Review Fitorch MR35: 2100 lumens using CREE XP-L and RGB+UV LED

sandalian

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There are a few brands who made flashlight with RGB color LEDs in a single body, one of the few is Fitorch with its MR35 model. Fitorch MR35 utilises CREE XP-L plus RGB + UV LED in a single and neat housing.

fitorch-mr35-in-the-box.jpg


It arrived in a cardboard box with following content:

  • Flashlight
  • Nylon holster
  • Micro USB cable
  • Spare rubber switch & O-ring
  • Lanyard
  • Operating manual




fitorch-mr35-package-contents.jpg


They was also very kind to include a diffuser (sold separately, not pictured) into my door step.

Fitorch MR35 Specification


Emitter Type: XP-L2 + RGB + UV
Material: HA-III military hard-anodized finish aluminum alloy
Mode: High, Med, Low, Red, Green, Blue, UV, Strobe
Lumens: 1200LM, 300LM, 30LM
Runtime: 1.5h, 3.8h, 120h
Battery Configurations: 1×18650 (included) or 2xCR123A (not included)
Voltage Input: DC 2.75V-6V
Switch Type: Clicky + electronic
Switch Location: Side (electronic) and tail (clicky) of the Flashlight
Peak Beam Intensity: 13300cd
Impact Resistant: 2m
Max Output: 1200 Lumens
Range: 180 m
Lens: Filmed mineral glass
Reflector: Precise metal filmed
Waterproof: IPX-8 Waterproof
Color: Black
Weight: 170.2g(Without Battery)
Size: 147.5mm x 40mm (Length x Head Diameter)


Fitorch MR35 Overview

fitorch-mr35.jpg


Fitorch MR35's body is knurled in a ring shapes, including the tail cap. Fins that clearly visible on head section is also looking nice and useful for heat dissipation.

The dimension is just fit into my hand and pocket clip helps with the grip. The funny shaped rubber shown under my finger ring is cover for micro USB charging port.

fitorch-mr35-on-hand.jpg


Following picture is size comparison of Fitorch MR35 with Nitefox UT20 (with additional Thyrm Switchback).

fitorch-mr35-comparison-nitefox-ut20.jpg


Quality of anodization is great, including the thread part. The thread is square and perfectly lubed out of the factory. A 18650 battery is also included in the package and the battery can be charged directly using micro USB cable.

fitorch-mr35-usb-rechargeable-battery.jpg


Upon opening the head and tail parts, I found that they install springs on both driver and switch board. It's a nice thing because the flashlight will adapt various length of 18650 and minimising the impact on battery.

fitorch-mr35-contact-springs-driver.jpg


Now this is the interesting part. Five LEDs are arranged in its with "cross" position, main emitter (CREE XP-L) in the center and the rest (RGB + UV) are surround it.

Orange peel reflector is used to get beam spread thus useful for close range illumination even by using big reflector.

fitorch-mr35-white-rgb-uv-led.jpg


And speaking about bold bezel pictured above, that bezel is removable and we can install a diffuser into the thread. Don't worry, the lens won't fall off just because the bezel is removed.

fitorch-mr35-bezel-diffuser.jpg


Just don't forget to keep the bezel in proper place or you'd get unbezeled flashlight.

fitorch-mr35-diffuser.jpg



Operating Fitorch MR35

Operating Fitorch MR35 is pretty straight forward. Use tailcap switch for power on/off and use side switch for changing modes. The modes will cycle from Turbo – High – Medium – Low, and then back to Low – Medium – High – Turbo on each click of the side switch. It has memory so it will remember the last mode used.

To activate RGB and UV light, press and hold the side switch. If we hold the switch long enough, it will cycle from Red – Green – Blue – UV.

fitorch-mr35-operating-instruction.jpg


When the UV mode is activated, I found that some LEDs seems to also powered on. I'm wondering if they really powered on or just because of the UV illumination.

fitorch-mr35-uv-light.jpg


If you need strobe function, it can be activated by quick double click/press on the side switch. There are two strobe functions: white only and RGB only.

Aside than those modes, this flashlight also has built-in battery check and locator beacon feature.


Fitorch MR35 Beamshot Pictures


Following beamshot pictures was taken in the night around 10-11 PM using manual apperture mode on my Pentax Q camera: 0,5 sec; f/1,9; ISO 400.

Distance of camera to the electric pole at the end of the street is about 60-63 meters, or roughly 200 feet if you're in America.

Control shot:
fitorch-mr35-beamshot-control-shot.jpg


Low mode:
fitorch-mr35-beamshot-low-mode.jpg


Medium mode:
fitorch-mr35-beamshot-medium-mode.jpg


High mode:
fitorch-mr35-beamshot-high-mode.jpg


Turbo mode:
fitorch-mr35-beamshot-turbo-mode.jpg


There's a little challenge on the RGB+UV mode. Since the LEDS aren't located in the exact center of the reflector, there's a doughnut in the center of the beam.

fitorch-mr35-green-led-doughnut.jpg


This doughnut may not be a problem in close range illumination. But on the long range one, it makes the center part of the illumination is barely visible. If there's no doughnut in the center of the beam shot area, surely we will see the electric pole at the end of the road.

Blue LED:
fitorch-mr35-blue-led.jpg


Green LED:
fitorch-mr35-green-led.jpg


Red LED:
fitorch-mr35-red-led.jpg


I struggled trying to capture UV LED in frame because, as its common name: black light, human eyes can barely see the color.


Summary

Fitorch MR35 is a good flashlight with plenty useful features like RGB+UV LED, 1200 lumens max output, locator beacon, voltage checking, USB charging, and holster included. The only challenge I found in this flashlight is the dark area inside the beam (doughnut). If Fitorch can address this problem in the future, it will be a perfect flashlight.

Pros:


  • Five LED emitters (White, RGB, UV)
  • Nice brightness spacing
  • Dual switch (tail cap switch and side switch)
  • It has locator beacon and battery voltage check feature
  • Bright (1200 lumens) and nice throw up to 150+ meters
  • USB charging
  • Attached diffuser (sold separately)
  • Holster & micro USB cable included


Cons:

  • Dark area (doughnut) inside the beam on RGB+UV LED


Disclosure:
I received this flashlight from Fitorch for reviewing purpose.
 
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