A new UltraFire flashlight found its way to me and I wrote this review about it.
I start with some technical information:
Name: UltraFire LZZ-F13
Dimensions: 15,1cm x 3,30cm (tube), head (outside) 4,08cm, diameter (inside) 3,40cm
LED, driver, modes: XM-L U2 CW, a generic driver (don’t find any brands or logo on it), 5 modes high, mid, low, strobe, sos, next memory mode
Additional information: 26650 / 18650 / 3x AAA, black, aluminum bezel (flat), SMO reflector, IPX7
Special point: Red tailcap, has only GITD o-rings
Accessories: 18650 to 26650 adapter, 3x AAA tube, small keyring
Price and shop: $21,60 Dealextreme / dx.com
DX sells the flashlight under three different names (other manufacturers, but look identical to me except for the manufacturer’s logo), each with slight differences in the technical specifications and accessories.
I present the Ultrafire LZZ-F13 and with the best technical specifications. Then there are the Raysoon RS F13 , which I call as “accessory upgrade version”. The Raysoon comes with one 26650 battery, a diffuser, a useful looking lanyard and a box (cheap version of an Otterbox) - This package costs only $ 4.40 more. Then there is the Sky Eye F13 the same cost as the Ultrafire, but the technical values (if you want to trust them) are worse (1200mA on high, the UF should have 2400mA, I can also confirm - I measure 2,43A).
Relic38 wrote a review about the Sky Eye.
I have chosen Ultrafire, because the Raysoon wasn’t listed at this time. The Raysoon might be a better choice because of the accessories. I neglect the battery because unknown quality, but a good lanyard, diffuser and the box for $4,40 more – get it.
If someone say to himself “it looks familiar” - there’s the Shadow JM07, which was clearly the inspiration for this lamp. The first JM07 is hardly to be found on the market. Some shops have the upgraded new model (same name), but with side switch.
Back to the Ultrafire
I want it, because: You can use 26650 18650 batteries, attractive design, and (even if it sounds ridiculous maybe) the red cap.
It is delivered as usual in a small white cardboard box in bubble wrap. When unpacking, I noticed immediately that it has a protective film on the lens. I have never seen this before whether budget segment or brand lamps of the mid to high price segment as Fenix TK35, Olight M21 Warrior, ThruNite T30S, ThruNite TN31.
The flashlight is matted black. There is a small color difference between tailcap and battery tube. But I know the same of brand manufacturers (at Solarforce happens more often in the last time) and the difference is very small, I neglect this.
Here is some impressions. My torch had some black layer edges at the tailcap and two fins. With a black marker can “repair” this.
The 18650 to 26650 adapter is very neat. I know now 5-6 and would say – place two for this (only very slightly behind 1st place). The 3x AAA adapter is also very well made and also comes in second place of my AAA adapter. Besides the small arrows that are stamped into the plastic so you know immediately how it must be loaded, it’s got even a visible sticker. So it’s easy to see, even in low light conditions. Good idea Ultrafire.
Now I start with my China flashlight checklist that I run every budget flashlight and partially on brand flashlights: Check the O-rings (greased), thread (metal chips), LED (quantity thermal glue / paste), retaining ring on the driver and the pill attracted the cable of the LED or the solder joint on the drivers must be soldered again? It takes 10 minutes, but then I’m sure that everything works.
The threads are lubricated, the o-rings not. The battery tube is anodized well (both inside and outside and the threads are clean cut). Positively to the threads I also noticed that they have quite a few turns. The head to the battery tube about 8.5, tailcap – batterytube about 7. In the end cap was a small metal chip.
Installed is a SMO reflector (in perfect condition). The XM-L U2 LED (CW) is built on a 20mm star and soldered properly. Unfortunately, a important detail was missing - the thermal paste / glue under the star. Although it is depressed by the centrering of the LED and the reflector, but it should be done. I used thermal paste.
On a positive note is that the Pill has also a very long thread and thus good heat conduction to the outer wall. Here is the comparison of the ZF13 to C8. The heat conduction should be superior to the C8 and presents a good modding basis. The throw isn’t as good as the C8 (with XM-L U2 LED), but this could be the result to the smaller diameter of the reflector and the lower depth and less Ampere. So it is not a thrower.
The aluminum bezel is flat and can also be removed. He does not keep the lens. Below it is a black bar, a gitd o-ring and only then comes the lens. The bezel looks nice and is a nice design feature – shiny front, blacl light, red end. All o-rings are gitd, but they do not light up a long time (like most cheap gitd products – only a few minutes).
The tailcap is red (outer diameter 15.8 mm). Installed is a reverseclicky, unfortunately with next mode memory. If you switch it off in low, you switch it on in strobe.
The switch is held by a brass ring with two recesses and in the center it has a plastic ring. The clicky is labeled HS27200.
The switch on the tailcap is easily accessible and easy to operate even with my thumb, when held next to the head tactically. If you have very large thumb, you will probably have some problems but you can use a finger.
Despite the recesses for the fingers it is tailstandable.
Rear are also two holes for lanyards / key rings with a diameter of 2.9 mm.
The driver is held by an aluminum ring with two holes and is fitted with a long spring. So here fits all batteries – Flattop, Buttontop and both protected and unprotected.
The driver has 5 modes (high, mid, low, strobe, sos).
I measured the following data: 18650 Li-ion battery, Samsung vs. unprotected. AAA 4 years old Aldi Activ Energy Ni-MH, no LSD (actually I do not use AAA in flashlight, so I use this old batteries, but were freshly loaded). High 2.43 / 0.55 A, mid 1,18 / 0.3 A and low 0,31 / 0,09 A.
It is labeld as CX 5122-05. Because of my little knowledge in electronics, I’m not able to say, if it is moddable with additional resistors (as in the SmallSun ZY-T13). I only know of a BLF thread: With a 500K resistor across the capacitor soldered the next memorymode can be bypassed and you will have a no memory flashlight.The chip a Mem2309 (here is the data sheet of the manufacturer MicrOne).
Indoorbeamshots:
1/25, ISO 200, f2,8, 1 Meter Distance
High
Mid
Low
Conclusion:
It is already in hand (actually I prefer 18650 flashlights, but the 26650 are relly great as a result of the diameter), the surface is well made and feels high-quality.
Could we compare a $22 / 17€ including shipping flashlight with a price range of $70-90 flashlight? The little scratches aren’t a big deal for a cheap flashlight…
The lack of thermal compound is a serious problem, but you could quickly fix without soldering (the cable on the drivers were quite long, as seen in the picture, so that a unsolder the LED was not necessary). Make a China flashlight checklist is important.
If you have corrected the deficiency, you get a pretty good flashlight for a decent price. With the bezel and the red rubber cap are nice points. The 2.4 A on high is to low, so the modding potential should not be ignored.
