Please help me to choose between 2 cheap flashlights (2 models inside)

Hello, i have been seen a pair of flashlights than i think they are pretty good for the price:

Ultrafire C8 Cree XM-L T6 5 Modes 1600 Lumens LED Flashlight (1 x 18650 Battery)

http://www.everbuying.com/product249701.html

and

Cree XMLT6 1800LM 5-Modes LED Tactic Flashlight Torch LIE REN KC-01 (1*18650)

http://www.everbuying.com/product139856.html

Well, the LIE REN KC-01 is zoomable and i think that for a flashlight can be zoomabe it must have convex lens (i’m not an expert about flashlights) but the ultrafire C8 i think it has a reflector and no convex lens, however on the specifications you can read that has convex lens and on the reviews you can read than has zoom. Can somebody explain this? is really zoomable the ultrafire c8?

And what flashlight are better? more light, throw, flood etc.

I must to say that i have a KD c8 xml 18650 than it is near to exactly has the same body than the ultrafire and it hasn’t zoom (only difference are the black mode button and the orange skin reflector).

Thank you guys.

First of all, I’d ignore the lumens, as the advertised ones are probably way exaggerated.

I don’t think that that C8 has a convex lens, but more probably a plastic lens, and possibly a plain clear glass one.

If it’s anything like the C8 that I have, I think that the C8 would be more of a thrower, with a very small distinctive hotspot and just a (very) little spill.

The zoom one will probably give you a circle of light, that will get smaller or larger when you zoom in/out. At least on the ones that I have (sipik sk68 clone, etc.) the brightness in the circle is fairly even, and when you zoom all the way in, the beam turns into a square with the shape of the emitter.

So, it depends mainly what kind of beam you want, I think.

Jim

Before buying, read this:

https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/338

I would go for the C8 as that's a solid, good performing light. I would choose a different seller though...

I've purchased several C8s from Manafont and they have been very good lights:

http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/c8-xml-t6-900lumen-5modes-led-flashlight-118650-p-6402

Here's a cheaper one, not sure of the quality on this one though:

http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/ultrafire-c8-cree-xml-t6-5mode-led-flashlight-black-18650-p-12209

But the Ultrafire C8 Cree XM-L T6 5 Modes 1600 Lumens LED Flashlight (1 × 18650 Battery) http://www.everbuying.com/product249701.html is or isn’t zoomable?. Some people say that it is zoomable on the reviews:

http://www.everbuying.com/m-review-a-view_review-goods_id-249701-page-2.html (and find zoom on the page)
http://www.everbuying.com/m-review-a-view_review-goods_id-249701-page-5.html (and find zoom on the page)

and on the specifications:

Model: Ultrafire C8
LED:

Cree XM-L T6
Luminous Flux:

1600 Lumen
Lamp Life:

100000 Hours
Power Source:

1 x 18650 Battery (Not included)
Modes:

5 (Hi > Medium > Low > Strobe > SOS)
Switch:

Tail Cap Clicky/Clickie
Construction:

Shakeproof and Waterproof
Lens:

Convex Lens
Reflector:

Smooth Aluminum Reflector
Product Size:

4.5 x 4.5 x 15 cm (L x W x H)
Product Weight:

0.134 kg
Materal of Product:

Durable Aircraft-grade Aluminum and Stainless Steel

i think that the convex lens haven’t reflector and the c8 has it.

I’m confused with all this…

Are you referring to this review for the C8:

That review is titled “Bike lamp winner”, and also says “AAA adapter is nice ti have”, and I don’t think it comes with an AAA adapter, so I think that the reviewer put his/her review in the wrong item.

As I said earlier, I have an “UltraFire C8”, and the one I have (a) doesn’t have a convex lens and (b) doesn’t zoom.

Jim

A C8 does NOT zoom. It is a fixed-reflector flashligh with a normal flat lens.

I think that too.

And a question: wich is the best xm-l 18650 with zoom below 14$?

I think it’d be difficult to give you a definitive answer, but I just got this a couple of weeks ago, and it’s pretty good:

http://www.fasttech.com/products/1601/10002773/1206501-cree-xml-t6-xm-l-t6-5-mode-zooming-led-flashlight

There are LOTS of choices for under $14 (BTW, that’s a strange number. Why $14, e.g., why not $13, or $15?

Well, it’s only a number, 14$, nothing special.
But, i think that i have other idea. See my new post…

C8 is not zoom-able, i think T6 will be better for you.

I prefer a C8. don’t like the colored tint that a convex lens give. especially when zoom to ultra spot. C8 gets a spot in middle of the beam. if you like to ignore weaker surrounding flood. I wonder if it’s really necessary to have it zoomable.
definitely C8.