F150R (4000K) in Convoy M21A & F45R (4000K) in Convoy C8+

The M21A and C8+ share the same size reflector, the only real differences are the driver and the larger body on the M21A. The M21A also uses a 20mm driver, compared to the C8+'s 17mm driver. Because of that difference in thermal mass, this isn't really a fair head-to-head, so think of it more as two separate performance tests presented side by side rather than a strict comparison. That said, their throw numbers can still be looked at together, since they share the same head and reflector.

🛠️ Test Equipment Used

• Lumens & Lux: Tklamp TK2303D Flashlight Tester (Lux measured at 5m)
• CCT / Tint / DUV / Ra: Hopoocolor HPCS330P
• Current (Amps): UNI-T UT210D

📸 Camera Settings (Oppo Find X9 Ultra Pro Mode)

• ISO: 800
• Focal Length: 23mm
• Exposure Compensation: —
• Aperture: F1.5
• Shutter Speed: 1/10
• White Balance: 5000K

🔧 Build 1 — Convoy C8+ SMO, F45R 4000K

• Host & Reflector: Convoy C8+, smooth reflector
• Driver: 17mm 3V 10A
• Emitter: F45R, 4000K
• Battery: Molicel P30B, 4.2V

https://preview.redd.it/l9h7xebxibkh1.png?width=3064&format=png&auto=webp&s=0a47f3f6581d8010d344ada09318ba3be5f99e6a

https://preview.redd.it/wzedzwjzibkh1.png?width=3064&format=png&auto=webp&s=abf6f7dfa39f8439f3e975b7067612cc2afea4b7

Output & Light Quality Measurements

Mode	Current (A)	Output (lm)	CCT	DUV	CRI (Ra)	Intensity (cd)	ANSI Throw (0.25 lx)	Usable Throw (1 lx)	Ratio (cd/lm)
1%	0.1	44	3880K	+0.0071	68	3,550	119.2m	59.6m	80.68
10%	0.7	410	3922K	+0.0042	68	32,575	360.9m	180.5m	79.45
35%	2.7	1,250	4018K	+0.0015	68	92,300	607.6m	303.8m	73.84
100%	9.4	2,750	4164K	-0.0010	68	193,900	880.7m	440.3m	70.51

Note: No runtime test performed on the C8+, the 17mm 3V 10A driver has no thermal regulation and would just run away with heat, so a sustained runtime graph wouldn't be a fair or useful representation of this build.

🔧 Build 2 — Convoy M21A SMO, F150R 4000K

• Host & Reflector: Convoy M21A, smooth reflector
• Driver: 20mm 3V 20A Buck driver
• Emitter: F150R, 4000K
• Battery: Reliance RS50, 4.2V

https://preview.redd.it/wbetovx4jbkh1.png?width=3064&format=png&auto=webp&s=180f44f1560bbb28b2f1d03f1f7ee75945aed849

https://preview.redd.it/6euhyub6jbkh1.png?width=3064&format=png&auto=webp&s=85b946ed3e91b3fa8157a92cb9b1d446daa3a2bf

Output & Light Quality Measurements

Mode	Current (A)	Output (lm)	CCT	DUV	CRI (Ra)	Intensity (cd)	ANSI Throw (0.25 lx)	Usable Throw (1 lx)	Ratio (cd/lm)
1%	0.3	150	3964K	+0.0024	70	5,200	144.2m	72.1m	34.67
10%	2.3	1,125	4064K	-0.0005	70	39,450	397.2m	198.6m	35.07
35%	3.9	1,760	4076K	-0.0017	70	60,475	491.8m	245.9m	34.36
100%	18.6	5,200	4272K	-0.0048	70	163,675	809.1m	404.6m	31.48

https://preview.redd.it/tm70lrhbjbkh1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=f45e40a55d9fa9898c4180b063550e3cb104f223

Runtime Notes:

• Turbo & Step-down: Turbo opens at ~5,200lm and drops hard within the first minute to ~880lm, then actually climbs back up over the next ~3.5 minutes to a ~1,780lm plateau, holding there until around 4:50, where it steps down to ~1,260lm. A further step-down follows around 10:20 to ~1,120lm, before settling into a final sustained level of ~1,050lm by roughly 13:20.
• Sustained Output: Final stable output holds at ~1,050lm essentially flat for the back two-thirds of the 30-minute run.
• Thermal Performance: Max turbo temp reached 56.5°C; max sustained output temp reached 54.6°C.

📊 Beamshots Comparison

https://preview.redd.it/n2dgbq7rjbkh1.jpg?width=6144&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=09e20c68e7c704450a62b27e4e637d2ce0bbc6dd

https://preview.redd.it/tm06wdeujbkh1.jpg?width=6144&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9c4a94f6e2d217f03e027b654b2d64e2923d4538

💭 Final Impressions & Thoughts

Beam Profile: The F45R's beam profile is the same as what I found testing these emitters in the L21A, much more defined and concentrated, perfectly round like the SFT-42R, with a hotspot roughly 3x smaller than the F150R's. The F150R's hotspot isn't as defined and doesn't have as hard a cutoff between hotspot and spill as the F45R does. In the M21A specifically, the F150R also shows a slight tint shift within the hotspot itself, very subtle, not something you'd notice in actual use, only visible if you're really looking for it on a white wall. It wasn't present in the L21A, so I'm wondering if the F150R just needs a larger reflector to focus properly. The spill on the F150R is, as expected, a lot brighter, and even at 10% it puts out enough light to comfortably walk with, without an overly bright, blinding hotspot. The same can't be said for the F45R, with its very concentrated hotspot and dimmer spill, it doesn't give off much peripheral lighting at 10%, and by 35% the hotspot gets uncomfortably blinding up close. Both are dedicated throwers though, so it's not really a big deal, just worth mentioning.

Tint & Color Quality: Same as in my earlier post comparing these emitters in the L21A, so I won't repeat myself here: https://www.reddit.com/r/flashlight/s/WryapCN3Zm

Which Wins Where: As a dedicated thrower, I've actually shifted my opinion a bit compared to when I tested these in the L21A, where I leaned more toward the F150R since it suits the L21A's bigger reflector better. In the M21A/C8+, I'm definitely more into the beam profile the F45R gives, it produces a bigger hotspot than in the L21A while still holding very good throw. I think the F150R belongs in an even bigger reflector than the L21A, something like a 3x21D.

Overall Verdict: I've without a doubt found my new favorite thrower in the C8+ with the F45R 4000K. It's a great pocket size but with really good throw, and I'd guess its sustained output sits around 900 lumens, which is pretty solid for a 4000K thrower with good tint. I really hope Simon fixes his 17mm 3V 10A driver so it gets better thermal regulation and can actually be run for longer at 35% without roasting your hand.

Want to see how the F45R or F150R (4000K) stack up against other emitters/hosts? Go mess around with my Beamshot & Spec Comparator over on my site: https://metaflashlights.com/?page_id=286

I've been looking forward to these two emitters for a while now, they're both brand new and sounded really interesting on paper, so I wanted to get them tested and see how they actually perform.

