Good review with measurements [Review] Convoy S21A B35AM high CRI EDC flashlight . Outstanding CRI and R9 numbers, but 1100 lm is only low side vs GT-FC40. I have this light coming and will compare head to head with my GT-FC40 in same host M21B. I am excited about my B35AM light in MAO finish :+1: but if throw and brightness are what you’re interested in, from reading reviews I don’t believe it will match GT-FC40.
It seems CRI of XHP70.3 4000k per Simon is 70. And it’s a Cree (very high green hell potential). I would vote to pass or at least let other people be the guinea pig :innocent: on this one.
I carry and use flashlights, not loose LEDs, so the performance of the entire system matters. If the 519a is more efficient on paper, but commercially available flashlights with B35AMs get longer runtimes than flashlights with the same battery and a 519A, then that’s what counts to me.
Which one of those would throw the most? 519a with dome one or B35AM?
Currently have a Convoy M21B GT-FC40 in 4500k which I love, but I would like something just a little more throwy, yet still high cri and warm tint. With the M21B MAO being available, I am thinking maybe getting another one of those, but would a B35AM be throwier than the GT-FC40?
Does anyone have an opinion on what the best GT FC40 host is? Seems like it needs a certain amount of thermal mass and battery capacity to truly “shine.”
Currently I have an 1800-2000k FC40 in a Convoy L6. It’s great, but the size to performance ratio is lacking for a spoiled person like me. Maybe the size to performance ratio would be just fine with the cooler temperatures. Still, I’m not convinced that L6 is the best host in general since its heat-sink fins are so shallow in the driver area.
I have B35AM in a couple weeks and will compare throw against GT-FC40 in same host, M21B.
Another choice as mentioned by phantom23 is M21E. It is noticeably more throwy than M21B. I don’t have the numbers with me but roughly IIRC it’s about 280m for M21B and 330m M21E. (Please don’t quote me on this; I measured all 3 but somehow completely forgot to post in my other thread.)
I too much prefer “smallish” lights. I have M21B, F, and E all with GT-FC40 4500k. E is noticeably most throwy, and the larger head is not too cumbersome. I use it most often because I like to see further ahead in my evening walk. And I tend to like throwy light.
B has dimmest hotspot but brightest spill (most floody)
E has brightest hotspot and dimmest spill (most throwy).
F is in between, but leans more towards B.
This LED doesn’t seem to burn up everything in sight like SBT90.2 :person_facepalming: . Thermal mass always helps but IMHO not that critical, at least among these 3 lights. Sustained brightness from Turbo run is around 37% of max, the smaller M21B just steps down a bit sooner. None of the 3 lights becomes excessively hot as with smaller lights. Hope this helps.
Effect of size on runtime brightness M21F versus E, using ceiling bounce percentage.
All 3 M21B, E, F settle around 37%. My conclusion IMHO: The difference between B, E, F is not so much sustained brightness but more the character of the beam (hotspot vs spill).
BTW the left-most blue curve that looks like it’s falling off a cliff is S21D with 12A FET driver.
What batteries do you use? I guess a samsung 50e would not have a high enough continuous discharge rating?
One good thing about the L6 is it has pretty decent battery capacity since you can choose the Shockli 26650 IMR 5500mAh or use tube extenders to put in 26800 batteries. Not sure how real world run-times would compare but I assume the L6 would win.
Edit: I guess vapcell has 26650 cells that are nominally 6200mah but with a ctd. I guess depending on the light those would be a superior choice for capacity
In the GT-FC40 lights, Samsung 40T makes no brightness difference vs other less capable batteries. Assuming the spring or something else is not the limiting factor, my thought is that FC40 LED is not that current hungry enough for these batteries to make a difference. But this is just amateur level test; I have not measured the actual current draw.
Yeah, the Vapcell K62 are what I use in the L6. I do have 6800 mAh 26800 cells, but honestly the difference in runtime between 12400 mAh and 13600 mAh is not very much in real world usage, and I like the size, weight, and balance of the L6 exactly how they are.
I have QB26800 cells in my L7 (SBT 90.2). For that host I feel that it actually improves the balance but I haven’t tried them in the L6. Which 26800s do you have? I have heard that the yellow Queen Battery 26800s test at 7100mah but haven’t tested mine.
I also have the Nichia BAM in Convoy M21B. IMHO, the BAM is low heat low output (~1000 lm) at 2.4v so small host is ok. FC40 is high output high heat, at least in Convoy, so if possible I would prefer a larger host for less step-down if you tend to use your light at high output.
No - just a VERY beautiful beam color, among the most pleasant to the eyes. One of my two M21F’s has a more magenta hotspot in white wall hunting but not easily noticeable in actual use. If rosiness is on one end and warm golden tone on the other, then IMHO I would place FC40 in this order:
ROSINESS tint 219b 4500k>BAM 4500k>FC40 4500k>519a 4500k GOLDEN tint
The rosiness/magenta tint of 219b sometimes could be a bit much (even though it does make colors pop the most), and FC40 is a step away from that toward 519a, in a pleasant in-between spot. Completely personal preference but I would say less stressfull maybe, and especially so IF you don’t like rosy/magenta tint.
You won’t regret any of the above 4 LEDs, they are all excellent for different reasons, and you most definitely won’t regret FC40 4500k. It’s the light I use the most among all my lights (even though I am somewhat of Nichia die-hard) because it provides all 3 important qualities in balance: beam color quality, brightness, and throw.
. Thermal mass always helps but IMHO not that critical, at least among these 3 lights. Sustained brightness from Turbo run is around 37% of max, the smaller M21B just steps down a bit sooner. None of the 3 lights becomes excessively hot as with smaller lights. Hope this helps.