Review: Black Shadow Terminator 4*U3/4*18650

Don’t have the terminator but I friend of mine did, and had to send it back as after a few days the switch failed. It may have just been a bad apple which can happen in any line of product, but he has a lot of experience with flashlights and I can’t help but wonder. One thing you may want to consider is which one would last longer. The TK75 has a 2 year warrenty and is very well designed, nothing fancy but the machining and balance of weight and feel in hand is, well, superior Fenix quality. Everything about it seems solid and looks built to last. The tint is interesting, it is a little green at the lower levels, but on high and turbo it seems to change to more of a creamy white tint which isn’t at all too bad on the eyes. Not NW, but nice all the same. Spill is bright and almost as wide as my J18, which I feel I have no use for now I have the TK75, and you know the TK75 will out-throw the competition.

So based on my personal experience, it’s obvious which light I would recommend. Not trying to dish anyone here, just my opinion of course. If I had to choose a high quality, do it all in one multi-emitter light again I know my money’s safe on the TK75.

You’re a flashaholoc indeed and there’s now way my terminator can beat your pair of 55-watt HIDs. :slight_smile:

I was able put my BS Terminator to real test recently during the search and rescue activities here in my work area (Leyte landslide last March 1) and I found out that the beam of my BST cannot penetrate thick fog and rain pretty well. Yes my BST is far brighter than my K40 or BC40 or X10 but the landslide area is located in a forested and hilly area where rain and fog is prevalent. At night and under these conditions, the BST can illuminate up to maybe 60 meters away but I can no longer see 300 meters below the ravine or whether there are still boulders at risk of falling at the cliff 100 meters above. Of course without the fog and the rain the BST performs well, but I think I need something brighter to suit my needs. :weary:

Thanks for your input JR, since my post I have done a bit more research that has me leaning greatly towards the Terminator. I do agree with you on the benefit that Fenix is a more respected brand that has been around longer and also the 2 year warranty is great. However I’m starting to think I like the form factor of the Term over the TK, I really like the “lantern” style carry handle. With how fat the battery tube is on the TK Fenix should offer a detachable (Terminator style) handle, I feel that would be a great accessory for that light, it could even be made of a composite material. More on the size issue I now see the Term is much smaller than the TK making it much more portable and therefore more versatile. Also as far as the quality, even though one buyer reported a bad switch, from what I’ve read here the Term is quite well made.

After seeing both in the same photo (What you got today #4362) for size (and now price) comparison IMO it really pretty much puts them in a different class from each other. Price wise the Term is starting to look like it is more budget priced than I originally thought, I have found one (a U3) for a really great price (pre-order) that is hard to pass up. Although the TK may now be something I’ll be keeping an eye on for a future purchase, I think I’m going to pull the trigger on a Terminator U3.

No worries, I like the design of the Terminator as well. You wouldn’t want to add a handle to the TK75 though, the balance, ridging on the body tube and weight makes it feel great in hand. I was lucky as I got to play around with a lot of these multi-emitter lights in store before choosing, but I missed out on the terminator as they didn’t have stock. I originally narrowed the field down to the Sunwayman T60CS or jetbeam RRT3 XML, but was really impressed with the TK75 and ended up paying through the nose for it (almost $300):

I’m hearing you on the budget and yes they are different kinds of multi emitter lights. Anyway, sounds like you’re set. Might as well get both in the long run. :wink:

What is the length of the screw of the lanyard attachment or the depth of the lanyard attachment hole?
What is the maximum length of a screw that can be accommodated?
In case people look for alternative mounts or attachments with 1/4” screw threads.