🛠️ Test Equipment Used

• Lumens & Lux: Tklamp TK2303D Flashlight Tester (Lux measured at 5m)
• CCT / Tint / DUV / Ra: Hopoocolor HPCS330P
• Current (Amps): UNI-T UT210D

📸 Camera Settings (Oppo Find X9 Ultra Pro Mode)

• ISO: 800
• Focal Length: 23mm
• Exposure Compensation: —
• Aperture: F1.5
• Shutter Speed: 1/10
• White Balance: 5000K

🔧 Build 1 — F45R 4000K

• Host & Reflector: Convoy L21A, smooth reflector
• Driver: 3V 10A
• Emitter: F45R, 4000K

Output & Light Quality Measurements

Mode	Current (A)	Output (lm)	CCT	DUV	CRI (Ra)	Intensity (cd)	ANSI Throw (0.25 lx)	Usable Throw (1 lx)	Ratio (cd/lm)
1%	0.1	43	3881K	+0.0070	68	7,400	172.1m	86.0m	172.09
10%	0.7	402	3955K	+0.0039	68	66,475	515.7m	257.8m	165.36
35%	2.7	1,200	4020K	+0.0009	68	196,400	886.3m	443.2m	163.67
100%	9.7	2,600	4190K	-0.0014	67	406,000	1274.4m	637.2m	156.15

https://preview.redd.it/c90alvek28jh1.png?width=3064&format=png&auto=webp&s=6ee4802df6e445c877a025a3c007bbb3e268ff8b

https://preview.redd.it/jpvkbclm28jh1.png?width=3064&format=png&auto=webp&s=06f658f8b403d64f0901a28d57bd0f00b50f63f6

https://preview.redd.it/fz1e8ucpmsih1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=597dd3705370646ef7feddefdbda44a7070c0629

Runtime Notes:

• Sustained Output: Turbo opens around 2,520lm and steps down gradually and repeatedly over the first ~13 minutes, through roughly 2,440 → 2,100 → 1,850 → 1,650 → 1,480 → 1,330 → 1,250 → 1,180lm, before finally settling on a stable ~1,180lm plateau that holds for the remainder of the 30-minute run.
• Thermal Performance: Plateaus at 53.5°C during sustained runtime.

🔧 Build 2 — F150R 4000K

• Host & Reflector: Convoy L21A, smooth reflector
• Driver: 3V 20A
• Emitter: F150R, 4000K

Output & Light Quality Measurements

Mode	Current (A)	Output (lm)	CCT	DUV	CRI (Ra)	Intensity (cd)	ANSI Throw (0.25 lx)	Usable Throw (1 lx)	Ratio (cd/lm)
1%	0.2	82	4072K	+0.0006	70	6,275	158.4m	79.2m	76.52
10%	3.2	1,440	4198K	-0.0038	71	104,925	647.8m	323.9m	72.86
35%	5.8	2,340	4268K	-0.0053	71	166,425	815.9m	408.0m	71.12
100%	19.3	5,200	4467K	-0.0080	71	359,500	1199.2m	599.6m	69.13

https://preview.redd.it/k34mp1pp28jh1.png?width=3064&format=png&auto=webp&s=04a396a5b261bdc3c7fe67fd003d525802881f2e

https://preview.redd.it/709tvl8q28jh1.png?width=3064&format=png&auto=webp&s=2f4b82aa826082e15c1bbc6f4efdb4a6ab33a16e

https://preview.redd.it/e7orhaxrmsih1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=e062a63eea460def53a4889c48afce8178c539dc

Note: Logging appears to have started a few seconds late on this run, the graph's initial reading of ~4,820lm is lower than the measured 100% output of 5,200lm, so the very first moments of turbo (the true peak and the start of its decay) aren't captured here.

Runtime Notes:

• Sustained Output: Turbo opens (as logged) at ~4,820lm, likely already past its true peak of 5,200lm due to the late start, and drops sharply within the first minute to ~1,700lm, holding fairly steady there until around the 7-minute mark, where it steps down again to a ~1,370lm plateau that holds, with minor thermal ripple visible, for the rest of the 30-minute run.
• Thermal Performance: Not separately logged, the light stays in a similar low-50s °C range as the F45R build based on observed behavior.

📊 Combined Runtime Comparison

https://preview.redd.it/7st3oluj38jh1.jpg?width=6144&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1f4d67ae6a9355e4f746f40fe8d465a21d3b7fa8

https://preview.redd.it/7bslackk38jh1.jpg?width=6144&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a1b4c07a3a1c679f58637cb70537724610d849ac

https://preview.redd.it/te6i08vxmsih1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=fc398bac28319f00250b064646709a37fa03fd69

Comparison Notes:

Comparing both builds against an SFT-42R (5000K, 10A) and SBT90.2 (5700K, 20A) in the same L21A SMO host:

• Turbo Behavior: F150R opens the highest by far (~4,820lm), followed by SBT90.2 (~4,050lm) and SFT-42R (~2,400lm), with F45R starting close to SFT-42R (~2,520lm) despite the output difference — largely a reflection of the 10A vs 20A driver split rather than the emitters themselves.
• Convergence: All four lights converge into a fairly narrow output band by around the 4-5 minute mark, settling between roughly 1,100-1,400lm.
• Final Sustained Levels: F150R settles the highest of the group (~1,370-1,400lm), followed by SBT90.2 and F45R sitting close together (~1,150-1,200lm), with SFT-42R settling the lowest (~1,100-1,150lm).

💭 Final Impressions & Comparison

Beam Profile: The F45R's beam is nearly identical to the SFT-42R's, which I kind of expected since the two emitters are pretty similar. It's completely clean, no rings around the hotspot at all. The F150R is close, but not quite as clean, there's a faint ring around the hotspot, though you'd only ever notice it on a white wall, not in actual use. Its hotspot is also about 3x bigger than the F45R's.

Tint & Color Quality: Tint is really good on both. The F45R stays neutral no matter the output level, and the F150R has a nice rosy tint without it being too much. No yellow on either one, which is a big part of why they both look so clean.

Which Wins Where: If you want the more neutral, consistent tint and slightly longer throw, go F45R. If you want WAY more power and a lovely, rosy tint, the F150R is the one.

Overall Verdict: I'm genuinely impressed with both of these. Good tint, and the CCT stays pretty consistent as output goes up, which isn't always the case with other throwy emitters I've tested. My favorite is the F150R though, it's a bit more rosy, looks cleaner overall, and has an insane amount of power.

For the past few weeks, I have been developing a website for flashlight reviews, beamshots, and runtime comparisons. It is not fully complete yet, as it still lacks several flashlights in the runtime section and some additional information, but it is far enough along to share. It is designed primarily for PC use, so it is not currently optimized for mobile devices.

I would greatly appreciate your feedback and any suggestions for improvement.

https://metaflashlights.com

Fireflies Z1 Artemis TIR - SFT-70 4000K 95CRI🔦

Fireflies executed the Z1 design perfectly. The size is ideal for EDC, nearly identical to the Zebralight SC65c. It produces a fantastic flooder beam profile with a large hotspot and useful spill. It is highly practical for typical EDC tasks, close-range illumination, and occasional indoor use.

https://preview.redd.it/08iuxevrtfdh1.jpg?width=6128&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d31bc20b39e384d0939ee4c36bda998c9d349a5e

https://preview.redd.it/zq4fnzkvtfdh1.jpg?width=6128&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ad890cdfd5138d55313eeba39a098b15d92cac0d

https://preview.redd.it/x1654hywtfdh1.jpg?width=3064&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b215790111a23bbd3f496f7661dba8b00858914c

Picture of the stock SFT-70 3000K

📏 Physical Specifications

• Dimensions: 92mm x 26mm x 22mm
• Weight: ~45g (without battery), 94g (with battery)
• Waterproof Rating: IPX8
• Impact Resistance: 1.5 meters

🛠️ Test Equipment Used

• Lumens & Lux: Tklamp TK2303D Flashlight Tester (Lux measured at 5m)
• CCT / Tint / DUV / Ra: Hopoocolor HPCS330P
• Thermal Logging: Voltcraft K204 Temperature Data Logger
• Current (Amps): UNI-T UT210D

No beamshots for this post — I'll be doing a larger beamshot post covering some of my newer lights later.

