Chicken Drumstick
Flashlight Enthusiast
Emisar D1 mini - SBT90.2 (4000 lumen/100k cd)
Declaration & Thanks:
This light was purchased by me for the purpose of this review
Conclusion Summary:
Awesome host & build quality. Ideal for pocket carry and solves the KR1 button issues.
Not quite so sold on the SBT90.2
+Colour
+size
+Fit & finish
+General performance
+Turbo output
-Tint
-CRI
-Ringy beam
-Cost with THE SBT90.2
-Runtime with this emitter
I kind of feel, that while the SBT90.2 may be all things to all men (or women). Offering low to insane levels of output and lots of throw. The SBT090.2 is rather power hungry on an 18650, produces lots of heat and seems to compromise on tint and stable high outputs.
I wonder if a 4000k SST-20 or SST-40 might be the sweet spot for a general purpose light. Although the Osram W2 is probably still the best for dedicated throw if you want a more specialist light.
Manufacture Specs:
• Weight: 89g
• Dimensions: 109mm(length) * 35mm(head) * 24mm(body)
W1 (Osram CSLNM1.TG): 900lm, Lux : 110Kcd (110,000cd)
W2 (Osram CSLPM1.TG): 1300lm, Lux: 100Kcd (100,000cd)
XP-L HI 6500K/5000K/4000K: 1300lm, Lux: 45Kcd (45,000cd)
SST-40 5000K/6500K: 2200lm, Lux: 29Kcd (29,000cd)
SFT-40 6500K: 1600lm, Lux: 100Kcd (100,000cd)
FC-40: 1600lm, Lux: 14Kcd (14,000cd)
519A dedomed: 1200lm, Lux: 20Kcd (20,000cd)
SBT90.2: 4000lm, Lux: 100Kcd (100,000cd)
B35AM: 1000lm, Lux: 12Kcd (12,000cd)
Info about my reviews and testing:
I like to keep my reviews fairly informal and not overly technical. There are plenty of talented people with fancy measuring devices to offer more technical detail. What I want to do is give an honest appraisal of owning and using this torch, and what a regular punter will make of it.
What's in the box?
Exterior Design & Ergonomics:
The D1 mini is really a work of art. It is super nice to hold in the hand. I'm not entirely sure why, but it just feels very natural and ergonomic. I love the the fact Hank offers these in different colours too. The anodising is flawless as is the rest of the fit & finish.
The switch feels very good too. And I'm so happy to report that I've not yet had a single incident of it activating in my pocket! Making it perfectly acceptable for EDC use.
The deep carry pocket clip is also superb and I really like the fact it has a stainless bezel.
I also optioned it with the magnet in the tailcap, allowing it to stick to many metal surfaces with ease. The light is also perfectly stable for tailstanding and resists roll through the shape of the fins on the head and the pocket clip.
The battery tube feels nice and compact, making the light much smaller than many other lights of comparable reflector size.
Beam & Performance:
Im pleased that I seem to be matching the claimed lumen output. Although a little disappointed that I'm a fair way off the claimed throw. Visually comparing it to other lights with similar claimed/measured cd ratings, I can see it doesn't have the same beam distance.
It also seems to be somewhat of an amp hog:
Which ultimately produces a lot of heat, which will cause the light to sag and dim quite considerably.
I have upped the thermal regulation a bit to try and prevent the step down so soon. Not so much on the Turbo, that was always going to be a fun blast only mode. But it dims so rapidly on Turbo that it is almost not enough time to take a photo of it. Is also seems to dim hugely from Turbo, rather than settle at a reasonable output.
High works much better and the dimming is much more gradual. But it is still pulling a lot of amps on high, so heat does build up. Just not in an instant boil fashion as with Turbo.
I also feel with such high amp draws, that a 21700 would be a much better format for this particular setup. Albeit on lesser LEDs with way less amp draw, the 18650 format is more than sufficient.
When white wall hunting the beam is also a little ringy. Although in real world use this is a complete non-issue. It is only on a white wall that you can really see this.
For me, it is the tint/CRI that is the biggest let down. It isn't particularly bad. But I was hoping it would be one of those lights that you fall in love with the tint. And I'm sad to say it isn't. It seems to have a little bit of a greenish cast to it and it sort of muddys out the colours a little. In isolation it isn't too bad, but fire up another light and it is very evident.
D1 mini SBT90.2:
Astrolux EA01 SST-40 5000k:
D1 mini SBT90.2:
Astrolux EA01 SST-40 5000k:
Hank doesn't specify the K rating of the SBT90.2, but I'd have to say even the 5700k XHP50.2 in my Astrolux FT30 looks better outside. And an SST-40 in 5000k miles ahead. I'd go as far to say, that while the Osram W2 is very cool, the actual colour rendition and look of the tint is nicer than the SBT90.2
Measured Specs:
Declaration & Thanks:
This light was purchased by me for the purpose of this review
Conclusion Summary:
Awesome host & build quality. Ideal for pocket carry and solves the KR1 button issues.
