Looking for the best all around soda can light.

That’s going to be down to the driver efficiency and how much heat you can tolerate, you’re going to want a buck or buck/boost tbh.

SP36 and mf01s is FET+1
D18 is FET with 14 7135
None of these are efficient drivers

I would probably go with D18 out of those, and 18650ga’s or similar so you can avoid the need for button tops and longer runtime instead of turbo memes

I really want to see D18 or ROT66 with lume buck driver….

Both good. I have the MF01 and MF01S. these are both excellent.

I can’t find the post right now, but I thought the BLF/Sofirn Q8 could handle the heat of 1000 lumens for a good long time, even if, IIRC, it’s not a very efficient driver, either.

The sp36 will hold default top of ramp (Anduril model) using GA 18650s without too much heat. Over 1000 lumens easily.

+1, You just need to choose which LED; brightest SST-40, compromise XP-L2, best CRI LH351D.

Or like someone said the Q8 if you need a bit more throw

Careful, though.

Original BLF Q8, warmer and floodier, much more to my liking.

Sofirn Q8, cooler and throwier, meh.

Multiemitter throwy lights almost always have that cloverleaf beam-pattern, and floodier obscures that a bit.

Dalamar can you please suggest any most efficient sodacan flashlight

Imalent R60C (18,000 lumens) it will give you 8hrs run time at 1200lm. It even gives you 2hrs runtime at 3300lm

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I believe the Acebeam X80 or X80-GT have some of the longest rated runtimes if you want to spend a fortune.

I have the ROT66 (219B version), MT03TA and a custom built D18 on the way

I would recommend against Imalent. I have both the DX80 and MS18. I hate integrated battery lights which Imalent is prone to and their quality/warranty are very frequently issues for other members. My MS18 did arrive with a burnt LED which still functions but wasn’t worth the battle for replacement.

I would also recommend the D18 based on quality and runtime

I would also suggest if runtime/lumens is your biggest concern and price is also a consideration that you look up the Haikelite MT03TA reviews showing runtime. I got mine for a very reasonable price and if you’re running low lumens you could likely get fantastic runtimes as the head is enormous and dissipates heat fairly well for the 24,000 lumens it outputs.

Other high priced lights but with good runtimes would be Thrunite TN36 or Olight X7 marauder - Olight/Thrunite/Acebeam seem more retail based with less enthusiast features but more user friendly and longer runtimes as the average consumer won’t understand why their light goes from 24,000 lumens to 2,500 after 30 seconds

You seem to know the fine details of pop-can lights. Do you know what drivers are in Olights X7R Marauder & the new Marauder-2. I have both…and a MF01s…& the BLF 036-pro & haiklite MT03-D. But I quite like the old Olight X7R, seems to put out highish sustainable lumens.

For efficiency and high sustained output, the Acebeam X80 and the Thrunite TN36.

I think the Acebeam will sustain higher lumens, but is extremely floody. The TN36 probably has a more versatile beam pattern.

Me too! It is my hope that since Fireflies used a Loneoceans driver for the E12R, Jackie will eventually make a gen3 of the ROT66 with a similar driver.

Ideally, it would include the high dynamic range feature of newest Lume X1 design for extremely low firefly output, yet also capable of 40W regulated output - that could be over 3000 lumens out the front in the 219B version, without taking the efficiency hit from running a FET channel.

I put off buying a gen 2, because my gen 1 is “good enough,” but add enough improvements, and I may ultimately have to give in.

If they do that my collection problem is going to be bigger.

Don’t see any internals pics on it, but the price is so high I’d expect it to not be using a cheap FET or linear driver…

Built in batteries? That’s disappointing.
Best bet would be to ask them what type of driver it uses and what efficiency.

EDIT: https://www.reddit.com/r/flashlight/comments/jv9qn5/olight_regulation/gcidt15/
It would be nice to mod one to high CRI, but that price. I’ll bet the batteries are spot welded and everything glued, maybe even potted.

Than what would be best for longer run time and not as expensive as acebeam and imilent

Haha I don’t think Olight likes flashlight modders lol. I opened up my X7R and found the battery pack was 4 X 30q Samsung’s but your right, to replace them you would need to de-solder some bits & pieces. The current Marauder2 is similar but with 3x21700 cells. Well made high quality lights but even 30 or 40% off I paid $322aud for the marauder2…the x7r I got from a seller who had only used it once so it was basically new in box for $160au which was decent value IMO. Since joining BLF I buy much cheaper lights now lol.

BLF LT1 ?

I think probably the Thrunite TN36.

Id reccomend convoy 3x21/4x18. They are available in a huge range of styles and led choices. Id reccomend the 8x sst 40 3x21c 15000 lumens or the 3x xhp70.2 12000 lumens.