I received two from Amazon seller BBQBuy, black three mode, next mode memory (can be resistor modded to no memory, start on high). I opened them up to improve the thermal path (compound on emitter base and pill threads). These were $5.40 each when I got them, so it was a no-brainer and definitely a good buy at that price.
Cree XP-E emitter, this was a surprise. They are brighter than the UF XR-E based ones I have when running on one AA NiMH, but it’s the other way around on 14500 cells.
solid pill
decent ano
very firm zoom, needed grease
14500 support, bright with this supply
tailstands
zoom loss is higher than XR-E based zoomies (XP-E has a wider light output angle)
It and two of the sipik 98’s. Not sure of the specs.
Darn! Its the Q3… Thats alright… I’ll buy another one… lol
Specs…
Product Description Condition: Brand New. Model: SK- 68 - 3W. Adjustable Focus : Can adjust its focus for different usage . Zoom Mode: Zoom In & Zoom Out . Waterproof , you can use it in a rainy day !
Switch: End Tail On/Off button . Battery Type: 1x 14500 OR 1x AA Battery (Not Included) Material: Aluminum alloy. Color Exactly the same as pictured ! Size :92mm x Ø25mm x Ø20mm Net Weight: 63g.
My son and I each got a 3 mode Ultrafire from T-Mart USA warehouse when ordering a 1 mode - not my brightest (of 3) but it’s become my favorite. After a few seconds of being off it comes back on in the high mode, otherwise it’s next mode if turned off and back on immediately.
I’ve bought more than 20 of these lights in the past year, because everyone wants one as soon as they see it. I’ve had at least 6 different versions. Starting with 2 of the real sipik68s then switching to the clones cuz they were just better lights IMO. I’ve tried the BBQbuy, Tomtop, Easebon, Manafont, Miniinthebox,and another ebay seller i cant remember name. The differences in performance are so very tiny if any between the clones in my opinion. I personally prefer the 3 mode version.
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I make a slight modification to mine by unscrewing the lens and adding another O ring around the threads. This changes the distance from the emitter to the aspheric lens just slightly, and makes the beam a little tighter when fully zoomed at short to medium range, and it also makes the beam solid instead of the lines being projected (which I don’t really care for).
The switch on my UltraOK feels similar to my Sipiks. The main difference I notice between them is the zoom is tighter but smoother-feeling on the UltraOK. My BBQBuy is a bit rougher-finished than the others (mainly on the fins) and the domed lens that’s over the LED on the Sipiks and the UltraOK isn’t on the BBQBuy, which makes the beam a little different—it doesn’t have that ring around the outside like the rest do. The zoom on the BBQBuy is quite smooth. The unbranded SK68 I got from TomTop seems as nice as the Sipiks.
My experience has been the ring version is a larger die image, but not as bright.
Some people will like the smaller, brighter die (slightly longer useful distance), While others like the bigger spot. Nice thing is the spend to find and see the differences is small.
Exactly what I need to do for the opposite reason. OL put an XPG2 in my 3 mode and an o-ring should bring the beam into slightly better focus - which IMO is also brighter.
Outside, I don’t see the dots (not lines like older LEDs) and want every bit of brightness that can be squeezed out of it.
I have ordered many of the TomTop clones and all were good. Just received some from FastTech and they dont seem as bright to me though, other then that that nice also maybe even a little smoother filling. Have tried other places but they are usually not as nice.
Ah, thanks. I was thinking the worker who puts the lenses on was on a break when mine came down the assembly line, but it didn’t make sense to me that it seems to work fine without it.
The die image is larger with my Sipiks (which has the ring), like you say. The Sipik (at least the one I tested—bought from Manafont) is a bit brighter than the BBQBuy,though.
I agree, part of the fun of getting these was to see what the differences are.
I have one from FP, one from DX and one from Tmart.
I think FP’s product is fake. It can not tailstand. DX one is red, tmart one is green and both can tailstand.
@ fyesilova : funny, my FT’s one tailstands better than my silver ebay one.
@ cat eyes : right yesterday i got a cheapo flashlight from ebay (something on the 3 usd range) wich is great as extension tube. Why? you get 2 different combinations for less than a extension tube:
-a) sk68+2 segments of crappy FL= sp68 with 3AA + a lanyard
-b) sk68+1 segment= sp68 with 2AA PLUS a 1AA crappy FL + a lanyard
Someone (2-AA Sipik SK68 Mod) used a different model of the same brand for the extension tube, difference being side click and design more according to sk68’s. I didn’t check runtime improvement yet, but it does look like a tad brighter on 2AA.
Side comment: FT (single mode) was brighter than Easebon’s ebay one (3 mode), and better finished, but i stand with 3 mode ones. let’s hope FT sells them soon. I gave the single mode as a present with a 14500 lifepo and you should have seen the guy’s face when he tested at night from the balcony… just epic
