huh? interesting finding.
another thing I like about these new SC models is it memorizes the individual mode selected (except SC50/w strobe). Very thoughtful design!

hahaha... old newspaper, your pics tell a story, is that how you got hooked/infected? so, you are the curious Zebra...

Fenix TK45 Global Testing Campaign

guys/gals, here is a chance to try out the new Fenix TK45... 760 lumens... triple XP-G...

==
http://www.fenixlight.com/viewcnews.asp?id=30
...
...

but... "flash alcoholics"?

This post has been edited by RookieDaddy: Apr 23 2010, 11:47 AM

you mean this post (http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showpost....6&postcount=339)?
that could be a good thing... let's take it positively.

haha, sometimes... less is more.

tiny?!
ok... that's it!!! must draft a 3-year plan to relocate to CA. any restaurant there selling curry?

you serial killer... first it was the Fenix, then Osram, now Modus?!!!
it's time to call in the CSI team... ... ... oh wait... that's you!

hmmm... anyone else experience slowness loading cpf today? I'm on the "faster than a speeding snail, slower than dial-up" screamyx (this is not a typo, or is it? )...

feeling bored... decided to accessorize wifey's E10... results...

she likes it...

those are handphone stickers...

aaaawwwww... thanks guys...

sure...

susuman...

yes. the included ZL headband is not suitable. if you are using NiteCore headband, only the top position is ok. no issue with their H-series tho...
i think they should include other accessories for SC-series instead of headband... a 360° belt holster and other GITD goodies would be nice...

EDIT: maybe for members who don't wear glasses there will be lesser or no glare?

This post has been edited by RookieDaddy: May 1 2010, 02:59 PM

no info on cheap and accurate battery tester... but....
Uncle Wong... congrats on your new business... I see that you are now a Solarforce and Olight dealer?

Craig, when you have it, can you do a beam shot comparison between these warm emitters and something like P90 incan?

thanks Craig... appreciate it.

guys, a couple of links for your reading...

1. Comprehensive Grease and Lube Thread (link to page 16). Do take note about the advise to protect yourself when servicing your flashlight and to thoroughly clean your hands when done.

2. 玉树归来，浅谈地震PSK应急物资. This thread is from China's biggest flashlight enthusiast site. Try using Google to translate post #3, which relate author's experience to flashlight used at ground zero(?).

haha... let me try a summary:
Harries (the author) brought a few flashlights when travelling to YuShu earthquake location: Surefire E2DL、SolarForce L2+R2M、cloned SureFire M3T+Phillips 7388、Jetbeam C-LE AA。CR123A x 10，Sanyo 18650 x 10.
During his few days there, he found out that the SureFire are more reliable than any of his China-made flashlights. So he concluded that what others referred to as "expensive toys" >> SureFire, is actually very practical and more reliable when you need something to just work. His "unlucky" experience with SolarForce and JetBeam has also alerted other posters that in time of emergency, no one is gonna care to "switch to a lower level" and would just let the light burn thru sets of batteries continuously, and this lies the true test of durability and reliability...

There are some good facts and findings in the article besides flashlights, it's really a very good read.

There are some specific 'reasons' for this decision. One of them is the availability of AA batteries in time of emergencies. Other reasons will let you know in private.

This post has been edited by RookieDaddy: May 3 2010, 01:20 PM

You are right. Only one "real" SureFire, which is E2DL. See reply below for failure reported...

1) SureFire E2DL - I think there are some translation problem here... haha... Let me try... He says the SureFire E2DL is not bad. It never fail at all. It has persistently perform through-out the whole visit.
2) I believe the clone M3T is from here ==> http://item.taobao.com/auction/item_detail...11477f8102f.htm
3) He mentioned that it felt hot, L2 was having some intermittent contact problem at the beginning, after a while it auto switch mode, then it just won't turn on.
4) Pretty much what you said.

