Review: Small Sun ZY-T08 2 x 18650 (Parallel)

Yea I have swimmed to the bottom of the Mariana Trench a few times just to say I did. LOL!

ILF, next time you explore the Mariana Trench see if you can find my Enlan EL-01B from DiscoveryBargain that never showed up.

Take my word for it, or follow this link if think I'm kidding: https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/1596#comment-33655 :p

I have no doubt that the T08 is one heckuva bargain (just look at the price ! :heart_eyes: ).
But I already have the STL-V2 which kicks out about 48Kcd, I believe. My next thrower will have to double that, at least !
Better yet, something in the region of 130+ Kcd :slight_smile:

It just may have the fastest strobe on a $30 light out there. On that one I bet no contest! :open_mouth:

I have received my T08 and I’m definitely impressed with it. It feels solid, well-machined, good finish, etc… I’m very happy with it. It definitely beats my Marsfire STL-V2 wannabe in every aspect imaginable. Very good value for 26 beans.

You mean what I call "heart attack inducing strobe"? I've wondered why they make the strobe so fast, but I guess it is more "tactical" that way. I actually like a slower strobe or even a beacon, but I'd still prefer it be hidden.

-Garry

My vote is for all strobes to be hidden my Fenix TK21 has hidden strobe. You have hold the side button down then it goes to strobe. It strobes for like 3 seconds or so then does a beacon for the same amount of time then rootates between them. I would like it that way if all of them did that! Oh well guess you cant have everything when you get cheap lights.

Edit - did you ever get your light Garry?

Just got my ZY-T08! Nice! Really nice! It's bigger than I thought it would be. Nearly perfect condition too - no scrapes, scratches, etc. . . Popped my two new Panasonics in it and oh man does it have one heck of a bright hotspot! I'm at work and turned it on shining toward the floor and after I turned it off I was waiting for someone to say "what the heck was that???" Can't wait to give it a good test at night (although I don't know that I want to go out in the pouring rain to do so!). Very happy with it so far!

-Garry

I finally ordered one, too. Parallel setup allows modding with NANJG105C; I might make it 3.5A custom UI and copper core XM-L T6 3C; I’ll see.

Didn't you order the "other version" with the dual switches? Why this one too? Are the heads the same size? Or is the other smaller and not so much a thrower as this one?

-Garry

Yes, I love the dual switches for the UI, but I ordered this one for throw, since it's reflector diameter is much bigger.

Thanks Cainn. The best I can do is use same quality batteries (trustfires), and do beam shots to illustrate. And as mentioned, there are many variables. My HD2010 could be fluke under performer, or my T08 is a fluke over performer. The T08 had a tighter and brighter hotspot than my HD2010, but the hd2010 had a much brighter and useable spill. This may sound surprising, but my t08 also out threw my friend’s TK35! I was shocked to see that!

The Fenix TK35 does good to throw much past 200yds. The T08 will easily beat the TK35. I have one but it’s the older T6 version and not the U2, but there’s not a lot of difference between those versions. I forgot what selfbuilt said the TK35 T6 was, but I think it was around 23,000 lux. The last T08 I got I’m gonna say it’s around 45,000 lux going off of what my other XM-L throwers I have are said to produce. And I have a bunch of the better name ones. I would say it’s just a little bit under the Catapult V3 in throw.

That’s about right. The tk35 clones are also about half of the T13’s. The v2/v6 olight clones are 50% more. Seems consensus is that this t08 is between the T13 and v2/v6.

Gee… where can I get one of those???

I want this light, but two things jump out at me…

1) It looks to be top-heavy, as though it will be not only bulky, but feel very uneven in the hand.

And…

2) It appears as though finding and depressing the button to activate it would be inconvenient.

Those of you who own it, please elaborate.

What's up with that pertruding piece on both sides of the tail? It's a bird, it's a plane, it's an anti rolling mechanism... What is it? Does it bother anyone. Does it get in the way. I like the rest of the flashlight and thinking about buying it but that thing bugs me.

Could not take it any more, just ordered 1 from DX. I do like that form factor.

I think this is the best budget flashlight I have ever bought.
Also I like the grip. The quality isn’t so good as HD2010, but the price is unbeatable.