1) The c12 from lightmalls produces more than 3.5 amps. That is very good but can be possible than the c12 from kaidomain (cheaper) is worst?. Is it better to choose it from lightmalls ?
2) I have a kaidomain c8 xm-l t6 and i like it, but the c12 xm-l2 will be 10% better (light power), 20… 30 better…? or simply equal?.
3) A flashlight for about 20$ better than this?
I have to agree with you. The C12 is one of my favorite lights. Lightmalls had them before anyone else and they had (do they still?) the best price even after others started selling them. Lightmalls has been a solid company for me. So I’m partial to them.
Since you have the C12, do you happen to know if the pill (drop-in?) is compatible with C8s? Where did you get the C12 that you have, and if you happen to have a C8, how does it compare?
For $15, I would say this light has been ahead of its time. Not a lot of spill, but you won’t find another light for even close to the price that will out throw it.
The pill is not compatible with any of my C8’s. It is much larger. I had 3 of them, 2 from Lightmalls, one from a vendor on Alliexpress. They were all identical and needed to have the led’s recentered (Used paste and that spacer I told you about). The reflector appears to be the same as the Ultrafire C8’s. The primary improvement is the heat sinking. The light also feels a tad bit lighter.
there are lots of C8 look alike light. with XML, all are best bang for the bucks because only around $10-20 (whole bunch in ebay). C12 look better for abuse, the construction seems can handle more heat..
My favorite EDC for ~ $20 is the XIAOZHI neutral XML with a clip .
Has not left my side since I got it .
Compact , powerful , great tint and beam profile .
Second favorite is the Balder SE-1 neutral XML for all of the same reasons .
For my friends I currently buy them something from the Convoy series . Since I don't mod much , I enjoy all of the options available for host style , emitters , and drive currents .
Well, i have seen the JAcob and the XIAOZHI, and i think this:
- Jacob A60: Yes, it is cheap but the led is Cree Q5, older and worst than the xm-l and of course than xm-l2. And i see Digital Regulated 900~1100mA Current Output and 310 LM, only 1.1A???. It can be that it’s better thrower than “my winner” due to reflector or Q5 nature but i think i prefer in general the ultrafire c12 xm-l2 with more than 3.5A. It must give more light, 1200 LM real.
- XIAOZHI: Lumen: 800lumens Current:2.3A and little body that i suspect that the heat can be a problem. Again i think that i prefer a good heatsinking flashlight like c12 with a more powerful xm-l2 led.
At the moment i think that i prefer the c12 xm-l2.
Yes, it's better. But is it significantly better or is the change noticeable..
For some people a 10-15% gain is a good reason for upgrading, but frankly: You won't most probably notice the difference if you can't compare them on the same scene.
your not really defining “better” very well, do you need an all purpose light? thrower? flooder? edc? gun light? work light? pocket light? back door light? night light? indoor light? out door light? high cri light? brightest light you can get for $20?
Does it have to be off the shelf or can you build? What makea the xm-l/l2 better than xp-g/g2? or xre/xpe/xpe2/mt-g2/sst-50/90?
Can you see the issue here? If you can build, you could easily build something to out flood, out throw or edc better than the c12, if you cant build then a better idea of your requirements would help. Does the budget HAVE to be $20? what cells do you wish to use? does durability matter?
Better in max lumens, good heat disipation, efficient led… More flooder than thrower. And for about 20$ max (21$ too but no more). And with only one 18650.
i think i’ll stay away from lightmalls C12, i got 2 bad experiences from them… dissappointing light output when compared them to lightmalls C8 U3 or XM-L2.
for the money go for their C8 U3 or their C8 XM-L2 it’s much better output.
I don’t see the Jacobs as being much more than a novelty. It throws a long way for sure but it’s not enough light to be of any use. It’s fun to say, “look I can see some light on that tree way over there”. But it’s not much use if it’s not enough light to see what is in the tree. A small sun ZY-T08 can be had for just a hair over $20 and it blows away a Jacobs when it comes to how much usable light is thrown. If I was going to spend around $20 it would be on another T08 and not on another Jacobs.
As for the lightmalls C12 XM-L2 I have one on the way so I’ll know soon enough what that one’s all about. However, I would bet money that I find it more useful, if maybe not as fun, as the Jacobs.
Just to give you some ideas, personally I would choose a 4c emitter myself, as I too prefer a nw tint over a cw tint, I would also prefer to build tbh, but you wanted an off the shelf light.
I would save a few dollars more up and get this exact light, its pretty much the same spec as one of my favorite work edc lights and is extremely ueeful, robust and pleasant to use due to the tint, ha3, high quality host and brilliant design.