due to a shorter depth of the reflector compared to the TN42. The fact that it has 4x21700 batteries might be great if not for the 1 major…and I will stress major flaw. The 21700 batteries supplied are modified protected 21700 batteries much like the Olight batteries. They have a center button surrounded by a negative washer like area on the same side. All 4 baterries positive buttons contact a brass conductive ring in the head. Beside the brass ring is a plastic insulator ring that prevents the washer like negative area on the positive button side of the battery from touching anything conductive. The negative on the positive side serves no purpose in this light, but that is not the worst part. Similar Olight batteries will not work because the button top has insulators on the side of the button. Orbtronic protected button top 21700 batteries will not work because the button is not tall enough to reach the conductor. Samsung 21700 40T batteries will work with small magnets, but since unprotected batteries are dangerous to use when all 4 batteries share a common positive and negative contact points on the light. If 1 battery had an internal short, it would kill all 4 batteries, perhaps even cause them to vent explosively. I have found no alternative batteries that work without modification to the battery or light, so these are basically proprietary batteries. Now here is the kicker… exact replacement batteries are not even listed for sale on the Thrunite website, or anywhere else I can find. That is ridiculous, because if that remains true the batteries dying forces either light modification or it becomes useless. The extra lumens and larger center spot is good, but had I known the proprietary battery issue, it would have been a deal breaker.
It is the shorter reflector depth that prevents a further throw. That is not the biggest downfall of this light…it is the idiotic proprietary modified 21700 batteries which are not even listed for sale on the Thrunite website. At this point I have buyers remorse. For some strange reason Thrunite chose to have a negative post on the positive side of the battery much like Olight batteries. This negative post only touches a plastic insulator ring, so has no practical purpose.
Read post #22 to see why these 4x21700 batteries are not a good thing. I wish I had known beforehand the battery issue. It would have been a deal breaker.
Thank you for the information in post #22 and here, Sarge. Sorry to hear about your thoughts on this light so far, but hopefully they will change and it will grow on you? I mean i understand proprietary batteries suck though.
Regarding these batteries Not being on their website.This is a relatively New light.I would be willing to bet they will have them soon.It will be a money maker for them and a rip off for the general public, compared to 4 X 21700 batteries that we can buy.
A lot of talented people on here I am sure some could.
The bulk of the members here and your average Joe Could Not.Me included.
So this light and the way Thrunite chose its battery pack is a definite negative for the average Joe.
No one should have to modify a light in order for it to work properly with standard batteries instead of Thrunites ,Under their mercy for replacement proprietary batteries that are always 2 to 4X more expensive than than loose batteries.
Yea these batteries are a deal killer. That sucks.
I wonder (if Thrunite was responsive to the community) a new upgraded carrier could be designed for this and sold as an accessory on there site? Would a differently designed battery carrier fix this “problem”?
As someone who holds a wide range of Thrunite products including the original TN42 and TN40 i find it disappointing that they have copied Olight by going the proprietory route. First it was the TT20 and now the TN42 v2….i personally refuse to support this practice
I will say this Eva Z. From customer service has always been helpful and have sent me FREE parts…holsters and a battery tube(threads stripped) for my TN42.
They have been more than fair and Very responsive and expedient at that.
I am interested to see how she responds to my email regarding TN42 V2 and its ill advised proprietary battery.
