Impressions about “Mini C8s”

EyeballFryer · 2018-03-07T02:27:39.000Z

I have the Jaxman M8 XPL-HI + smooth reflector. I visually tested it once side by side with a Convoy C8 + XM-L2, 6x7135 configuration. I thought the M8 looked visually similar to the XM-L2 C8. So my impression was that this M8 was a nice pocket thrower for its size.

Side note, I also liked that Jaxman has a floody M8 + XM-L2 + OP reflector. Together, they’d make a good budget hiking flashlight pair of the same size. The floody M8 to watch the trail and the area near you while you hike, the thrower to check further down the trail to see beyond the floody flashlight’s range.

Lightbringer · 2018-03-07T04:47:14.000Z

Not quite the same, but my ’502 is a sort of “mini-C8”. Has a larger head, somewhat, for a drop-in light it still conducts heat pretty well (at least the way I set it up), and with an XP-L it throws decently, ’though I swapped in an OP reflector to smooth out the beam a bit. Now it’s nigh-perfect as an all-around light. Not overly floody, not overly throwy, just a pretty decent compromise. (And usually, a compromise means “it does neither very well”, but not in this case, not really.)

Just pick up a few 8buk Thorfire C8Ses if still available.

Or for, well, more than 8bux, pick up a nice happy C8F. You’ll be smilin’ for sure.

bigm · 2018-03-07T05:25:11.000Z

I have one of the Manta Ray Mini C8’s. I picked it up on Amazon for $12.50 a while back. It’s a nice little light, and I’d probably give up to $20 to get another if I lost it. The led is cooler than I’d like, but nice white tint in the hotspot and spill. It is surprisingly throwy for its size, and fits in any pocket that my Convoy S2+ would just fine. The driver is similar to Convoy’s 3/5 mode driver, with memory and nice spacing. The blink on low to switch mode groups blinks later than the Convoy, making it less likely to accidentally change groups, at least for me. The overall quality is pretty nice, about what you would expect from Convoy for a light in this price range. The removable pill should make modding easy, and fits in the body pretty well, providing a decent thermal path. I just wouldn’t go crazy with a high wattage build. Honestly the only thing I plan to change on mine will be a warmer high cri xpl hi. I think these would be fun to mod with dedomed, colored xpe2’s for foggy night light saber fights.

yasenf · 2018-03-07T06:32:48.000Z

I have both Manta Ray and Jaxman. Side by side Jaxman is little shorter and looks better quality. Both are xpl-hi, Manta Ray is cool white and 8*7135, Jaxman is only 6*7135 neutral, so looks a tad dimmer. If you compare them side by side you will choose Jaxman, otherwise both are OK. Still with mini C8 you get less light than regular C8 for the money.

T18 · 2018-03-07T07:05:13.000Z

I have I believe 6 of the Jaxman M8’s XPL-HI and I can tell you it is one of the best around, needs a bit of modding IMO but even out of the box it’s great, high quality light. Jaxman also sells a great holster that fits the M8 perfectly.

Agro · 2018-03-07T07:25:40.000Z

Lightbringer:

Just pick up a few 8buk Thorfire C8Ses if still available.

Where?

raccoon · 2018-03-07T07:27:51.000Z

Agro:

Lightbringer:

Just pick up a few 8buk Thorfire C8Ses if still available.

Where?

https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/50106

Agro · 2018-03-07T07:35:54.000Z

Amazon US? Facebook? Not for me.
But thanks for the link anyway.

firedome · 2018-03-07T09:17:49.000Z

I really like the mini C8. Very good quality for the price, nice appearance and cool small size. The only downside is that it has no retaining ring, but the driver has to be soldered to the pill.

MascaratumB · 2018-03-07T14:23:03.000Z

Hey guys! Thanks for the time to give your answers and impressions on these lights

I’ve read the pros and cons pointed out, thanks for indicating them!!

I only recently saw the Manta Ray and the OTR versions, while the Jaxman is a long time dating! I like the look of these lights, and the possibility to get them in a pocket or a holster in the backack, without being “excessively” big as the regular C8s, are the major reasons why I wanted to try one.

For what you’ve said, the Jaxman with XPL-HI and SMO reflector will fit my needs better, as I am looking more for a “thrower” than a “flooder”.

One concern mentioned about: heat dissipation! If or when get one, I wanted to use it with a MTN 17mm driver with guppy3drv FW.
Do you think it will it handle the heat properly?

Also, do the Jaxman M8 come glued, and if so, is it hard to remove the glue?

And last question: does the Jaxman shorty tube (18350) fits that light? Sorry but I really don’t know about the dimmensions :person_facepalming:

I appreciate your help in advance! Thanks for all the answers

Lightbringer · 2018-03-07T14:31:03.000Z

Agro:

Amazon US? Facebook? Not for me.

But thanks for the link anyway.

Hm? No facething, just PM.

kiriba-ru · 2018-03-07T17:08:12.000Z

Shorty tube wont fit. Thread are partly comparable with regular C8.

