Beamshot comparison: Some of my modified bright lights

Flashlight Modding and DIY Parts
1

Shots are only on close range (started snowing more), so they are good for comparing output and beam size, not so good at comparing throw.

Im standing at an elevated position (around close to 3m off the ground.) The green thing you seen in the pictures are a compost bin ,1meter tall and 75cm wide,.

Camera settings:

1s, F5,7, ISO400, 5200K, 17mm focal length on APS-C

All lights are heavily modified, all use copper mcpcb and have various tweaks. All lights with several emitters have a mixed emitter setup.

More info about the following lights here:

Fandyfire 9 XM-L

Lustefire 3XU2

Direct drive MT-G2 (The Switch killer aka single TR-J18 thrower)

SRK, 9,3A total, kinda leans leans towards being slightly warm with that emitter setup.

Next is actually a Supfire M6 with SRK reflector. More oomph going to each emitter than the typical SRK, but less then my other king. It may look a bit dim (partially because its spill does not hit as much snow in the foreground), but its a really usable beam with good range, and wide spill. I would say its nicer than the picture shows.

My STL-V6 had a hollow pill, not anymore. Regulated at 5,2A. (Its now sold, but it was a nice light.)

Regulated at 6,4A.. Oh yeah. (whoops, 2U bin not "U1" :p )

Pushing more than 9A to an MT-G2 in the shot below..

By looking at the spill you can seen the slight yellow-almost "greenish" tint from the de-domed emitters, and the cold CW on right. But the mix is nice white light. :) This effect is not as visible in real life as on the picture. But a large triple like this will show the effect much better than any other light. Normally I put the cool emitter up, and then I don't notice the difference between those.

Time for the beast! Tint is awesome and throw is way better than stock. This light actually have very good range.

Some mouse-overs, pictures from above:

9XM-L vs Lustefire triple

9XM-L vs direct drive MT-G2

MT-G2 vs SRK triple XP-G2. An interesting comparison, before you say that MT-G2 lights kicks ass. Also consider, that it consumes more than twice the power, its twice as long, wider, have around half the battery capacity, but the triple XP-G2 slightly out throws it, and have more spill, and can easily have a better UI. Not saying one is better than the other, it depends on what you are after, but just shows how different lights can be built. The MT-G2 light is very impressive at close range to medium range.

If you want to see a certain mouseover comparison, say so. But you can also download two pictures and compare them yourself. Again, considering the wide angle shot and location, these are not the best shots for comparing throw. More lumens will easily look better here. Currently my favorite are probably the Lustefire triple. Its a thrower than can play with the big output lights as well. They are all great in their own way.

My previous beamshot comparison (Mostly completely different lights, or modded differently)

2

The tint mix on the Lustfire is nice.

I’d request a shot of the front of the heads lined up to get a better idea of the size / reflectors / emitters.

3

Thanks for the compilation.
Is it just me, or does the mtg2 disappoint a bit compared to the other lights?

Which driver did you use in the t08?

4

Ill get back to it.

Driver from the Lustefire triple, adjusted for lower output. A bit info here.

I think its up to the viewer to decide which beam profile is the best vs energy vs size. But when got my first MT-G2 right after IOS got it, I tested it in a bunch of reflectors. Ive never been into the "MT-G2 hype". Which is why I have not bothered that much with the MT-G2, I had planned a few projects with it, which i cancelled. Tint mixing smaller emitters makes more sense to me, I like having more temperature and tint options, and I like some throw, and I also like wide spill, and I like higher CRI, and I like having the option of a nicer UI, and I like the ability to have avoid having cells in series, and if I do want regulated output, I prefer less cells. Several XM-Ls will more easily give me those things..

I think the MT-G2 got a purpose, but in general, id take 3 mixed XM-Ls over single MT-G2. Or 9 mixed XM-Ls over 3 MT-G2s.

The head size of the MT-G2 light above can fit a 5 XM-L reflector and a good heatsink. For me, 5 XM-Ls vs 1 MT-G2 is an easy choice...

My MT-G2 light is just a fun and simple toy. Which is why its my only direct drive light. :)

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That’s about the same as I see it, I had planned to mod some lights to mtg2 but after putting one in a stlv6@3-4A I came back to ground very fast…but I thought it was maybe to under driven…
especially if you consider the price, it is not worth to hype it for me too. 3dedomed XMLs are the better choice for me…
The tint is the best on the mtg2.
——-
Not that anybody gets me wrong a mtg in a nice reflector makes a lot of light and so disappointing maybe the wrong word it’s mor2 like racer said it it’s a bit “hyped”

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Great thanks for all the hard work.

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Yeah. MT-G2 at 3-4A is not really that impressive IMO, at least if you are used to a well driven triple XM-L with mixed emitters, and have at least one de-domed.

I did an MT-G2 experiment mod on my ZY-T13 that I used to own, but I just went back to an XM-L2.

