Want bright light for cheap

[Rsave7]

Hello everyone, I would use the checklist but I'm on a phone rn and I think it would be better just to explain my needs in paragraph format. Before reading, thank you to everyone who tries to help

I'm looking for a light in the 30 dollar or under range but can go a little over (not including batteries if neccisary)
I don't really have a specific use for this flashlight but I would just like to have one. I'm looking for a very bright light that can go far (throw I think is the term) it doesn't need to be too wide but I don't nessicary want a super skinny beam. It doesn't need to be too durable as I won't be beating it up. I would probably use 18650s or a built in battery but whichever us better. I don't need any fancy modes or anything just an on and an off (maybe a dim mode too?) Size isn't a big problem but I don't want to carry a night stick of a flashlight lol. Something like a medium size that I can comfterbly carry

But yea I have amazon prime so purchasing off of Amazon would be preferable but it doesn't really matter.

If I left anything out please let me know and thanks again in advance

Rsave7

 

[Rsave7]

Am seriously considering a zy-t08 after a little research, would that meet my expectations?

 

[ven]

Check out the convoy c8 , maybe with an xpl HI option .
:welcome:

 

[pcasebere]

I favor my Nebo Lil Larry flood and ThruNight Ti3 spot -both lights in the $15 range.

 

[chillinn]

​

Not 18650, but take a look at Thrunute T10, or T10S, they are reported as solid lights. Also, though I do not own one, nor have I handled one, but for about ~$40 the Sunwayman Little White Shark (S10a or S10r), which looks like a lot of light for that price, and is very attractive. Amazing what the difference between a <$30 light and >$40 light can be.

 

[staticx57]

Check out the convoy c8 , maybe with an xpl HI option .
:welcome:

Came here to recommend the same thing. Good recommendation

I have three C8s and they are excellent lights full stop, excellent even more given the price. If those are too throwy try the Convoy S2 or the S2+, the difference between them is the S2 is a tiny bit more throwy than the S2+.

 

[Poppy]

Am seriously considering a zy-t08 after a little research, would that meet my expectations?

In short, your expectations are not too high, so yes the small sun will meet your expectations. It however uses a 4-6 year old technology XML led. The XM-L2 may be considered second generation, and the XPL suggested by ven might be considered 3rd generation.

Check out the convoy c8 , maybe with an xpl HI option .
:welcome:

Came here to recommend the same thing. Good recommendation

I have three C8s and they are excellent lights full stop, excellent even more given the price. If those are too throwy try the Convoy S2 or the S2+, the difference between them is the S2 is a tiny bit more throwy than the S2+.

I fully agree with both ven, and staticx57
The convoy S2+ is my favorite general purpose light.
The c8 is a not too big, thrower.

 

[KeepingItLight]

I have the ThorFire "Upgraded" C8s. Compared to the Convoy C8, the ThorFire has a much better user interface. Strobe mode is off the main sequence, hidden behind a double-tap. The "on-time" memory used by the Convoy C8 and previous versions of the ThorFire C8 and C8s has been replaced by the much preferred "off-time" memory. The ThorFire C8s also has a moonlight mode that is absent from the Convoy C8.

The Convoy C8, on the other hand, gives a choice of tints, drivers, and emitters.

Both have excellent build-quality.

 

[Rsave7]

thank you guys so much for the replies and the welcomes

Sorry for being so needy, but can someone give me a link to a nice c8?
im really new to flashlights and i see a bunch of different versions and im not too well versed with the leds and "parts" of flashlights. like i see xm-l2 a lot and cree and stuff so i assume that is the actually led so if someone could give me a quick run down and/or a specific link/model that would be great.
.
i'm sure i could do some research and figure it all out but you guys seem very knowledgeable.

the ThorFire "Upgraded" C8s that i found on amazon (not sure if links are allowed on forum) looks pretty good for my price range so ill keep that in mind.

but yea im looking for a nice throw with not too much flood/spread

edit kinda (lol) : just saw that alot of you actually did list specific types. the convoy c8 xpl HI doesnt look bad but how does it fair against the thorfire c8? also the s2 and s2+ seem to have pretty low lm. although from what i understand the lumens do not necessary mean it is brighter?

