Do you factor in end user serviceability as part of reliability/durability?

[Schokokeks]

Hopefully we can look forward to some commentary on that, as / when appropriate(?). I'm sure it would be received with some interest in these parts

Yeah, when I get it, I'll mess around with it for a bit, and post up some comments.

The only downside is I don't think I have any unprotected 18350s...I might need to look into getting one of those.

[Sigh] I REALLY hate the lack of sizing standards for Li-ion cells :/

 

[aznsx]

Yeah, when I get it, I'll mess around with it for a bit, and post up some comments.

The only downside is I don't think I have any unprotected 18350s...I might need to look into getting one of those.

[Sigh] I REALLY hate the lack of sizing standards for Li-ion cells :/

That'll be fine, whatever you power it with. Most of the comments / opinions I'm most interested in can be observed without even powering the light on, as the power-on part is more LED module-specific. Most of my interest would involve light modules I currently have and am already familiar with. I'm assuming Malkoff M61 modules should work with that platform(?). Hope U like it.

 

[Schokokeks]

That'll be fine, whatever you power it with. Most of the comments / opinions I'm most interested in can be observed without even powering the light on, as the power-on part is more LED module-specific. Most of my interest would involve light modules I currently have and am already familiar with. I'm assuming Malkoff M61 modules should work with that platform(?). Hope U like it.

Yeah, that's actually one of the things I'm interested to see; how compatible is it with the Malkoff ecosystem.

 

[cerbie]

+

Yep, P60 lights are about as serviceable as you'll get.

Make flashlights great again!
View attachment 66279

Indeed, and you can get them here, on Ebay, from Kaidomain, Lumens Factory, and more. In fact, you should all get lots of them from Lumens Factory, before my resistance to the temptation of the new Seraph line runs out ("I already have too many hosts that need to be made into full lights," I tell myself). But, you have to get just the right parts, to do more than maybe 10W or so, continuously and safely, and those are not easy to come by, today. Plus, DIY dropin options are limited, these days.

As to the OP's HDS concern, sewing pins can poke at the plugs/glue, and start getting the tailcap open. There's not much to damage, unless you're exceptionally reckless. I've had one open because the retention cable got loose, and started coming out. Henry gave me some tip on how to bend the end, IIRC, and it's been fine for years, now. It can be serviced, if you really need to do it, and it isn't brain surgery.

IMO, the big question on HDS vs Malkoff should be your lows, if you want to go with AAs or not, and if you want pocket clips. Malkoff's will have a less throwy beam, with a lot of medium-angle spill, but no real low output. HDS lights will have a more traditional beam, and will go absurdly low. But, the AA tube makes the whole thing long, heavy, and bulky, compared to a 16340 or 18650, while MDC AA bodies are thinner and lighter. Pocket clips available for HDS lights just aren't as good, unless you get good ones and drill your own holes in the head, as what come with Malkoff MDC bodies. But, did I mention that the HDS lights will go to crazy low outputs?

 

[Monocrom]

Simple and easy solution.... Buy both!

 

[Schokokeks]

Indeed, and you can get them here, on Ebay, from Kaidomain, Lumens Factory, and more. In fact, you should all get lots of them from Lumens Factory, before my resistance to the temptation of the new Seraph line runs out ("I already have too many hosts that need to be made into full lights," I tell myself). But, you have to get just the right parts, to do more than maybe 10W or so, continuously and safely, and those are not easy to come by, today. Plus, DIY dropin options are limited, these days.

As to the OP's HDS concern, sewing pins can poke at the plugs/glue, and start getting the tailcap open. There's not much to damage, unless you're exceptionally reckless. I've had one open because the retention cable got loose, and started coming out. Henry gave me some tip on how to bend the end, IIRC, and it's been fine for years, now. It can be serviced, if you really need to do it, and it isn't brain surgery.