📊 Output, Tint, Throw & Beam Profile Measurements

Measurement Methodology & Specifications:

• Host & Reflector: Fireflies Z1 Artemis (TIR Optic)
• Driver: Lume X1 Boost Driver (32W)
• Emitter: Reflowed Luminus SFT-70 (4000K 95 CRI, 6V)
• Candela: Calculated from the 5m lux readings (cd = lx × 25)
• ANSI Throw (0.25 lux): Distance = √(cd / 0.25)
• Usable Throw (1 lux): Distance = √(cd / 1)

Output & Light Quality Measurements

Mode	Current (A)	Output (lm)	CCT	DUV	CRI (Ra)	R9	R12	Intensity	ANSI Throw (0.25 lx)	Usable Throw (1 lx)	Ratio
Lvl 1	0.5	23	3801	-0.0050	90	-	-	50 cd	14 m	7 m	2.2 cd/lm
Lvl 2	0.25	116	3841	-0.0040	92	-	-	475 cd	43 m	21 m	4.1 cd/lm
Lvl 3	0.75	320	3893	-0.0031	94	-	-	1,400 cd	74 m	37 m	4.4 cd/lm
Lvl 4	1.8	670	3945	-0.0025	96	-	-	2,950 cd	108 m	54 m	4.4 cd/lm
Lvl 5	3.8	1170	3993	-0.0024	97	90	-	5,250 cd	144 m	72 m	4.5 cd/lm
Turbo	8.7	1900	4025	-0.0024	96	-	-	8,100 cd	180 m	90 m	4.3 cd/lm

(Note: TM-30 report for Level 5 / 3.8A included below)

Huge Thanks to u/fizzgig for this amazing and usefull TM-30 app.

https://preview.redd.it/ub5xrl5hufdh1.png?width=4096&format=png&auto=webp&s=11ab179b43b42b5ff6caf38f484f40984594c67b

📈 Runtime & Thermal Regulation Analysis

Test Parameters: 30-minute logging | Ambient Temp: 30°C | Battery: Molicel P30B (4.2V)

• Turbo & Step-down: Output starts at 1,900 lumens. It undergoes a rapid step-down within the first minute to approximately 1,100 lumens, followed by a gradual decline until the 10-minute mark.
• Sustained Output: By 10 minutes, output stabilizes completely, maintaining a perfectly flat 500 lumens for the remainder of the test.
• Thermal Performance: Temperature peaks near 64°C during the initial step-down phase before stabilizing around 58°C to 60°C under sustained load.

💭 Final Impressions & Notes

• Driver Performance: The Lume X1 Boost driver handles the 6V SFT-70 efficiently, providing stable regulation and flat sustained output after the initial thermal step-down.
• Beam Profile: The TIR optic creates an excellent floody beam profile. The large floodspot and smooth spill make it highly effective for everyday carry and close-range visibility.

>⚠️ Note on Light Quality: I won't be getting into tint here, as I already covered that in detail in my previous post on the SFT-70 4000K 95CRI.

• Ergonomics & Build: The recessed button is a solid design and a real improvement over previous Fireflies models when it comes to guarding against accidental activation. That said, I swapped the stock button for an older-style one with a raised retaining ring, I just prefer it. It makes the switch easier to find by feel without a pocket clip, and I like the clean, blacked-out look it gives the light. I'm really into the size and weight of the Z1, it hits a great balance in the hand, not too light, not too bulky. The knurling looks and feels great too, nicely thought out and grippy without being aggressive. Overall it's a well-designed light that backs up its looks with solid performance.

https://preview.redd.it/1iexapblufbh1.jpg?width=6120&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=79ce3f816ec3f2c34f252b6573b61f596213a240

Convoy L21A (SMO) with 22mm 3V 15A Buck Driver & Luminus SFT-60 (6500K)

(Note: I will be adding beamshots to this post at a later time)

🛠️ Test Equipment Used

• Lumens & Lux: Tklamp TK2303D Flashlight Tester (Lux measured at 5m)
• CCT / DUV / Ra: Hopoocolor HPCS330P
• Thermal Logging: Voltcraft K204 Temperature Data Logger
• Current (Amps): UNI-T UT210D Clamp Meter

📊 Output, Tint, Throw & Beam Profile Measurements

Measurement Methodology & Specifications:

• Host & Reflector: Convoy L21A with Smooth (SMO) Reflector
• Driver: 22mm 3V 15A Buck Driver
• Emitter: Luminus SFT-60 (6500K)
• Candela: Calculated from the 5m lux readings (cd = lx × 25).
• ANSI Throw (0.25 lux): $Distance=\sqrt{cd/0.25}$
• Usable Throw (1 lux): $Distance=\sqrt{cd/1}$

Output & Light Quality Measurements

Mode	Current (A)	Output (lm)	CCT	DUV	CRI (Ra)	Intensity	ANSI Throw (0.25 lx)	Usable Throw (1 lx)	Ratio
1%	0.2	84	6955	-0.0021	66	12,250 cd	221 m	110 m	145.8 cd/lm
10%	3.15	1350	7924	-0.0080	66	188,925 cd	869 m	434 m	139.9 cd/lm
35%	4.9	1880	8175	-0.0094	66	258,250 cd	1016 m	508 m	137.3 cd/lm
100%	14.2	3550	9111	-0.0127	67	494,000 cd	1405 m	702 m	139.1 cd/lm

https://preview.redd.it/698vznl2rfbh1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=fa90e1aa2514c67c11d2b6d8244a0b6366d6109e

https://preview.redd.it/vu7gj8xvrfbh1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=147f12350c6015124b879ae96ce863f80556c2ef

📈 Runtime & Thermal Regulation Analysis

Test Parameters: 30-minute logging | Ambient Temp: 27°C | Battery: Reliance RS50 (4.2V)

• Turbo & Step-down (SFT-60): The light starts at 3550 lumens and holds relatively steady above 3400 lumens for the first minute. Right around the 1-minute mark, it experiences a sharp step-down to ~2300 lumens, followed by several more gradual stair-steps down over the next 9 minutes (dropping to ~1800lm, then ~1500lm, ~1400lm, and finally ~1300lm).
• Sustained Output: By the 10-minute mark, the driver settles completely and maintains a perfectly flat, sustained output of roughly 1300 lumens for the remainder of the 30-minute test.
• Thermal Performance: The temperature climbs rapidly during the initial turbo phase, hitting roughly 45°C by the 2-minute mark. From there, the thermal regulation is very stable, allowing the host to slowly and safely creep up to a plateau of right around 50°C by the end of the run.
• SFT-60 vs. SFT-42R Comparison: As seen in the comparison graph, the SFT-60 starts with a significantly higher peak output (~3550 lumens) compared to the SFT-42R (~2600 lumens). While both emitters undergo multiple step-downs in the first 10 minutes, the SFT-60 sustains a slightly higher flat output (~1300 lumens) than the SFT-42R (~1200 lumens) once they both fully stabilize.

