Quad B35am.
We need knurling on the short-tube like the full size counterpart, along side different colors to match.
Surprisingly close to the nichia 519a 5000k domed(right). Middle is ntg50 4200k. WB: 5000k locked
Pretty good output of creamy custardy beam.
A little while back I posted about my first Fireflies Z1. This is the follow-up, and it got a bit out of hand in the best way.
I picked up the Z1 Artemis Void White with the FFL5009D 5000K the day it went live. I already love my other Fireflies lights so I was excited going in, but holding it still caught me off guard. I expected an 18650 host to feel a bit chunky, and it just isn't. It's really compact and seriously well made.
The Void White finish surprised me too. It's not MAO white, it's a smooth powder coat, and it's finished cleanly with no visible compromises anywhere. Pair that with the TIR lens and the aux lights glowing through it when the light is off, and the thing looks dead gorgeous just sitting there.
I hadn't even had it a couple of weeks, still going gaga over it, when Fireflies dropped a Brass version. That was it for me. I've never owned a brass light, so I was already half sold, and using the white one the way I had sealed the other half. So I ordered the Brass edition with the FFL5009R 3500K, and honestly it looks exquisite in person.
My one worry is oxidation. I'm hoping the brass doesn't patina like copper does, or at least not anywhere near as fast. If any brass owners have long-term photos, I'd love to see how yours has aged.
Sharing a few shots here. Void white next to brass, aux colours, the works.
So, what do you think? And for those with brass lights, how has the finish held up over time?
Apologies for the video in half dark, I have to be in bed early today. In the video is my Titanium/Aluminium E04 Surge, used with an FEB 6000mah battery, bought at the same time as the light and fully discharged a couple of times now. As you can see, after double tapping the button to enter turbo, it momentarily sits in turbo before rapidly dropping down to a lower setting. I don't know what level this is, but it is extremely visible, and it comes long before the light begins to heat up. I'm a bit of an Anduril noob, so I'm struggling to work out what setting this might be or if it is actually a hardware issue. Any help to troubleshoot or fix this would be greatly appreciated! Cheers.
Hello Firefly community! E04 B35AM owners, the flashlight comes with Angie M optics. Have any of you used the Angie S? If so, could you send a photo of the beam? I'd be grateful.
Like the title says. Looking for FF351a 2700k's from earlier this year when they were neutral if anyone has some they'd sell or in a light they'd sell or trade for something.
The current new batch is super rosy; if you like that I have 12 I'd trade you for the old neutral ones.
Just got the E04 Surge in Fossil Grey MAO.
Loving the host, proportions are perfect 👌
Only problem is: I screwed on the tailcap to install the pocket clip and now it’s practically welded tight!
I’m guessing the MAO finish + finer threads = a lot more friction.
I’ve tried applying a heat gun. And don’t have a strap wrench on hand.
Any tricks on loosening it?
Kind of interested in picking one of these up for fun.
Anyone have both a TIR and reflector version? And does anyone have the FFL909A 1800K reflector version? That could be interesting.
While I'm thinking SBT90.2 + lume 10 in a TIR version seems like it would be the most impressive combo as far as making the most of what it can do, that 1800k is tempting because it's weird in a light meant for throw and I like weird.
Also how's the sustained output at ceiling and temps?
Not ordering anything right now, but planning to order a few lights and parts in the early fall.
If the Lume1 SFT-42R version puts out 7500 lumens, how much would the Lume10 put out? The only reviews/tests I've seen have been for the Lume1 or LumeX1 versions and I don't have the equipment to measure it myself...
Good morning.
Two of the aux lights change to this after a while. Happens with any color. Already trying resetting Anduril but keeps happening. Any suggestions or insight would be very appreciated.
Thank you!
What are your top 3 must-have firefly lights?
Context: I see so much potential with this brand, but so far, it's been a miss (L60-Mu Aura 2026 and E12 Eclipse). Trying to see what else to try.
I'm a fan of their FFL351A emitter, but that's about it. The hosts look great in pictures, but lack the refinement and any signs of thoughtful testing. Just smh, like the designers never actually tested the light for cohesive fit and polrish (like comparing Huawei/Xiaomi to Apple).
Zebralight and Hank/Emisar/Noctigon has all those refinements, every detail meticulously thought out (even their Gen1 didn't have issues). They look boring and fragile, but actually use it and you understand good handling, design, etc.
So with that said, what are your top must have Firefly lights?
I'm seeing hype around the Z1 Artemis TIR, but it's from positive influencer sell-out types that lack any discernment. The old guards are silent - which says a lot.
Received my Z1 Artemis today so I thought I would post my collection so far and some terrible beam shots.
Left to right:
Olight i3E Keychain Light
Olight i3T EOS Orange Small EDC Torch
Convoy Stonewash ti-cu T3, nichia 519a 3000k (my current edc)
Fireflies Z1 Artemis Void White, FFL5009D 5000K
Convoy T6 Red, SST-20-DR
Wurkkos TS-22 Black, XHP70.3 5000K
Convoy 3X21D, SBT90.2
The Z1 may replace the T3 as my edc due to increased battery life so I will compare both over the next few weeks and report back.
Any tips on how to take better beam shots are also appreciated, cheers
https://youtube.com/shorts/rFu7fcwtcL0
PSA: Ocean waves are a pretty violent environment to try and preserve a lights waterproofing.
There is a lot of pressure and sand being forced into every crevice (as anyone who's ever frolicked in a beach knows).
So I would not try this again.
I could tell the orings were under pressure and moisture was fighting its way in, helped by sand trying to wedge into every crevice whenever heavy water pressure hit the glass. Orings are not meant to withstand pressure like that, so they will compress too easily and eventually let moisture in.
So I have to vehemently NOT recommend anyone using a light in crashing waves unless the light is made specifically for diving purposes.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed the small glimpse of the NovMu on vacation getting a spa treatment and basking in the sun.
P.S.
Going to be posting YouTube videos or at least accompanying them to a post. Reddit video and picture quality is abysmal and ppl miss way too much on color rendering posts.
YouTube isn’t always full res either, but it isn’t 2007 720P TV quality like Reddit is.
This video isn’t the ideal color quality candidate, but still gonna show better on YT than Reddit’s version.
I already added a few more videos to my YT that I’ll be adding to old and new posts going forward.
I’ve wanted to get a Firefly light for a while now, and this seemed like an obvious place to start. I’ve heard all types of things about FFL in this community. I wanted to see what all the hype was about, and boy were you guys right. I love this thing. This may very well be my perfect EDC light.
Full disclosure at the top. FFL sent me this to review. The first one they sent arrived in a box that looked like it had been run over. That light was dead as a doornail and getting a replacement took a frustrating amount of back and forth with FFL. That being said now that I have a working one I am beaming for this thing. (Yes, pun intended).
What’s in the box?
The Z1 Artemis
Lanyard
User manual
Pocket clip
Build quality
The Z1 feels genuinely premium. The aluminum body is rock solid, and the anodizing has a comfortable matte texture. The knurling on the tube adds great grip, and the slots cut into the head give it some added texture too though I know they are for heat distribution. The switch has a satisfying, responsive click and sits deep in the switch bezel. The tail magnet is strong, more than capable of holding the light up on its own. The pocket clip allows the light to sit deep in my pocket and works well, especially after I took it off and gave it a slight bend so it sits closer to the body (a tip I learned here while waiting for mine).
Design
The design is about as close to perfect as EDC lights get. It’s compact and light for an 18650 light, but not so small that it disappears in my hand. It does, however, vanish into my pocket as I go about my day. The TIR lens produces a smooth, even beam pattern. There’s no onboard charging, so this leans toward enthusiast territory, you’ll need to pull the cell and use an external charger. I especially like the hole in the center of the switch, lit up by the RGB aux LEDs. Between the RGB aux and Anduril 2, there’s a ton of personality packed into this light.
UI
The Z1 runs Anduril 2. Most of us here know it well, but if you don’t, it’s a phenomenal UI with a flow chart that looks intimidating to newcomers. The customization options run deep, and that’s a serious point in its favor.
