Surefire Bummer!

[jbosman1013]

I have a similar problem with my L2, sent it in for service and when it came back the output seemed to be greater with really good color rendition but it has a big donut. I sent a email to surefire just waiting on a response. do you think you loose throw by having a big donut

 

[Art Vandelay]

Now they are pushing a new LED light from china that they have been using, costs less than streamlight but has an honest 140 lumens and is way brighter even than the fancy Gladiator. Huntlight I think is the brand. They really like them and have sold a ton of them, and get this, they have not had a single one, nada, zip, zero, come back. I was going to get one but they had sold all the stock they had to a local cop shop So i will suffer on with my rechargable stinger till then.

This is the light you are talking about. http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/huntlight_ft01xse.htm
You can get it at lighthound.com for less than $85. http://www.lighthound.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=329
It has 5 levels, it's brighter, and runs longer, and its ability to run on 18650s has not been disabled.

 

[r0b0r]

Who knows what kind of people work at surefire, there could be a fair few braindead blobs working below minimum wage sorting through RMA'd flashlights and replacing bits!

 

[Hellz]

I had the very opposite of this situation. I bought a KL4 secondhand to go on my E2e body and was very dissapointed; dodgy tint and a huge dirty coloured doughnut in the middle of the beam... it ended up in a draw.

When I found it several months later it had developed a rattle, so I decided I had nothing to lose sending it off to Surefire. They took their sweet time, but ended up sending me a new head with a flawless beam and a white tint!

My KL4 + E2e body + McClicky tailcap is now my EDC/ENC and I can see it being so for a long time. I'm chuffed to bits with it!



Patrick

 

[TKC]

I would send it back!! That is not right!! :thumbsdow

 

[Firehose]

I agree. Send it back.

I am sure other lite mauf's wouldn't have handled it the same way.

 

[jbosman1013]

surefire gave me a reason for the dark spot they said that the led they use is a 4 die led and the space between is the reason for the dark spot, does anyone else think this is a line of BS.

 

[Gointothelight]

surefire gave me a reason for the dark spot they said that the led they use is a 4 die led and the space between is the reason for the dark spot, does anyone else think this is a line of BS.

That's BS, and not even good BS

 

[Luna]

That's BS, and not even good BS

It is the truth. Remember that the reflector is just that, a reflector. It projects light and dark regions. You can defocus the beam a little and the spot is not as prononced. The center region plus the squareness of the die being projected by a round reflector creates the null. Tint and phosphor differennces can make it more or less noticable.

 

[Gointothelight]

I'd love to see a thread dedicated to donuts (probably already is one). I'm surprised to see some people write that they're no big deal. I find them completely unacceptable. As Zapper said, you don't find them in a Streamlight or in a Fenix (at least I haven't) why are they in a $300 light and why would anyone say "that's no big deal." Donuts wreck a beam, whether it's a shelf light or work light (worse for a work light) and they ARE NOT unavoidable... I returned two U2s in a row back to Surefire because they had donuts AND the 3rd one arrived with NO DONUT. So, Surefire CAN produce a light without a donut when pressed. That's why I say it's BS when they claim it can't be avoided. I have to say, that donut-free U2 is theprize of my collection as BOTH a work light and a show light, but I had to work for it.

 

[ensile]

higher expectations or not, the surefire is a premium brand, with premium construction and a premium price tag.. imo, second rate mount of the LED and dirt under the part of the light in which in all common sence requires to be as clean as possible, is not screaming "premium" so yes mate return it and hopefully they do it right next time.

 

[selfbuilt]

There have been a number of threads on donuts over the years - they are a specific problem with lux V lights (which is why you don't see them in SL and Fenix lights, they typically stick with the cheaper lux I & III emitters). The problem is often accentuated by the yellow phosphor-tint shift in the center, making it look even worse than it actually is (i.e. as measured by a light-meter).

They certainly can be compensated for to some degree with reflector placement - as evidenced by the good examples of L2/L4/U2s out there. But it's not easy to do, so some degree of "donut-ness" needs to be accepted on these lux V lights. The question, as always, is how much. Something of a judgement call that's highly personal (and ultimately unresolvable here, it seems to me).

