About 2½ years ago I became addicted to flashlights too, and I bought about 30 within the period of a year. I wanted to have as many lumens as possible, and among my acquisitions were both the Imalent DX80 and the Acebeam X80. Even though I found the two aforementioned lights extremely impressive, I realised that I didn’t get on with cold white tints, and I sold most of my lights again. After that I lost interest until the Emisar D4S came out, and now I’m hooked on small lights. Another recent purchase was the FW3A, and now I’m eyeing a number of lights including the Fireflies E07, Astrolux FT03 and GT micro (if I can find it at a decent price in a neutral white tint).
I guess once you’re hooked that’s it - I definitely can’t seeing myself going without this obsessoin for an indefinite period of time! Not been able to get into modding though, as I’ve found that it’s something that my autistic brain can’t handle. So at least I’ve got time to focus on my other interests.
Thanks Flying Luminosity it’s good to be here amongst a wealth of knowledge.
I’m still a rookie to the world of flashlights but they’ve certainly captured my interest. I expect to be super entertained sometime soon when they all arrive on my doorstep!
This is where I say “I wasn’t even drunk buying!” But don’t get me started cause i’ll just start in again about my thoughts on what the perfect EDC light for dress slacks is, (spoiler, I suspect the Jetbeam-1 MK is the strong contender,) but then I went down this terrible rabbit hole of not liking my options which would have improved on the Jetbeam-1 MK traits. It lacks true moonlight, which I don’t need in daytime EDC, it also has a twisty interface which is great for not accidentally firing in pants pockets but not so much for going through settings, though the twist to change method isn’t terrible, so I should be quiet about that also. And the whole thing about small flashlights having small buttons you can’t find by touch is bewildering, though I get it is just a result of less surface area to work with.
Next thing I knew I started researching 16340 flashlights (too little energy, right?) and 18350 (great power, thick flashlights though,) and then I said &^ it. I bought a Sofirn SP10S, cause it was a deal and addressed my wishlist and i figured worse came to worse it was a good cheapie to have till I “invested” in another light and could not possibly be worse than my Thorfire TG06S Which is bright, chews through batteries. steps down hard, has about 3/4 inch that sticks out of your pocket; and PWM, but all said isn’t a terrible torch
I love flashlights, but this forum is terrible, it puts too many ideas in ones head about other flashlights. There needs to be a support group for buying flashlights.
Hi i’m Paul and I bought too many flashlights this week.
G’day Paul, I had no need to understand batteries just recently and now I need to know all about them. This hobby is taking on a life of its own. I totally understand what recommendations can do ( please add 1 x Lumintop GT Mini to my inventory) I knew I wouldn’t last a day but I really need to stop buying now or find myself a wife to stop me Sofirn SP10S you say? excuse me i’ll be back in a minute hehe
BlueSwordM I already pulled the trigger on the S41 and advice taken mitsuki08.
In other news the Imalent DT70 arrived today which should keep me out of trigger mode for a while. Oh boy it sure is dazzling bright and oh boy it sure gets hot at 16,000 lumens.
It’s charging as I type preparing for the night.
so I have some knowledge to now impart to this forum, being with the Imalent DT70. I have watched many reviews pointing out the huge jump in lumen selection from 1000 straight to 8000 lumens with no middle ground to be had. Quite a jump indeed. The documentation also states this and has printed the lumens selections as follows: 80 - 1000 - 8000 - 16000.
I can vouch that my freshly purchased DT70 has now a 3000 lumens selection slotted in with the lumens selections as follows when I cycle throught it: 80 - 1000 - 3000 - 8000 - 16000, the instruction sheet included with it however neglects to make this distinction (probably old stock documentation). All in all i’m very happy with it and this extra 3000 selection is icing on the cake
The battery thing is interesting, cause I started with 18650 and I remain pleased by the payload. I can go months on a 18650 charge with just daytime and occasional night time use. If I am doing a lot of night walking, I play around more with my light and I get a few weeks. So when I got my first 14500 I was shopping for a light for my wife and trying to figure out whether I was going to give her something cheap, or if I was going to splurge and buy her something nice. This was a great excuse to buy a $12 flashlight and to be certain I was impressed, even with the flaws. That’s the thing, I think a lot of us buy on a features to cost ratio, like you have this nice torch you want and it is $65 and you want all the features and quality, but you don’t want to spend the cash, but if you find that same feature set for $25 you’ll buy it.
So I had a flashlight moratorium, no more lights! I was pretty good about it till I lost one of my lights and not it seems i’m skunking around in the land of budget lights. Now i’ve bought 3 lights and they are the cost of one light i’ve been eyeing. So it isn’t that I am not willing to spend $65, just I wasn’t willing to spend it on one torch.
Back to batteries. I really like 14500 batteries and 14500 lights, I don’t really ever find need to put a AA in my light, but being able to has some weight and that 14500 in the right light will last me about two weeks of day time use with some occasional night use.
18350 I also like for the size and power, i’m very impressed.
I think 18650 and 14500 are the two mainstream batteries that you’ll find most strongly represented, though others might disagree? I guess I should also include CR123 (RCR123A) /16340 batteries.
Three years in i’ve finally gotten to a place where having some custom battery that only fits in a device or two no longer bothers me, as long as the device truly is serving me. I have a shelf of multi tools and knives. Depending on what i’m doing dictates what i’m carrying. I used to feel guilty about it, but flashlights are accessories, no different than carrying the right bag, or changing shoes. I guess the same goes for the batteries.
G’day Paul, here’s the thing about batteries which causes me grief. I purchased a Sofirn SP36 and now am on the hunt for three optimal 18650 batteries to supply its 6000 lumen output. Sounds easy but it’s not so easy for me - too many variables short circuits my brain. For example, mAh, what capacity? then there’s protected or unprotected? a button top or flat top style? lets not forget high drain/low drain. Nup I can’t fathom it. The stage is set for me to make a wrong selection albeit they’re all 18650 batteries, and i’ll bet I choose the wrong one I think i’ll plead for advice and spare myself a wrong purchase.
The Imalent DM21T arrived later today also, I wanted something like a panic-light with an easily found ON switch and super easy toggle between strobe and solid light that one could activate with their eyes closed. This seems to fit the bill. I’ve locked away my trigger finger for the time being I think I have enough flashlights enroute to muse over
Thank you Flying Luminosity thats the bottom line I needed, good price I let my trigger finger go. Really looking forward to the SP 36 arriving I have a feeling its going to be my fave
Sofirn SP10S you say? excuse me i’ll be back in a minute hehe
