recommend light: very compact, standard 18650, neutral tint, with TIR lens

Oh man, that is a nice looking light. And probably fits the OP's bill PERFECTLY. good call MB!

Thanks everyone for the responses. I like the size of the UNICORN 1.0, will look into that… thanks

No recharging function, no zooming, and much more expensive than the s11c. Lolz

You probably missed the requirements from OP, but here’s a reminder:

So, netprince:

- doesn’t mention zooming, refers TIR

- prefers a non built-in rechargeable light

- doesn’t mention money

  • refers to a compact light (YLP = 102mm; S11C = 113mm; Unicorn 1.0 is heavier though)

And UI is probably better on the YLP !

The S11C isn’t a regular zoomie with aspheric lens, but a sort of LEDLenser-type zoom, which is kind of a TIR lens that slides up/down instead.

That’s why there’s no Bat Signal, and it doesn’t seem to lose as much output when zoomed.

At both extremes, the beam looks like it’s from a TIR.

Oh, and it’s feather-light. Thinwall tube, feels like most of the weight is from the cell itself.

Thanks for the input on this, Lightbringer, as I am not completely familiar with the flashlight!! I was watching a video and, indeed, the beam is not similar to a typical zoomie. :+1:

Still, concerning the options presented by the OP, that light doesn’t seem to be the type of “TIR” he’s looking after, specially after mentioning the Olight S2R !
Besides that, it has a charging port and the moving head, which is not the best for waterproofing (as required) :zipper_mouth_face:

I forgot all about it: the YLP Unicorn fits everything here.

Thanks for the additional info on the S11C… I will have to take another look at it… How waterproof is its construction?

Someone asked me about that as far as regular crappy zoomies, so I suggested “Find the focus you want, then rtv it shut.”. :laughing:

Wellp, I wouldn’t use it as a diving light, but for rain, water-spray, etc., it’s fine.

what about washing the S11C? after I took a light outside, I like to soap and wash it while washing my hands.
can you do that regularly with this light?
my old 3xAAA LEDlenser has a crack in the TIR, which means water would get in when washing, which means I don’t use it that often anymore.

Following :smiley:

NO!

The Sofirn S11C is a zoomable light. Most zoomable lights are intentionally not airtight in order to give a smooth zoom and the S11C is no exception.

This is because cycling the light changes the internal volume. If the light is air-tight, air pressure inside and outside the light cannot equalize. Piston action then causes the zoom bezel to return to whatever position it was in when the battery tube was closed and the light sealed.

The S11C has a small plastic press-fit retaining ring which holds in the optic at the bezel. There is no o-ring there. The pill slides in and is held in place by 2 small screws. Also, I don’t recall seeing an o-ring between the pill and the body tube either.

This means that water should be able to leak into the light from both ends of the sliding bezel. It’s probably ok to take out in a light rain, but anything beyond that could cause issues. I wouldn’t recommend washing the light unless you take special care to avoid water entering the light.

That’s one main reason why rotational zooms are superior to push-pulls. Besides the fact they tend to be somewhat more pocketable especially a course zoomed in. Then they’re easily beam micro-adjustable whereas push/pulls can be a b*tch to equal. Not the least, rotationals are more water resistant due to thread-like metal to metal mechanicals (properly lubed with Plumber’s Grease type formulas) providing more inherent no-wear barriers than o-rings which inadvertently wear down. The thinner the threads (and thus quantity) the better.

Rotational zoomers also can be “locked down” better if ya expect water events. :student:

I got an S11C from Amazon in March because one should never refuse an $8.99 Sofirn flashlight. Took it out today and compared it to several other lights in the 5000-6000K range. You’re right, the tint is just about perfect to my eye. The 5000K LH351D FC11 I bought two days ago isn’t nearly as nice which got me wondering. If I bought another (or three or five) S11C from Sofirn’s site will they likely have a similar pleasing tint or would they be more greenish like my FC11, presumably with an LED from a newer batch?

You always could win or lose in the Tint Lottery, so there’s no sure way to guess.

Generally, though, they’ll look about the same.

Depends on what you like in your zoomie.

Personally, I like being able to easily adjust zoom on the fly with one hand. It’s much easier to do that with a push-pull zoomie.

A rotational zoomie can be made more waterproof than a push-pull zoomie, because friction on the threads can stop piston action on the bezel. However, this doesn’t always translate to better waterproofness.

The Sofirn S11C is a good example: It’s a rotational zoomie, but no attempt was made to make it waterproof.

Tough crowd… Makes me ask wotnahell everyone wants in a <10buk light.

Triple the price, then grex that it can’t be used as a diving light. C’mon…

Yeah. Well, you convinced me. I’m buying 3.

Just like the RJ10 headlamp that was going for something stoopit-cheep like 8bux a pop. I grabbed a bunch pretty much expecting them to be disposable. Still banging away on my first one…

And criminy, how many people drop their lights down a toilet like they do with their phones? And phones are stoopit-expensive, yet no one complains when they gotta hairdryer them and then sit them in a bucket of rice for a month after a 2sec dunk.