Emisar D1 mini - SBT90.2 with 4000 lumens and 100,000cd

LED Flashlights – General Info 18650 Flashlights
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Emisar D1 mini - SBT90.2 (4000 lumen/100k cd)

Declaration & Thanks:

This light was purchased by me for the purpose of this review

Conclusion Summary:

Awesome host & build quality. Ideal for pocket carry and solves the KR1 button issues.

Not quite so sold on the SBT90.2

+Colour
+size
+Fit & finish
+General performance
+Turbo output

-Tint
-CRI
-Ringy beam
-Cost with THE SBT90.2
-Runtime with this emitter

I kind of feel, that while the SBT90.2 may be all things to all men (or women). Offering low to insane levels of output and lots of throw. The SBT090.2 is rather power hungry on an 18650, produces lots of heat and seems to compromise on tint and stable high outputs.

I wonder if a 4000k SST-20 or SST-40 might be the sweet spot for a general purpose light. Although the Osram W2 is probably still the best for dedicated throw if you want a more specialist light.

Manufacture Specs:

• Weight: 89g

• Dimensions: 109mm(length) * 35mm(head) * 24mm(body)

W1 (Osram CSLNM1.TG): 900lm, Lux : 110Kcd (110,000cd)

W2 (Osram CSLPM1.TG): 1300lm, Lux: 100Kcd (100,000cd)

XP-L HI 6500K/5000K/4000K: 1300lm, Lux: 45Kcd (45,000cd)

SST-40 5000K/6500K: 2200lm, Lux: 29Kcd (29,000cd)

SFT-40 6500K: 1600lm, Lux: 100Kcd (100,000cd)

FC-40: 1600lm, Lux: 14Kcd (14,000cd)

519A dedomed: 1200lm, Lux: 20Kcd (20,000cd)

SBT90.2: 4000lm, Lux: 100Kcd (100,000cd)

B35AM: 1000lm, Lux: 12Kcd (12,000cd)

Info about my reviews and testing:

I like to keep my reviews fairly informal and not overly technical. There are plenty of talented people with fancy measuring devices to offer more technical detail. What I want to do is give an honest appraisal of owning and using this torch, and what a regular punter will make of it.

What’s in the box?

Exterior Design & Ergonomics:

The D1 mini is really a work of art. It is super nice to hold in the hand. I’m not entirely sure why, but it just feels very natural and ergonomic. I love the the fact Hank offers these in different colours too. The anodising is flawless as is the rest of the fit & finish.



The switch feels very good too. And I’m so happy to report that I’ve not yet had a single incident of it activating in my pocket! Making it perfectly acceptable for EDC use.

The deep carry pocket clip is also superb and I really like the fact it has a stainless bezel.

I also optioned it with the magnet in the tailcap, allowing it to stick to many metal surfaces with ease. The light is also perfectly stable for tailstanding and resists roll through the shape of the fins on the head and the pocket clip.

The battery tube feels nice and compact, making the light much smaller than many other lights of comparable reflector size.


Beam & Performance:

Im pleased that I seem to be matching the claimed lumen output. Although a little disappointed that I’m a fair way off the claimed throw. Visually comparing it to other lights with similar claimed/measured cd ratings, I can see it doesn’t have the same beam distance.

It also seems to be somewhat of an amp hog:

Which ultimately produces a lot of heat, which will cause the light to sag and dim quite considerably.

I have upped the thermal regulation a bit to try and prevent the step down so soon. Not so much on the Turbo, that was always going to be a fun blast only mode. But it dims so rapidly on Turbo that it is almost not enough time to take a photo of it. Is also seems to dim hugely from Turbo, rather than settle at a reasonable output.

High works much better and the dimming is much more gradual. But it is still pulling a lot of amps on high, so heat does build up. Just not in an instant boil fashion as with Turbo.

I also feel with such high amp draws, that a 21700 would be a much better format for this particular setup. Albeit on lesser LEDs with way less amp draw, the 18650 format is more than sufficent.

When white wall hunting the beam is also a little ringy. Although in real world use this is a complete non-issue. It is only on a white wall that you can really see this.

For me, it is the tint/CRI that is the biggest let down. It isn’t particularly bad. But I was hoping it would be one of those lights that you fall in love with the tint. And I’m sad to say it isn’t. It seems to have a little bit of a greenish cast to it and it sort of muddys out the colours a little. In isolation it isn’t too bad, but fire up another light and it is very evident.

D1 mini SBT90.2:

Astrolux EA01 SST-40 5000k:

D1 mini SBT90.2:

Astrolux EA01 SST-40 5000k:

Hank doesn’t specify the K rating of the SBT90.2, but I’d have to say even the 5700k XHP50.2 in my Astrolux FT30 looks better outside. And an SST-40 in 5000k miles ahead. I’d go as far to say, that while the Osram W2 is very cool, the actual colour rendition and look of the tint is nicer than the SBT90.2

Measured Specs:

2 Thanks
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Nice, ty for the research!

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Thanks for this review.
I think that sbt90.2 is a no sense in this flashlight, only few seconds of light and then a drastic cut of the performance.
In this type of flashlight is necessary an efficient led with less heat.

4

Putting SBT in such small host is plain stupid.

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5

Have you tried it with a molicel battery? I heard with the samsung, you’re limiting the potential of the light.

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6

For the D1, I think the W1 or W2 emitter probably makes the most sense. Or if CCT is a priority over throw, XP-L HI 5000K is a good option. Maybe even SST-20 4000K if you want it warmer and don’t mind a green tint.

None of the other LED options really seem to fit the D1 host as well.

Personally, I like it in 18350 form with a W1 LED, since it gets maximum throw in minimum size. And I don’t usually need throwers to run for a long time, so the small battery works fine for me.

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7

What about the SFT40? Is that one good for the D1?

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Dunno, I’ve never used one. According to Hank’s specs, it gets the same throw as W2 (100 kcd) while making about 23% more lumens, so it probably looks pretty similar but with a slightly bigger hotspot. It may also use significantly more power to do that, but I’m not sure. I’d expect turbo and high runtimes to be shorter.

I have a W1 emitter in mine, which throws the farthest and has the smallest hotspot. The end result looks very similar to the beam of a bigger light (i.e. a non-compact thrower). As a bonus, it also uses the least power for this, and doesn’t get as hot.

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Nice review. I’m holding out for a 21700 version; would be perfect for the D1. Hoping that is next for Hank.

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10

I got the FC-40 R9050 3000K~3200K a while back and am really liking the result…! Enough flood and throw to nicely light the way and nice CRI/tint all in a tiny form factor.

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11

I’ve heard that the D1K is in the works, not sure when it will release but the next releases are the 14500 and second production run DM11.

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I got mine with a dedomed 519a 5700k. It’s not impressive but is pretty. I already have enough SFT40 and w1/w2 throwers. Draws about 5amps on turbo iirc.

I don’t have a d1 with an sft40 so I’m just going off other lights I have that do and making a guess, but I feel pretty comfortable guessing that the sft40 is the best all around emitter in this light right now if you want max throw and max lumens, without spending an extra $50 for the few seconds of turbo that an sbt90 would beat it at, and you don’t mind a high CCT.

It’s low cri and a cool blueish-white, not exactly rosy - but it’s not green either. And there’s very little if any tint shift. I don’t know what driver he uses with it, probably same one the w2 uses, but the sft40 will throw just as far but with a hot spot twice the size and even more intense. It will get hot faster than a w1 tho, that’s for sure, but not as fast as the sbt90. You might get 50-60 seconds on turbo.

This light is awesome though with any emitter. I kinda want to ask hank if he’ll give me a deal on just the head part of the flashlight cuz I’ll get 25 head parts with every emitter it comes in and just swap a tube between them all lol

But if that falls through Im going to do what TK is doing and get another D1 with a w1 and an 18350 tube. The sft40 is just so OP it feels like cheating. Almost makes the game unplayable. Definitely needs a nerf lmao. And an 18350 can easily power the w1. It’s just such a well put together flashlight…and that combo, w1 with an 18350, probably the most throw you can possibly get out of such a tiny light. And it’s got a lighted switch and anduril 2 and everything else you could want.

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Isn’t this just D1 v2…? I don’t recall mini was part of the name unless you wanted to call the 18350 short tube the mini version?

My D1 (v1) with 4000k xpl is one of my most used lights, for most of the reasons you posted, ergonomics, compact factor etc. The stainless bezel and mag tailcap are nice upgrades from the v1. It also looks like the pocket clip has been redesigned, mine is a bit loose on the body and doesn’t feel that secure.

I concur with others the SBT90.2 is not the best choice for this light…

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The 30Q cell is decent in other applications but not up to driving the 90.2, hence very short Turbo run times before step down. Even the old 25R is better suited. Especially the 25S. Molicel 18650’s do fair as well as the HOhm 18650’s. VTC5A as well.

The SFT40 will pull more than a W2 but they share an 8A driver in many lights. Both emitters fare better in output at 9-11A though from what I’ve seen. Certainly far below the 90.2’s hungry 22A+ demands at full throttle.

The 90.2 excels at throw with high lumens count, that being it’s given you pay the admission fees if this level of output is what you want.

Possible in a small light, just not an excellent choice in large part due to heat and expense… why use a $35-50 emitter that is best known for absolutes in a light too small to accommodate it? I use it a lot, most people will have issues with it’s radical nature. Opt in, deal with it. I’ve been pleased with the 90.2’s performance in small lights powered by a 6A LD4, anytime one needs more from it the LD4 can easily be switched to Direct Drive. Horses for courses…

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15

The official name for the D1v2 on intl-outdoor is “New Emisar D1 mini pocket thrower”.

I have a D1v2 with a 519a, XHP70.3HI and SBT90.2, as well as KR1s with W2, FC-40, and SFS80 (3v led with similar die size as XHP35). Out of all 6, my favorite has to be the SBT90.2. It works great as a secondary light for when you have to see something far away and already carry something floody like a D4v2/D4K for general use, with the large intense hotspot and bright spill lighting up just about everything for enough time to see what might be there.

It might not be the best for everyone and it is definitely more expensive, but there is nothing really like it for high-lumen throw that can fit in a pants pocket (a D4Sv2 doesn’t count unless you’re a giant or wear cargo pants).

The SFT40 and W2 will probably be better choices for those looking for good runtime while still throwing far without having a pencil beam, and the FC40, XHP70.3, XP-L HI and dedomed 519a being far better suited for general purpose use, preserving color rendering, tint and efficiency. Those things considered, it certainly works well for me with the SBT90.2 and I am very happy with it’s performance and “wow factor”, compromising mostly on runtime and continuous output.

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