BLF customized Tank007 Lights: Which would you be interested in?

Hi everyone, here's an interesting development.

We've been working with a Tank007 rep and Jim from Manafont.com to get details about customized Tank007 flashlights. Most of us have had pretty good experiences with Tank007 flashlights, they are usually attractively styled and very well built. Jim has been hard at work to get details about Tank007's flexibility and pricing for these upgrades. To keep the price fairly reasonable (this is BLF), we're not going to request any custom engineering. But I'd like to present the following options to you guys. Please comment if you would be interested in any of these options, shipped from Manafont:

Tank007 TK-567

http://www.tank007.com/view_products.asp?id=388

  • Customization: XP-G LED - Need to verify R2 or R5
  • Customization: 3 or 4 non-blinking/non-flashing modes
  • Standard feature: Tailstands
  • Standard feature: 2xAA extension tube (I personally wouldn't use the extension. Maybe we can delete this to keep cost down.)
  • Standard feature: AA or 14500 dual-capability driver
  • Approximate price: $24

The TK-567 is an interesting option because it's not really available anywhere else. It's a new design. I would say it looks fairly attractive. It's a tad bit long at 100mm. The tailcap looks a bit weird, but it appears that it serves as an anti-roll function. The TK-567 is currently only available from goldengadgets.com, which is not a very good seller, and they are asking for $39 without these customizations. So about $24 looks like a pretty good deal, especially with these customizations.


Tank007 E07

http://www.tank007.com/view_products.asp?id=367

  • Standard: OSRAM LED (strongly preferred by me)
  • Customizable: XP-E Q5 LED
  • Customization: 3 or 4 non-blinking/non-flashing modes
  • Standard: Tailstands, super compact, drop-dead good looking design
  • Standard: AA or 14500 dual-capability driver
  • Approximate price: $20

The E07 is a pretty popular compact AA keychain light among BLFers. Even many high-end flashlight users appreciate this compact design. In my opinion, the only thing the E07 needs is multiple modes, because runtime is terrible and it gets really hot since it always runs on the highest mode. So I've always wanted a customized E07, which in my opinion would be a poor man's version of the Fenix LD15. Jim says they can offer it with an upgraded "Q5" LED, but I would strongly prefer the standard OSRAM to keep the price down. OSRAM emitters are a bit of a rarity in budget lights, and I've always wanted a multi-mode OSRAM light.


Tank007 TK-737

http://www.tank007.com/view_products.asp?id=369

  • Customization: XM-L emitter
  • Customization: 3 or 4 non-blinking/non-flashing modes
  • Customization: Tailstandable
  • Standard: 1x18650 or 3xAAA battery compatible
  • Standard: Mode memory
  • Standard: Rotating zoom
  • Approximate price: $24

This option is exciting. I own the standard TK-737, which is also a hard to find model. I finally ended up buying mine from BestOfferBuy.com. In few words, I absolutely love this flashlight. I need to write up a complete review. It's extremely high quality, has a beautiful clean design, and is very bright. My only complaints are that mine didn't tailstand well, and the blinky/SOS modes. So this customization would eliminate these two niggles. And it would throw in an added bonus of the coveted XM-L emitter. And the quoted price is quite attractive at $24.

So these are the options. Please comment if you like any or all of these options. And please help decide the mode order.

I know we've had a few failed customization attempts due to the flaky manufacturers who back out in the last minute. But I have talked to the Tank007 rep, and Jim and I agree that she is helpful and honest. Jim has been working for quite a while to get these promotional prices calculated. And it looks like Tank007 is just waiting for the green light...

Cheers, hopefully this will be a fun project.

reserved

Thanks for doing this sb. Im interested in all of them but the 737 and the 567 are the ones id most want. id probably want the 4 mmodes with a super low. H-M-L-SL. Thanks again! Maybe we can get Jim@Manafont to do another another BLF/Manafont cashback campaign in conjunction with these new lights.