💭 Final Impressions & Notes

• Driver Performance: This new 15A buck driver handles high-current demands quite well, pulling 14.2A to blast 3550 lumens at startup. The thermal regulation handles the intense heat early on with distinct, rapid steps, but once it stabilizes at the 10-minute mark, the regulation becomes dead flat, proving that Convoy's constant-current buck design remains excellent for sustained output.
• Beam Profile: The hotspot is very reminiscent of the SFT-42R, though it isn't quite as perfectly round. It isn't noticeable in actual use, however.
• Tint & Color Quality: I find the tint to be quite good with no noticeable tint shift and no yellowing around the hotspot. The CCT is perfectly fine for my liking on a long-range thrower like this, but it is WAY cooler than advertised (pushing past 9000K on Turbo!). It doesn't really look bluish, but it is undeniably very cold.

Performance Breakdown: Convoy T6 (LHP531 3000K, OP Reflector, 3V 10A Buck)

I’ve been really eager to put this specific build through its paces. Dropping a powerhouse emitter like the LHP531 into a compact host like the Convoy T6 makes for a fantastic EDC setup, especially when paired with an OP reflector. The reflector smooths everything out into a beautifully floody beam profile that still manages to be surprisingly throwy just from the sheer brute force of the output. However, while the beam and tint are an absolute win, there is one massive negative holding this light back, the 3V 10A buck driver. The thermal regulation is completely non-existent, meaning this light will gladly roast itself, and your hands, making it a risky light to carry if you’re worried about accidental pocket activations.

https://preview.redd.it/fwzmpvclp19h1.jpg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9b283c0cefdcd2fc94981e7def977b8c1f030c07

🛠️ Test Equipment Used

• Lumens & Lux: Tklamp TK2303D Flashlight Tester (Lux measured at 5m)
• CCT / Tint / DUV / Ra: Hopoocolor HPCS330P (Sampled at 5000 lux target)
• Current / Amperage: Uni-T UT210D Clamp Meter
• Thermal Logging: Voltcraft K204 Temperature Data Logger

📸 Camera Settings (Samsung S22 Ultra Pro Mode)

• ISO: 800
• Focal Length: 23mm
• Exposure Compensation: -1.0ev
• Aperture: F1.8
• Shutter Speed: 1/4 s
• White Balance: Locked at 5000K

https://preview.redd.it/dlpzxd40q19h1.jpg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4948417d42bece6526273d0582704f459a97c1a7

https://preview.redd.it/irvgb581q19h1.jpg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=837b4c540e20c8b2ba4b6c1659760e96b056c578

https://preview.redd.it/6zciujuar19h1.jpg?width=2460&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=978a500ecb52ea0b7a0db3e6428acd3f3d929f78

https://preview.redd.it/3vmu9gqbr19h1.jpg?width=2460&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7d9871e41eb45ae28d822976063b91ac02ab8d8c

📊 Output, Tint, Throw & Beam Profile Measurements

Measurement Methodology:

• Candela & Throw: Calculated from the 5m lux readings (cd = lx × 25).
• Light Quality: Evaluated at a fixed target distance to hit a consistent 5000 lux illumination window on the spectrometer sensor across all steps.

Mode	Output (lm)	Current (A)	CCT	DUV	CRI (Ra)	Intensity	Throw	Ratio
1%	33	0.1 A	3082	-0.0024	73	575 cd	48 m	N/A
10%	327	0.70 A	3092	-0.0037	73	3,250 cd	114 m	9.94 cd/lm
35%	1040	2.5 A	3135	-0.0052	73	9,500 cd	195 m	9.13 cd/lm
100%	2450	9.5 A	3235	-0.0072	72	21,400 cd	293 m	8.73 cd/lm

https://preview.redd.it/pfulf5xqp19h1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=1cd847255fe0131368b530b289b4c3f862ce7914

📈 Runtime & Thermal Regulation Analysis

Test Parameters: 30-minute logging | Ambient Temp: 27°C | Battery: Vapcell H10 4.2V

• 100% Output & Step-down: The light starts strong at 2450 lumens but drops steeply within the first minute down to roughly 1800 lumens. It holds there briefly before taking a second step-down at the 1.5-minute mark to just under 1000 lumens.
• Sustained Output: The buck driver sustains a perfectly flat line right around 1000 lumens. It holds this steady output until roughly the 16:30 mark, where it drops sharply to near zero. This is Low Voltage Protection (LVP) kicking in, with the battery safely resting at 3.2V.
• Thermal Performance: This host gets incredibly hot. It crosses 60°C in under two minutes and steadily climbs, peaking at around 74°C right before LVP trips. There appears to be an inherent issue with these 3V 10A drivers, as nearly all of my 10A drivers exhibit this exact behavior, getting insanely hot instead of aggressively throttling the output to properly manage the temperature.

💭 Final Impressions & Emitter Breakdown

• The Beam Profile: The OP reflector does a fantastic job taming this emitter. The beam is pretty much just one giant hotspot with a very minimal amount of artifacts.
• Tint & Color Quality: While the LHP531 isn't a high-CRI powerhouse (sitting around 72-73 Ra), it absolutely delivers on tint. The DUV stays beautifully negative across the entire range, pushing an increasingly rosy hue as you step up the modes, bottoming out at a very pink -0.0072 on 100% while maintaining that warm 3000K-3200K temperature.
• Overall Verdict: I really like this mix of a small host paired with such a powerful emitter. It offers really good tint and a nice floody beam profile that still manages to be quite throwy just from the sheer power, making it a great EDC option. However, it is too bad that the driver doesn't have proper thermal regulation. Because of how hot it gets, this combo can become very dangerous very quickly if there is an accidental activation in a pocket.

Performance Comparison: E90 (Lume1 Driver) - FFL909A 5000K Standard vs. High-CRI

When Fireflies first released the FFL909A in 5000K, it quickly caught my attention as a powerful option for single emitter, throwy-flooder, reflector-based light, but the standard low-CRI tint left some room for improvement. So when the new High-CRI version of the FFL909A dropped, I knew I had to do a direct swap to see exactly what we're gaining, and what we might be losing, in terms of raw performance.

I tested the standard 5000K emitter in my E90 host (running the Lume1 driver with a reflector) right before reflowing the new High-CRI version onto the board (a swap that almost went sideways, so it's definitely staying in there now!). Going into this, I fully expected the High-CRI version to take a noticeable hit in total output and run a bit hotter while serving up those beautiful, rosy, negative DUV numbers we've come to love from Fireflies. However, the bench results and runtime graphs actually threw a few unexpected curveballs my way. Here is how they stack up side-by-side on the tester.

https://preview.redd.it/zy9pv2rxlu6h1.jpg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=694ec4e46f3a9c080f237fefdfc71b06ae7c0ad0

🛠️ Test Equipment Used

• Lumens & Lux: Tklamp TK2303D Flashlight Tester (Lux measured at 5m)
• CCT / Tint / DUV / Ra: Hopoocolor HPCS330P (Sampled at 5000 lux target)
• Current / Amperage: Uni-T UT210D Clamp Meter
• Thermal Logging: Voltcraft K204 Temperature Data Logger

>⚠️ Note on Beamshots: I won't be doing any outdoor beamshots for a couple of weeks, but I will update this comparison with them later!

📊 Output, Tint, Throw & Beam Profile Measurements

Measurement Methodology:

• Candela & Throw: Calculated from the 5m lux readings (cd = lx × 25).
• Light Quality: Evaluated at a fixed target distance to hit a consistent 5000 lux illumination window on the spectrometer sensor across all steps.

>⚠️ Note on Amperage: I only have current measurements for the new High-CRI version. I forgot to measure the standard 5000K before the swap, and since the reflow almost went sideways, I am not risking swapping it back just for the clamp meter!

