Ok, received my XML CW version today. What can I say? Yeah, the hotspot is big but not huge :bigsmile: (Man, I thought it will be like ZTT light zoomed out, lol :bigsmile: )
OK, here's my review (at 15PM, so no real brightness perception): (will add more cons, pros, etc after testing it this night)
PROS:
- Nice build quality. HAII probably, but again, no flaws here, nicely done. Quite heavy (because of that bezel, a very nice touch for the light btw :) )
- Lubed threads with good sealing (double o-rings). (my first light with square threads. I like it. Only 2 full turns needed to screw/unscrew it)
- Came with extra switch, lanyard, and spare 2 o-rings. Good package set. (manual included)
- Clean assembly: good soldering job, clean emitter and good centered (0.1-0.2 mm off center), clean glass lens (don't know if it has AR coating).
- No batt rattling.
- Tailstand (a pro for me)
- Compatible with multiple type of batts/cells.
- Silent and no PWM on all modes.
- Well regulated
CONS:
- Gets unpleasantly hot in less than 10 sec on HI with 14500.
- No memory. Nowadays, I think all lights should have memory :~
- No anti-rolling design (a con for me)
Various:
- Tint: 1B, according to the specs. To the eye: not so bad and not so cold. Similar to my P60 UF host. Apparently, both have slightly yellowish/greenish hotspot and purple spill, but Xeno tint is nicer, it has less purplish spill. But still, waaaay too far from my lovely Kingpower and ITP white tints :love: So if you want whitest tint possible like me, I think CW will suits you well, NW could be more orange than white.
- No strobe, SOS, disco modes.
- Well, not a con really, but MED and LOW should be lower with li-ion (and AFAIK, everyone thinks the same)
- Switch: it works and w/o problems so far, but it has... somewhat awkward and cheap press feeling :~ Quite stiff.
- Good grip with heavy and sharp knurling (I personally prefer not so sharp knurling, but yeah, no prob here)
- SOP reflector helps smoothing beam pattern, but still not 100% perfect (btw, looks like all XML have it. I can't describe it very well, but beam patterns on my Kingpower (OP) and ITP (SMO) (both Q5) are perfect :| Zero problems in real life (you can see those "flaws" on white wall only)
Ok, now about brightness: bright with 14500 and dim with NiMh. Comparing to my ITP C7 with Q5 for example... not a big difference: spill almost the same, ITP has tighter and brighter hotspot, Xeno - bigger and dimmer.
To sum up: nice light, high quality, well worth 30 bucks. But, you should know that this light (with XML) is better for close-up jobs, don't buy it if you need throw. For me, no more XML small light because I prefer more throw.