T18 · 2018-03-07T19:17:46.000Z

No glue with the M8, but the driver is soldered to the pill but not a big deal, make sure and grab the holster, it’s the only one they have for sale.
By the way if your a good at modifying lights the M2 that sells as a 2 AA light is another real sleeper.
I bought one and quickly realized that it will take a 17mm driver with a 16mm MCPCB, so needless to say it was time to convert that light to a 2 14500, not really recommending this over the M8, just a thought and a cool light.
Holster for M8
M8 Throw
M2 Sleeper light easy mod to 14500

MascaratumB · 2018-03-08T11:44:07.000Z

Thanks for you answers again
Too bad the shorty tube doesn’t fit
I thought I could make a pocket thrower with the M8 Not anymore, though…

Hum, driver soldered to the pill? Like the ones in S2+? I have soldering iron (not the most powerful one) maybe it can work to remove it if I opt to replace it!

About the M2, I’ve seen that light - somewhat comparable in shape to the Zanflare F2 - but I am not a great enthusiast for that shape of light and taking 2 AA or 2 14500s. I recognize it is pretty solid but I prefer smaller lights
I will probably get a Jaxman E3 (when the driver is 3 modes) and eventually mod the driver as well

I appreciate the recommendation, though

Also, thanks for the tip on the holster! I have some Convoy holsters around, but I’m not sure the M8 will fit! So I’ll probably get one wit the light!!

Thanks again for the suggestions and opinions
And keep bringing them :+1:

Lightbringer · 2018-03-08T17:09:24.000Z

MascaratumB:

Hum, driver soldered to the pill? Like the ones in S2+? I have soldering iron (not the most powerful one) maybe it can work to remove it if I opt to replace it!

Get one of these…

…so you can drop the pill into place, use solder-paste or just lay down a length of solder around the border, then heat the pill around the edge and let the solder melt in-place.

If there’s too much of a gap between driver and pill, a short length of wire pressed in-between helps bridge the gap.

Just be fast. As soon as the solder melts, the rest of the pill will already be quite hot, so you could just breeze right along the rest of the edge and get out as fast as possible.

If you could then pick up the pill with tongs and lay it on a big honkin’ chunk o’ metal to wick away the heat, that’d help cool it down, too.

T18 · 2018-03-08T20:27:23.000Z

The M8 will definetly fit in a C8 holster and will be way to big for a M8.
By the way there is another light that is even smaller than a M8 but puts out about as many lumens if not more and throws as far for a fact, and it’s on sale right now I noticed… BLF X5

BLF X5

The M8 barely fits their holster but it works and is clean looking.

M8 about 75 yards to the wall

MascaratumB · 2018-03-09T14:13:44.000Z

Thanks Lightbringer for the suggestion
I will try first with my soldering iron a bit of patience

If even with that I’m not able to unsolder it, I will use the lighter :smiling_imp:

Thanks T18 for the photos. There is a real difference bewteen the C8 and M8 and then bewteen the M8 and the X5.
Please, can you tell me the visible difference between the distance range of the M8 and X5?

I guess that despite the heads up on that I will probably go for the M8, as it can take a 18650, therefore, more runtime.
It will be a backpack flashlight, mostly, but despite that I want it to hold the light sometime if needed. (And I know that Jaxman drivers are nice for that, so I still don’t know if I will change it…)

Thanks in advance :+1:

T18 · 2018-03-09T18:18:36.000Z

The M8 would be your best choice, I had forgotten you didn’t care for 14500 lights but that X5 is a good one, direct drive and throw is about the same as the M8 just a little less spill than the M8.
The M8 is hands down your best choice if going the C8 style with 18650 and the light is easily modified.
Just thought I’d show you some pics so you can get the real image or perspective of what the light looks like in the Jax holster as well.
It is also one of my favorites obviously.
Get some solder wick, lay it on top of the solder and then lay the iron on top of the wick and it will suck up the solder nice and clean.
Make sure you tell the owner Paul what kind of modes you want in the light, it’s a star type driver and it comes with low, med. high and strobes stock, you can have him change that for you to something like low, med, high and no blinkies or you can do it yourself, lots of info around about which star to connect to the outer ring to get what type of modes.

MascaratumB · 2018-03-09T22:05:26.000Z

T18:

The M8 would be your best choice, I had forgotten you didn’t care for 14500 lights but that X5 is a good one, direct drive and throw is about the same as the M8 just a little less spill than the M8.
The M8 is hands down your best choice if going the C8 style with 18650 and the light is easily modified.
Just thought I’d show you some pics so you can get the real image or perspective of what the light looks like in the Jax holster as well.
It is also one of my favorites obviously.
Get some solder wick, lay it on top of the solder and then lay the iron on top of the wick and it will suck up the solder nice and clean.
Make sure you tell the owner Paul what kind of modes you want in the light, it’s a star type driver and it comes with low, med. high and strobes stock, you can have him change that for you to something like low, med, high and no blinkies or you can do it yourself, lots of info around about which star to connect to the outer ring to get what type of modes.

Thanks again for the tips T18! And most, thanks for the pics, they are really nice to have a notion of sizes!!
Honestly, on this case, I prefer the 18650 due to the ability to run it for longer times! But I do like the 14500s (I really do) and I was surprised to the see the size of the X5, as I thought it was bigger and larger!! I wish it’s head was slimmer :person_facepalming:

Yeah, I will notice him to put the 3 modes (L-M-H) and I hope I like it when it arrives! If not, a “surgery” will be waiting for it! The light seems very solid, so I hope it performs well on distance!

I’ve been wondering if the Cool White will be better over the Neutral White, as I wan’t something that doesn’t annoy me when looking to clear places. I will probably get the NW version XPL-HI.

Icarus · 2018-03-09T22:19:03.000Z

The picture of the Jax M8 next to the Convoy C8 is interesting. :+1: