Hi all, I registered firstly to thank everyone involved in making the BLF Q8 I just ordered a reality. I haven’t scratched the surface of what went into it, but from the posts and reviews I have seen it was clearly a successful effort by competent, dedicated, and passionate folks. I especially thank djozz, Tom E, Pilotdog68, MRsDNF, Thijsco, The Miller, and ThorFire for enabling my descent into flashaholism.
My journey started as a kid buying a Surefire G2 fifteen years ago and has led through Inova, Fenix, Nitecore, and of course lots of Chinese crap. I live in the country with enough space to appreciate the Q8’s capabilities. With a couple VG-15S kits also on the way and my old lights given away, I expect to be indefinitely satisfied with my modest new trio of torches.
Just kidding. I will not be truly happy until you guys produce one more light. Just one more. I’m thinking a bigger, throwier Q8 with XHP70.2’s, targeting 10,000lm and 100kcd. Nothing crazy.
Thanks again all. I look forward to getting to know this community better. Edit to add: I’m 32 and a photo & videographer by trade.
The Q8 is an amazing light at a super price! The fact that there is a lantern coming our way soon (buying at least one) with the Q8 as the foundation does not surprise me at all. I own a few lights from the BLF family and am proud to show them off and tell the story to all who will listen and even some who don’t. Truly a great group of very knowledgeable and giving people on here.
I am a member of several other forums in other hobbies and this one is by far the most hospitable and knowledgeable.
Thanks for the warm welcome! I’ve been involved in a variety of online communities and can already feel the hospitality here. I mean come on, a personal welcome from Alice…
Torches arrived today, but I have to wait a few days for 30Q’s. Everything looking great so far.
That sounds great. I’ll read about it eventually but just to clarify:
A regular electric skillet? This is for reflowing LEDs?
A hemostat, as in the medical device? For holding components you’re working on together?
I was just reading TA’s XHP50.2 idea . Still reading. Is that a viable higher-output but lower-CRI LH351D option?
I’ll get there eventually but meanwhile, poring over pages of forum posts it’ll be a while before I find out how a bunch of projects and ideas turned out around here and what the current state of Q8 mods is haha. Funny, I haven’t even seen the stock Q8 at full power yet.
1. Yes, for reflowing LEDs. Unless you have the money to cough up for an electric temperatures controlled hot plate, that is the best way to reflow LEDs, as the temp can easily be regulated.
2. Hemostats for holding components, and opening up lights.
3. You need a boosting voltage/buck downvolting driver, and it costs a lot of money. You can do it, but it is going to cost you in the LED department and driver. You will also lose throw.
For the LH351D, it is an awesome LED. You will not look back, as it is almost as bright as the stock XPL, but has beastly color reproduction:
Forgot to check in now that I actually have my Q8—I posted this topic before it and batteries arrived, such was my confidence in the whole project.
I remember being wowed by torches before but this is the first one that truly doesn’t leave me wanting more in my own yard. The beam profile suits my general-purpose use beautifully and the UI is splendid.
Of course, I still want a 10,000lm,100kcd version. But with the Q8 on hand, I can be patient for a while.
Just now saw this thread. I wanted to say welcome to the forum, Tig! I’m glad your Q8 has arrived and is fully satisfactory. Also, you may have noticed in your lurking about through various threads, there are several other photographers, both professional and hobbyist, and some videographers here. Don’t hesitate to tap into some of them for creative lighting ideas while you’re here. I hope you do stick around and enjoy being part of this amazing forum!
Oh yeah, about that 10,000 lumens Q8: some of the members have already modded their Q8’s and are getting well over 10,000 lumens on decent high-drain cells. I can’t recall what they posted for throw numbers (kcd) but I’m sure you can find it, if you’re already reading up on Q8 mods.
