Taotronics TT-TF03
Reviewer's Overall Rating: ★★★★☆
Summary:
| Battery: | 2 x 18650 battery or 4 x CR123 battery |
| Switch: | Reverse Clicky |
| Modes: | 2 Groups both with Memory : H-M-L or H-M-L-Strobe-SOS |
| LED Type: | Cree XM-L U2 |
| Lens: | Uncoated Glass Lens |
| Tailstands: | Yes |
| Price Paid: | Available for 99.99 from Amazon |
| From: | Link_Like_This |
| Date Ordered: | 4/04/13 |
Pros:
- Amazing design
- Well driven
- Good machining
- Quality holster and lanyard included
- Good UI with a proper implementation of memory
Cons:
- Outdated LED (XM-L)
- To easy to switch from one mode group to another
- Expensive
Features / Value: ★★★☆☆
Heather contacted me earlier this month about reviewing the light. I was eager to review it, but from the beginning I thought that it was a bit overpriced. I would personally say it is a good value, and a very nice light. It came with: an extra switch boot, a plastic case, a holster, a lanyard, a magnet so as to allow use of 2 cells, and a manual.
It has 2 mode "groups": High-Medium-Low and High-Medium-Low-Strobe-Alarm-SOS, (alarm is .5 second strobe, .5 second off) both with memory. I personally use it on the 3 mode group, mostly because it gets annoying to have to switch through a strobe mode, but this still gives the option of various flashing modes if they are needed. One can change the mode group by turning the light on to low mode, from there wait until it blinks (a few seconds) and then turn it off.
Design / Build Quality: ★★★★★
The build quality on this light is impeccable.
Spotless anodizing with a well designed tailcap that can tailstand.
The threads on this light are amazing, while they may not be square they are extremely smooth. They came pre-lubed from the factory.
The reflector is a medium orange peel that is 52mm diameter and 50mm deep. It does approximately 35kcd (I have no idea why Taotronics says it only does 11kcd...). I personally wish that it was a smooth reflector as then this light could probably hit 50kcd.
Sadly as far as I can tell there is no easy way to get access to the LED, the only way I can get to it is through the top of the light, this means it is rather hard to do a LED swap on this light. The LED does seem to be well heatsinked though.
The light has very nice deep cooling fins to ensure it stays cool.
Battery Life: ★★★★★
The light draws 1.5 amps from the battery, this means that with 3000 mah batteries you could get up to two hours of run time on high. The heatsinking on this light appears to be enough to withstand that, assuming it is moving around and not sitting still.
Light Output: ★★★★☆
In my integrating bathroom this light clocked in at 720 lumens. It does approximately 35kcd. Overall this light is a good combination light with a very good runtime.
Beamshots to come later...
Summary:★★★★☆
Overall this is a great light and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a higher quality 2*18650 option.