TrustFire Z1 XML-T6 "1600 Lumen" Zoomable (a.k.a. Z5)
Reviewer's Overall Rating: ★★★★☆
Summary:
| Battery: | 2 x 18650 |
| Switch: | Reverse Clicky |
| Modes: | High - Med - Low - Strobe - SOS |
| LED Type: | Cree XM-L T6 |
| Lens: | Glass |
| Tailstands: | Yes |
| Price Payed: | $44 |
| From: | eBay (cyberport888) |
| Date Ordered: | July 2011 |
Edit: Can be found also from DX, where it's called TrustFire Z5 (Price $43.20, including two batteries and a charger!)
Pros:
- Wide & even beam in flood mode
- Throw mode is available if occasionally needed (doesn't replace a thrower still)
- Low(ish) current on high -> less heat, longer run time
- Build quality
- Balanced design, feels good in hand
Cons:
- Output, especially in throw mode (as expected in XM-L FTT)
- Nowhere near 1600 Lumens
Features / Value: ★★★★☆
Good emitter, driven low (see below)
Otherwise pretty normal feature set: Five modes, Zoomable (Flood to Throw)
Light in flood mode: (Mouse over for throw mode)
Design / Build Quality: ★★★★★
I'm happy with the build quality. Threads were smooth, no big flaws in anodizing, no lens rattle, etc.
Design is nice (IMHO). Light is shorter than I thought, well balanced and good to hold in hand.
Heat transfer & cooling seems to be good as well.
Despite of the two cell design this could be a good bicycle light?
Size comparison: (from left: Sky Ray 3xT6, TrustFire Z1, Yezl T9, KD C8)
Flashlight parts:
Head & Tailcap:
Battery Life: ★★★★★
Didn't have time for real runtime tests yet, but must be good with tailcap currents of:
High: 1.0A, Med: 0.4A, Low: 0.1A -> theoretically over 2h runtime on high.
Light Output: ★★★☆☆
As expected (after the current measurements). Definitely not as bright as some well-driven XM-L, like KD C8.
Flood is a bit brighter than in Yezl T9 (440Lux vs. 280Lux@1m), mostly because a bit smaller beam diameter (120cm vs. 140cm @1m). However, the throw is dimmer (10700Lux vs. 14800Lux@1m), again mostly because the beam diameter is bigger (13cm vs. 10cm @1m)
As the current in high mode is low(ish), the light doesn't get very hot => thermal sag is way lower than in Yezl.
I'll add some beamshots later to the post below. Don't hold your breath though.
Summary: ★★★★☆
Good light, but could be better. Nothing exceptional to write home about.
The end: (pun intended)
=the=
Ps. My first review here at BLF. Feel free to ask if I happened to forget something important.
=the=
Here are the promised beamshots. Sorry about the quality. :/
All photos ISO80, 5 sec, f/4.
TrustFire Z1 Flood (mouse over for Yezl T9):
TrustFire Z1 Throw (mouse over for Yezl T9):
..and some "known" lights for comparison..
SkyRay 3xT6:
KD C8:
SpiderFire SSC P7:
Sipik Clone Flood:
Sipik Clone Throw:
=the=
What are lens measurments (dia. of efective part and thicknes)? Can you compare the lens to Yezl T9 (also photos if possible)?
1A at tail with two cells is more or less equal to 2A with one cell, isn't it?
Excellent review and photos!!
TrustFire Z1: ~26mm dia, ~8.6mm thick
Yezl T9: ~34mm dia, 10.0mm thick
Pictures below. Z1 on left, T9 on right:
Right.
=the=
Thanks _the_! Great review. I would thought that Z1 with relatively thicker lens would have wider beam. Maybe leds dome doesn't come as close to the lens as with T9.
Looking forward to see your beam pictures. Again compare them with T9 if possible. Excelent photos, btw.
Hello _the_, great first review on BLF! Really well done, and thanks for the fancy roll-over comparison image. Frontpage'd and Sticky'd.
Give me a 1x18650 version of this light and I might be more interested. Still looks quite nice though.
Budget Light Forum ...where Frugal meets with Flashlight!
Nice Review - My brother bought this light - and in all honesty , _ Im still no fan of flood to throw .
Will post a review on the week end .
Always remember , the easiest thing in the world to do , is to expel hot air from your lungs and through some vocal chords ..
The resulting sound may , or may not be worth listening too ….
Looks very nice,but one question,I searched on google,and found another model,but they looks the same,just the name is difference,this one call trustfire Z1,and I fund one call:trustfire Z5,here
I want to buy one,who can tell the difference with them?
wow that sky ray looks exceptionally bright compare to it
how far is the end of that road? because it looks farther than 50m which is said to be the effective use of this light. It's also strking that the light doesnt seem cold, so is this light 'neutral' white?
Thanks for the comparison between the skyray and the kd C8 (yes this was a review about another flashlight but still
which i was going to buy both until i saw the DRY 4-mode which i will buy instead of the skyray after someone has some comparisons between them
I've a suspicion that the Trustfire X9 would beat the Z1 on looks, flood and throw all at the same time.
"You are making progress if each mistake you make is a new one."
Remember - Most great discoveries start with maki
About 50m.
I think it's just the Auto WB doing tricks.. The light seems cool white to me.
=the=
Supposedly not in flood, but 2/3 isn't bad either..