Good review,I saw a similar flashlight,EYE40, we can go to compare with this one.
there is the link:
http://stores.ebay.com/Thrunite-Flashlight/EYE40-/\_i.html?\_fsub=4013801012&\_sid=1127024652&\_trksid=p4634.c0.m322

You excelent review was the major reason for my choosing the Dark Shadow Terminator as my first new light in about a year. I paid just a little more for this light than I did for my beloved Olight M3x and Fenix TK41 lights. Not cheap but a great buy when compared with other lights in it’s class. I’m really impressed with this light. I will see how I feel after a month or two when the newness wears off.
I argee with you on the little green light on the button being quite brite. It does light up the room at night and makes a great night light. I was a little concerned when I first put the batteries in as the green LED in the button was only lighting up one side of the button but after I called Going Gear, they checked another Terminator and found it was the same. Great review and great light.

Just checked mine and yep only one side lights up,hadn’t noticed that before lol.Doesen’t bother me in the least,i have also gotten used to the handle,.

Yes one fatal (or minor) flaw is the green button! It not only is distracting, the button does not light up evenly but brighter on the side with the LED! Didn’t pry open and see, probably it’s two LEDs, one red one green side by side.

But the LED helps in that every time I don’t use the light, I would know how much turn I need to lock out the light.

Another fatal flaw is the part where the handle is mounted to the body is not sealed. Do not I repeat DO NOT submerge your terminator in water. Ask me how I found out. :stuck_out_tongue:

How did you find out and what, if any, damage occured?

Really? its not waterproof?

That’s a shame.

Give us some more details on that.

Glad you like the light so far. Not sure why you are surprised about the LEDs in the switch since I did mention that there are two and on either side of the switch, along with pics of the switch when lit. :wink:

"The switch is translucent silicon and carries the "X" theme of the Terminator with it's molded design. Behind this cap are red and green LEDs."

"When battery levels are above 2.7v the switch lights up green. When cell levels are too low the right half will light red to notify you that it is time to swap or recharge your cells."

While it doesn't bother me in the least, being as OCD as I can be at times I can understand how someone else might be bothered by the unevenly lit switch boot. Hopefully the rest of the awesomeness will distract you from dwelling on it. ;)

Thanks JohnnyMac, I have been enjoying using the light thus far and gradually found my liking for the handle — could use just one finger to hold the light instead of the whole hand, making it more versatile. The LEDs are not really a problem; that’s why I have that (or minor) in my last post. But an evenly lit button would be nice anyway! And most of the time I lock it out so I only see the LED light up when I want to use. So far I have enjoyed using the light, and the major purchase decision was because of this thread so thanks for your review again.

Well… have not tried to see if Terminator is waterproof, and I think I wouldn’t even try, like all my other flashlights.

It’s not that I’m disturbed, it’s just that in the pictures it doesn’t really show the green led only lighting up one side of the button. I called Going Gear and asked them if there was something wrong with my new light and they checked another light they had on hand and confirmed that it was normal. That’s all. IT doesn’t bother me that it’s not even and I can completely understand why they built it hat way. The red one is on the right and the green is on the left.

I think this shows it but I’m glad you’re happy with it now. :slight_smile:

I did see that photo but I didn’t look close enough I guess. Also, I can see why someone looking at that picture could think that the bright spot on the right side of the button was the flash of the camera on that side and the whole button was in fact green. When I called Going Gear and asked them about the light, first thing they told me was that they thought the whole button was green and only after they actually looked at another light did they realize it was green on the left side.

Now I’m trying to decide what is the next light I’m wanting to buy. Chime in here if you want as I’m open to sugestions.

What type are you thinking of? Thrower? Flooder? EDC? Any special battery type?

Also budget.

I’m really starting to like small lights that are very bright. I have been a big fan of throw but I’m starting to gravitate to a more floody, really bright light. Thinking of a few right now. Nitecore TM15, Nitecore TM26, Fenix TK75. Mostly multiple 18650 battery lights. Price isn’t really a big deal right now for me so I can pretty much get what I want. Doesn’t even have to be a light I will be using a lot. Just something that might be fun to have around and to show my friends. I’m for sure going to buy a Olight SR95UT.