Old_Klein, the translation to Jason’s answer is yes, essentially the same light.
The one on Banggood is the original BLF version. It has XP-L HD emitters in 3D tint (or our group buy did) whereas this Sofirn has HI emitters in a cooler tint for a tighter more throwy beam. Other than that, the same. (The BLF Q8 has flats on the battery tube, the Sofirn Q8 does not.) So, minor differences in the same light. lol
BLF Q8:
- Sold by Thorfire, made by Sofirn
- Uses NarsilM V1.0
- Uses XPL-HD V6 in the 3D tint, 4800-5000k
Sofirn Q8:
- Sold by Sofirn and made by Sofirn
- Uses NarsilM V1.2 Confirmed by djozz that the firmware’s not updated
- Uses XPL-HI in the 6000-6500k range.
Edit: Firmware still NarsilM V1.0. Not final however, as djozz’s unit may be a prototype somewhat, and they may feature NarsilM V1.2 from now on hopefully.
Btw, is Narsil 1.2 instead of 1.0 indeed confirmed for the Sofirn Q8 ? Forgive my ignorance but how do I check that in a few simple clicks for my Sofirn Q8 copy?
Easy. Just click 5 times on the e-switch.
If it activates momentary mode, then you have NarsilM V1.2.
From Turbo or top of ramp > 3 clicks = voltage > 2 more clicks = temperature > 2 more clicks = software version.
This one was easier than teacher’s.
5 clicks from off, or 5 clicks from on, both do not get me momentary mode (which is a simple on-off UI, right?) but instead nothing changes, I’m still in the ramping UI. 4 clicks do give me lock-out so I’m not clicking too slow or too fast.
So I guess it is still Narsil 1.0
Damn it. That means they actually didn’t update the firmware.
They did say that it should have been updated to NarsilM V1.2.
Guess they didn’t :weary:
Edit: Perhaps not final however, as djozz’s unit may be a prototype somewhat, and they may feature NarsilM V1.2 from now on hopefully.
Don’t count on that, at August 31 Barry told me that 400 units were produced already, and at Sept 3 Barry promised me to send a sample. And leaving a working firmware as is fits perfectly in the general chinese mentality.
Oh I had not thought that they had the drivers already around and flashed. That would make perfect sense IMO.
I’m not sure why Teacher mentioned turbo or top of the ramp, that’s kind of irrelevant.
If you do three clicks and put it in the battery check mode all you have to do then is a double click and that will blink out the temperature in Celsius, then do another double click and it will either blink once then have a really long pause or it will blink once, a short pause and then two more blinks and then a long pause.
I’m going to be really upset if it doesn’t have the updated firmware. People have been wanting it and asking for this update for a very long time.
Side note:
Narsil v1.0 = really old
NarsilM v1.0 = much newer
Your right Jason WW, that is somewhat irrelevant. :+1: . I “mentioned it” because that is the way I usually do it…… nothing more.
Of course you are correct……
From Off… Triple click = voltage check > then double click = temperature > then double click = firmware check > then hold button until LED’s flash = Factory Reset.
And all is right in flashaholic world again…… 
… 
Teacher is correct, 3 clicks to get to battery check, then 2 clicks for temp, then a double click and if you have a Ver. one it will blink only one time, if it’s Ver. 1.2 it will blink once slight pause and then two blinks and then if you hold the switch down until you see the LEDs start flashing around when they stop blinking it will be the out of the box factory reset. That would be my favorite mode, factory reset… ha ha
Edit: Sorry, and Jason is right as well and I’m alright, really…
to check firmware version in NarsilM, from OFF, do a triple-click, then double-click, then another double-click:
made a video to demonstrate how it's done for several NarsilM flashlights:
~~~~~
Also made video demonstrating accessing Strobes in NarsilM v1.0 (stock BLF Q8)
vs NarsilM v1.2 (BLF Q8, updated with NarsilM v1.2)
(has 5 clicks for momentary mode, whereas v1.0 doesn't have that)
Sorry, no voiceovers for the above videos, just some printed and crappy handwritten instructions...
Wow thanks I hope to look an upgrade of this light with 2 switchs.
A second small button for checking and settings.
It will be all more easy withouth carry the instruction,
and no more risk to enter accidentally wrong modes
Interested.
Instructions are in the first post.
I don’t agree at all. This is one of the best user interfaces there is. It’s super simple. One click on/off, press and hold to increase or decrease brightness. Very simple.
How would it even be possible to mount a second button? You would have to replace the driver because I’m pretty sure NarsilM isn’t compatible with two switches.
If you can’t remember the “extra” stuff like double click for turbo or triple click for battery voltage, then you can download the user sheet to your phone. It covers all the details as well as how to make adjustments in the user settings. Once it’s set how you like it, you can throw away the instructions.
Of course it request a different driver now,but I think could be a better option at the first.
This my opion,maybe when will have it on hands be differents
Barry noticed that we were discissing that the Sofirn Q8 uses version NarsilM 1.0 and he asked where Sofirn can find version NarsilM 1.2. This is totally not my expertise so I’m asking help here.
What I’m looking for is a link that directly gets Sofirn to where NarsilM 1.2 can be downloaded, the version of the link must 100% work on the Sofirn Q8.
I guess that they will not re-flash the first 400 already produced units, but will use it for later runs.
For who is concerned about receiving a flashlight with outdated firmware: the Q8 works great on the original firmware, al the stuff that makes Narsil such a good interface are there and it has no nasty bugs, newer versions differ just on details.