I think the E07 would be a very nice EDC with an ultra-low mode(and no blinkey/SOS modes). Personally I'd take it with a Q5 over Osram if the pricedifference isn't too much. The TK-737 looks nice, but a flood-to-throw light with XM-L would lose too much light when it's in throw-mode, so I don't think the light would get much exercise.

Just my 0.02$

Thanks James! Jim has really been cranking on this project, we should thank him too.

And what would you think about the reverse mode order of Super-low > Low > Med > Max?

That would work out better as i find myself cycling for the lower modes past H. Thanks JIm! ill shoot him an email as i don't know how often he checks in here.

That is my favorite mode arrangement, just like the BLF Mr Lite. Without memory starting always in moon mode.

with a one or two lumen low and no flash modes i might buy all three

Hmmm... Yes... A whole meter pretty much excludes this as EDC light. And I'm not a fan of this one anyway.

The other two are much more interesting. I still don't have AA light so I could consider customised E07. Don't have an Osram light for that matter. I would prefer XPG to XPE or Osram, but if these are the options, I could live with Osram. Just make it crazy low-low-mid-hi. In that order with no memory please and you got my paypal sent.

TK737... Why not. Hard driven XML with low-mid-hi with memory. Yes please. For 24$, I'm in.

The TK-737 XM-L is the only one which is of interest for me, but maximum current and heat sinking could be major issues here.

I would also like it to have 4 modes with moonlight.

Wow, awesome lights! I will take the TK-567 as well as the E07, with SL-L-M-H, without mode memory just, as as proposed by Mr. Admin. This is really something special, you can't find this anywhere for cheap. Big thanks for making this happen!

R4 or R5? i guess the R4s are neutral white.

Not really sold on the Osram emitter . I purchased a UniqueFire AA S-1 after reading about the nice warm tint here , and mine came with a decidedly cool tint . The beam profile is nice , and it has been surmised that the tiny Osram emitter doesn't quite fit the reflector , thus the out of focus softness of the beam .

I'm in for an eo7 if it's WARM this time .

Ha! Thanks for catching that. Make that "100mm"

Pretty exciting stuff. I don't really like flood-to-throw lights, but getting a Tank with an XM-L is kind of hard to resist. I do not see the point of 4 modes and to me this was one of the biggest failings of the last BLF light. It might be good to get a prototype to see how well the zoom works with XM-L and how well the modes are spaced if you choose 4 modes.

I think a lot of people already have E07's, but I don't, so I'd be all over that. I don't have a preference between Osram and XP-E. Both are a little underpowered at this point. Would prefer a neutral XP-G, but not confident that can be done. Doesn't seem like you'd want a twisty with 4 modes, especially if it doesn't have memory. I'd almost prefer 2, and if there is no memory then it should come on in High. But then you're paying an extra $6 for a Low mode, essentially.

I don't care about 2xAA lights either (too long), but some people like them, maybe because they like Mini Maglites. Or it can be a good way to get the voltage up a little if you don't plan on using 14500's. That light seems pretty neat and I like that it is an XP-G (if it was an XM-L, that would make this light kind of like the Xeno E03 and they woudln't be able to keep them in stock). I guess that's the one I would lean towards the most, with the E07 second, and the XM-L zoomie third.

There are different tint bins and LED types with OSRAM just like with CREE, so don't say an "OSRAM" is this or that. The OSRAM Golden Dragon Plus emitters in the AA-S1 probably have varying tints (just like most cheap CREE lights). Personally I wouldn't want a yellow light.

The E07 with a superlow-low-med-high sounds cool, though that's doable to some extent with QTC. I would like to see the light with a Q5 as well, though.

I fancy the 567 - with a neutral R4 it'd be a nice (if short runtime) light. 3 modes with no flashies is good. I already have two E07s - one of those with a two mode like the EzAA would be nice. Zoom lights just don't do it for me.

color me ignorant. how does this kind of buy work?

does one order a specific sku from said manufacturer once it is organized? some other route?

First two lights for me,
4 mode starting from super low
No extenction tube if this can cut the price
No real emitter preference