Convoy M21A vs L21A, SFT40, 8A

LED Flashlights – General Info 21700 Flashlights
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I keep going back and forth between Convoy M21A and L21A both in Tan with SFT40 and 8A buck driver.

I’ve never had or even played with a nice thrower before and want something crazy and impressive. I have a FW3A in SST20 4000k. Is the M21A up to the task of wowing me? It will be much more pocketable and only $26 w/o battery.

I’m worried I will always wonder what the L21A could’ve done for 50% more money ($39) and over 2x the weight. Definitely not easily pocketable.

Help me with the thought process!

Is the light output and throw even comparable between the two?

For some reason I’m not considering the M21C. I like the looks and size of the M21A the best but enamored by the crazy performance of the L21A. If I go for the M21C, I might as well go for the L21A as I’d already be compromising on size and weight.

How much longer can the L21A handle 100% output than M21A before dropping off due to heat?

Am I crazy to cross-shop these two?

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As you’re comparing them to the FW3A either light is going to be an education.

There’s a difference between brightness and intensity, if you compare the beams against a white wall in a house you won’t be blown away but once you get outside with a couple of hundred metres of space you’ll understand what a thrower is.

Either light will work as an introduction to throwers, if you get the M21A you’ll wonder how much better the L21A is, but if you get the L21A you’ll wonder how close the M21A is and whether the L21A was worth the the loss of practicality.

Its a question of whether the L21A will end up being left in the housebecause it’s not pocketable, if that’s the case then you’ll have a bit less ‘wow’ but a lot more use/fun with the M21A.
The ‘wow’ wears off quickly when you can’t use a light.

Also, as you’re on this site there;s a good chance this won’t be the last light you buy so you could maybe put the money you save buying the M21A towards a light you don’t yet know you will want :smiley:

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Yes, it will wow you!

I like the L21A but I’m not sure it’s worth the extra $$ for what you want.

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Thanks for the assurances. I had ordered a L21A, cancelled it, then ordered a M21A, then was about to cancel and go back… but decided to post here first. LOL

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This is really helpful. I’ll keep my M21A order.

I was on here when the FW3A came out and survived and left the cult after getting only Convoy S2+ SST20 4000k 8x7135, FW3A (same emitter), HL3A (same emitter), then finally BLF-348 (need to go and find it…).

Decided to tear apart my Dyson V8 battery to find 6x Molicel 20700 cells, tested 2400mAh each (35A draw), so now I need some lights to put them into… LOL

Ordered a Sofirn LT1S Pro (Anduril 2) and just now the M21A…

Hope I can exit the cult again before it’s too late…

I kind of want the Convoy Z1 SFT40 too now… Does it use the 8A buck driver? Does it throw more or less than the M21A at full zoom? Is it redundant to the M21A? Is there such thing as redundancy in this cult???

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In terms of weight, it kind of depends what you want to carry around. Some people only carry a keychain light.

What kind of job do you have? Do you wear a suit? Can you see your self carrying a large light with a suit on.

As you can see, its a complicated question.

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This is not for work. Just for fun. Camping too but the FW3A (narrower optic) and HL3A (floody optic) combo do great already…

I do like dense heavy metal objects. But I switched from L21A to M21A thinking I would be less hesitant to throw it in a bag or take it on a walk.

Really it’s just so I can mess around and understand what a thrower can do…

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Yes the Z1/SFT40/8A would be a 22mm 8A Buck.

The Z1 is fun too!
I have both a M21A/B35AM and a Z1/SFT40 in the drawer next to my back door.

I sold my M21A/SFT40 but I plan to replace it, in the near future.

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Just throwing this out there:
The L21B is similar to the L21A but it’s priced some where between the M21A and the L21A.

I haven’t purchased one simply because i don’t like the way it looks.

Edit: It doesn’t come in Tan

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I was just comparing my L21 and M21A with SFT40s this last weekend and the L21 definitely has a brighter, concentrated hot spot but the M21A and a diffuser is my road trip light, typically used out in the Hill Country. With the diffuser, I have a lantern and probably 93% of the throw of the L21. I was actually thinking of selling it but installing a SFT40 brought back my excitement for it. Anyway, if you can’t acquire both (or L21B), I think you’re well-off with just the M21A… and order the diffuser.

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That will impress you, plus you’ve got the versatility of being able to adjust the beam angle. My Z1 originally had the SST40 in it, but I converted it to the 8A driver and SFT40.

Last week I bought a Speras M4 as a pocketable thrower (rated to 652m throw), it’s got about the same beam angle as the Z1 but is nowhere near as bright. It would be interesting to know what the Z1/ SFT40/ 8A driver combo is rated at for throw.

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Yeah, I briefly considered the L21B but I don’t like the aesthetic design and the relative lack of heatsinking around the head. Also, as you say, no tan.

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Are we all sure the Z1 SFT40 uses the 8A driver? I ask as the aliexpress page says 6A.

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93% isn’t bad! I’d probably be satisfied with that.

Maybe my next light will be a Tan L21A with SBT90.2… skip over the SFT40…. hehehe

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Ugh, should I get the Z1 SFT40 if I can confirm it comes with 8A buck driver?

Is the throw and max zoom similar to M21A? Beam profile similar too?

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I have a similar model (Cometa) of that light and plan on putting an SFT40 in it but can’t tell you yet about the beam.
Here’s a discussion on the two lights, different LEDs:

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My Z1 has the 8A Buck but it was mentioned in the listing.
The current listing Do Not mention 8A Buck.

You should ask @Simon_Mao

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Well, my M21A shipped, lol, so that’s settled. I am not disappointed… good with my decision. Also got the stainless bezel will be nice, although it might add some ringing to the beam profile.

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I have M21A SFT40 with 6 amps driver and L21B SFT40 with 8amps driver.
I write about their comparation in throw

With 8 amps buck driver M21A will be more closer to L21.
M21A is very usable light for many purposes.

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Alright, I found this video from @PiercingTheDarkness from a couple years ago. C8+/M21A vs L21B with SFT40.

Almost the perfect comparison, except the 20mm 8A Buck driver wasn’t out yet so the C8+/M21A had a 8A Ramping/Linear driver.

How would the 8A Buck driver compare to the 8A Ramping/Linear driver?
I’m assuming the C8+/M21A started with a fresh battery/cool torch for each test.
Would the two 8A drivers be comparable at that state?
Is the 8A Buck simply able to hold the max level for longer as the battery cell voltage drops?
Also more efficient so less heat, correct?

The video is making me want the L21A/B SFT40 again… lol… please tell me the M21A SFT40 with 8A Buck will be better than the C8+ with 8A Ramping/Linear…

UPDATE: thinking about it more… would the 8A Ramping/Linear driver start at 4.2V x 8A = 33.6W and the 8A Buck driver start (and stay) at 3V x 8A = 24W? Meaning the 8A Buck Driver would be even less powerful than in the video?