Cant decide upon which cheap 18650 XML zoomie to buy

Furthermore, I found that Smiling Shark in 5 modes version http://www.everbuying.com/product158096.html?SSAID=465956 , and its a mistery for me why its cheaper than 3-mode version
(same pricing is present on one other website too….)

Some folks seem to be more sensitive to PWM than other. Personally, I have several lights that are reported to have pretty serious PWM on lower modes, and I don’t notice it until I look at the beam through my Android cam. :bigsmile:

The medium (low?) mode on the Ultrafire I listed, at least mine, seems to be about 50%. More than enough for a hike through a rocky desert wash at night - rattlesnakes are easily spotted in that enormous flood, and zooming a bit produces even more concentrated, brighter light. (I know my use of this light is probably quite different that the intended use by most folks.) :slight_smile:

Ok, so that would be it, I will buy 1 Ultrafire and 1 small shark light from the link above :o

ALso (XML zoomie buying frenzy :o ) , I will buy that wider lens XML zoomie for mounting on rifle, and I still cant decide wich shiny 14500 zoomie I would buy. :smiley: (I forgot thier names, I think one is trustfire and other uniquefire or ultrafire).

SO, all in all, thanx guys, I decided :slight_smile:

And BTW check everbuying.com, they seem to have large selection of these **fire lights at some nice prices.

> Smiling Shark in 5 modes version http://www.everbuying.com/product158096.html?SSAID=465956

today that linked to “hi-low-strobe” so read carefully when following links, the targets may change

I am really busy and don’t have time to research this, but it appears that everbuying.com is on the BLF avoid list for quite a few nasty incidents:

Quote from second link: “I would be very careful in dealing with Everbuying, as their customer service practices are somewhat shady.”

I bought from everbuying several times and every time I got precisely what I bought, so I think its an average website. I really believe that its not the website to be feared of.

@hank, in description of 5-mode version is written “hi-low-strobe”, so its some kjind of mistake - wich kind I will see when I get the flashlight


They have ocmplicated check put system, or discount system.

For example price of smiling shak is 12,99, but if I use coupon, its price goes up, and that they deduct coupon…
Really bad
So subtotal for these 3 flashlights before coupon is $43,73, and after 6% coupon its $43,34 :frowning:

Everbuying tutorial: :smiley:

HERE: LOver price withpout coupon!!

SO, you can buy 2 lights with coupon, and one light without it, total priuce for me now is $42,29, umph :o

how bout this one:
i dont have it, but over 1300 sold, sounds like a amazing light, anyone have this light??
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1600-Lumen-Zoomable-CREE-XM-L-T6-LED-18650-Flashlight-Torch-Zoom-Lamp-Light-/170728199959#ht_6383wt_978

found this one on ebay. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1800-Lm-Zoomable-CREE-XM-L-T6-LED-26650-18650-Battery-Flashlight-Torch-Charger-/200760441452?pt=UK_SportsLeisure_Camping_LightsLanternsTorches&var=&hash=item746df2a0b9

Funny, we’ve just done a full circle. This ultrafire light is a POPPAS 878 clone:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1800-Lm-Zoomable-CREE-XM-L-T6-LED-26650-18650-Ba…

This is exactly what I’ve got, and for cycling purposes I can’t think of a better ftt light. It’s bright, takes a 26650 for longer runtimes, compact and only 1 cell as opposed to 2 cells in series that can cause shorts when hitting bumps.

In hand I wouldn’t say it’s ugly, kind of masculine and high tech, although a little rough.

Today I received 3 XML zoomies I ordered…

  1. Trustfire z8
  2. Ultrafire (SIpik-like) 18650 zoomie
  3. Smiling Shark E7 zoomie

Few words/impressions about them:
1)Obviously good built quality, design is matter of taste, Im not so thrilled, switch looks really cheap and Ill probably try to change yellow-green rubber button to black one, for better looks purposes.
I knew that when I bought it, but 14500 and XML, hmmm, it certainly limits its usage.
Its small and heavy, but when I hold it in hand… hm, Im used to knurling and firmer grip. Also I prefer push and pull zoom rather than twist. This one I cant zoom in and out with one hand - wich is funny for such small flashlight, maybe after greasing…
As for the output, i dont know, maybe my 14500 wasnt full enough, but both other lights have far superior output, maybe twice stronger.
I dont like its UI. Its somewhat fiddly to zoom it in and out even with 2 hands :o