🟢 FFL909A 5000K (Standard / Non High-CRI)

Mode	Output (lm)	Current (A)	CCT	DUV	CRI (Ra)	Intensity	Throw	Ratio
1/5	37	N/A	5301	0.0043	70	425 cd	41 m	11.49 cd/lm
2/5	178	N/A	5340	0.0037	70	1,750 cd	83 m	9.83 cd/lm
3/5	540	N/A	5391	0.0027	70	5,250 cd	144 m	9.72 cd/lm
4/5	1300	N/A	5475	0.0014	70	12,050 cd	219 m	9.27 cd/lm
5/5	2520	N/A	5570	-0.00006	70	23,125 cd	304 m	9.18 cd/lm
Turbo	7100	N/A	5784	-0.0027	70	63,875 cd	505 m	8.99 cd/lm

🟢 FFL909A 5000K (High-CRI)

Mode	Output (lm)	Current (A)	CCT	DUV	CRI (Ra)	Intensity	Throw	Ratio
1/5	31	0.06 A	5618	-0.0024	96	700 cd	53 m	11.29 cd/lm
2/5	150	0.2 A	5438	-0.0023	96	1,750 cd	84 m	9.83 cd/lm
3/5	460	0.8 A	5457	-0.0022	96	4,550 cd	135 m	9.89 cd/lm
4/5	1100	2 A	5498	-0.0018	95	10,250 cd	202 m	9.32 cd/lm
5/5	2200	4.6 A	5512	-0.0014	94	20,000 cd	283 m	9.09 cd/lm
Turbo	7600	24 A	5658	-0.0016	92	61,225 cd	495 m	8.06 cd/lm

https://preview.redd.it/e9p3sphxmu6h1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=801a7f73a12c40c2920deffadd6a132e1d840a70

https://preview.redd.it/sre7p3jymu6h1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=249d582dcb3a1ed4a89ec266747764d982c71a29

📈 Runtime & Thermal Regulation Analysis

Test Parameters: 30-minute logging | Ambient Temp: 25°C | Battery: Reliance RS50 (70A, 4.2V)

• Turbo Output & Step-down: The High-CRI version actually peaks higher on turbo (7600lm vs 7100lm) but drops significantly faster, skyrocketing down within the first 30 seconds. The Standard non-CRI version holds its high output much longer before stepping down.
• Sustained Output: The Standard version wins on sustained efficiency. It holds around 2200 lumens initially before settling near 1900 lumens. The High-CRI version sustains lower, starting around 1900 lumens and settling near 1700 lumens for the remainder of the run.
• Thermal Performance: Heat climbs rapidly, hitting around 50°C by the 3-minute mark. It then levels out safely and consistently just below the 60°C mark for the remainder of the 30-minute run. I'm honestly not sure why the turbo drops so fast on the High-CRI version. The temperature isn't even very high yet when it steps down, but climbs alot afterwards.

💭 Final Impressions & Emitter Breakdown

• The Beam Profile: The reflector handles both options identically here. The overall beam profile remains completely unchanged between the two versions, just with substantially better overall light quality when looking at the High-CRI beam.
• Tint & Color Quality: The tint is massively improved on the new version. It stays consistently below the BBL line all the way through the output levels, completely avoiding the positive DUV greenness of the older generation at lower modes. What is even more remarkable is how stable the CCT remains, climbing only slightly as the output ramp increases.
• Overall Winner: The High-CRI version is an absolute home run and a massive upgrade over the old non-High-CRI emitter. Given that you get incredible color rendering and a beautifully rosy tint while retaining almost the exact same raw performance on the bench, making the swap is a complete no-brainer.

Convoy T6 SMO Reflector (LMP W5050SQ5 4000K + 17mm 3V 5A Driver)

I’ve been looking for a way to get a warmer beam out of my T6 without losing the great throw you get from something like an SFT-25R. To test this out, I built a warm, mini pocket thrower using a Convoy T6 host and the LMP W5050SQ5 4000K emitter, driving it with a fully regulated 17mm 3V 5A driver.

The results are awesome. Giving this little emitter almost 5A makes the tiny light punch above its weight class, and I am really impressed by the performance from this small light.

https://preview.redd.it/r9wug7mnng6h1.jpg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c71834e19a92952b324b30b8ab8b62a42360f0e6

🛠️ Test Equipment Used

• Lumens & Lux: Tklamp TK2303D Flashlight Tester (Lux measured at 5m)
• CCT / Tint / DUV / Ra: Hopoocolor HPCS330P (Sampled at 5000 lux target)
• Current / Amperage: Uni-T UT210D Clamp Meter
• Thermal Logging: Voltcraft K204 Temperature Data Logger

>⚠️ Note on Beamshots: I won't be doing any outdoor beamshots for this review because it doesn't really get dark here anymore at this time of year. I'm focusing entirely on the indoor bench data and the runtime logs instead!

📊 Output, Tint, Throw & Beam Profile Measurements

Measurement Methodology:

• Candela & Throw: Calculated from the 5m lux readings (cd = lx * 25).
• Light Quality: Evaluated at a fixed target distance to hit a consistent 5000 lux illumination window on the spectrometer sensor across all steps.

Mode	Output (lm)	Current (A)	CCT	DUV	CRI (Ra)	Intensity	Throw	Ratio
1%	22	0.05 A	4126	-0.0024	74	1,300 cd	72 m	59.09 cd/lm
10%	170	0.37 A	4188	-0.0039	74	6,900 cd	166 m	40.59 cd/lm
35%	501	1.40 A	4372	-0.0064	73	19,500 cd	279 m	38.92 cd/lm
100%	1010	4.30 A	4621	-0.0086	73	35,500 cd	377 m	35.15 cd/lm

https://preview.redd.it/o8y436pgng6h1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=230ee46b7aa95323f3d70318e38475b67cab8564

📈 Runtime & Thermal Regulation Analysis

Test Parameters: 30-minute logging | Ambient Temp: 26°C | Battery: Vapcell K10 14500 (4.2V down to 3.6V)

• Turbo Output & Step-down: Starting right at 1010 lumens, this little pocket rocket holds onto its initial blast for a solid 70 seconds before thermal regulation kicks in. The driver steps the output down smoothly over the following minute as it scales back.
• Sustained Output: By the 2-minute and 30-second mark, the driver finds its comfort zone and clamps down on a perfectly flat sustained output of 440 lumens. It sits right under the 35% mode, meaning you can practically run it continuously. It maintains this flat line flawlessly for the rest of the 30-minute test.
• Thermal Performance: Pushing almost 5A through a tiny AA-sized host causes a quick spike up to 52°C around the two-minute mark. Once the output drops to the sustained level, the T6 sheds a bit of the excess heat, dropping back down to settle comfortably between 47°C to 48°C for the remainder of the test.

💭 Final Impressions & Emitter Breakdown

• The Beam Profile: The round-die surface of the LMP W5050SQ5 makes for an incredibly clean beam with zero artifacts. At 35.15 cd/lm on Turbo, it leans into a true pocket thrower. Cracking 1010 lumens and reaching 377 meters out of a light this small is really impressive, especially with this CCT/Tint.
• Tint & Color Quality: The tint is the real star of the show if you love rosy emitters. It goes from a clean, slightly below-the-line -0.0024 DUV on the lowest mode and turns into an absolute magenta laser beam at -0.0086 DUV on Turbo. Color rendering is standard low-CRI territory, hovering between 73 and 74 Ra.
• Driver Performance: Drawing 4.30A at the tailcap from the 14500 cell shows excellent efficiency. The regulation after step-down is perfectly clean with no brightness cycling or thermal hunting, leaving the cell at 3.6V after a continuous 30-minute test.

https://preview.redd.it/cfu1taxhf26h1.jpg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=70c6c70c2392a5fb918b5f13f447908e10eb0ebe

Now that I've looked at the new SFT-70 4000K High-CRI inside the Warrior X4, my goal with this new build was to isolate its performance using known parameters. I dropped it into a Convoy M1 host and paired it with a 17mm 6V 5A boost driver so I could bench-test it with precise specs, adding an OP reflector for a smoother beam.

