Sofirn C01 Potted AAA w High CRI

[defloyd77]

For those keeping track, my Nov. 21 order landed on Tuesday.

I could only order one, cool white, light at that time. I have an order from Nov. 23 coming with the 3200K model.

I am very impressed with this light so far. Finish and function are superb, silky smooth threads, but firm enough not to turn on its own. I did add a small bit of Nyogel, it looked like it may have some light lube on it, but so little I could not be sure it wasn't dry. Surprised to hear of a bad finish, I recall a close up of the light that was thrown in the air and at the ground where the magnet hole was dented in, but the finish still intact. Defects will always happen though, just at varying frequencies. Time and pocket wear will tell, and a bare, polished C01 would be kinda cool too.

Man, I ordered mine Nov. 10, the tracking says it's still in China.

 

[iamlucky13]

For those keeping track, my Nov. 21 order landed on Tuesday.

I could only order one, cool white, light at that time. I have an order from Nov. 23 coming with the 3200K model.

I am very impressed with this light so far. Finish and function are superb, silky smooth threads, but firm enough not to turn on its own. I did add a small bit of Nyogel, it looked like it may have some light lube on it, but so little I could not be sure it wasn't dry. Surprised to hear of a bad finish, I recall a close up of the light that was thrown in the air and at the ground where the magnet hole was dented in, but the finish still intact. Defects will always happen though, just at varying frequencies. Time and pocket wear will tell, and a bare, polished C01 would be kinda cool too.

Congrats on being one of the first in the US to receive one Hondo! How's it compare to your Yuji-modded Infinity? I assume a little bit dimmer, but any other thoughts?

I'm hoping knucklegary will follow up and confirm whether he had the finish peel off a C01, or if he was referring to a past shipment. Anodizing doesn't peel in my experience, but rather tends to chip in very, very small patches.

 

[Hondo]

That is a tough compare, as the Infinity is a 3200K mod. But I definitely see the hotspot that has been described on the C01. Nothing like a Nichia mind you, but it has a cute little hotspot in the beam. It looks so frigid compared to my 3200, but when I grab a light with a Nichia CS, DS or GS, I can really appreciate the HCRI. It is putting out less light than the Infinity, but it's really not that noticeable. I do see less light in the spill, but the slight hotspot gives it the same throw at the center.

Just did a little current measurement, and the Gerber is pulling 120 mA, the C01 80 mA, both on NiMH's that have not been charged for a couple of days. So, should last 10 hours on an Eneloop if you go until it starts to dim. I don't use alkalines in my lights, but over 30 hours with the moonlight tail sounds very believable. If I remember correctly, this is about the power my older E01's pulled, but I got a later model, and they had increased it a lot, like almost double, but with little improvement in perceived brightness. I always preferred the older, lower output model. I can say already that I like it better than the E01, both for the lower power consumption, and even more for the high CRI and more useful up-close beam profile.

 

[Random Dan]

I finally had chance today to actually play around with my C01s today. The quality on both appears to be excellent with no detectable flaws. The cool LED gives a bit more brightness and a hint of a hotspot, but both are rather dim and floody as to be expected. Perfect amount of light for within 5-10ft in darkness. The little bits of potting I can see appear to be solid. The pocket clip is working well so far.

Overall I would say it's a winner! Several good improvements on the classic ARC/E01 design.

 

[gurdygurds]

This is the first official "I like it better than the E01" that I've read. In all honesty at first I was hoping it would be a total flop. But then I started to realize how silly it is to think like that. Glad you dig the C01 Hondo. Now we see if Fenix responds and how. Good times.

That is a tough compare, as the Infinity is a 3200K mod. But I definitely see the hotspot that has been described on the C01. Nothing like a Nichia mind you, but it has a cute little hotspot in the beam. It looks so frigid compared to my 3200, but when I grab a light with a Nichia CS, DS or GS, I can really appreciate the HCRI. It is putting out less light than the Infinity, but it's really not that noticeable. I do see less light in the spill, but the slight hotspot gives it the same throw at the center.

Just did a little current measurement, and the Gerber is pulling 120 mA, the C01 80 mA, both on NiMH's that have not been charged for a couple of days. So, should last 10 hours on an Eneloop if you go until it starts to dim. I don't use alkalines in my lights, but over 30 hours with the moonlight tail sounds very believable. If I remember correctly, this is about the power my older E01's pulled, but I got a later model, and they had increased it a lot, like almost double, but with little improvement in perceived brightness. I always preferred the older, lower output model. I can say already that I like it better than the E01, both for the lower power consumption, and even more for the high CRI and more useful up-close beam profile.

 

[Tixx]

I too have both color temps -- in regular Photon Freedoms. I absolutely love them; 3200K for night reading, especially -- dimmed to proper reading level. Also, they fit great in the coin pocket of jeans -- I attach a little lanyard with some kind of bead at the end to remove it from the pocket.
Been meaning to mod a Covert.

I keep thinking about getting a Sofirn C01 -- but guess I might wait to see how everyone likes them. Peeling paint gives me pause.

They are nice. I have 2 of each right now. Want to check if I put a QTC in the bottom that it would be a nice ramping like the Photon Freedom. Will see maybe tonight. One mode is good. Just too bright for night around the house. Though the floodiness helps in that area.

 

[gurdygurds]

Oh Tixx please do that if you have a chance and report back. Would you pull the spring out and drop a QTC "pill" in?

They are nice. I have 2 of each right now. Want to check if I put a QTC in the bottom that it would be a nice ramping like the Photon Freedom. Will see maybe tonight. One mode is good. Just too bright for night around the house. Though the floodiness helps in that area.

