TrustFire Z1 XML-T6 "1600 Lumen" Zoomable (a.k.a. Z5)
Reviewer's Overall Rating: ★★★★☆
Summary:
| Battery: | 2 x 18650 |
| Switch: | Reverse Clicky |
| Modes: | High - Med - Low - Strobe - SOS |
| LED Type: | Cree XM-L T6 |
| Lens: | Glass |
| Tailstands: | Yes |
| Price Payed: | $44 |
| From: | eBay (cyberport888) |
| Date Ordered: | July 2011 |
Edit: Can be found also from DX, where it's called TrustFire Z5 (Price $43.20, including two batteries and a charger!)
Pros:
- Wide & even beam in flood mode
- Throw mode is available if occasionally needed (doesn't replace a thrower still)
- Low(ish) current on high -> less heat, longer run time
- Build quality
- Balanced design, feels good in hand
Cons:
- Output, especially in throw mode (as expected in XM-L FTT)
- Nowhere near 1600 Lumens
Features / Value: ★★★★☆
Good emitter, driven low (see below)
Otherwise pretty normal feature set: Five modes, Zoomable (Flood to Throw)
Light in flood mode: (Mouse over for throw mode)
Design / Build Quality: ★★★★★
I'm happy with the build quality. Threads were smooth, no big flaws in anodizing, no lens rattle, etc.
Design is nice (IMHO). Light is shorter than I thought, well balanced and good to hold in hand.
Heat transfer & cooling seems to be good as well.
Despite of the two cell design this could be a good bicycle light?
Size comparison: (from left: Sky Ray 3xT6, TrustFire Z1, Yezl T9, KD C8)
Flashlight parts:
Head & Tailcap:
Battery Life: ★★★★★
Didn't have time for real runtime tests yet, but must be good with tailcap currents of:
High: 1.0A, Med: 0.4A, Low: 0.1A -> theoretically over 2h runtime on high.
Light Output: ★★★☆☆
As expected (after the current measurements). Definitely not as bright as some well-driven XM-L, like KD C8.
Flood is a bit brighter than in Yezl T9 (440Lux vs. 280Lux@1m), mostly because a bit smaller beam diameter (120cm vs. 140cm @1m). However, the throw is dimmer (10700Lux vs. 14800Lux@1m), again mostly because the beam diameter is bigger (13cm vs. 10cm @1m)
As the current in high mode is low(ish), the light doesn't get very hot => thermal sag is way lower than in Yezl.
I'll add some beamshots later to the post below. Don't hold your breath though.
Summary: ★★★★☆
Good light, but could be better. Nothing exceptional to write home about.
The end: (pun intended)
=the=
Ps. My first review here at BLF. Feel free to ask if I happened to forget something important.