IMO, the big question on HDS vs Malkoff should be your lows, if you want to go with AAs or not, and if you want pocket clips. Malkoff's will have a less throwy beam, with a lot of medium-angle spill, but no real low output. HDS lights will have a more traditional beam, and will go absurdly low. But, the AA tube makes the whole thing long, heavy, and bulky, compared to a 16340 or 18650, while MDC AA bodies are thinner and lighter. Pocket clips available for HDS lights just aren't as good, unless you get good ones and drill your own holes in the head, as what come with Malkoff MDC bodies. But, did I mention that the HDS lights will go to crazy low outputs?

That's some interesting insights into HDS.

I live in an area with pretty much constant ambient lighting, so low lows aren't really important (the low of the MDC AA is perfectly fine indoors). The UI of the HDS is really what interests me... But, as you note, the 2xAA is unwieldy, and I generally am trying to reduce the amount of Li-ion lights I have, because I hate having orphaned, but perfectly fine batteries if a light breaks. Thus waiting to see if the next generation will do a single AA.


Also, you SHOULD get the new modular Seraph. I just got mine in a week or so ago. It's neat. I still need to get an 18350 that will work in it (god, I hate that Li-ion cells have zero standardization), but it works fine with an 18650.
I'd strongly recommend getting one with a drop-in (it's only $20 more), and I'd also strongly recommend just getting a single mode. Switching between the three modes is really inconsistent because it has a memory mode, and so you always end up needing to click more times than you'd think. I got the 3000K 519A, and it looks fantastic. I also REALLY like the grip ring on it. It makes it VERY comfortable to hold.
It's not as refined as a Malkoff, but for ~1/3 of the cost, it's really impressive. It's easily the best light I've held that was made in China, fit and finish wise (it seems about as nicely made as Weltool, but has, by far, the best anodizing I've seen on a Chinese light. Not QUITE US levels of anodizing, but a noticeable step up from anything else I've held from China).

 

[cerbie]

Also, you SHOULD get the new modular Seraph.

I also REALLY like the grip ring on it. It makes it VERY comfortable to hold.

No doubt. Comfiness:

It's just that I have 2 more like that (both empty), 3 in black (2 empty), a G2ZL in OD (empty), 3 Z70s (empty and no tailcaps), and a C2 - plus maybe a 6Z, that I lost in moving, which may or may not show up again. Of just those, 8 still need to be turned into working flashlights, again. So, I was able to hold temptation at bay, and just get mostly parts I already had plans for (like tailcaps for the Z70s, and a bunch of grip rings). Next up, more high-CRI M61s...

 

[Schokokeks]

No doubt. Comfiness:View attachment 66639It's just that I have 2 more like that (both empty), 3 in black (2 empty), a G2ZL in OD (empty), 3 Z70s (empty and no tailcaps), and a C2 - plus maybe a 6Z, that I lost in moving, which may or may not show up again. Of just those, 8 still need to be turned into working flashlights, again. So, I was able to hold temptation at bay, and just get mostly parts I already had plans for (like tailcaps for the Z70s, and a bunch of grip rings). Next up, more high-CRI M61s...

Ah, that makes sense. I don't have any spare hosts, so getting a modular body with a working drop-in for $48 seemed like a good way to take the sting out of that $18 shipping, haha.

 

[cerbie]

Ah, that makes sense. I don't have any spare hosts, so getting a modular body with a working drop-in for $48 seemed like a good way to take the sting out of that $18 shipping, haha.

Especially if you get more than one, and some accessories!

Another benefit, too, is being able to get a clicky, and if needed, a McClicky upgrade, easily. I destroyed one G2 tailcap, trying to get the old retaining ring out. Even after penetrating oil, boiling, and freezing, it would not budge. Eventually, I gave it the business, and when it gave way, it split the tailcap. So, all my plastic hosts are momentary/twist plungers, and staying that way. Meanwhile, 3A from an 18650, especially to a switching driver, can probably outrun the host's heatsinking capacity, if the Seraph is a universal P60 host (flat top shelf designs can handle more, but they tend to either lose wide dropin compatibility, or have very poor heatsinking with tapered dropins), with hundreds of constant lumens OTF.