New Sofirn TIR thrower: IF22A SFT40 2100lm 629m

[JaredM]

Depending on the type of TIR, a glass lens can really ding the overall efficiency of the optics.

I wonder if the rise in current is from the emitter heating up and Vf dropping. That’s usually not accompanied by rising output, but i suppose the change is subtle enough to be explained that way

[JaredM]

Do you have an EA01 with sst40 to compare optics and throw values? Or FF E01?

[pennzy]

Thanks for reporting Tom. I put some DC fix on mine for G&S. Not bad. Running it on high seems not to overheat. Plenty of flood with a little throw.

[Tom_E]

@JaredM

Do you have an EA01 with sst40 to compare optics and throw values? Or FF E01?

Well, I got a FF E01 w/SST-40 (not an EA01), but the TIR optic is different - you can see the LED, but the other differences like the smaller width optic in the E01, and SST-40 vs. SFT-40 has big differences in throw.

[JaredM]

I thought I remembered you having an ea01 or the mateminco equivalent… my bad.

I’ve been wondering how the FF might do with the SFT… how close to 100kcd it could hit. My assumption is 220% throw vs an old bin sst40. It oughta be much more pocketable than the if22a.

[Tom_E]

No, you are right! Just found it. :FACEPALM:

[roostre]

@Tom E

I just took some #'s on the IF22A and got:

• on a 40T1 (old rev, better) at 4.18V: 9.0 amps w/tailcap removed
• lumens: 1730 at start, 1740 at 10s, 1680 at 30s
• throw: 113 kcd (772 meters)

The initial rise in amps is interesting. I've only seen this with higher resistance springs, but I seen the rise with a jumper on the batt- to tube, so eliminating the one spring in the tail. There must be something else in the circuit that reduces resistance as it heats up initially, and confirmed a bypass on the tail spring will boost amps, boosting lumens and kcd.

...

Could it be possible that as the battery heated up, that the battery's internal resistance decreased allowing a slightly higher voltage to deliver a little more current and increase the brightness before the voltage sag eventually caused the brightness to decrease?

[JaredM]

Not likely on this timescale at this current. The only thing with a ntc behaviors would be semiconductors. Either the led of fet.

[JaredM]

@Tom E

No, you are right! Just found it. :person_facepalming:

If you get a chance, I’m curious how all three of these lights compare using the same lux meter and tested back to back.

[Tom_E]

@JaredM

@Tom E

No, you are right! Just found it. :FACEPALM:

If you get a chance, I’m curious how all three of these lights compare using the same lux meter and tested back to back.

Ok, I'm not sure of the point, but:

FF E01 SST-40 5700K, stock except running A2, on a 40T @4.21V:

• at 5 secs, 5 meters: 49 kcd

MT01/EA01 SST-40 5000K, A2, tail 20 AWG bypass on a 26800 @4.21V:

• at 5 secs, 5 meters: 85 kcd

IF22A SFT-40 6500K, tail 20 AWG bypass on a 40T @4.21V:

• at 5 secs, 5 meters: 116 kcd

[Tom_E]

Ohh - tried the MT01 TIR optic in the IF22A and got 124 kcd, though the beam looks different, most would probably say worse - larger hotspot but a bright spot in the center of the hot spot. The optics appear to be designed differently in the center. The IF22A has a larger diffused spot in the optic.

MT01 w/IF22A optic: 73 kcd - beam looks softer, hot spot not as well defined.

(same 5 sec delay, at 5 meters, same cells as-is, not re-charged)

[SammysHP]

@Tom E

I just took some #’s on the IF22A and got:

• on a 40T1 (old rev, better) at 4.18V: 9.0 amps w/tailcap removed

• lumens: 1730 at start, 1740 at 10s, 1680 at 30s

• throw: 113 kcd (772 meters)

The initial rise in amps is interesting. I’ve only seen this with higher resistance springs, but I seen the rise with a jumper on the batt- to tube, so eliminating the one spring in the tail. There must be something else in the circuit that reduces resistance as it heats up initially, and confirmed a bypass on the tail spring will boost amps, boosting lumens and kcd.

The lens appears to be uncoated, so it may be possible to get a 5% or so bump by replacing it with a double coated AR. I say “may be” because it’s hard to judge the quality of the glass used.

Lens size: 23.5 mm x 1.94 mm

MCPCB size: 23.5 mm

I’ve noticed the same in my stock IF22, even at lower levels:

(Turbo might be cut off slightly because I’ve moved the light quite a bit when pressing the button so I’ve cut off the first 1-3 seconds.)

[JaredM]

@Tom E

Ok, I’m not sure of the point, but:

FF E01 SST-40 5700K, stock except running A2, on a 40T @4.21V:

at 5 secs, 5 meters: 49 kcd
MT01/EA01 SST-40 5000K, A2, tail 20 AWG bypass on a 26800 @4.21V:

at 5 secs, 5 meters: 85 kcd
IF22A SFT-40 6500K, tail 20 AWG bypass on a 40T @4.21V:

at 5 secs, 5 meters: 116 kcd

MT01 w/IF22A optic: 73 kcd - beam looks softer, hot spot not as well defined.

(same 5 sec delay, at 5 meters, same cells as-is, not re-charged)

Thanks Tom. I was interested in the differences between the two larger optics… basically the question if they are identical or not… and what the throw ratio was stepping down to the E01. It’s a rare light and not many reviews or posts talk about it, so I wanted a head to head comparison. So thank you!

What this suggests, thanks to your extra testing with swapping the optics around, is that we can expect mid-high 70s kcd for the E01 with an SFT40. I think this is a sweet spot of sorts for maximum throw while staying quite pocketable. Above 34mm head really isn’t comfortable, at least for me as a slender person who wears Levi 511’s. YMMV

[Lumen9000]

“Is that an ea01s in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?”

[JaredM]

I don’t think you’d mistake the two

[DudeMan]

@derfyled

I’m on the hunt for a pocket thrower but there is so many options these days…

In this format (or smaller), what is actually the best thrower ? Ideally available in high cri or neutral white.

@Lux-Perpetua

According to Luminus‘s datasheet, SFT-40 will also be offered in 5000K. So far, 6500K is the only option available to order.

@bcm00re

@Lux-Perpetua

According to Luminus‘s datasheet, SFT-40 will also be offered in 5000K. So far, 6500K is the only option available to order.

I would buy the TIR one if was available with the 5000K emitter.

+1 for 5000K
any word of these being available? i’m looking to switch from my C8+ (XPL HI U6-4C 4200-4500K) which i do love, to a 21700 thrower with internal charging.

come on sofirn! i love my IF22A for close work, as well as my LT1 :+1:

@Lightbringer

Howbow

sofirn

do folks hate the font, or where it comes from? i actually like the way the font looks. easy to read. don’t care for the source though. :smiling_imp: :person_facepalming:

[raccoon]

@DudeMan

@Lightbringer

sofirn

do folks hate the font, or where it comes from? i actually like the way the font looks. easy to read. don’t care for the source though.

The stereotype is that most people online hate Comic Sans as a font.

I don't know how true that is, though.

[DudeMan]

@raccoon city

The stereotype is that most people online hate Comic Sans as a font.

I don't know how true that is, though.

perhaps a poll thread is in order? :p

[Lightbringer]

It’s always grossly overused as a “homey” or “handwritten” font, done to death.

[Correllux]

I noticed the other day that Sofirn has released the IF22A in colors. Green, red, and purple. Available on ali. On Amazon US I see they put placeholders but they aren’t available for sale there yet.

Can’t seem to scrub the “US” part of the ali link again but it should redirect for those in other countries: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804680053526.html