I've long been interested in lensed lights - all the way back to the Dorcy 1AAA days
when I discovered/realized the beam was very even, and allowed me to see better - especially for things like reading.
Please see: A Classic Revisited - Dorcy 1AAA
These days most lensed lights are actually zooming or focusable.
I looked at ones that were single AA and capable of running 14500 lithium-ion rechargeable
- since AA is only 1.2-1.5V the light has to have a boost circuit, and ones with "modes" has to have some form of driver, so the 14500 li-ion wouldn't just be direct drive.
On eBay they are cheap enough - I ended up with a number of them.
Line-up and sizes -
left to right: AA battery; 4Sevens QP2L-X (with burst mode 780 lumens); No Name Zoom 14500/AA 3 mode; SkyWolfEye E527; SkyWolfEye E502; UltraFire SK68; Probe Shiny; SupWildFire; and not a single AA but 3xAAA Dollar Tree Telescoping Flashlight.
All 6 lights (except the 4Sevens and $ Tree) cost less than $15 total - with some below $2.00 shipped.
They all can run 14500 lithium-ion rechargeable and regular AA NiMH, all have convex lens to zoom the beam.
Lots of commonality....
Heads -
UltraFire SK68
SupWildFire
Under the lens -
UltraFire SK68
SupWildFire
LED die -
UltraFire SK68
SupWildFire
When the lens head is pulled all the way back in the beam is a circle and reasonably wide - actually very useful -
it's like a very even flood beam - as in the newspaper shot above.
All the lights have 3 Modes High>Low>Strobe -all except the SupWildFire do not have any memory or reset - so the next mode comes up when turning on even after several days...
The SupWildFire is superior in that it resets the modes so after a few seconds of off, it turns on, on High.
All the lows are done by PWM (pulse width modulation)
Let's look at the lights individually -
First the ubiquitous or infamous
UltraFire SK68 -
SK68 has become almost a generic name for this flashlight which may or may not be UltraFire
(it's ironic that there are probably knock-offs of the UltraFire SK68 - and UltraFire is not exactly a well respected name!)
The silver is a recent purchase @ under $3; blue bought over 4 years ago @ under $4.
Showing the silver with head parked in widest position and blue at max extended zoom.
vs 780 Lumens 4Sevens Quark Burst Mode QP2L-X.
SK68 obviously is not as bright as the 780 lumens burst QP2L-X - but it is still showing quite well -
how about the next mode down of the QP2L-X - "High" at 300 lumens?
it's hard to make a call because of the different beams - but I think the brightness is comparable - the QP2L-X has a brighter hotspot but the SK68 has more even/uniform bright beam...
This is not bad at all for a $2 flashlight...
What happens when the light is zoomed to a tighter spot?
At the tightest zoom the beam is focused to show the LED die:
Underexposed to show the structure of the beam.
This tightest zoom is very bright and throws very well -
compared to the 780 Lumens 4Sevens Quark Burst Mode QP2L-X
these beam shots can't quite convey how bright the tightest focus spot is...
but this shot may help understand how bright the tightest zoom spot is -
this is the SK68 tightest focus spot shone on the hotspot of the QP2L-X @ 780 lumens burst mode.
So the throw of this little single AA/4500 light punches way above its weight class.
Next up is the
SupWildFire -
I got this light because Amazon's best selling Tactical flashlight at the time was the J5 Tactical V1-PRO 300 Lumen -
although this SupWildFire is not the same name/brand it looked very much like all the pics on Amazon.
vs. UltraFire SK68
comparable - although it may look to be about even - I think SupWildFire may just have it because of its wider beam?
The SupWildFire can also be zoomed/focused tightly -
vs. 780 lumens burst mode 4Sevens QP2L-X
so its throw when tightly focused is also great (as would all the other lights in this review)
Tightest Zoom compared with UltraFire SK68
The SupWildFire and UltraFire SK68 are pretty comparable - although I suspect the SupWildFire might be by measurement a bit brighter - but not that I have noticed in actual usage.
BUT don't these run on AA batteries?
Since I have more than one of the SK68 and SupWildFire I can compare them using NiMH and 14500
UltraFire SK68 using IMR14500 and NiMH (eneloop)
Low on 14500 is about the same as NiMH on High.
SupWildFire -
again high on NiMH is about the same as low on 14500.
Visually these are comparable -
however, remember the low uses PWM so may affect the photos.
