I was wondering if you could advice me if I should go for the KD C8 cree xml readymade or the T6 ultrafire dropin on manafont combined with a ultrafire wf-502b flashlight body?
My concern is mostly the heatsinking when making a flashlight. Don't know how they compare to eachother performance wise? Also is the uf body a good choice?
I'm certainly no expert but I own both lights that you're wondering about and I'm probably one of the ones in the minority when I say this - I'm very disappointed in the ultrafire dropin. I have mine in wf-501b, but to compare the 2 lights isn't even close. The KD C8 blows it away in both spill/flood and throw. I honestly think the C8 is one of the best lights I own. When you factor in cost/performance, nothing comes close. The heatsinking on the C8 is very good. If given the choice, I'd purchase the C8 100 times out of 100 over the dropin.
I also have the dropin in a Solarforce L2P and it doesn't compare either. I use the red/black flame trustfires on every light I own. I have not measured any of the lights with a meter so I don't have specifics. This is just an average joe flashlight owner's opinion.
Appreciate your help! I'll go for the KD c8 then :).
I was going to buy the sky ray from manafont, so i thought if i could buy a smaller light in one and the same store that would be easier, but if it gets blown away by the KD C8 I'll definely choose that one!
I have the Sky Ray 3800 and it will be hard to beat with any single led - single 18650 light. I also have the KD C8 in the mail also, So i can compare them directly real soon. But it beats my Beamtech T6 XM-L 2x 18650 with over all brightness, The 3800 is more flood while the Beamtech is more focused.
I also have a TF 504b coming and im gonna replace the cheap drop-in with the MF XM-L part, But now i feel kind of let down hoping it would hang with the C8.
Have you done any tail cap amp readings? As all the reviews i read make the drop-in sound like its magic.
DasFriek, I haven't done any readings yet. I still need to pick up a multimeter. After reading all the glowing reviews on the ultrafire dropin, I was expecting it to be the brightest light I have. The C8 wins hands down. I've switched batteries around since they're all the same (I purchased 40 of them) and still get the same results. I really need to start measuring my lights and batteries since I'd like to get the 3X SkyRay or Trustfire from Manafont.
If im not mistaken there is now a 3800 copy by Trustfire at DX which looks even more heavy duty. But i got my SR 3800 today in the mail and i just tore it down for cleaning, lubing and adding thermal compound and filler material if needed for better heat transfer. And really all it needed was some thermal compound on the threads on the head.
I could see no way to make it thermally better, Except to redesign it as its not perfect. But its more than sufficient. Its without a doubt the brightest light ive ever seen. And yes, You need a DMM. Its my most used tool even more than my chargers.
Whats bad is i just ordered 2 more XM-L drop-ins from MF for a total of 3 on the way as i want to upgrade a few lights i own already. Plus i got one of the UltraFire 504B high polished silver L2 clones for a drop-in. Sure i hope they come close to the C8's output, But just putting in the XM-L will most likely double the output the lights have now anyhow. And im not trying to make every light i own the brightest thing i ever seen, But its a good option to have and a reason why medium and low was invented.
Plus I killed the guy who made the strobe feature, You guys are welcome.
You say the sky ray has more flood, but as the light is so bright I can assume that it also shines a long distance? I prefer a good flood with a semi throw as throwing lights have a beam that is too narrow.
Here are my two cents. I am also have both KD C8 and MF XML 3-mode drop-in. Impressed by some reviews on BLF, I`ve ordered Trustfire TE-R2 and using it as host body for MF drop-in. It provides perfect heat transfer and more throw with deep smooth reflector than a standard WF-50X body. Unfortunately, even in this conditions, KD C8 is noticeable brighter than MF drop-in.
Ive not tested the light outside at night which is kind of hard to do without disturbing neighbors where i live. Im just going by indoor wall beams, And the SR 3800 has a wider flood like beam compared to most other lights i have. But its so intense it has to go pretty far also. Others have reviews and beam pics in the "General info" section and the "18650" section.
I know the C8 is gonna be awesomely bright, But as i said thats not everything. Most likely the MF XM-L can be modded to push more amps if i see the need. Even if its only 800 lumen's from the MF drop-ins that's darned bright. And it gives me the opportunity to upgrade lights that i have that are stuck at 220-270 lumen's.