 

[jon_slider]

I am very impressed with this light so far. Finish and function are superb, silky smooth threads, but firm enough not to turn on its own.
...
I can say already that I like it better than the E01, both for the lower power consumption, and even more for the high CRI and more useful up-close beam profile.

so far so good

The quality on both appears to be excellent with no detectable flaws. ...Perfect amount of light for within 5-10ft in darkness. The little bits of potting I can see appear to be solid. The pocket clip is working well so far.

Overall I would say it's a winner! Several good improvements on the classic ARC/E01 design.

:thumbsup:

They are nice. I have 2 of each right now.

glad you are all enjoying your new lights

we have slowtechstef and djozz to thank for moving the project forward with Sofirn, after Fenix chose not to take it on, when I contacted them.

 

[Timothybil]

I went back and checked my email. Mine go t shipped on Nov 30, but I didn't pay for tracking so have no idea where it is right now, probably still in China. It would be nice if it got here before Christmas.

I ordered one of each. I am not a fan of cool white, but when I looked at the beam shots I like the 3200k even less. My sweet spot is around 4000K or so.

 

[Hondo]

Having used a 3200K in my Gerber for almost a year, I think you will like it. They are both at near extreme ends of the spectrum of what I like, and I think the coolest thing would be a multi-LED light with half 3200K's and half 5600K's. So far, the thing that I like most about the 5600K is the ability to throw a bit farther at a lower power level due to the mild focus which gives a higher flux at the center of the beam. At least on my modded Gerber, there is very little difference across the whole beam of the 3200K. I hope to know soon how the 3200K C01's look, and I would prefer if they also had the mild hotspot of the 5600K's.

 

[defloyd77]

I went back and checked my email. Mine go t shipped on Nov 30, but I didn't pay for tracking so have no idea where it is right now, probably still in China. It would be nice if it got here before Christmas.

I ordered one of each. I am not a fan of cool white, but when I looked at the beam shots I like the 3200k even less. My sweet spot is around 4000K or so.

You don't have to pay for the tracking, it comes with the free option. If you have an Ali account go to your orders page and there should be a tracking thing you can click on.

Having used a 3200K in my Gerber for almost a year, I think you will like it. They are both at near extreme ends of the spectrum of what I like, and I think the coolest thing would be a multi-LED light with half 3200K's and half 5600K's. So far, the thing that I like most about the 5600K is the ability to throw a bit farther at a lower power level due to the mild focus which gives a higher flux at the center of the beam. At least on my modded Gerber, there is very little difference across the whole beam of the 3200K. I hope to know soon how the 3200K C01's look, and I would prefer if they also had the mild hotspot of the 5600K's.

I'm 98% sure the reason the 3200K doesn't have that little hotspot is because the extra phosphor makes the apparent die size larger and therefore harder to focus to a pinpoint spot.

 

[staticx57]

I went back and checked my email. Mine go t shipped on Nov 30, but I didn't pay for tracking so have no idea where it is right now, probably still in China. It would be nice if it got here before Christmas.

I ordered one of each. I am not a fan of cool white, but when I looked at the beam shots I like the 3200k even less. My sweet spot is around 4000K or so.

if you have never seen cool white and a high CRI at the same time you might change your mind on cool white.

 

[Warmcopper123]

Kinda wishing I had gone with the 5600 now. Havnt received the 3200 yet and I love warm tints but the 5600 looks like a great balance between the e01 and warm 3200. I didn't realize how low the output would be .

I still don't know if I will trust this light as my 100% edc moving forward.I just don't see how they can sell it for so cheap even if made in China

time will tell

 

[Timothybil]

Does anyone know where I can find a trit vial for the tail cap? My memory is saying the slot is 1mmx5mm, but the smallest I can find is 1.5mmx6mm. Since we are not supposed to insert outside links, just tell me the name of the supplier or PM me.

Thanks in advance

 

[staticx57]

It is a 1.5x6 slot

 

[LeanBurn]

:thumbsup:

 

[jon_slider]

Gentlemen, we are drifting into comparing the Sofirn C01 to other lights. I think we are not supposed to do that. This thread was started because comparisons were unwelcome in the dedicated Fenix thread. Lets not turn the Sofirn thread into a, which is better argument.

this thread is just about a single light.

Moderators frown on discussing other lights in threads with a specific single light in the title.

I suggest those of you who want to explore, compare, contrast, or argue about, which light is better than another, please use this comparison thread.
Compare-and-Contrast-the-Sofirn-C01-to-the-Fenix-E01


Shipping update:
My Sofirn C01 tracking number is now in the USPS system, and shows my lights are now in California, just 30 miles away from me. The next stop is my local post office.. which means I might have my order within the next week.

I also got an update from Sofirn that they have extended my buyer protection period. Things are moving along as expected, I paid a low price, and the order takes about a month to arrive.. thats OK with me..

most of the delay was before the light actually got into the Cargo Shipping Container in China, which it did on 11/26.. it arrived in San Francisco 10 days later, two post office hops away from me.

my original order date was 11/10, but I suspect Sofirn needed some time to get organized before being ready to ship the first run, it took them 16 days to get the lights into Cargo. Regardless, I will have my lights before Xmas!

I suspect in future orders, fullfillment will be faster.


Stay tuned for the beam shots to follow, they will probably be in the comparison thread.

 

[bigburly912]

Welp. My order has went from China to New York to Connecticut to New Jersey to Atlanta to Chicago. Figuring lost in the mail. Oh well. I'll wait til some come stateside before ordering again.

 

[Modernflame]

That sucks, dude. Mine are still in pre-shipment in China.

 

[gurdygurds]

I decided a few days ago that I was gonna stop checking the tracking on this thing. I figure I will semi-forget about it and if and when it shows up it will be a happy surprise. Seems like a winner from the first impressions i've read.