Not quite so sold on the SBT90.2
+Colour
+size
+Fit & finish
+General performance
+Turbo output
-Tint
-CRI
-Ringy beam
-Cost with THE SBT90.2
-Runtime with this emitter
I kind of feel, that while the SBT90.2 may be all things to all men (or women). Offering low to insane levels of output and lots of throw. The SBT090.2 is rather power hungry on an 18650, produces lots of heat and seems to compromise on tint and stable high outputs.
I wonder if a 4000k SST-20 or SST-40 might be the sweet spot for a general purpose light. Although the Osram W2 is probably still the best for dedicated throw if you want a more specialist light.
Manufacture Specs:
• Weight: 89g
• Dimensions: 109mm(length) * 35mm(head) * 24mm(body)
W1 (Osram CSLNM1.TG): 900lm, Lux : 110Kcd (110,000cd)
W2 (Osram CSLPM1.TG): 1300lm, Lux: 100Kcd (100,000cd)
XP-L HI 6500K/5000K/4000K: 1300lm, Lux: 45Kcd (45,000cd)
SST-40 5000K/6500K: 2200lm, Lux: 29Kcd (29,000cd)
SFT-40 6500K: 1600lm, Lux: 100Kcd (100,000cd)
FC-40: 1600lm, Lux: 14Kcd (14,000cd)
519A dedomed: 1200lm, Lux: 20Kcd (20,000cd)
SBT90.2: 4000lm, Lux: 100Kcd (100,000cd)
B35AM: 1000lm, Lux: 12Kcd (12,000cd)
Info about my reviews and testing:
I like to keep my reviews fairly informal and not overly technical. There are plenty of talented people with fancy measuring devices to offer more technical detail. What I want to do is give an honest appraisal of owning and using this torch, and what a regular punter will make of it.
What's in the box?
Exterior Design & Ergonomics:
The D1 mini is really a work of art. It is super nice to hold in the hand. I'm not entirely sure why, but it just feels very natural and ergonomic. I love the the fact Hank offers these in different colours too. The anodising is flawless as is the rest of the fit & finish.
The switch feels very good too. And I'm so happy to report that I've not yet had a single incident of it activating in my pocket! Making it perfectly acceptable for EDC use.
The deep carry pocket clip is also superb and I really like the fact it has a stainless bezel.
I also optioned it with the magnet in the tailcap, allowing it to stick to many metal surfaces with ease. The light is also perfectly stable for tailstanding and resists roll through the shape of the fins on the head and the pocket clip.
The battery tube feels nice and compact, making the light much smaller than many other lights of comparable reflector size.
Beam & Performance:
Im pleased that I seem to be matching the claimed lumen output. Although a little disappointed that I'm a fair way off the claimed throw. Visually comparing it to other lights with similar claimed/measured cd ratings, I can see it doesn't have the same beam distance.
It also seems to be somewhat of an amp hog:
Which ultimately produces a lot of heat, which will cause the light to sag and dim quite considerably.
I have upped the thermal regulation a bit to try and prevent the step down so soon. Not so much on the Turbo, that was always going to be a fun blast only mode. But it dims so rapidly on Turbo that it is almost not enough time to take a photo of it. Is also seems to dim hugely from Turbo, rather than settle at a reasonable output.
High works much better and the dimming is much more gradual. But it is still pulling a lot of amps on high, so heat does build up. Just not in an instant boil fashion as with Turbo.
I also feel with such high amp draws, that a 21700 would be a much better format for this particular setup. Albeit on lesser LEDs with way less amp draw, the 18650 format is more than sufficient.
When white wall hunting the beam is also a little ringy. Although in real world use this is a complete non-issue. It is only on a white wall that you can really see this.
For me, it is the tint/CRI that is the biggest let down. It isn't particularly bad. But I was hoping it would be one of those lights that you fall in love with the tint. And I'm sad to say it isn't. It seems to have a little bit of a greenish cast to it and it sort of muddys out the colours a little. In isolation it isn't too bad, but fire up another light and it is very evident.
D1 mini SBT90.2:
Astrolux EA01 SST-40 5000k:
D1 mini SBT90.2:
Astrolux EA01 SST-40 5000k:
Hank doesn't specify the K rating of the SBT90.2, but I'd have to say even the 5700k XHP50.2 in my Astrolux FT30 looks better outside. And an SST-40 in 5000k miles ahead. I'd go as far to say, that while the Osram W2 is very cool, the actual colour rendition and look of the tint is nicer than the SBT90.2
Measured Specs:
