Cool new flashlights

[DenverGP]

Started playing with some new flashlights.

First one I got is a Wowtac A5. It's a "flooder" style light, takes a 26650 Lithium Ion battery. Produces over 3000 lumens in "turbo" mode which it can only do for about 2-3 min before it starts throttling back to "high" mode of 1800 lumens due to heat buildup. Because it's a very wide flood beam, it doesn't really seem that bright.

Second one is a Wowtac A7. It's less flood than the A5, but still not a sharp focused beam. Not nearly as impressive, but much easier to pocket carry. Takes a 18650 battery. 1048 lumens in turbo mode, throttles back to around 700 lumens after about 2 minutes.

Third one is a Convoy C8+. This is a true "thrower" light, very nice tight focused beam, enough that in darkness with no precipitation you can clearly see the defined beam out for at least a hundred feet. 18650 battery. The newer model I got uses the Osram KW CSLNM1 emitter. Listed as 1100 lumens on 100% but very focused so it really puts a lot of light on far away targets.


Comparison shot with all 3 lights


Light saber pic:


Distance Shot 1


Distance Shot 2



The two Wowtac lights came from Amazon, but the Convoy C8+ I had to order direct from China (aliexpress).
A5 https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07SRTFM88
A7 https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0813DJSPL
C8+ https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001400455356.html

Note, the 2 amazon ones come with lithium ion battery, and can charge the cell while in the flashlight using the included USB cable, but the one from AliExpress does not include the cell and doesn't have built in charging.

I found a good source for lithium ion cells at https://www.illumn.com
For the 18650, I'm using the Sanyo NCR18650GA. 3500mAh, can put out 10A continuous.

[Irving]

As I try to move away from China stuff, I still really like my Fenix lights. I was thinking that my 1600 lumen Fenix PD36R would put up similar patterns, but I paid $75 for my light, and those are much, much cheaper. I know Sean has done comparisons like this before, but it's nice to see more.

That C8+ puts out an impressive beam. A couple of questions though.
1) Are there light settings, or any beam adjustability?
2) Even though the C8+ is very focused, do you feel it puts out enough light that it doesn't matter for closer situations because it's so bright?
3) Do any of those lights have built in recharging?

[HunterCO]

stream light is my go to yes they are very expensive but worth every penny.

[DenverGP]

The PD36R doesn't have a big enough / deep enough reflector to be a real thrower. The beam spreads out fairly quick, making it a good general purpose light.

The Fenix HT18 is a thrower, at least as strong as the C8+, but definitely more spendy. Looks a little larger in all dimensions than the C8+. Beam looks similar, I suspect it's a bit brighter than the C8+.

Another couple upscale throwers would be the Noctigon K1 and Acebeam T27.

If you want to see the really extreme throwers, look at lights like the Fenix TK30.. They are "LEP" lights, which use a laser instead of an LED as the light source. Not very useful, but very fun to play with. And very spendy.

Are there light settings, or any beam adjustability?

On the C8+, It uses a tailcap switch. It's got 12 modes. There is a obscure button press sequence to pick which mode you want. I'm using a mode that lets you switch between 0.1%, 1%, 10%, 35%, 100% via partial button press. Other modes offer different combos of power, as well as strobe, bike-strobe, battery-check, and SOS.
The beam is not adjustable... in the "flashlight hobby" realm, any of the "zoom" lights are usually considered pretty low performance. There are a couple high end thrower lights where you can turn the front to focus the sharpness of the beam (not zoom, just focus).

Even though the C8+ is very focused, do you feel it puts out enough light that it doesn't matter for closer situations because it's so bright?

This is 1% indoors with no other light, about 15 feet away from the stove.


At 35% the room is just about daylight bright.

If I needed to search a wide area, it wouldn't be my first choice. But for closer situations, it does have a decent amount of "spill" outside of the focused beam to make it useful.

I was able to spot a critter (guessing coyote or racoon) about 1000 feet away by the glowing eyes when I swept across it...

Do any of those lights have built in recharging?

Added that to my post... yeah, the two wowtac lights have built in charging via USB micro connector. C8+ comes with just the light/lanyard. No battery and no built in charging.

[Bailey Guns]

Very interesting! Great photos and good read. Thanks!

[StagLefty]

Flashlights have come a long way since my first one !!! My favorite small one lately is a Nitecore LE TIKE high is 300 lumens and its usb rechargeable. Most of my edc lights have been Fenix.

[O2HeN2]

You keep pointing that thing up at trees and sooner or later the FAA is going to be searching for you.



O2

[ray1970]

You keep pointing that thing up at trees and sooner or later the FAA is going to be searching for you.



O2

Maybe he needs a new screen name. Coon Hunter?

[ChadAmberg]

Flashlights have come a long way since my first one !!! My favorite small one lately is a Nitecore LE TIKE high is 300 lumens and its usb rechargeable. Most of my edc lights have been Fenix.

They certainly have. I remember carrying the maglite and yelling out "Road guards... POST!"

[DenverGP]

I remember carrying the maglite and yelling out "Road guards... POST!"

Being a airforce weenie, I remember the cheap plastic "lackland laser" with the yellow cone on top for marching to classes at tech school.