My L2 is a great light, but the donut does bug me (seems to be ~ average, from beamshots I've seen here). Not enough for me to send it in for a replacement, but I can fully understand if someone else finds it objectionable enough to. Seems to me it's the price Surefire must pay for selling premium lights at premium prices (and the price we have to pay in waiting for ever for warranty service! ).

 

[ensile]

how far-away would the Cree version of the U2 be ?

 

[mebiuspower]

I find it funny that people go nuts over donuts... (pun not intended)

If you can't see it in any other condition other than pointing the light at a white wall, then I personally wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

 

[tussery]

There have been a number of threads on donuts over the years - they are a specific problem with lux V lights (which is why you don't see them in SL and Fenix lights, they typically stick with the cheaper lux I & III emitters). The problem is often accentuated by the yellow phosphor-tint shift in the center, making it look even worse than it actually is (i.e. as measured by a light-meter).

They certainly can be compensated for to some degree with reflector placement - as evidenced by the good examples of L2/L4/U2s out there. But it's not easy to do, so some degree of "donut-ness" needs to be accepted on these lux V lights. The question, as always, is how much. Something of a judgement call that's highly personal (and ultimately unresolvable here, it seems to me).

My L2 is a great light, but the donut does bug me (seems to be ~ average, from beamshots I've seen here). Not enough for me to send it in for a replacement, but I can fully understand if someone else finds it objectionable enough to. Seems to me it's the price Surefire must pay for selling premium lights at premium prices (and the price we have to pay in waiting for ever for warranty service! ).

Blasphemy, it's easier to blame Surefire than the design of a LED.

 

[zapper]

Wellll... If I remember correctly, the Space Needle with a Lux V and 3 CR123's was, and still is, an awesome throwing light with lots of Lux V goodness spill available. I can't say anyone ever had a doughnut problem with those. I think it's just a matter of QC. Why do some SF's arrive doughnut free and others do not? Some reflectors are better than others at this as well. I've modified a few lights and with some reflectors there's no adjusting the doughnut out and others of the same diameter just work. Since SF uses the same optic in their Lux V lights, it logically seams to come down to QC, luck and give a crap attitude at the point of construction by the assembler.:thinking: :shrug:

 

[todo]

Most SF owners expectations are WAY to high. Because of SF marketing we are led to believe their flashlights are nearly indestructible, and FAR superior to other brands. Just because you fall for the hype and spend 230+ dollars for a flashlight, dont expect it to be indestructible. The U2 is just another flashlight, with the same failure capability, its vastly superior quality and durability is all marketing.

 

[woodrow]

Sorry to hear about your U2. I would write a polite but firm letter and send it back.

 

[Outdoors Fanatic]

Most SF owners expectations are WAY to high. Because of SF marketing we are led to believe their flashlights are nearly indestructible, and FAR superior to other brands. Just because you fall for the hype and spend 230+ dollars for a flashlight, dont expect it to be indestructible. The U2 is just another flashlight, with the same failure capability, its vastly superior quality and durability is all marketing.

I've never seen a SureFire break or quit working, and I own quite a bit of them. My main activities are caving, climbing and long-distance trekking. Unlike most CPFers, who are night dog-walkers and midnight bathroom explorers. SureFire IS vastly superior to any thing I've owned or seen, no questions about it. Don't knock it if you can't afford it. Let me guess, you are just another euro citizen from some socialist country and you only can afford el crapo from China. Gotta lova the "strong" socialist Europe...

 

[nerdgineer]

...Don't knock it if you can't afford it. Let me guess, you are just another euro citizen from some socialist country and you only can afford el crapo from China. Gotta lova the "strong" socialist Europe...

Whoa...

It's just a flashlight OF. I don't think we were discussing political systems here. I'm glad you like yours and that you feel comfortable using it in edgy environments

I'm sorry campdavid doesn't like his and I think SF does have some customer service issues, but that's just my opinion (and some polling results...).

I don't think Fenix is an "el crapo" from China - it is a tough and viable competitor in this market and denial of that fact isn't going to change that. And I live in SoCal and am not socialist (in Orange County, CA, that is...) - although I am pretty much a dog walker and bathroom finder.....