I see so many people talking about this cheap light, and I don’t really understand why due to my experience with it.
I bought a clone from Amazon many months ago, this one: FordEx Group Mini
This thing was a piece of junk since the moment I got it out of the package. The anodizing practically falls off the light, I’ve never carried it or even used it, yet it looks horrible just from handling it lightly. The plastic aspheric lens is crap, and comes pre-scratched. Focusing is really wobbly and overall the light just feels really really bad. I didn’t mind spending less than $4 on it, but I just don’t see why anyone would reccomend this light unless maybe there’s a better version out there that’s halfway decent?
About 75% of the time it’s a complete crapshoot, you don’t know which model they will be sending you. As for what makes one good? I would say that a de-domed XP-G2 makes one good and that costs about $3.50 extra if you can solder two wires. Short of that I can’t stand any of them. The XR-E has a terrible ring and the XML’s get it too hot too fast. However, people like them because they are basically a toss away light. They can run off of AA’s and are dirt cheap.
If you want a really good one I would suggest buying one from a known vendor and picking your mode selection and then adding an XP-G2. But remember that by the time you are done you will have $12 into it and for that you could get a 502b with an XM-L2 in it.
Hmm, the UltraOK branded examples I got from this store - nice finish to anodizing (not HA though), good clear lasering of logo, no scratches on lens, smooth zoom, zoom part not too loose but still able to zoom with one hand, able to tailstand (on some the boot protrudes too much for this), zoomed out shows emitter pattern clearly, pocket clip fitted nicely and no scratches or wear.
I have purchased (4) different SK68 clones. I bought one of the piece-of-junk FordEx Group Mini from Amazon like you did for $3.90. It looked like it was painted instead of anodized, the machining was poor, switch was poor, and it quit working in under an hour. The good thing is that they refunded my money no questions asked.
I have also purchased these three different copies:
1. UltraOK single mod from enjoydeal_group on eBay. Paid $5.75. I like it so much that I bought fourteen more after the first of these for presents, etc. and this is my favorite copy; all of my examples so far have been good. Good machining, good anodizing, brightest LED, and the zoom motion is dampened by an o ring instead of a metal spring like the others (nicer feel, and most likely a better seal). These are the brightest on AA and work well on 14500. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Newest-7W-CREE-Q5-300Lm-LED-Adjustable-Focus-Mini-Flashlight-Torch-AA-14500-/230818456987?pt=US_Flashlights&hash=item35bdda259b
2. No-brand single mode from tomtop_w on eBay. Paid $5.65. The pictures show a Cree marking but the one I received did not have any markings. Good anodization and overall good quality; my only gripe is that the belt clip is extremely tight and looks like the bend is incorrect where it mounts to the light (too little bend which makes the clip extremely stiff). The brightness is good on AA but better on 14500 which also work with no problems in this light. The shipping is fast since it comes from the USA instead of China. http://www.ebay.com/itm/290747010705?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&\_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
3. Ultrafire branded 3-mode (Hi, Normal, Strobe) from happydeal*2010 on eBay. Paid $5.65. This light’s finish is nice and is on par with the tomtop example, but it has three modes, high, not very low :), and strobe (no mode memory). This light seems to warm up more than the others on 14500 and burns the batteries fast on 14500 but isn’t any brighter (I’m guessing that the driver is less efficient than the others when using 14500) but on AA the light is bright and works well. 14500 does work without damaging the light but IMO this light is best on AA. Shipping was also fast from a US seller. http://www.ebay.com/itm/281137512975?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&\_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
Hope this helps, let me know if you have any other questions. My favorite is the UltraOK, I feel that it is worth the extra $0.25-$0.50 and wait time. If you need it fast I would buy the TomTop for 14500 use or if you want a single mode, the Ultrafire 3-mode if you are primarily using AA’s or want modes.
i have several of them, of differnet clones etc. the “original” Sipik-brand SK68s i have are the best ones i have, along with a 3-mode Ultrafire Clone of it. ( also i have several modded clones, with Warm White XR-E, an XM-L, differnet drivers, and soon to be swapping in a XT-E, and a MT-G2.
I noticed the original Sipiks i have uses the original EZ900 series Cree XR-E ( with the slightly larger emitter surface) than the others.
I have three, all single mode that I got recently from Miniinthebox and Tmart. One of these was a three mode with next-mode memory but was modded to a one mode. All have decent anno and pull about 1A from Li-Ion and 1.6A from NiMh. None of them are terribly impressive on alkaline, all are okay on NiMh but they really pop when using a 14500. Trouble is, they heat up quickly and few 14500s will last very long with a 1A load. They’re fun to play with, but I don’t find them terribly useful.
I have three different flavors of SK-68, all from Amazon vendors. My favorites are UltraFire branded, have 3 modes, and have a slightly wider lens (and narrower metal at the bezel) so they throw a smaller spot.
