OK .. moved up to a Ultrafire C8 XML now [used a solarforce L2 R2 before]
C8 is a great light, a lot of flood and good distance ............ but - ideally i'd like something with a little less flood and more distance/throw.
Can i get a R2 dropin for a C8? I know this will be less floody, but will it give me a greater throw range while still being as bright as the XML at the increased range [eyes are getting old now lol]
Or is there an even better single 18650 light out there that i 'need' to buy to meet my criteria???
Sounds like what you want is a C8 with an XP-G. I bought the Palight C8 R5 from Manafont. Mine came overdriven - see my posts here. I really like it now that I've replaced my driver. The hotspot is brighter than my KD C8 XM-L, seems to throw further, and it's pulling about half the amps so I'm getting more runtime from it. Still has plenty of spill, so it's not pencil beam at all. See Foy's beamshots at the beginning of that link.
edc - 120 lumen? guessing that wil be dim compared to the current 800 lumens stated output?
motodeficient - Looks nice ... not the sort of extra cash i want to be paying though ....
Garry - nice, only problem i'd have is being a complete novice, i'd have no idea how to replace a driver, or what tools are needed, where to source suitable driver etc etc.
How about a flood to zoom model? ... Best of both worlds or just 'gimmicky'?
Check out Night Breaker's thread with beamshots - esp. the FandyFire HD2010 which is XM-L and appears to have a tighter beam and more throw (not C8 style though). I don't own this light, but it's on my wishlist. Runs a 26650 or an 18650 with included adaptor. Sold at DX - little pricey at $35.60 but seems like an awesome light!
I have emailed MF about the difference in these 2 lights and the responce was that they thought one was better quality than the other. Garybunk would you know the differences? Read your mods with great interest.
An XPG throws about the same as an XML but will less light in the spill.
The easiest route to what the OP envisages - that is to say more throw but still lots of lovely XML lumens - is probably a Trustfire X9 or a Fandyfire HD2010.
Really trooplewis? Is your XM-L a C8 as well? How hard is your Palight driven? My XM-L KD C8 tests at 3.04A, and my Palight tests at 1.66A (it's the 1.4A Nanjg driver). I still feel my Palight has a brighter hotspot. Both of them light up the side of a barn at 600'! I will say though that I have an LOP reflector in my KD C8 (I have an SMO, but haven't tested with that one yet) so the XM-L's throw might get a little better with an SMO. The big benefit to me is getting more (or close to the same) throw with an XP-G at half the current draw of the XM-L.
Going by specs alone, doesn't the XP-G have a brighter surface which generally means more throw?
-Garry
(I'm a fan of the XP-G and believe it doesn't get the respect it deserves!)
Been awhile since I tested the draw on it, seems to me it was 1.85A on the XP-G.
You are correct about the XP-G hotspot on the Palight, in fact I documented it myself with beamshots here
But you have to look hard to notice the difference. The XM-L just puts out SO MUCH light compared to the XP-G that it makes more sense. In addition, I think the hotspot would be better on the XM-L than the XP-G IF they both had the same reflector. The XM-L is in a P60 in that example, and the XP-G in a C8 reflector.
Look farther down the beanshots page at the Trustfire F15 image. The F15 is basicall a C8 with an XM-L, and it blows the P60 Xm-L out of the waster, as well as the C8 with XP-G
Actually, Garry, I'm a big XPG fan too but its hotspot is no brighter than an XML's. It just seems so because there is greater contrast versus its spill which is darker than an XML's spill. I like XPG's in C8/MRV reflectors but feel it needs a slightly bigger reflector to get the optimum from it. So, I'm just about to order one of these. Its a slightly bigger reflector than a C8/MRV and it has a clip. If the pill on it turns out good or easily moddable then I intend to put a very hard-driven XPG into it. It should make a very decent middle-range thrower.
Yes, but you could get a XM-L that was driven at the same current and that would negate that factor.
However, I agree with one of the posters above that the XP-G is under appreciated sometimes. It just depends on the use.
I have that same light on order, actually due to your posting about it in another thread! (Note to self - go back to ILIKEFLASHLIGHTS thread on seeking counseling due to recommendations of others.) I was considering the exact same mod!
been playing with my 'small' [at the moment] collection.
I think to be honest the C8 xml is almost perfect. It does throw far enough for my needs .. it just seems not to as the abundance of spill/flood makes it hard to focus on the hotspot.
so ... shopping list is - a single cell 18650, XML, with less flood than a C8
Not really liking the Trustfire X9 as its just a bit too large/bulky ...
And Fandyfire 2010 only seems to be available in non memory modes ... cant be doing with a dozen presses of tailcap through various disco lighting patterns just to turn it off.
What about a C10? or M11 .. both have deeper heads .. will that equal less spill?
