Which zoomable LED light?

I have a smaller AA powered CreeQ5 zoomable light now,but would like to find something a little larger that takes either a 18650 or 26650 battery.
Also looking for a nice crisp round hot spot.What would you suggest? Thanks.

The Convoy Z1 with SFT40 is one of the nicer zoomies you can get that uses a 21700 battery. When zoomed out you will see the projection of the SFT40 led, which is not round, but octagonal, but the thing throws as far as a low-end LEP and puts out a lot of lumens. Zoomed in, it makes a nice clean wall of light.

You can choose other stock LEDs with it, but they will be square when zoomed in (unlike the SFT40), and not as bright as the SFT40.

For a zoomie, wouldn’t be better to have a domed LED? Since it does not rely on a reflector to throw the light?

The best LED is the round die yinding 5050 sold u der a few names. I have two zoomies I modded with these and it’s as close as you’ll get to a reflector light. I prefer telescope zoomies over twisties l. If you want a off shelf zoomie, ledlenser and there’s one made by Sofirn that has semi round beams

Keep ’em coming…Thanks,HB

No, you get much more intensity without dome, but a smaller hotspot of course.

HaikeLite HT35 [REVIEW] Haikelite HT35 2300lm zoomy flashlight.

Sofirn S11C https://www.reddit.com/r/flashlight/comments/ie64p8/sofirn_s11c_quick_review/

Looks pretty impressive!

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255801050953923.html

If I wanted a zoomie with a head that size, I think I would order the Z1.

I bought one with the SST40 originally and then upgraded it to the SFT40 which is better (brighter), but also a colder light. I’ve got the 8 Amp driver to swap in but haven’t bothered. You can also get it with the Osram LED’s and SST70. Plus apparently now B35AM and 519A (in the second link.)

It’s great for long distances. I got it to try and work out if it was bats or owls in a tree about 70m from my house at night. My XHP70.2 Klarus G20L didn’t have enough throw to light them enough. Get a decent battery too, I made the mistake of buying the default Lishen with it. It’s a lot better with Samsung 40T batteries.

Originally I bought the SST70 version of the Z1. Then I kept seeing people saying good things about the SFT40 version, so I got one… and the SFT40 version was way more impressive. It just throws much better and looks nicer when focused with a much more intense hotspot. When flooding, it didn’t really lose much brightness over the SST70 version.

I did actually take the SST70 one I had and swapped in an XHP70.3-HI 5000K (90 CRI) into the thing… so far, that is my favorite version (but the SFT40 one does throw much better and of course you can get it stock). :slight_smile:

Beat me to it… :laughing:

Nicer in that has onboard charging, and a LEDLenser-type zooming system, so it fades from wide flood to narrower spot pretty smoothly, and you don’t get The Bat Signal when fully zoomed.

And they’re cheap as dirt if you can score some. I got quite a few thinking they’d be “disposable” but the one I started out with and my gf’s are both still kicking.

Interesting regarding the SST70 vs SFT40. I’ve got a XHP70.3 HI sitting around on a smaller board (16mm?) (Not that the size would matter given how the LED board is retained.) I’d need a 6V driver though… Has your SFT40 version got the 8 Amp driver in it?

Mine is a modded Milwaukee metal flashlight for long runtimes.

I thought the stock SFT40 version uses the 6a driver just like the SST40 version (but I haven’t ever checked, actually)? The XHP70.3 and 6v5a driver (which was just a rebranded Convoy one) I salvaged from a Pioneman light, and I drilled out that black retaining ring so that the plastic spacer over the LED would fit through it… First one I didn’t use the plastic spacer, and… that LED started smoking and melting. Learned my lesson on the second one.

Edit: Just checked, and based on pics, my SFT40 appears to be 8a driver.

I am the OP and thanks to everyone who posted….lots to choose from!
I can maybe narrow the search down a bit by saying that I would prefer a light that takes a18650 battery,only because I have lots of spares in that type,also I am a fan of cool white.Thanks,HB

First you ask for a zoomable flashlight, now for a cold light... You are on the right path to hate on this site.

Sorry,but I didn’t realize that zoomable lights don’t come in a cool white,or do they?…and why so hostile??,I am trying to learn here.Thanks,HB

Hello Ontario. Not real “hate” that was said playfully. Most people on the site seem to like a warmer beam with higher CRI. I myself have a Z1 osram. It’s my favorite light. I think the sft 40 has a more useful beam but I like what I like and that’s OK :wink:

Maybe some kind of LED Lenser? I just know the older models from 14 years ago though.