2)Maybe itll turn out that this is most balanced light of three. When unzoomed its smaller than UF-2100.
And its only about 1,5cm longer than Trustfire Z8, but receives 18650, so you figure it out…
I dont have much impressions about this light, because its totally same as Sipik Sk68, only little scaled up :slight_smile:

My came with 5 modes, wich I like, because it has middle mode. (middle power mode)

It has best zooming mechanism, perfect ratio of smoothness and hardness of zoom in and out (so on the bike itll be hard for zoom to change position, I think) - in most situations

3) SMilling shark- what to say - that was maybe my favourite at the first sight.
It looks an d feels somewhat solid, and it is solid.
Im all about light output so performance wins me over. It has widest spilll, and tightest hotspot.
Maybe its driven little more conservatively than Ultrafire, but you cant notice that very much.
Because hotsot is tighter and if you want throw it will throw further.
Because is little bigger it somehow looks like serious flashlight. Huge head travel. Very wide taimcap so it very easily tailstands.
One or two cons - it comes with 3XAAA holder, but it didnt come (they forgot?) with 18650 tube. (anybody else received it with 18650 tube.
I think itll receive 26650 wich I dont have, and it would be a pros.
And small designer flaw or something - lens protrudes through the bezel a little. (Plastic) lens rattles a little. I dont believe Ilost it aleady, but it laks obviously plastic retainer between bezel and lens. (SOme plastic retainer like on small sun C10). Thats why lens is protruding and it rattles. But I also think it would protrude even with that retainer. Ill try to fix that somehow, but all that is little anoying.

SO to conclude, Ultrafire didnt thrilled me maybe mainly because it looks like many sipiks I have, but its maybe best usable flashlight, and I like usability.
SMiling shark also has that potential, when I fix lens rattling and buy 26650. Little bigger flashlight, and itll have great runtiime (and its sertainly not to big for 26650 flashlight
Regarding Z8, heh, I dot know what to say. It has really good threads, but from I mostly us flashlight to shine light, I’m not taking it apart and assemblying it continuasly :slight_smile:
I dont think 14500 and XML are so good combo. I would rather take SIpik Sk68 with me than this light, much better GUI, more than enough output…
Maybe when I test it at night it will give me little better impression.

2 pics taken by not so good cell phone camera:

Its really nice flashlight and I had it - but its XRE zoomie.
I got my from Dinodirect, really nicely build, but it had a flaw, it was changing modes while zooming or when tilting the head, I dont remember - maybe it was repairable but it was nuissance, I gave it away

i want to get a cheap xm-l zoomie, the priorities being very small and very bright, and your info definitely helps. i still am not close to a decision though, and part of it is i am starting to think that although zoomies do more things than non-zooming lights, they also do more things badly. i am starting to think that unless a really good one comes out, i prefer a more single purpose light, as in a flooder for flood and a thrower for throw.

Me and my friend came to similar conclusion too (yesterday and today :smiley: )
Yes they can be interesting or fascinating a little (this zooming function etc), but at the end of the day, hmm, I would always prefer reflector light for most purposes (if good led and refelctor combo, you have enough spill AND throw - and it salso somehow more natural… and usable - on the other hand zoomies seem more fancy :smiley: ).

I dotn know for what purposes you need XML zoomie?
Today I got Uniquefire T20 and its brighter of them all, and it seems most interesting, most well-built (but is also most expensive - more than 20:money_mouth_face:
Id doesnt have ANY knurling, its practically all smooth, but you can zoom it and unzoom it with one hand - little tiresome process with one hand because u need to turn the head many times :slight_smile: much easier with 2 hands. It has wide head, but flashlight isnt realy big, its long pretty the same as p60 lights - pretty compact and light for what it can do. Good lens

It’s hotspot is larger than Smiling shark hotspot, but its significantly brighter…
Im well satisfied with it but maybe price could be better :slight_smile: (it seems that mode memory exist but takes very long time to cach in) Anmd I think tint of the light it emmits is better than Ultrafire’s and Smiling Shark’s, wich give bluish spill, not very appealing.
Also, its not so bad thrower.

PS: But it seems Ill need to by new tool for diassemble it. Its not at all easy to dieassemble

Go away, Gorann.

IF you have something personal, send PM, dont spam the topic.

You have no problem spamming the site with your anti-USA rhetoric.

Go away, Gorann.

You obviously confused me with someone - my rhetoric is not anti-US, its pro-CHINA rhetoric. Try to be a big boy and deal with it

Your grammar (and politics) betray you, Gorann.