=the=
Actually from you BS's to my eyes the KD C8 beats it on throw I assume the KD C8 had a SMO reflector. If it only had an OP then a C8 with a SMO would certainly noticeably beat the Z1 on throw.
"You are making progress if each mistake you make is a new one."
Remember - Most great discoveries start with maki
Looks like MF has this light as the TF Z5 for $38.70
I will make this short ...
Its well made but not cheap ...
Im no fan of flood to throw , and this light helps re-enforce that feeling ..
Lets get straight to performance :
Rather than light box readings , as they were no accurate due to the flood to throw design , I have gone with a ceiling bounce comparison ...
Trustfire Z1
Flood = 47Lux
Throw = 16Lux [ Wow now that's a lot of loss ]
Solarforce L2 with 3 mode Manafont XM-L = 60Lux
Solarforce L2T with 3 mode low current XM-L = 35Lux
Now lets check out throw @ 1 meter ..
Trustfire Z1 = 12900Lux @ 1 meter
Solarforce L2 = 11000Lux @ 1 meter
Solarforce L2T = 7600Lux @ 1 meter
Wow , it does throw , but not nearly well enough to make a regular XM-L look bad , if anything it simply re affirmed my personal choice in lights .
What it seems to do is put out a nice spot , which is a little brighter at distance than a regular XM-L .. I have taken this light to the park ..
If you have to have one , fair enough , but it simply does not impress .
The flood mode is useful , and does a very nice job , but I just dont see the point ...
Bottom line ,
Flood is useful
Throws a little better than a regular XM-L [ P60 ]
Cheap ass pill , but emitter sits on a large base
2 x 18650 = A negative for me ..
Serious output loss in throw mode
Im not a fanboy of flood to throw , so I might be the wrong person to say yay or nay ! So I wont ...
If you like flood to throw ? [ My brother does - its his light ] you may wish to consider this one ,
Always remember , the easiest thing in the world to do , is to expel hot air from your lungs and through some vocal chords ..
The resulting sound may , or may not be worth listening too ….
Z1? Trustfire already has a Z1!
http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/trustfire-z1-xper2-modes-flashlight-16340-p-7347?rp=041087
It's an XP-E based really tiny 16340 right-angle light something in the manner of Zebralights (but no head strap). I own that one. Totally different.
Is this a real Trustfire? If so, why would Trustfire release two very different models with the exact same name?
- Circumcision, regardless gender, by definition causes sensation loss, and thereby usually causes difficulty later in life. Oppose amputation of children's genitals. ALL children. http://tinyurl.com/haszs6o
Yes it is strange. The one reviewed here is definitely labeled as, "Z1". But there is an identical one on ebay labeled as "Trustfire Z5". Enlarge the picture shown here. Either TF realised their mistake and corrected it on the second batch or one of the two is a fake.
"You are making progress if each mistake you make is a new one."
Remember - Most great discoveries start with maki
Yes, the trustfire Z1 is the light on the right
I can't imagine they name two different lights the same...how bizarre is that?
Rats, finally sold my 2010 509hp Mustang...now I can buy more lights!
Sold the red one too! Now guess what I drive, doing my penance for 500 hp commuters...
http://dreammustang.com/
Come to think of it TF may have done the same before. Their are two TF-R2's. One is a P60 host and one is a Dereelight DBS clone and AKAIK both are genuine.
"You are making progress if each mistake you make is a new one."
Remember - Most great discoveries start with maki
Nice looking light. Trustfire seems to spits out a good design lately.
Reviews: Astrolux MF01s, Haikelite SC26, Fitorch P30R, Nitecore TINI, Amutorch JM70, Utorch S1 Mini, Nitecore TIP, Haikelite MT09R, XTAR OVer 4 Slim Charger, Vollsion MR12-D, Nitecore HC33, Nitecore EC23. Lumintop SD Mini II XPL, BLF Q8, Astrolux MF-01 Nichia, Convoy C8 Clear, Convoy S2+ Desert Tan, Nitecore Concept 1, Emisar D4, Haikelite MT01. Nitecore Tip 2017, Imalent DN70, Haikelite MT07 Buffalo, Haikelite SC01, Haikelite MT02, Haikelite MT03
what is the actual output lumens on this torch??
of course x9 willbeat this z1
03/04/16
8 lives left
dont bother on the name.. what is more important is the ouput..
The number stated on the body is really misleading.. i guess, it will not reach beyond 800lumens
i see a cheaper one trustfire z5 ,everybody check and given advice to me,it at http://www.lights-box.com
Led Bike Helmet Lights , Wholesale Rechargeable LED Flashlight
it is the output that is important... not the name....
i wish i could erase the lumens numbering on its body
Lighmalls have this light for $38.50
You can find it cheaper on ebay auctions. I won one from cyberport888 for under 40 bucks as a bike kit. Came with the light, a bike mount, two 18650 batteries, a charger, and a taillight shipped for under 40 bucks.
btw, it's a cool little light. Kind of a funky beam profile and the zoom adjustment is a little awkward sometimes but it's fairly bright especially in flood mode. It does lose a little output in spot/throw mode but as a jack of all trades type light I think it's pretty cool.
getting this zoomlight soon... i suppose it only produce around 500 lumens in zoom mode
i find TrustFire Z5 Cree XM-L T6 1600 Lumen Zoom Led Flashlight White just $38.65,TrustFire TR-3T6 $54.50 have 3800lm,cool
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