Driving it at a regulated 30W puts out alot of output, and the M1 host handles the thermal load really well. Here is how the data looks on the testing setup.

🛠️ Test Equipment Used

• Lumens & Lux: Tklamp TK2303D Flashlight Tester (Lux measured at 5m)
• CCT / Tint / DUV / Ra: Hopoocolor HPCS330P (Sampled at 5000 lux target)
• Current / Amperage: Uni-T UT210D Clamp Meter
• Thermal Logging: Voltcraft K204 Temperature Data Logger

>⚠️ Note on Beamshots: I won't be doing any outdoor beamshots for this review because it doesn't really get dark here anymore at this time of year. I'm focusing entirely on the indoor bench data and the runtime logs instead!

📊 Output, Tint, Throw & Beam Profile Measurements

Measurement Methodology:

• Candela & Throw: Calculated from the 5m lux readings ($cd = lx \times 25$).
• Light Quality: Evaluated at a fixed target distance to hit a consistent 5000 lux illumination window on the spectrometer sensor across all steps.

Mode	Output (lm)	Current (A)	CCT	DUV	CRI (Ra)	Intensity	Throw	Ratio
1%	29	0.09 A	3981	-0.0040	94	1,000 cd	63 m	34.48 cd/lm
10%	286	0.62 A	4087	-0.0030	96	8,600 cd	185 m	30.07 cd/lm
35%	900	2.30 A	4140	-0.0022	97	25,900 cd	322 m	28.78 cd/lm
100%	2050	8.13 A	4190	-0.0023	95	56,575 cd	476 m	27.60 cd/lm

https://preview.redd.it/1xgkhi5fe26h1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=ff455b2bc0ec6b944760ea3faadafccd3567245e

📈 Runtime & Thermal Regulation Analysis

Test Parameters: 30-minute logging | Ambient Temp: 26°C | Battery: Molicel P30B 18650 (4.2V down to 3.75V)

• Initial Peak & Step-down: The light turns on at an impressive 2050 lumens. Due to the massive heat generated by the 30W output in a compact host, the initial turbo output starts dropping after about 20 seconds, stepping down smoothly over the first minute to a temporary plateau of exactly 1000 lumens. It sustains this 1000-lumen mark perfectly from the 1-minute to the 3-minute mark. At 3:00, it drops down one more time to its final continuous level.
• Sustained Equilibrium Baseline: By 3 minutes and 15 seconds, the light locks into a rock-solid, ruler-flat sustained baseline of 850 lumens. This means it can almost sustain the full 35% mode (900 lumens) indefinitely. Thanks to the outstanding efficiency of the Convoy boost driver and the high current capabilities of the Molicel P30B, it holds this 850-lumen line dead straight with absolute precision for the remainder of the 30-minute test.
• Thermal Performance: Starting from a 26°C ambient baseline, the host temperature climbs rapidly during Turbo, crossing 40°C at the 1-minute mark. As the light maintains its 1000-lumen plateau, the temperature rise slows, hovering around 45°C by the 3-minute mark. Interestingly, because the boost driver keeps pumping high continuous power, the M1 host slowly and steadily heat-soaks over the duration of the test, eventually peaking at a very warm but safe 57°C to 58°C during the final 10 minutes of the run.

💭 Final Impressions & Emitter Breakdown

• The Beam Profile: Thanks to the Orange Peel (OP) reflector, the beam profile is beautifully smooth, melting away any harsh artifacts while still maintaining a punchy, distinct hotspot. It settles into a super versatile 27.60 cd/lm ratio on Turbo. Cracking 2,050 lumens and throwing 476 meters means you get an great general purpose beam that easily illuminates a massive area while still providing serious reach.
• Tint & Color Quality: Even though the spectrometer shows the tint dipping nicely below the BBL, ranging from a lush -0.0040 DUV at 1% up to -0.0023 DUV at 100%, it looks almost dead neutral to my naked eye in actual use, and I don't really detect any distinct rosiness. Instead, the tint profile strongly reminds me of a clean Nichia 719A 4000K, or even more so, a crisp B35AM in the 3500K to 4000K range. Color rendering is phenomenal for a high-output emitter, holding a tier-one 94 to 97 Ra across all modes.
• Driver Performance: Pulling 8.13A at the tailcap to feed this 6V 5A boost driver really highlights how efficient this circuit is. Ending a 30-minute high-output run with a resting voltage of 3.75V is awesome for a light pushing this much power.

https://preview.redd.it/2hjskevlfu5h1.jpg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=17b6109cf2c26bf6f4aceaa7594b8b7ec7d67de1

I put together a new High-CRI pocket thrower build that turned out exceptionally well. I swapped a Luminus SFT-25R 5700K High-CRI emitter into a Convoy T8, paired it up with the 3V 5A 14500/AA buck driver, and a (SMO) reflector.

The T8 host with a clean SMO reflector gives this small round-die emitter a massive amount of punch, and the tint scaling across the modes looks excellent. Here is how the raw performance data shakes out on the test bench.

🛠️ Test Equipment Used

• Lumens & Lux: Tklamp TK2303D Flashlight Tester (Lux measured at 5m)
• CCT / Tint / DUV / Ra: Hopoocolor HPCS330P (Sampled at 5000 lux target)
• Current / Amperage: Uni-T UT210D Clamp Meter
• Thermal Logging: Voltcraft K204 Temperature Data Logger
• Battery: Vapcell K10 (Resting at 4.2V at turn-on)

>⚠️ Note on Beamshots: I won't be doing any outdoor beamshots for this review because it doesn't really get dark here anymore at this time of year. I'm focusing entirely on the indoor bench data and the runtime logs instead!

📊 Output, Tint, Throw & Beam Profile Measurements

Measurement Methodology:

• Candela & Throw: Calculated from the 5m lux readings ($cd = lx \times 25$).
• Light Quality: Evaluated at a fixed target distance to hit a consistent 5000 lux illumination window on the spectrometer sensor across all steps.

Mode	Output (lm)	Current (A)	CCT	DUV	CRI (Ra)	Intensity	Throw	Ratio
1%	22	0.09 A	5592	0.0049	93	1,575 cd	79 m	71.59 cd/lm
10%	168	0.37 A	5987	0.0029	90	11,225 cd	212 m	66.82 cd/lm
35%	500	1.40 A	6228	0.0014	88	33,425 cd	366 m	66.85 cd/lm
100%	990	4.12 A	6372	-0.0000	87	62,200 cd	499 m	62.83 cd/lm

https://preview.redd.it/jq9wt619eu5h1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=d43bfa8d36f16f67eff7dda681fed355f7c69d80

📈 Runtime & Thermal Regulation Analysis

Test Parameters: 30-minute logging | Ambient Temp: 26°C | Battery: Vapcell K10 14500 (4.2V at turn-on)

• Initial Peak & Step-down: At turn-on, the light blasts right out of the gate at 990 lumens. The output slopes downward very gently over the first few minutes due to cell sag and heat build-up, maintaining a solid ~810 lumens right up until the 3-minute and 10-second mark. At that point, the driver hits its thermal threshold and initiates a rapid, aggressive step-down over the next 45 seconds to protect the host.
• Sustained Equilibrium Baseline: By 4 minutes, the output lands on a rock-solid, ruler-flat sustained line of 420 lumens. Thanks to the efficiency of the buck driver, it tracks this line perfectly with zero PWM or output fluctuation for the remainder of the full 30-minute test.
• Thermal Performance: Starting from an ambient temperature of 26°C, the compact T8 host sheds heat well but warms up fast on Turbo. The external temperature climbs quickly during the first 3 minutes, peaking right at 51°C around the 3:30 mark (just after the step-down finishes). Once the output pulls back to the 420-lumen baseline, the temperature levels out and hovers comfortably between 47°C and 49°C for the rest of the run.

