Review: Tank007 TK-568

Tank007 TK-568

Reviewer's Overall Rating: ★★★★

Summary:

Battery: Can use 1xAA or 2xAA or 1x14500
Switch: Reverse clickie switch (tailcap)
Modes: 1
LED Type: Cree XR-E
Lens: Not coated glass lens
Tailstands: Yes
Price Paid: 14.50$
From: DealExtreme
Date Ordered: Feb 2013

Pros:

  • Veery smooth threads
  • Veeeery good clickie switch (one of the best I have seen)
  • Good machining (the typical tank007)
  • Tailstands perfectly
  • Good output with NiMh

Cons:

  • Not lubed from factory. Some debris (reflector/lens)
  • Not-coated glass lens
  • No clip
  • Not constant output (normal on cheap lights)
  • No modes

Features / Value: ★★★☆☆

I normally like 2xAA lights over the others because of the size (easy to hold with the hand, nor as with the 1xAA or 1xAAA) and the battery availability.

This light is made by Tank007, well known for making inexpensive lights with an aceptable quality/performance for the price. (i.e. E09).

This one is robust, seems well made (let´s say, ok made) and it is so versatile that allows you to use 1xAA, 2xAA or 1x14500 with no problems at all to the electronics.

Of course, the main drawback of these lights are the "regulation". They dont have a good one. I mean, as the battery voltage decreases, the current draw also does. It seems to have some kind of regulation, but not as good as other lights have (i.e. Klarus, Fenix, JetBeam, etc)

Design / Build Quality: ★★★

Again, as espected, you get Tank007 quality. So is easy to guess what you will find: good threads, aceptable overall machining, aceptable anodizing, good switch, glass lens (but not coated) and aceptable reflector + aceptable circuitry.

Let me use the Akoray K106 for comparison on all this review.

The reflector is not as deep as the one you see on the Akoray K-106.

It Arrived with some dust in the reflector and fingerprints in the glass. No lubrication at all. I had to clean and lube.

All the threads are anodized allowing the "tailcap lockout" function.

The switch is one of the best I have tested, it has very good feeling, both talking about the strenght you need to press and the travel. I dont know how much time it will last.

It has diamond knurling on the head, and "square" knurlink on the rest of the body (extension tube and tailcap). No lack of grip when holding it with your hand.

It also inculdes the usual "tank007" lanyard.

No contact problems between the parts. No flickering at all. All ready to use as soon as you take out from the box.

Battery Life: ★★★★

I am impressed on how long this light works with 2xAA. That´s why I give it 4 stars. Of course, you dont get constant output as with the Klarus P2A or any other high quality brand one... I would say that is more than aceptable runtime/regulation for the price. I was especting less.

My results, using fresh 2500mA BTone NiMh batteries and fresh TF Flames 14500 (900mAh claimed) batteries, are:

1xAA config --- 1.8A --- About 2 hours of usable (strong) light

1x14500 config --- 0.85A --- About 1hour 10 minutes (more if you leave it until protection cut-off)

2xAA config --- 0.6A --- More than 3 hours of usable (strong) light

Keep in mind, that, as the battery voltage decreases below a certain level, no regulation (constant output) is present, so when the batt voltage drops, the current draw does the same....

Light Output: ★★★☆☆

Hmm I was especting less, but because of the rings and lack of regulation. Well, 3 or 4 stars, depending on which config you use. I suggest 2xAA.

I dont have measuring equipment. Comparing the lumens to others (in this case the OEM Nitecore EZ AA, which gives 130 lumen), this tk-568 seems very close to that.

Now, comparing the "beam" to the Akoray K-106...

It has some rings. Some people would say very ringy... The central spot has a "blur" or a "black part" in the middle.

Not so defined as the k-106. Not throwy as the k-106. Spill very usable but not as usable as the k-106

1xAA config --- 130 lumen?

1x14500 config --- 200 lumen?

2xAA config --- 150 lumen?

Beamshot, white wall, 1 meter distance from wall

Beamshot, white wall (edge of the wall-ceiling), 3 meters from the wall

Summary: ★★★★

No need to say much about it. If you have a tank007 E09, you will know about the quality. If you have a Akoray K-106, you will now know that it throws less, have a not so defined hotspot, have a bit more lumens (perhaps) and the spill will not be as usabe as with the K-106.

At least is a "versatile" light that allows you to use 1xAA, 2xAA or 1x14500, giving aceptable results with all of them. And, not as like with the UltraFire C3, it has not contact problems.

Good long runtime light for the money... but, dont forget, is a tank007, not a Klarus!

leserved

leserved?

Sorry for not updating the review…

Somehow, I lost the extension tube, and I have one coming, it should arrive next week. Once received and tested with 2xAA, I will complete the review

Hi Fran, please just let me know when you get this done, and I’ll make it Frontpage and Sticky.

I should finish it this week, and I will do the test in 2xAA config + the beamshots :wink:

Review finished. If anyone has questions/petitions… :wink:

Thanks very much for the review! Frontpage’d and Sticky’d.