 

[ven]

Can't comment on the thorfire, if KIL says it's a good light then it is Not sure of the led in it or options the xpl HI will throw further than the xml2 in this c8 light though. Also you get nice tint consistency with the HI leds(flat dome, so in a way looks de-domed but without the tint shift, that happens when you de-dome an led) .

The s2 or s2+ is a compact 18650 fed light, makes a decent edc option if you want 18650 fuel for run times over say smaller types. It offers a good ballance of flood and throw , a good mix of all round usefulness . Not a thrower though, reflector is too small. Bigger the reflector diameter and depth, everything else equal, the larger reflector will throw further .

 

[KeepingItLight]

The Convoy C8 XP-L HI will out-throw the ThorFire C8s by a lot. The latter uses a Cree XP-L2 emitter that has throw characteristics that are similar to the Cree XP-L HD emitter. If you want more throw, I would go with the Convoy.

 

[jorn]

Got a convoy c8 with a xp-l hi today. Tint is nice, buildquality is nice. Was smaller than expected, tats good. Its a really nice light for the price. All the blinky modes are gone if you choose mode group 2, you get high-med-lo only.
Waiting for a 20mm copper star, some 4000k- 4750k xp-l hi leds, and a direct drive blf x6 led driver :devil:

 

[Rsave7]

its seems pretty cheap compared too all the other lights but i guess ill go with the Convoy C8 XP-L HI ​ if thats what you guys syuggest. whats the best place to order from? gearbest?

 

[KeepingItLight]

Got a convoy c8 with a xp-l hi today.

For throw, there is no doubt that XP-L HI is the way to go. I can't say I need one of the Convoy's, but I keep feeling an urge to get one anyway!

In the near future, I think Convoy is planning to modernize the driver it uses in the C8. Does yours have "on-time" memory?

To determine whether it does, try the following test. Turn on your flashlight, and leave it running for, say, 30 to 60 seconds. Next, tap the switch to change modes. Does the first tap do nothing, simply blinking, and returning to the mode you are already in? Do you have to tap twice before the flashlight begins cycling through the modes?

If so, that means you have "on-time" memory.

The arrangement called "off-time" memory is better. With it, every tap changes the mode. Off-time memory requires installing an extra capacitor on the driver, something that increases the production cost a tiny bit. For a budget flashlight, where margins are slim, there is an incentive to forego the extra cost.

On-time memory and off-time memory are two competing methods to implement mode memory. Under either scheme, the C8 will remember the mode you last used, and wake up with that mode active the next time you turn on the power. This presumes, of course, that your flashlight has been off long enough. If you power off, and quickly back on, the flashlight will think you simply tapped the tail-switch to change modes.

 

[jorn]

Its on time memory. Wating for a more powerful driver for it anyway

 

[Charlie Hustle]

its seems pretty cheap compared too all the other lights but i guess ill go with the Convoy C8 XP-L HI ​ if thats what you guys syuggest. whats the best place to order from? gearbest?

If you're looking for cool white tint order the light from Mountain Electronics, and choose the guppydrv FW upgrade.

 

[KeepingItLight]

Its on time memory. Wating for a more powerful driver for it anyway

Thanks for checking. I wanted to make sure I had not mischaracterized the Convoy C8 XP-L HI. With an updated driver, a flashlight that is already a classic becomes even better.

 

[Rsave7]

If you're looking for cool white tint order the light from Mountain Electronics, and choose the guppydrv FW upgrade.

? it looks to me that all tghe firmware upgrade does is allow me to change to a bunch of different modes

 

[Poppy]

? it looks to me that all tghe firmware upgrade does is allow me to change to a bunch of different modes

I think that's true. The one thing that Convoy omits in its driver is a moonlight. One of the possible selections with the guppydrv is a moonlight and three or four more modes.

 

[KeepingItLight]

What about PWM?

I know that the ThorFire "Upgraded" C8s does not use PWM. Does the stock Convoy C8 use it?