The MT-G2 most are using are only 70+ CRI. If you want good tint with XM-Ls just don't de-dome all emitters, and add one or two emitters with more red and with decent CRI. Voila, you get nice white light, or like I prefer in these lights, a bit more NW, around 4500K and with similar or better CRI compared to the typical MT-G2. You don't need to either mess up the tint with de-doming all emitters, or go MT-G2. You can just mix the right XM-Ls.

See this post, and that thread in general about mixing emitters.

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Great work. Thank you for the great beam shots.

You've opened my eyes some time ago about the superior CRI potential with certain xml2 emitters. And I agree with your statements about xml2's being preferred in most applications. But I have to say that there is something intangible that I really like about mt-g2's outside. I haven't put my finger on it, but there is something special going on there. Also, certain reflectors to make the MT-G2 sing. I can only think of 2 that I personally have experienced though.

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I have yet to try sliced or de-domed MT-G2 though. So Ive still got more MT-G2 territory to explore. I hope someone will do a slice tutorial. :)

The 5000K or 4000K 80+ CRI version if the MT-G2 would probably be more likeable for me, but Im not so sure I will spend more money on this type of emitter due to the reasons I have mentioned.

I know I might come across as a bit "anti MT-G2", but someone have to highlight the benefits of what can be done with normal XM-L2s and such too. And when it comes to high output, an MT-G2 seems to a good comparison. The tint selection with XM-L2s we have available today just generates so many great possibilities. :)

This thread wasnt really about tint mixing, nor MT-G2 vs the rest, but I think Werner kinda brought out what I have said about the MT-G2 before. And its a valid point.

The lustefire tripe consumes around 5,5A*3,8V*3emitters=62,7W at peak

Direct drive MT-G2 consumes around 9,5A*7,4V=70W at peak

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I didn't take your OP as anti-mtg2 bro. I was just sharing my prospective on that emitter. Maybe it's the buttery smooth beam that gets me. I don't know. One thing for sure, I think your xml lights rock. I don't have any lights modded to be like those. If I did, I probably would be singing the same tune as you. Those pictures and the facts can't be disputed.

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What can I say but wow. Love the MTG-2. I love them all. lf they ever need a holiday or you need a break from them give me a holler. :slight_smile:

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:beer: ImA4Wheelr

Thanks for the offer MRsDNF, its cold here so I need my handwarmers.. 0:)

(actually, its 8 degrees and its raining, but still, they come in handy)

Thanks for the comments. I hope these comparison shots are useful/interesting to some. :)

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Here you are. :) What do you think? ^^

I don't have the STL-V6 anymore, but that light, the ZY-T08, and the TR-J18 with single emitter reflector basically have the same reflector width, and almost the same depth.

14

Do you have a coated lens for the 9xT6?
This is on my list like forever but I have not managed it until now…

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Beautiful. Look at all DAT noctigon peeking through. :bigsmile:

Edit: That Lustfire is the ” “mini” TK75” right?

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Nope.. Actually, none of the lights have AR coated lens at the moment. My package with a bunch of AR coated lenses never arrived. I have now re-ordered. But I have nothing for the 9 emitter light. If you come across one, please let me know. :)

Right now im just keeping the light budget. Paid 30$ for the light. Might be around 15$ worth of Noctigon. And a few bucks extra in mics. The various WW/NW emitters that was mixed in was basically spare stuff from other lights I have upgraded to XM-l2, they needed a home. I consider the cost to be around 50$ after the mod. Very budget friendly, but a decent amount of time spent. :)

Yupp, its the "mini TK75".

Im a Noctigon/Sinkpad addict. 0:)

17

Wow! Everything is with the Noctigon!

I already have the BTU Shocker, both modded and stock. But I am still curious and interested with the Lustfire, mind to let us know the driver used, current draw and lux number of that beast?

EDIT: Found your mod thread, didn’t read clearly, sorry!

18

Yeah, Im basically running copper mounted LEDs in all my lights. I have been doing that since they hit the market. I would not be surprised if I have done 100 re-flows to Noctigons/Sinkpads. (I change around a lot.)

The Lustefire mod thread is not updated. I have been running a modified 3A small torroid LD-V9 driver. I modified high to 5A (which makes low and medium higher). Its direct drive on high anyway. Im seeing around 5,5A to the emitters, but it may be a tad higher at absolute peak. Either way its around 5,5A at the emitters with fresh cells.

LD-V9, FL2, IOS 4,5A driver, whatever you call this. Its the easy choice. Resistance on high compared to direct drive is close to nothing. :)

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Too bad it doesn’t exist anymore, maybe in LCK-LED but it does not ship to my country or it can be extremely expensive. I ended up using DRY driver for my modded BTU Shocker.

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https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/22355#comment-487833

More stores than I have listed have it too.