The optics in the clones suck, they are far from as good as the real thing.
You can find a lot of tests and reviews on led lenser clones and none give the nice round spot with no spill and almost perfectly uniform wide-angle spill that the real TIR does.
Thanks for the heads up on the clones, do you know who else makes good “real” TIR zoomies? I’d like to try one. The MT10/MT14 do look interesting to me, although I bit pricey. I think those are the only Led Lenser zoomies that run on regular size Li-ion?
Are Coast flashlights still made by the same Mfg as Led Lenser? I have an older “Coast Led Lenser” (Non-zoomie)
I just received my first single emitter TIR zoomie, the Litesam E11Z (Re-branded FiTorch P30Z) it does have a nice round spot but the edges aren’t crisp like the square spots, also has a big dark donut hole at all in-between positions, which basically makes it a a two mode light, full flood or full throw.
The Coast TIRs, at least the one’s I’ve seen, make a combined spot+spill like a reflector light in the zoomed in position.
This is different from the spot-only led lenser TIR.
OK thanks didn’t know. Which Led Lenser model(s) do you have?
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This MT18 looks interesting, I wonder if it’s really 3000lm. I’ve read they’re pretty much true to spec on their output ratings/claims.
I wonder what emitters they’re using in these MT series.
Thanks for the links, unfortunately no word for disassembly.
Fenix FD 45 and 65 are quite new models, in the FD series they also have 2 more: FD30 - tube light with 18650 battery - I had it, but was not impressed, as well as Fenix FD20 - XP-G2, 2xAA zoomie.
I’ve used a P7, T7, p5r.2, and some other small one.
I EDC the p5r.2
Not really a fan of the new design, but it’s nice that they’re switching to standard 18650 and other liion batteries now.
Fenix added to list:
Fenix FD30 (XP-L HI) 18650
Fenix FD41 (XP-L HI) 18650
Fenix FD45 (XPL-HI) 4x14500
Fenix FD65 (3 x XHP35 HI) NW
A couple of interesting budget zoomies I added to the list:
Alonefire G910 (XM-L T6)
AloneFire TK105 (XP-L V6)
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table(table#posts).
|TK105|
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The list of zoomies here has grown quite a bit over the past month, now over 75 models listed! I changed the title of the thread to describe it better.
Also forgot to mention Sam’s Club Tasco 400 lumen tactical 3 pack. GF picked this one up for me. Just came out.
Ooh the model number is XR8. Not even listed on Sam’s website. It does list XR7
XR7 does not run on Li-ion battery, and XR8 still only 400Lm 
While searching on line for those I did find something that was VERY exciting…for a minute (before I found out it’s discontinued :rage: )
The Tasco XR9r
This apparently was a pretty awesome flashlight from about a year ago! With so many great features I have no idea why it was discontinued.
- 800 Lumen!
- Zooming focus
- Lighted tail switch!
- Magnetic Tail Cap!
- Runs on 18650 Li-ion!
- Built in USB charging
- Hidden USB port under a knurled stainless ring!
- USB Powerbank feature!
- Stainless steel bezel ring
- Round spot beam instead of square!
I guess these were selling for under $30 at Sams Club, but they were also on Amazon a while back (sold out now):
Amazon reviews were all 5 star, one reviewer commented:
“This light isnt being made anymore. I called Tasco (Bushnell) to ask where I could get another and they said it was a one time deal with that Big Box store. No plans to make them again. I don’t understand that but that’s what they said.”
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Bummer.
Here’s a youtube video on it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSusAIf1_1E
After an extensive online search I was only able to find it showing available at one store……
But when I tried to buy it (just to check) it shows; “Our shopping cart is undergoing maintenance.” LOL
http://www.tacticalsuppliesexpress.com/item/13837047/
Price was a little high anyway: $59.97 Sams Club did show it on their auctions site from a while back, they were probably a great deal in the auction.
Now all the zoomies at Sams are all low output and run on Alka-leaks, nothing nearly as nice as the XR9r was.
Interesting budget zoomie, looks like a TIR (flat front lens) but has a square hot spot.
I guess it could be an aspheric behind the flat front lens though. But I’ve not seen that before.
Or the beamshots in the listing could be generic / from a different light, I see that a lot on Aliexpress too.
The XR8 is longer than XR7 so you can use 18650 in barrel. The XR9R was good for its time. But the technology has surpassed with those form factors encompassed in XR9R.
Thanks for the info, usually that doesn’t work because the 3xAAA battery holders are around 5-10mm shorter than an 18650.
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Can you please explain your point of view? To me it looks like the XR9r was way more technologically advanced than XR7 and XR8.
XR9r was only from 2016-2017 and has many features that even some new models are lacking, it’s not outdated by any means that I can see. It most likely was discontinued due low sales from being priced too high for a large discount chain store.
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Tasco XR9r Zooming Flashlight (Discontinued)
- 800 Lumen!
- Lighted tail switch!
- Magnetic Tail Cap!
- Runs on 18650 Li-ion!
- Built in USB charging
- Hidden USB port under a knurled stainless ring!
- USB Powerbank feature!
- Stainless steel bezel ring
- Round spot beam instead of square!
I did not collect flashlights then otherwise, I would have bought 10 of XR9R. As far as price range. Much cheaper than high end light for sure. Most of the high end lights encompass these features already.
My jaxman z1 xhp50 2x26650 is leaving china…
Looking at the FD45 link, it looks like a 4×AA light rather than a 4×14500 one. The 14500s Fenix refer to appear to be USB-rechargeable Li-Ion cells with a built-in buck regulator to 1.5V.
Hmm, ya didn’t notice that, USB cells are becoming more common lately, but I haven’t seen this before, as you pointed out these are 1.5v cells! Didn’t know they made these! Pretty strange for a 4x battery light, guess ya gotta charge em one-at-a-time or run 4 usb chargers!
Even though they’re “proprietary” Li-ions I guess it still qualified for the list: “I’m only listing lights that can run on Li-ion rechargeable cells”
Thanks for pointing it out, I’ll note it in the list.
Just came across this Gearlight zoomie, it appears to be same as the Warsun X50, and about the same price, (actually $1.00 less) IMO it’s always better to buy from amazon than aliexpress etc. especially if its FBA, you’ll get it in a few days and easy returns if needed.
It has a 4.8 review rating with 616 reviews, that’s pretty good for that many reviews.
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Didn’t know about Gearlight, they market re-branded budget lights - but they’re USA based (CA) and have a nice website, that’s more than I can say about most of the off brand budget lights on amazon.
I’ve contacted them to ask if it has the XM-L2 like the Warsun X50 or XM-L T6 like the Warsun X65, also see how fast they respond.