I'll use the UltraFire SK68 as a sort of benchmark to compare all the other lights -
no name zoomable 14500/AA -
vs UltraFire SK68
comparable - although the SK68 may just be a bit brighter? -
again can't really see it in use.
This no name actaully is my favorite - mainly because of its form factor - it is easily pocketable.
But beware it is harder to find, and there are versions with single mode -
I actually use a single mode one, and only on NiMH - carrying around the house
as I find the even beam and moderate brightness is very useful.
SkyWolfEye E527 -
vs. UltraFire SK68
looks about the same performance as the no name - so why the no name? because this SkyWolfEye is noticeably longer and there is no clip.
SkyWolfEye E502 -
vs. UltraFire SK68 -
again comparable...
Probe Shiny -
This one's slightly different in turning that gold ring to zoom.
Also notice that very aggressive saw tooth pattern on the bezel - making it very uncomfortable to pocket carry and handle.
vs. UltraFire SK68
pretty much comparable again....
So these 6 flashlights are pretty comparable - it almost can be down to the looks or style.
I still like the ubiquitous UltraFire SK68 most as a flashlight, followed closely by the SupWildFire because it resets its mode.
Having said that, the one I use the most is the no name, but in a single mode and only on NiMH.
OK what about that Dollar Tree telescoping light?
These do come in colors, but for some reason when I first saw them, reminded me of the SureFire G2!
Running on 3xAAA this is probably direct drive via a resistor?
vs. UltraFire SK68
not very bright - about the same as the SK68 on low using NiMH -
but it is more than adequate for seeing way round the house, and for examining things when more light is needed
and that lensed even beam is superior to other flashlights.
It's a bargain for a buck!
EDIT to ADD -
Interesting, I just received another UltraFire SK68 (in black) and this new one resets the mode after being Off for a period.
Whereas my two other samples - 4 years and about a week old both will go to next mode after being Off for almost any length of time.
CORRECTION -
Some of these cheapie 14500/AA zoomable flashlights will eventually reset back to default High - "eventually" is the operative word -
some do it within a very timely period like the SupWildFire -
others will eventually do it sometimes it taking several hours.
2 lights actually have last memory mode - the Probe Shiny (the one with the sawtooth bezel) and the SkyWolfEye E527 (the green/gray).
Sorry for my mistake.
when I discovered/realized the beam was very even, and allowed me to see better - especially for things like reading.
Please see: A Classic Revisited - Dorcy 1AAA
These days most lensed lights are actually zooming or focusable.
I looked at ones that were single AA and capable of running 14500 lithium-ion rechargeable
- since AA is only 1.2-1.5V the light has to have a boost circuit, and ones with "modes" has to have some form of driver, so the 14500 li-ion wouldn't just be direct drive.
On eBay they are cheap enough - I ended up with a number of them.
Line-up and sizes -
left to right: AA battery; 4Sevens QP2L-X (with burst mode 780 lumens); No Name Zoom 14500/AA 3 mode; SkyWolfEye E527; SkyWolfEye E502; UltraFire SK68; Probe Shiny; SupWildFire; and not a single AA but 3xAAA Dollar Tree Telescoping Flashlight.
All 6 lights (except the 4Sevens and $ Tree) cost less than $15 total - with some below $2.00 shipped.
They all can run 14500 lithium-ion rechargeable and regular AA NiMH, all have convex lens to zoom the beam.
Lots of commonality....
Heads -
UltraFire SK68
SupWildFire
Under the lens -
UltraFire SK68
SupWildFire
LED die -
UltraFire SK68
SupWildFire
When the lens head is pulled all the way back in the beam is a circle and reasonably wide - actually very useful -
it's like a very even flood beam - as in the newspaper shot above.
All the lights have 3 Modes High>Low>Strobe -all except the SupWildFire do not have any memory or reset - so the next mode comes up when turning on even after several days...
The SupWildFire is superior in that it resets the modes so after a few seconds of off, it turns on, on High.
All the lows are done by PWM (pulse width modulation)
Let's look at the lights individually -
First the ubiquitous or infamous
UltraFire SK68 -
SK68 has become almost a generic name for this flashlight which may or may not be UltraFire
(it's ironic that there are probably knock-offs of the UltraFire SK68 - and UltraFire is not exactly a well respected name!)
The silver is a recent purchase @ under $3; blue bought over 4 years ago @ under $4.
Showing the silver with head parked in widest position and blue at max extended zoom.
vs 780 Lumens 4Sevens Quark Burst Mode QP2L-X.