Usability
As mentioned, the obvious use case here is as an EDC pocket light. The size, weight, and versatility all lend themselves to daily carry. Cycling through brightness levels on the fly makes it handy for projects around the house, while still packing enough output for a walk outside at night.
Performance
This thing is bright. I went with the FFL5009R 5000K emitter, and it floods an entire room or my backyard without hesitation. The TIR lens paired with the slightly throwier emitter produces a tight, well-defined hotspot that fades gently into spill. There’s some noticeable step-down after extended use as heat builds up. For its size, it punches well above its weight class.
Summary
The Z1 is an outstanding all-around EDC light. It’s comfortable to carry while putting out a serious amount of light. A strong tail magnet adds extra versatility, and the premium materials paired with Anduril’s feature set make for a well-rounded package. This has quickly become one of my favorites, and I can already see it earning a permanent spot in my EDC rotation.
E04Surge 505a 3500k,
NovMu V2S 351a 2700-4000k,
X1L elite Xhp hi 70.3 4500k,
X4 Stellar 351a 5000k,
X1S 707a 5000k
Little bend at the tip of the clip makes it look better, more comfortable in the hand, less likely to catch on something and it goes into the pocket just as easy. Win win win
Ended up going with the 12x FFL351A 3700K NW CRI95. It’s fairly Rosy, so glad I didn’t go with the Rosy version.
I know this is endgame light for some, but to be really honest, I am a wee bit disappointed at this price point ($120).
Compared to my Acebeam E75 Nichia 519A:
Positives: Better tint, Andruil 2, awesome magnetic usb-c port (accepts wider heads too!)
Negatives:
* fault: tailcap connection is very finicky. Need to absolutely screw it on tight with a sticky grease (PG-44A) for it to be reliable
* much bulkier for same brightness as Acebeam E75
* nearly double the price of E75
* pocket clip: shallow single direction type (it also has impact on orienting the light correctly)
* overall worse handling than Acebeam E75
Overall: 7.5/10. I love the emitter and usb port, but neither the output or “handling” makes it a worth it over the Acebeam E75.
These are the finer points I wish someone would have mention before I got this light and if I had known it, I would not have picked up this light.
I got this to be a headlamp, and it is a not a good candidate because the head is not fixed. When you try to adjust a headlamp on the headband, it will immediately shut off because the head connection is so sensitive. I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s less than 0.5° to shut off
You cannot use the usual greases (Nyogel 760G or superlube). You will need to use a sticky grease like the PG-44A.
Also, the side magnets are fairly weak.
A quick video of those points.
Overall 6/10 - I wouldn’t get it again for what I was looking for :(
But to be clear, I am overall happy with Firefly: I am liking their FFL351A 3700K emitter, and I love their service. I see them as the same tier as Hank/Emisar (albeit some rough spots to work out :) ). I will continue to explore their lineup and check in on them time to time (I’ve been at this hobby for over 20 years now 👴)
Need to repeat this: I HAVE A WORKING SOLUTION: PG-44A Grease. It is a verrrrrry tacky/sticky grease, 500x thicker than Nyogel 760G. PG-44A's base oil is Polybutene, which is literally the same polymer as glue traps. I even showed it in the video. I don't know why people are missing this point.
I previously posted a type setter drawer, my wife's aunt (that passed) had she thought would be a good shelf for some of my smaller flashlights.
This time, she has given me an actual shelf to hang up for display...for some of my larger lights.
So I got the Fireflies collection together today...please share your displays.
This is going to be a gift and I would rather get the nicer of the two, which would be the FLL. But from what I'm seeing the M21H might be better even though it's half the price. Anyone have both and can tell me their experience?
What I'm looking for: neutral tint (~4000k), big lumen output, onboard charging, pocketable, and impressive throw with useable spill. High CRI isn't important.
Title edit!!! I meant M21H
This morning the light wouldn't turn on so I thought the battery was dead, tried a new battery it was fine.
Now this evening it's not even turning on other than the auxiliary light and I can't reset Anduril, nothing happens. It's messing up battery voltage and won't turn on I might have to contact FFL if I can't fix it.