💭 Final Impressions & Emitter Breakdown

• The Beam Profile: The candela-per-lumen scaling on this combo is incredibly aggressive. Keeping a tight 62.83 cd/lm ratio all the way up to full power means you get an incredibly concentrated, clean hotspot out of a tiny 14500-sized head. Cracking 62,200 cd and hitting 499 meters of true ANSI throw out of an EDC pocket light is wild.
• Tint & Color Quality: The SFT-25R High-CRI does show a bit of a cool-white CCT shift as you pump more current into it, climbing from 5592K at 1% up to 6372K at full blast. However, the tint cleans up beautifully, it loses the slight green bias from the lower modes and drops down to a perfectly dead-neutral -0.0000 DUV at 100%. Color rendering remains solid for a dedicated thrower, holding an 87 Ra at max power.
• Driver Performance: The 17mm Convoy 3V 5A buck driver pairs perfectly with this setup. Drawing 4.12A at the tailcap on the Vapcell K10 cell gives you maximum performance right out of the gate, and the efficiency of the buck circuit keeps the sustained baseline perfectly flat at 420 lumens without overheating the compact host.

Convoy 3X21C Showdown: New SFT-42R 5000K vs. The LHP531 5000K

My new Convoy 3X21C with the 7× SFT-42R 5000K emitters finally arrived! Having owned the impressive 7× LHP531 5000K version of this exact host earlier, I was dying to see how this new configuration stacks up.

Note: Moonlight mode is excluded from this comparison test.

To make this a true head-to-head battle, I captured full measurements across all primary output modes. While the LHP531 is famous for producing a mind-boggling, overwhelming wall of pure flood, this new SFT-42R variant shifts the profile completely, swapping out some of that raw close-range spill for an intensely punchy, massive hotspot that reaches significantly further downfield.

🛠️ Test Equipment & Camera Settings

• Lumens & Runtimes: Tklamp TK2303D Flashlight Tester
• CCT / Tint / DUV / Ra: Hopoocolor HPCS330P
• Lux Measurements: Uni-T UT383
• Thermal Logging: Voltcraft K204 Temperature Data Logger
• Beamshot Camera Settings (Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Pro Mode):
  • ISO: 800
  • Focal Length: 23mm
  • Exposure Compensation: -1.0ev
  • Aperture: F1.8
  • Shutter Speed: 1/4 s
  • White Balance: Locked at 5000K

https://preview.redd.it/7vvd1v8tkc4h1.jpg?width=2460&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=57d4058b638fc114d077e0e2a2cc37dc8b85ee3f

https://preview.redd.it/kkat6mrukc4h1.jpg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6bc7afd5a678759d86b3f3bae5b65aa1917d8215

https://preview.redd.it/pj2inouwkc4h1.jpg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9194fc806261451ddf9800bcadfadd6d7fe528f4

https://preview.redd.it/w9uoywqykc4h1.jpg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e549c2944232ad256e9cd4d9ca5f08c2c841ffe2

https://preview.redd.it/s80amjb0lc4h1.jpg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=81bbbdb359c78dc77be3925855ce897f5d5323cd

https://preview.redd.it/6e8ejm62lc4h1.jpg?width=2460&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=54bf1bcdcd417265e506d156e3c038a013130d92

📊 Head-to-Head Output, Tint, Throw & Beam Profile Comparison

Note: Raw lux measurements were taken at 5 meters and converted to Candela (cd = lx × 25). ANSI Throw distance is calculated down to 0.25 lux. The cd/lm ratio highlights beam profile structure (higher = more throwy/concentrated, lower = more floody/spread out).

Emitter / Mode	Output (lm)	CCT	DUV	CRI (Ra)	Intensity	Throw	Ratio
SFT-42R (1/4)	227	5205K	+0.0006	73	3,750 cd	122 m	16.5 cd/lm
LHP531 (1/4)	223	5189K	-0.0021	72	2,350 cd	97 m	10.5 cd/lm
SFT-42R (2/4)	680	5263K	-0.0003	73	17,500 cd	265 m	25.7 cd/lm
LHP531 (2/4)	685	5196K	-0.0027	72	7,250 cd	170 m	10.6 cd/lm
SFT-42R (3/4)	3,100	5387K	-0.0023	73	73,500 cd	542 m	23.7 cd/lm
LHP531 (3/4)	3,200	5304K	-0.0048	72	33,775 cd	368 m	10.6 cd/lm
SFT-42R (4/4)	8,800	5601K	-0.0043	72	203,575 cd	902 m	23.1 cd/lm
LHP531 (4/4)	9,700	5390K	-0.0064	72	93,625 cd	612 m	9.7 cd/lm
SFT-42R (Turbo)	19,000	5912K	-0.0063	72	437,750 cd	1,323 m	23.0 cd/lm
LHP531 (Turbo)	30,500	5869K	-0.0108	73	265,000 cd	1,030 m	8.7 cd/lm

https://preview.redd.it/tujydfu3lc4h1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=2cdb87e8b5ab310db7007e839ce9bc1c4c2f7f42

https://preview.redd.it/l5u1fhm4lc4h1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=0c8c8a643ab1d8b70809d17e8edd9e9de7e583a7

📈 Runtime & Thermal Regulation Comparison (From High/Step 4)

Test Parameters: 30-minute logging | Ambient Temp: 25°C | Battery: 3x Reliance RS50 4.2V

Note on Turbo & Testing: I haven't done any full runtime testing on Turbo. Pushing this many lumens makes the light become way too hot to hold in no time, and the 2H (2 click hold) Turbo shortcut isn't really meant to be used for a long time anyway. Instead, I used Step 4 (High) as the maximum mode for this runtime test to see how the host handles that initial peak before it steps down to its actual sustainable baseline.

Based on my runtime graph, the new SFT-42R configuration tracks an incredibly clean, stable thermal curve in this massive host:

• Initial Drop: Output starts at 8,800 lumens on High (4/4) and holds strong, remaining above 8,500 lumens for the first 1.5+ minutes (stepping down right around the 1:40 mark).
• Major Step-down (1:40 – 5:10): As the massive host begins to heat sink the energy, a smooth, linear thermal decline occurs over the next 3.5 minutes, bringing the output down to its sustained baseline.
• Sustained Output & Equilibrium: By 5 minutes and 10 seconds, the light perfectly settles into its thermal equilibrium, locking in a beautifully flat 3,600 lumens for the remainder of the 30-minute test.
• Step 3 Sustainability: Because the host easily maintains a thermal equilibrium of 3,600 lumens during the Step 4 test, it's worth noting that Step 3 (3,100 lumens) is pretty much fully sustainable from the start without requiring any thermal step-down at all.
• Thermals: The temperature climbs rapidly during the initial output burst, crossing 50°C during the main step-down, before leveling off and slowly capping out at a maximum heat threshold of 64°C.

