I recently received a couple of Ultrafire LED flashlights as a gift, figured I would do a quick review compared to the Fenix PD35 I currently use.
I've been carrying the Fenix PD35 as my EDC light for a little while now
* Claims 960 Lumens at highest setting, Cree XM-L 2
* Uses 2 CR123A's or 1 18650 rechargeable battery
* 6 settings, 5 for brightness & 1 strobe, tail-cap on/off and separate button for the modes - seen below
I received the UltraFire 12T6 "up to 13800 Lumens" and the UltraFire C8 "XML-T6" along with an 8-pack of "BRC 18650 - 6000 mAh 3.7" batteries. The charger that came with it was junk (I'm sure the purchaser didn't know any better), likely a package deal ..... no big deal since I have several chargers already.
From left to right: UltraFire 12T6/13800LM, UltraFire C8/XML-T6, Fenix PD35
The specs for the 2 new UltraFire units are as follows:
UltraFire 12T6 / 13800Lm:
12 Cree XM-L T6 LEDs, 5 settings, High/Med/Low/Strobe/SOS.
Can use either 3 18650 batteries, or, remove the internal adapters and use 3 26650 batteries. I've only been able to test using 3 18650's, and I must say that I'm not impressed in the least. While it is certainly more of a flood light, the intensity is dismal. I will likely order some of the 26650 batts, along with a charger to hold those fat boys and report back.
UltraFire C8 / XML-T6 is noticeably more focused than the Fenix PD35 and claiming 1000 Lm. It is indeed more focused, I'd say at least 50% tighter; Mine only has 3 settings, High / Low / Strobe - I've read online that they are supposed to have 5 settings, so maybe this is a knock-off (more details to follow).
The downside here is that the UltraFire C8 has a head on it double the size of the Fenix. This is not something that you slip in your pocket and forget about it; you will know it's there ..... Some may ask if you are happy to see them.
I won't even attempt to compare lumens at this point as I'm pretty sure that all UltraFire torches are well over-rated (they can claim 1000 Lm or 13800 Lm, but I can also claim to be a highly paid male stripper). I'm not going to buy any equipment to test these lights (deal with it), but I will post some pics later on to show beam intensity / throw when I can get enough quality batteries to be as fair as possible.
One major gripe I have about both UltraFires is that the mode selection is done via the butt-cap switch; while you can partially depress the butt-cap switch to change the modes, the issue is that when you turn it off and back on again, you are at the next setting, thus, if you want to turn it on and have the highest power setting ready to go, you have to cycle through the modes and stop at the mode previous to the high output and then click it off. (again, it's possible I have knock-offs).
These may be knock-offs, and if so, I don't really care - they were gifts and I will certainly find a use for each of them around the house or in BOBs, just being overly descriptive here in the event that it could help anyone else.
More to follow............
I've been carrying the Fenix PD35 as my EDC light for a little while now
* Claims 960 Lumens at highest setting, Cree XM-L 2
* Uses 2 CR123A's or 1 18650 rechargeable battery
* 6 settings, 5 for brightness & 1 strobe, tail-cap on/off and separate button for the modes - seen below
I received the UltraFire 12T6 "up to 13800 Lumens" and the UltraFire C8 "XML-T6" along with an 8-pack of "BRC 18650 - 6000 mAh 3.7" batteries. The charger that came with it was junk (I'm sure the purchaser didn't know any better), likely a package deal ..... no big deal since I have several chargers already.
From left to right: UltraFire 12T6/13800LM, UltraFire C8/XML-T6, Fenix PD35
The specs for the 2 new UltraFire units are as follows:
UltraFire 12T6 / 13800Lm:
12 Cree XM-L T6 LEDs, 5 settings, High/Med/Low/Strobe/SOS.
Can use either 3 18650 batteries, or, remove the internal adapters and use 3 26650 batteries. I've only been able to test using 3 18650's, and I must say that I'm not impressed in the least. While it is certainly more of a flood light, the intensity is dismal. I will likely order some of the 26650 batts, along with a charger to hold those fat boys and report back.
UltraFire C8 / XML-T6 is noticeably more focused than the Fenix PD35 and claiming 1000 Lm. It is indeed more focused, I'd say at least 50% tighter; Mine only has 3 settings, High / Low / Strobe - I've read online that they are supposed to have 5 settings, so maybe this is a knock-off (more details to follow).
The downside here is that the UltraFire C8 has a head on it double the size of the Fenix. This is not something that you slip in your pocket and forget about it; you will know it's there ..... Some may ask if you are happy to see them.
I won't even attempt to compare lumens at this point as I'm pretty sure that all UltraFire torches are well over-rated (they can claim 1000 Lm or 13800 Lm, but I can also claim to be a highly paid male stripper). I'm not going to buy any equipment to test these lights (deal with it), but I will post some pics later on to show beam intensity / throw when I can get enough quality batteries to be as fair as possible.
One major gripe I have about both UltraFires is that the mode selection is done via the butt-cap switch; while you can partially depress the butt-cap switch to change the modes, the issue is that when you turn it off and back on again, you are at the next setting, thus, if you want to turn it on and have the highest power setting ready to go, you have to cycle through the modes and stop at the mode previous to the high output and then click it off. (again, it's possible I have knock-offs).
These may be knock-offs, and if so, I don't really care - they were gifts and I will certainly find a use for each of them around the house or in BOBs, just being overly descriptive here in the event that it could help anyone else.
More to follow............
