[NLD] Just arrived: Sofirn SC13 – little EDC flashlight with 18350 battery and SST-40 behind a Fresnel lens - eviltoast

First impression: It’s nice, I really like the new switch that Sofirn used here. It’s like the large switch from Wurkkos, just smaller and far better than the hard, wobbly switch they used in the past.

The tint is mediocre and the Fresnel lens creates some rings. Unfortunately also some tint variation from spot to spill. Overall pretty soft beam, but not too floody.

It appears like the bezel is press fit, but it has a small gap and it might be possible to open it.

Interesting place to attach the clip. There’s this large groove at the front. Looks little weird without a clip, though.

A magnet is included as well, but it can only be used when no lanyard is attached (D’oh!).

I will write a full review, but it will take some weeks because I have quite a lot other flashlights in the queue.

    • Zak@lemmy.worldMEnglish
      1·
      10 months ago

      A larger battery generally provides longer life, but the battery being field-replaceable is also a significant difference.

      • AwkwardLookMonkeyPuppet@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        10 months ago

        True. My RovyVan stopped holding a charge after about a year. But it’s an amazing flashlight otherwise. How long does a battery last on this one?

        • Zak@lemmy.worldMEnglish
          2·
          10 months ago

          Runtime or service life? Runtime depends on mode and may or may not dim as the battery drains depending on the type of driver it uses. I’d wait for reviews to find out about this one specifically.

          Service life for Life-ion is usually at least 500 charge cycles or five years, whichever is less.

            • Zak@lemmy.worldMEnglish
              2·
              10 months ago

              An 18350 battery has about ten times the capacity of the sealed battery in models like the Rovyvon A1, though some other Rovyvon models have larger batteries. Most removable batteries are larger than the tiny Rovyvons as are the flashlights that use them.

              • AwkwardLookMonkeyPuppet@lemmy.worldEnglish
                1·
                10 months ago

                RovyVons are still amazing flashlights, so a slightly larger version, with a swappable battery, and 10x battery capacity sounds amazing. What would you say is the best, most compact, true color, bright, 18350 flashlight?

                • Zak@lemmy.worldMEnglish
                  2·
                  10 months ago

                  18350 is kind of short and fat and not my favorite size. Here are some 18350 lights with good color rendering, but many of them are 18650 lights with a half-length battery tube so they’re not super compact.

                  14500 (AA-size 3.7V Li-ion) is more to my liking for compact lights because it’s slimmer, but longer. The two have comparable capacity. In that size, I really like the Skilhunt M150 and H150 with Nichia 519A LEDs. They’re fairly efficient, able to sustain fairly high brightness for a long time, and can also use AA batteries, but their peak brightness doesn’t break any records. The Wurkkos TS10 is perhaps more impressive, but gives up some efficiency and sustained brightness as well as the option to use AA batteries.

                  • AwkwardLookMonkeyPuppet@lemmy.worldEnglish
                    1·
                    10 months ago

                    Thank you very much for the information. I’ve been using a Zebralight H600Fc as my primary headlamp for a few years now. It’s a great headlamp, but it’s 18650 and I’ve been looking to downsize for backpacking. I took the RovyVon on one trip and just used the hat clip as a headlamp. It worked, but I was worried about the capacity the whole trip and tried to minimize my use. These lights you mentioned seem like very good alternatives. I also want a better flashlight for my truck than the Costco Duracell light I have now. It works well, but it’s nothing special.

                  • AwkwardLookMonkeyPuppet@lemmy.worldEnglish
                    1·
                    10 months ago

                    Nice, dude! I just bought a Wuben X0 in brass, a Wuben E7, a headband, and a couple of batteries. They look like really cool headlights/flashlights, so I’m really excited to get them. Thanks again!