⚔️ How it compares to the LHP531 Flood Version:

While the older LHP531 setup started slightly higher on its High mode (9,700 lumens down to 9,400 lumens for the first 1.5 minutes), it generated a massive thermal load that forced a steeper step-down floor. Once both setups fully stabilized, the new SFT-42R sustained a practically identical 3,600 lumens compared to the LHP531's 3,700 lumens.

However, because the SFT-42R focuses its intensity so much more efficiently, that sustained 3,600 lumens is packing far more punch downfield than the LHP531's floody sustained wall of light, all while running slightly cooler (64°C max vs 66°C max).

💭 Quick Impressions & Emitter Comparison

• The Beam Profile Transformation: Look closely at the cd/lm ratio column above. The LHP531 stays locked into a super-floody landscape profile ranging from 8.7 to 10.6 cd/lm throughout most major tiers, showcasing its raw, unfocused wall-of-light nature. Meanwhile, the SFT-42R holds a significantly tighter, intense concentration tracking around 23.0 to 25.7 cd/lm across almost the entire selection. Despite having 11,500 fewer raw lumens than the LHP531 on top, the SFT-42R generates significantly higher center-beam intensity (437,750 cd vs. 265,000 cd), allowing it to leap out to an ANSI range of 1,323 meters compared to the LHP531's 1,030 meters!
• Tint & Color Quality: Both options are rated at 5000K, and both get progressively cooler and rosier as they are pushed harder. The SFT-42R starts practically dead-on the BBL line at low levels (DUV +0.0006) and slides into a beautifully clean, rosy tint on Turbo (DUV -0.0063). It doesn't get quite as ultra-rosy as the LHP531's deep -0.0108 on Turbo, but it is exceptionally clean and lacks any harsh green or yellow ring artifacts.
• Final Verdict: If you want a fun, "dumb bright" flood monster to completely illuminate an entire field at close range, the LHP531 rules. But if you want a highly functional, long-range powerhouse searchlight that concentrates its energy to cut through distance while remaining punchy even on lower modes, the new SFT-42R configuration is a massive win.

Let me know what you guys think of how these numbers line up!

Fireflies E04 Surge: Comprehensive Data, Measurements, & Observations

It finally arrived! I am incredibly pleasantly surprised by both its output and the overall fit and finish. I’ve built myself a couple of single-emitter lights with the B35AM before, but they are nowhere near the power that this quad-emitter E04 can pump out.

While it doesn't have the highest sustained output out there, compared to my other two lights, it actually sustains just as well as my L21A with the B35AM, which I only get about 650 lumens out of continuously.

🛠️ Test Equipment & Camera Settings

• Lumens & Runtimes: Tklamp TK2303D Flashlight Tester
• CCT / Tint / DUV / Ra: Hopoocolor HPCS330P
• Lux Measurements: Uni-T UT383
• Beamshot Camera Settings (Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Pro Mode):
  • ISO: 800
  • Focal Length: 23mm
  • Exposure Compensation: -1.0ev
  • Aperture: F1.8
  • Shutter Speed: 1/4 s
  • White Balance: Locked at 5000K

https://preview.redd.it/kioiflubbk2h1.jpg?width=2160&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=038f470aaacbc2b421b8c3bf978b2ed878799c67

https://preview.redd.it/f1eai4p7ak2h1.jpg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=824d276d2ee85d5f6c9b3ac522d6e7bd81edc55b

https://preview.redd.it/3zw4h6r8ak2h1.jpg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b80877b151af4bda77e770fc673568cf184c0249

https://preview.redd.it/pq93ari9ak2h1.jpg?width=2460&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=10230994f801e916030c82b9ad65caf143a1598f

https://preview.redd.it/s96tch2aak2h1.jpg?width=2460&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=37dd53e6a5c738bc5be9df8a8af8b1168eb9983d

📊 Output, Tint, & ANSI Throw Measurements

Note: Raw lux measurements were taken at 5 meters and converted to Candela ($cd = lx \times 25$). ANSI Throw distance is calculated down to 0.25 lux. Moonlight mode is omitted as it is too low to accurately read.

Output Level	Lumens	CCT (K)	DUV	Ra (CRI)	Angie-M Intensity	Angie-M ANSI Range	Angie-S Intensity	Angie-S ANSI Range
Lvl 1 / 5	5 lm	4548K	-0.0015	97	—	—	—	—
Lvl 2 / 5	60 lm	4563K	-0.0024	97	425 cd	41 meters	—	—
Lvl 3 / 5	280 lm	4585K	-0.0027	97	1,325 cd	73 meters	—	—
Lvl 4 / 5	790 lm	4612K	-0.0032	97	3,450 cd	117 meters	—	—
Lvl 5 / 5	1790 lm	4656K	-0.0044	97	7,625 cd	175 meters	13,850 cd	235 meters
Turbo	3350 lm	4711K	-0.0065	97	13,900 cd	236 meters	16,675 cd	258 meters

• Level 5/5 Data: The Angie-M hits 7,625 cd (175m throw). The Angie-S hits 13,850 cd (235m throw).
• Turbo Data: The Angie-M hits 13,900 cd (236m throw). The Angie-S hits 16,675 cd (258m throw).
• Beam Profile Note: Because the B35AM has a large emitting surface area, the numbers look low on paper for 3300+ lumens. It creates a massive, thick wall of light rather than a tight pencil beam.

📈 Runtime & Thermal Regulation

(Refer to the graph uploaded in the gallery)

Test Parameters: 30-minute logging | Ambient Temp: 25°C | Battery: Reliance RS50 4.2V

• Turbo Curve: Starts at ~3400 lumens. Passes 2500 lumens at the 1-minute mark, hits a knee at 1:45, and drops near 1000 lumens by minute 4.
• High (Level 5) Curve: Starts at ~1800 lumens and has a slower, controlled decline over the first 4 minutes.
• The Cross-Over: Between the 2-minute and 6-minute marks, High mode maintains a higher lumen output than Turbo due to the aggressive thermal stepdown on Turbo.
• Sustained Output: After 7 minutes, both modes merge. Turbo sustains ~780 lumens and High sustains ~750 lumens.
• Thermals: Hit a peak max temperature of 62°C before holding a steady 60°C for the rest of the 30-minute test.

https://preview.redd.it/179brdjrhj2h1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=5f30c1c3b13067a15bdd68287ccb8e6695f790b7

💭 Quick Impressions & Optic Comparisons

• Optic Selection & Tint: I tested it out with both the Angie-M and Angie-S optics, and these B35AM emitters definitely pair best with the floodier Angie-M. With the tighter Angie-S, you get a pretty ugly yellowish tint right in the middle of the hotspot. The Angie-M doesn't have that issue at all, it just creates one large, completely even hotspot.
• The Nichia Tint: Clean neutral white at lower levels. On Level 5 and Turbo, the DUV drops beautifully into the negatives (-0.0044 to -0.0065), creating a very nice premium rosy tint with a high Ra 97 CRI.
• Driver Performance: Loneoceans' 40W constant-current boost driver provides flat sustained performance with zero PWM flickering.
• Host Fit & Finish: I’m really satisfied with the finish they went with, it looks fantastic! Like others have mentioned, it does feel a bit less durable than standard anodization, but because of the specific glossy, almost Chameleon color of the light, I don't think scratches will show up very easily anyway.