I gave away about a dozen units to friends, and everyone seemed quite happy with them. They wipe the floor with nearly any lights available in local retail stores, especially considering their price and size. However, I almost never use mine any more because I have better lights and even the “low” mode is usually too bright for my purposes. My zoomies are now used mostly to project images. (it’ll be fun when the next LotR / Hobbit movie comes out; planning to project an Eye of Sauron onto the movie screen before the show starts)
I also have quite a few of the UltraOk’s and they are very good, but I got this Uinfire one yesterday from FastTech and it is 3 mode and just a hair brighter than the UltraOk. https://www.fasttech.com/p/1278401
At $5.36 shipped, it’s a steal. 1 mode is also available for $5.14 in black or $5.02 in silver.
All prices are before BLF discount.
HTH
Keith
Other than the 25% low estimate, I agree with everything else ^ said. I’ve seen zero uniformity on virtually every component; and the driver lottery is insane - some seem tilted for AA use, and others for 14500. My own favorite has the lens and switch and switch cover and LED swapped out with other lights. Even with an XPG2 this one is still ringy and still needs work (suspect is the still shiny pill retainer that will get a coat of black some day) …
The light isn’t an ~$5 “be all” light - but it’s still amazing, kind of like a cheap bicycle - you can pick them apart for all of their compromises or love them for their utility - more likely both.
I was tempted by the Nitecore SRT3, since it’s physically rather like a SK-68 but has more and different features… in particular, continuously variable brightness control via a ring, much brighter maximum, some better blinky modes, and color modes. However, it also costs about 20X as much as a SK-68 and uses a lower-capacity battery and is a bit longer.
For me, the SRT3 seems unnecessary since I already have a JB RRT01 which is smaller and cost me half as much.
Anyway, just thought I should mention it because the SRT3 is, at least aesthetically, sort of a SK-68 clone. And it’s a very nice one, at that.
I too have the RRT-01 and really like it, although I wish they made a smaller version designed only for AA sized batteries. In fact I wish anyone made a constantly variable AA-sized light!
The XM-L version is called the SK-98, and no, it’s not particularly better. It has a strong tendency to melt itself, it doesn’t throw any better, it’s bigger and heavier, and the main benefit is that you get a somewhat wider/brighter flood mode. But there are far better XM-L zoomies out there for about the same price.
A better one I’ve tried is the Ultrafire 838, but it’s still not the greatest. Anyone have suggestions for better XM-L zoomies (wide/bright flood, big optics for narrow/intense zoom, good heat management, overall good quality)?
Good advice. Well, an XML version may well throw further than some AA versions, too.
Indoors my ZY-603 XML version is somewhat wider on flood than my SK68 XPE & XPG2 versions. Also, when the zoomed the die image is bigger so that can be another advantage for those not liking the smaller XRE/XPE beams. Generally, the other advantage is potentially longer run time (depending on batteries and drivers being compared).
I like this one better: Amazon.com Its almost the same price, its brighter, floodier, not as ringy, better heat management and more sturdy. The biggest positive for me is its ability to take 26650/18650/3xAAA batteries: I can toss it in as “backup” for any light I take “main” in my pack and not have to worry about it. I go back and forth between 26650 and 18650 lights a lot and it sucks to think you have a backup light and then realize it doesnt take the battery backup size you put in. On the down side, its heavy for a smaller light, its not too “small” (26650 of course) and the reflector is poor, but for $8, no serious complaint.
*Edit: Amazon does an interesting switcheroo, when you click the link, it takes to you to a seller charging about $10.50 instead. Go to the side bar and select one of the sellers charging $8.67 to order.
Nothing wrong with the sk98 - mine doesnt melt itself, has a very clean beam and produces an awesome flood with a very nice tint. The zoom is smooth as butter as well. Mine is an Ultrafire branded 3-mode.
I have one with that design, though mine has an orangish gold-colored bezel. It’s currently in my box of shame along with my SK-98. In fact, the only zoomies I still have accessible are a SK-68 and UF-838.
The UF-838 has the smallest, brightest hotspot of any XM-L zoomie I’ve tried (though I’ve only tried a few), and it also takes 26650/18650/3xAAA batteries. However, the way that it really shines is for flood use. Its widest mode is at least twice as wide as the SK-68 flood, and higher lux too. So, while the SK-68 tosses out a nice circle of light, the UF-838 emits a massive bright wall of light. The aspheric lens goes back so far it almost touches the emitter. I keep it around mostly for when I need a light for photography, since it produces a rather large, fairly even pool of light.
However, the SK-68 is more generally useful for daily purposes, since it’s smaller and lighter and has a clip.
I’ve seen zero uniformity on virtually every component; and the driver lottery is insane - some seem tilted for AA use, and others for 14500. My own favorite has the lens and switch and switch cover and LED swapped out with other lights. Even with an XPG2 this one is still ringy and still needs work (suspect is the still shiny pill retainer that will get a coat of black some day) …