ok i ended up buying two lights since i had to pay for shipping. geez, most places offer free shipping…
i also bought the uniquefire uf-v1, i know its an outdated light, and ugly in its own way, but i just wanted to try it out since i couldnt find any reviews on it, other than one guy on manafont mentioned that its similiar brightness to a hd 2010, but more floody.
Be careful. The C12 U3 from light malls was one of the worst lights I have bought, and I have bought quite a few. Flickering madly out of the box. Broken switch. Bad pill soldering job. Off center emitter. weird artifacts in the spot. Just awful.
I’m all for complimenting a vendor when he does a good job, and i try to be understanding when I get a dud, but I couldn’t find anything about the C12 U3 that was right, except that maybe a 18650 cell fit in the tube!
i got 2 disappointing C12s already… lesson learned, i’m pretty sure if you mod it , it might become a nice light… but then again it will push the light into out of budget category :P.
i’ll save the money and go for the sure thing C8 XM-L2
>>>>>i’m pretty sure if you mod it , it might become a nice light…
>>>>>but then again it will push the light into out of budget category
Yeah, I put a new driver in the lightmalls c12 u3 after the driver toasted (after about an hour of use). And a new emitter because a q5 literally puts out more light than the supposed u3 that was in there. Works pretty good now. still some weird artifact in the spot, but unnoticeble in real-world use.
But, you’re totally right, I now have the world’s most expensive c12. Rather get a light that works right in the first place.
[quote=blueb8llz]
ok i ended up buying two lights since i had to pay for shipping. geez, most places offer free shipping... i also bought the uniquefire uf-v1, i know its an outdated light, and ugly in its own way, but i just wanted to try it out since i couldnt find any reviews on it, other than one guy on manafont mentioned that its similiar brightness to a hd 2010, but more floody. i almost bought the uniquefire uf-t8 instead, but last minute change my mind for the uf-v1. http://www.lightmalls.com/uniquefire-uf-t8-1770-lumen-cree-xm-l2-u2-5-mode-led-flashlight-torch-1x18650http://www.lightmalls.com/uniquefire-uf-v1-stainless-steel-cree-xm-l-t6-5-modes-memory-led-flashlight-1x18650#review-form
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The Uf-V1 is sold under a different name - MXDL SA-76, thread here: https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/8294. I mod'ed one for manxbuggy1, it came out nice, brighter of course, but it's got poor heat sinking because of all that SS - tailend stays completely cold while the head gets pretty hot. Used on short spells it does pretty good, can't recall the #'s, but I definitely got the lumens up there, maybe 1,300's I believe? I did the "sandwhich" style mod, as shown in that thread, using a Nanjg cranked up.
I can’t speak for the newer C12’s with U3 and xml2’s. I bought mine when they first came out from 2 different vendors. All of the C12’s had the standard assembly line issues that almost every budget light has. Out of center emitters, tail switch plate not snugged down, poorly seated emitter, etc. I don’t count these types of issues because they are part of how we get these lights so cheap. You have to pay good money for a light that has all the small details taken care of. So to me, these problems are my gain. It’s best practice to go through a budget light before using it beyond a brief test.
So when I buy a light like this, I’m buying it for primary traits and changing the rest to my taste. In the case of the C12, it’s a C8 that can better shed heat. Get the cheapest one you can get and then replace the driver and emitter if you want more. For my wife, I put in an XM-L2 T6 3C with Nanjg and 12 7135’s. It’s a serious bulldog of a light. She loves it. It tickles me every time I get to use it.
[quote=blueb8llz]
ok i ended up buying two lights since i had to pay for shipping. geez, most places offer free shipping… i also bought the uniquefire uf-v1, i know its an outdated light, and ugly in its own way, but i just wanted to try it out since i couldnt find any reviews on it, other than one guy on manafont mentioned that its similiar brightness to a hd 2010, but more floody. i almost bought the uniquefire uf-t8 instead, but last minute change my mind for the uf-v1. http://www.lightmalls.com/uniquefire-uf-t8-1770-lumen-cree-xm-l2-u2-5-mode-led-flashlight-torch-1x18650http://www.lightmalls.com/uniquefire-uf-v1-stainless-steel-cree-xm-l-t6-5-modes-memory-led-flashlight-1x18650#review-form[/quote]
The Uf-V1 is sold under a different name ~~ MXDL SA-76, thread here: https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/8294. I mod’ed one for manxbuggy1, it came out nice, brighter of course, but it’s got poor heat sinking because of all that SS~~ tailend stays completely cold while the head gets pretty hot. Used on short spells it does pretty good, can’t recall the #’s, but I definitely got the lumens up there, maybe 1,300’s I believe? I did the “sandwhich” style mod, as shown in that thread, using a Nanjg cranked up.
[/quote]
grrreaat, i should have bought the uniquefire uf-t8 then hahah. i guess ill have to keep this one stock then. actually, most likely gonna give away for gift now hahah.
Well, don't write it off so quick - I really liked that light, unusual design and shape. Yes, the heat sinking wasn't that good, surprising for it's size, but really liked the style and feel. Check it out when you get it.
*** This is weird -- quoted posted aren't working now??
Well, don’t write it off so quick - I really liked that light, unusual design and shape. Yes, the heat sinking wasn’t that good, surprising for it’s size, but really liked the style and feel. Check it out when you get it.
* This is weird — quoted posted aren’t working now??
I don’t know I haven’t heard or seen anything from him since his lightmalls C8LU2 his reviews got me hooked on C8 from lightmalls but I haven’t seen or heard from himsince been wondering that top.