SK68 obviously is not as bright as the 780 lumens burst QP2L-X - but it is still showing quite well -
how about the next mode down of the QP2L-X - "High" at 300 lumens?
it's hard to make a call because of the different beams - but I think the brightness is comparable - the QP2L-X has a brighter hotspot but the SK68 has more even/uniform bright beam...
This is not bad at all for a $2 flashlight...
What happens when the light is zoomed to a tighter spot?
At the tightest zoom the beam is focused to show the LED die:
Underexposed to show the structure of the beam.
This tightest zoom is very bright and throws very well -
compared to the 780 Lumens 4Sevens Quark Burst Mode QP2L-X
these beam shots can't quite convey how bright the tightest focus spot is...
but this shot may help understand how bright the tightest zoom spot is -
this is the SK68 tightest focus spot shone on the hotspot of the QP2L-X @ 780 lumens burst mode.
So the throw of this little single AA/4500 light punches way above its weight class.
Next up is the
SupWildFire -
I got this light because Amazon's best selling Tactical flashlight at the time was the J5 Tactical V1-PRO 300 Lumen -
although this SupWildFire is not the same name/brand it looked very much like all the pics on Amazon.
vs. UltraFire SK68
comparable - although it may look to be about even - I think SupWildFire may just have it because of its wider beam?
The SupWildFire can also be zoomed/focused tightly -
vs. 780 lumens burst mode 4Sevens QP2L-X
so its throw when tightly focused is also great (as would all the other lights in this review)
Tightest Zoom compared with UltraFire SK68
The SupWildFire and UltraFire SK68 are pretty comparable - although I suspect the SupWildFire might be by measurement a bit brighter - but not that I have noticed in actual usage.
BUT don't these run on AA batteries?
Since I have more than one of the SK68 and SupWildFire I can compare them using NiMH and 14500
UltraFire SK68 using IMR14500 and NiMH (eneloop)
Low on 14500 is about the same as NiMH on High.
SupWildFire -
again high on NiMH is about the same as low on 14500.
Visually these are comparable -
however, remember the low uses PWM so may affect the photos.
I'll use the UltraFire SK68 as a sort of benchmark to compare all the other lights -
no name zoomable 14500/AA -
vs UltraFire SK68
comparable - although the SK68 may just be a bit brighter? -
again can't really see it in use.
This no name actaully is my favorite - mainly because of its form factor - it is easily pocketable.
But beware it is harder to find, and there are versions with single mode -
I actually use a single mode one, and only on NiMH - carrying around the house
as I find the even beam and moderate brightness is very useful.
SkyWolfEye E527 -
vs. UltraFire SK68
looks about the same performance as the no name - so why the no name? because this SkyWolfEye is noticeably longer and there is no clip.
SkyWolfEye E502 -
vs. UltraFire SK68 -
again comparable...
Probe Shiny -
This one's slightly different in turning that gold ring to zoom.
Also notice that very aggressive saw tooth pattern on the bezel - making it very uncomfortable to pocket carry and handle.
vs. UltraFire SK68
pretty much comparable again....
So these 6 flashlights are pretty comparable - it almost can be down to the looks or style.
I still like the ubiquitous UltraFire SK68 most as a flashlight, followed closely by the SupWildFire because it resets its mode.
Having said that, the one I use the most is the no name, but in a single mode and only on NiMH.
OK what about that Dollar Tree telescoping light?
These do come in colors, but for some reason when I first saw them, reminded me of the SureFire G2!
Running on 3xAAA this is probably direct drive via a resistor?
vs. UltraFire SK68
not very bright - about the same as the SK68 on low using NiMH -
but it is more than adequate for seeing way round the house, and for examining things when more light is needed
and that lensed even beam is superior to other flashlights.
It's a bargain for a buck!
EDIT to ADD -
Interesting, I just received another UltraFire SK68 (in black) and this new one resets the mode after being Off for a period.
Whereas my two other samples - 4 years and about a week old both will go to next mode after being Off for almost any length of time.
CORRECTION -
Some of these cheapie 14500/AA zoomable flashlights will eventually reset back to default High - "eventually" is the operative word -
some do it within a very timely period like the SupWildFire -
others will eventually do it sometimes it taking several hours.
2 lights actually have last memory mode - the Probe Shiny (the one with the sawtooth bezel) and the SkyWolfEye E527 (the green/gray).
Sorry for my mistake.
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