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Let me attempt a translation for his post #3 here (emphasized blue words are my comments or my attempt to fill in the void):

"1. Flashlight: personal opinion, a tool, a more useful tool. In the dark, lights tend to have the effect of boosting one's confident and morale. Frankly, for flashlight, one really need to get those of higher quality, among the 4 flashlights that I brought, SureFire's E2DL is pretty good, it never fail at all. The clone M3T is also not bad! The key here it (clone M3T) is using Philips 7388, xenon bulb, with 600 lumens brightness. There were dust everywhere, with xx smell in the air, so air quality is poor. E2DL's brightness is good, but in such an open (and dusty) environment, the white beam can cause eye-strain, and you won't be able to see clearly, this is the typical characteristics of LED, non-continuous beam spectrum (I think he meant the penetration power), regarding this, if unclear, please do your own research. To compare LED and xenon, it's very obvious during earthquake (that xenon performs better), but due to E2DL brightness, and with its slightly yellowish tint, it's still good to use, but it's not as good as M3T. M3T, the locals fought to get their chance to use it... because we are from Beijing, the local Tibetan treated us very nice, there were even some fears. Therefore they dare not to touch our stuffs, but it's clear in the eyes of the locals, these 2 flashlights (E2DL and clone M3T) were regards as magical tools...

But what I must comment is the other 2 flashlights, L2 from SolarForce, sand color, together with SolarForce’s R2M 5 modes drop-in, no problem at Beijing, but when it got there (YuShu), it only works half a day, then started to have contact problem the second day, after which, it breaks. Same issue with JetBeam C-LE, it’s broken on the second day too. For the record, although I’m still new to flashlight, but I don't make such common mistake like over discharge a battery or battery reverse polarity. I have thought about this on my way back (to Beijing), and suspected the cause of the problem with these 2 flashlights, is the extended burn time. In the disaster area, we have limited time, while a lot of work to do, and after a days work, we will continue to help others on their chores, the truth is, those of us from Beijing, are too used to easy life, when face with such disaster situation, people will come united, so everyone will do their best on what needs to be done, so flashlights will basically be turn on long hours, depleted batteries will get replaced. my 10 brand new 18650 battery, were all sacrificed due to over discharge. Because when you are in that situation, compare with human life, these are all worldly possessions, and simply no one would care, so after running SolarForce L2 and JetBeam C-LE for an extended time, they felt hot to the touch, and suddenly died. L2 was having intermittent contact issue at the beginning, then it automatically switch mode before it completely off. For C-LE, it just died, no effect even after changing the battery, so both flashlights were toss but I kept the L2 host.

I treated all products equally, SureFire’s E2DL has persistent performance, I’m very satisfy, the clone M3T, due to it’s direct driven nature, without any driver circuit, so only batteries are discarded, it’s still good, my personal opinion is these incandescent flashlight is still needed.

I was a little depressed, to say the least, with regards to the 2 discarded flashlights; I have nothing against their manufacturers. After-all, in times of need, these are just tools, who knows if they could be broken due to fall, just that no one cares about it. I’ve learned a lesson through all these, the SureFire that others in the forum referred to as expensive toys and reluctant to own/use, whom instead uses China-made flashlight daily, in times of need, perhaps they will then realize that it was these China-made flashlights that are toy, because they didn’t really put them through real use, instead just playing with it no more than 20 minutes at a time. When putting them through continuous burning of 6-7 hours, they will break. Haha… ironically, those that were seen as toys are dependable and practical, while those that were thought to rough it, was realize it’s just a toy in time of needs."

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pheeeew... i hope i have given the author a fair translation with my poor command of English...

Perhaps... that's why some of the forum posters argue that China-made flashlights has come a long way since. Some has also suggested the author to take a look at M models from JetBeam and Fenix TK series. After 37 pages of posts (as of today, some of them pretty heated), a common understanding or conclusion is that most posters agree that China-made flashlight is very much lacking behind in quality control, more so for those *-fire brands.

Another thing is the author seems to highly recommend the following setup:
SureFire 6PL + SC1 + P60 + 6 CR123A
due to the smooth beam profile of P60L and it's long runtime, with the ability to switch to P60 incan when you need to...