Did this light become 'safer' and less expert since when this review was written, because i'm still doubting between this one and the kD C8 cree and i think that last one is a 'safer' option
what do you mean with the 2x and 1x?
SO you think the 980l isnt worth the extra money?
I have the light, purchased it as replacement for another light. Only you can compare and see your needs, there are better options now. You'd have to be careful with your batteries else it heats up too fast (I have batteries that provide anything from 2.7A all the way to 3.5A) ....the reflected lux reading drops really fast, faster than say a U80. But after stabilisation it is still higher than the U80. Looks not bad, built is good, has HA nice surface, more of a fun light rather than something you use it daily. It is not that bad, coz its 3-modes and 5-modes. If you have money to spend, get the new SR STL-V2 or Fandyfire STL-V6 big reflectors, and any of the two 3xT6s. Etc etc....
Seriously if you wanna have fun, just get a HID carry-lantern type. Trust me you will really have fun blowing LEDs out of the water when you really dig into that side of the hobby. Haha...
Hi 2100,
What is a budget HID carry-lantern that you are talking about? Links? Price? Thanks.
Bro, PM me if you need more info since its OT. Its usd86 to my place but 106 to CONUS unfortunately. But still, very good performance (google my beamshots @ here/CPF). SLA = ultra safe chemistry.
If you have a bit of cash, for this. You can upgrade to 75W ballast + 55W bulb later. http://www.batteryjunction.com/titanium-illuminator.html
Mozo 4" 35W is a nice mini lantern which would still be a bit brighter than say a SR90. This is coz it is using auto HID ballasts - and those ballasts are 30-35W to the bulb. But difficult to find a Mozo 35W nowadays.
Sometimes you can find the mozo version of that last light for pretty cheap. I had the opportunity to get it for ~70$, but got the mozo 4" lithium light instead for 100. The problem w/ sla's is that you have to maintain them and I'm far too lazy.
You should like SLAs, coz the Li-ion packs are 4 cells in series. *evil evil* Seriously SR3800 in 2S and that new shorty 3 XM-L in 3S using my own cells + individually charged and own voltage measurements would be magnitudes safer. The stock Mozo 35W 4" has 180k lux @ 1m of punch, more than TK70 and SR90. Overdrive with a 75W ultra-slim ballast it would be 500k.
I was thinking about buying the sky ray 3800 and a smaller light but that's why i wasn't sure if i'd buy the kd C8 or this uf 980l. You talk about better options now? Same price range? What lights could you recommend?
Really 4S? I thought it's 6 cells in there judging by the size of the pack. 5600mah @ 11v.
LOL, then its 3S2P, slightly less danger but bigger bang. 
Jim @ Manafont finally got me a new driver for the one that burned out on my UF-980L it took a little bit of time but he stood by his product and made it right. I received a whole new pill and driver today, so I am pretty happy luckily I had parts to make a repair or this light would have been down for quite some time.
The 980L is now since several week my favourite, the big reflectors you mention are also pretty nice, but totally other lights.
Much bigger, this is what I like about the 980L, very small pocketlight (if you file the strike bezel).
Output of the 980L is amazing, it throws almost as far as my X9 (same class as the STL - lights)
It's got even a better flood as the mentioned lights.
I realy like this little giant, you can just put it everywhere you like in your clothes.
Little minus point... it's get hot but after a while it cools a little bit down as it stabilize with still an amazing light output.
Nice to hear, you get a new driver.
Did you ask for a couple of more 980L drivers, I wish I had some of these to put in all my single 18650 XM-L lights
I am really glad Jim stood behind his product. I am not a big fan of these drivers, I took one out of a Manafont/Ultrafire drop in to use in this light while I was waiting it was exactly the same driver. These drivers have really bad PWN on medium and low and the modes are in the wrong order they go low, high, medium which blinds the piss out of you if it's dark. I prefer the Nanjg105c with a couple extra chips they work much better than the Ultrafire direct drive ones.
Got mine in the mail today. Man is it bright. Mine pulls 3.5 amps from a tenergy 18650 cell
anyone have the comparison between TF x8,x9 ad KD c8???
I honestly think this Ultrafire MCU-C88 with an XML conversion and a 4 amp driver will throw a beat down on the 980L. The hotspot is one half the size of the 980L and the pill can handle the 4 amps no problem unlike the 980L.
Really? Aren't they the same size and similar inside?
Nope the hotspot on the C88 is half the size of the 980L
980L on left C88 XML on right
Got some serious potential right?