This is a review of the Fandyfire L1 from Lightcastle. This was provided to me for review.
These are their specs.
Dimensions: 11.81 in x 2.91 in x 2.91 in (30.0 cm x 7.4 cm x 7.4 cm) Model: L1 Emitter Brand/Type: Cree Emitter BIN: XM-LT6 Color BIN: White Total Emitters: 5 Battery Configurations: 3 x 18650 Rechargeable: No Battery included: No Voltage Input: 8.4~14V Circuitry (mA): 3000 Brightness (lumen): 4000 Runtime(at high mode) minute: 60 Modes: 5 Mode Memory:No Mode Arrangement: High>Mid>Low>Fast Strobe>SOS Switch Type: Clicky Switch Location: Tail-cap Lens: Coated Glass Lens Reflector: Aluminum Smooth/SMO
Just a couple of things are off. It takes 2 or 3 18650's and it's around 2,000 lumens.
This is a link to the light. Their pics are very accurate. I have added one with a SRK for a size comparison.
There is a lot to like about this light. It's finish is flawless and it has one of the very best beam patterns of all the multi-emitters I have owned. In shorty mode it's very easy to carry and seems every bit as bright as it does with three batteries. It's close to being as bright as the SRK with more flood. It has very good heat management. On high it can be run until the batteries run down without it getting blistering hot or even close to it. Although it starts to warm up right away so I'm assuming it has a good thermal pathway. It's a heavy well constructed light (nice springs and knurling) but not so heavy that it's uncomfortable to hold for long walks. In fact it's very comfortable especially in shorty mode. It's easiest to carry it by the fins and since they don't get too hot it's not a problem like it would be on some lights. The tint is very neutral with no goofy colorations at all. Like I said it has a great beam. It's just a very natural looking color and perfect to my eyes. The lens and reflector are top notch.
The Bad
The price at $79 it's overpriced.
The Average
Typical five mode flashlight with memory accessed with a half click at startup. You must turn it off to change modes. Total output is about average for a multi-emitter flooder.
Conclusion
I actually love this light. I had heard that there were problems with the driver when these first came out so I gave it a while before reviewing it and I took it for a good long walk each night. I don't think it will have any problems, however now that there are a lot of drivers available it's not that big of an issue anyway. This lights best feature is it's beam. it's just got this perfect beam that is very enjoyable to use. It's not a thrower but yet it still lights up everything for a good long ways and it does so with a very natural light. It's not ringy and the hot spot is not really that noticeable even almost non existent. If price was not an issue I would buy this over a Sky Ray King and I really like my SRK. it's not a wow factor light as far as lumens go but it's no slouch either. Of the dozens of lights that I own this one will get used a lot. I do most of my walking in the woods with large paths and some fields that open up. It's very close to being a perfect light for that. If lost or damaged I would replace it or fix it.
I give it four and half stars out of five. If it was priced better I would give it a full five. I like it that much. If paying a little extra for a light doesn't bother you and you are looking for a great light for walking in the woods this could be it.
Thanks for the review, 18sixfifty! Looks like a real nice light. Having a shorty mode is nice too. The price does seem a bit high. Maybe in the $50 range it would be better, like a TR-J12.
Compared to the TR-J12, the FF L1 reflector is much larger. I wonder how the two compare in throw.
In throw it’s pretty close to the SRK. I didn’t have a J12 I skipped it and ended up with a J18 instead and sold it. And I agree for $50 it would be a good buy especially for people who don’t like the SRK style.
$70 though as you say, is too much for a 5 x xm-l t6, I would understand if it was xm-l2’s but not xm-ls, and then we get to my own bug bear, something I plan to rectify on my fit 40s I reviewed. No no, not the lacklustre drive current to the emitters that plagues many multi emitter lights.
Its the switch location. Why China? Why? Why do you persist on putting tail switches on 2 and 3 inline series lights? Why? if its two cells inline or more, please, PLEASE, give us a side clicky. Just machine the head, machine a switch housing that screws in, then machine the body tube and tailcap, put a 10a switch in that housing and call it right, we’ll deal with the driver issues but sort out the ergonomics, please.
Ahem, sorry……great review there 18sixfifty, I really get a feel for how you feel about the light, that is something I value as I value your opinion.
Thanks and yep a side switch would be a huge improvement for all these longer lights. There is simply no way to change modes with one hand and that is obnoxious.
exactly, you can’t carry them overhand and mode change, they balance with a gand near the head so put the dammed switch there.
on the fit 40s, the threads in the head are huge, an adaptor ring screws in here then a two cell tube with a single cell extension (both 18650) screws into this ring with a tailswitch cap on the end.
Its ridiculous, I pland to machine a switch housing/adaptor ring, 3 x 26650 tube and a blank tail cap, then it’ll be built right, they got the head right, fairly thick mono block head, no pill, it just should have had a side switch and 26650 tube.
thanks for the review. i agree they should have came out different with the side switch. then we have something, but for now, its just the same as the rest.
