Microfire Warrior III K3500R 35W HID - Mini Review - Many Images and BeamShots

[whc]

Borrowed this monster to do a review for a Danish website, thought why not post a mini review here also .

This is my first tryout with the HID bulb, have dedicated myself to the LED, so don't have any other HID to compare with, and it is really an unfair challenge between a HID flashlight and a LED flashlight.

Specs from the manufacturer:

Specifications:
Feature: HID (High Intensity Discharge) handheld tactical / searching flashlight, instant activating
Model: K3500R
Bulb: K3-HID-Bulb, lifespan 3,000 hours
Power: 35W
Colour temperature: 7000K
Beam divergence adjustable: 15¡ã - 24¡ã
Runtime and Brightness: 3500 lumens max / 55 minutes approximately
Switch: tactical button switch
Body: Aircraft grade aluminium CNC, hard anodized
Housing diameter: 44mm
Bezel diameter: 76mm
Length: 252mm
Weight: 800g approximately
Water resistant: splash proof
Operation temperature: -10¡ãC ------ +60¡ãC
Color: Tactical black

Arrived in two nice gift boxes, where the flashlight itself is in the one box, and the charger in the other box. The flashlight came disassembled, that will say the body and head was in each own compartment in the box.

Fit and finish is perfect, seams very well made, no flaws in HA (appears to be only HAII though), and machining is without any marks.

This is really a big flashlight in its class, manufacturer uses the term "tactical" flashlight, though did not find it comfortably to hold when using it for tactical purpose, and the HID bulb takes about 1 seconds to reach full output, not ideal for momentary tactical use IMO.

The switch is really nice though, it is a true forward clicky which is very smooth and silent, reminds me about the one in my VB-16, with has about the same smoothness and silence, like it allot.

You can set the focus of the beam by turning the bezel ring, and then turning the head left or right, to obtain just the right amount of throw or flood, and then you tighten the bezel ring. Though am missing some more throw, even though the hot spot is pretty tight, still not as tight as some of the throw monsters of the LED lights.

Surprisingly the tint is very white, more towards the cool white, but no yellow at all as I personally was expecting.

Well enough readings here is some images .

From left: WarriorIII, WF-500L, VB-16 4th gen., L1D-CE, 120P, LF2

Now to some beamshots .

Left: WarriorIII, Right: WF500L with SSC P4

Left: WarriorIII, Right: WF500L with SSC P4, 2-stops underexposed

Left: WarriorIII, Right: VB-16 4th gen.

Left: WarriorIII, Right: VB-16 4th gen., 2-stops underexposed

WarriorIII

WF500L (same place)

Left: WarriorIII, Right: WF500L with SSC P4

Left: 120P, Right: WarriorIII

Left: 120P, Right: WarriorIII, 2-stops underexposed

More WarriorIII throw shots

---

Could not take overall lux readings, since the head was too big to fit in my lightbox, so only throw is what I can provide for this review.

Luxreading Throw: 105300 Lux (yep hundredfivethousindtreehundred)

Runtime: 59 min 02 sec, very flat output, did not notice any drop in output.

thats all folks .

 

[woodrow]

Re: Microfire Warrior III K3500R - Mini Review - Many Images and BeamShots

Nice, Nice, Nice!!! review. You make it obvious that when one Really wants some light...HID is the way to go. Thanks for such detailed photos of the product and for the # of comparison beamshots...especially the outdoor ones.

 

[Chao]

Re: Microfire Warrior III K3500R - Mini Review - Many Images and BeamShots

Hi whc, many thanks for this great review and pics,:twothumbs

Luxreading Throw: 105300 Lux (yep hundredfivethousindtreehundred)

Runtime: 59 min 02 sec, very flat output, did not notice any drop in output.

and wow, the lux reading:bow:

 

[Patriot]

Re: Microfire Warrior III K3500R - Mini Review - Many Images and BeamShots

Nice review! Great shots! I'm impressed with the warrior III.

 

[Daekar]

Re: Microfire Warrior III K3500R - Mini Review - Many Images and BeamShots

Hey WHC, nice beamshots! I have a few questions:

1) Is the light really as blue as it looks in the pictures? The high color-temperature rating is scaring alot of people away from buying this light... so if it's not too bad or the bulb is replaceable with a lower-temp one, I think they'd sell more.

2) How heavy is it? The reason I ask is, my Boxer24 looks heavy but isn't because of all the empty space in the body (really they could've made the body a little bit slimmer and maintained the same wall thickness IMHO), is it the same with this light?

3) Does it really have a ONE SECOND warm-up time? That's... well, way ****ing faster than my Boxer24.

4) In the pictures, the reflector appears to be either lightly stippled or smooth depending on which shot I look at... what's the reflector like?

5) How fast does the battery charge?

 

[whc]

Re: Microfire Warrior III K3500R - Mini Review - Many Images and BeamShots

Hey WHC, nice beamshots! I have a few questions:

1) Is the light really as blue as it looks in the pictures? The high color-temperature rating is scaring alot of people away from buying this light... so if it's not too bad or the bulb is replaceable with a lower-temp one, I think they'd sell more.

2) How heavy is it? The reason I ask is, my Boxer24 looks heavy but isn't because of all the empty space in the body (really they could've made the body a little bit slimmer and maintained the same wall thickness IMHO), is it the same with this light?

3) Does it really have a ONE SECOND warm-up time? That's... well, way ****ing faster than my Boxer24.

4) In the pictures, the reflector appears to be either lightly stippled or smooth depending on which shot I look at... what's the reflector like?

5) How fast does the battery charge?

1) Will say it is very cool white, white with some blue to it. It is always hard to capture tint in images, IRL it does not appear to be as blue as some of the throw shots makes it look like.

2) It weighs 827,5g to be exactly precise, it is heavy, but also makes it feel really tough, did not find the weight to be a problem at all (but that is a matter of taste IMO).

3) No would say it takes about 5-10 seconds to reach full brightness (I counted backwards from 10 inside my head every time I turned it on, and that seams to be the time before it is warmed completely up).

4) Not really smooth, not really stippled, would call it "frosty" or some thing like that, have not seen a reflector quite like this before.

5) Forgot to time the charging, but it is not too fast IMO, though cannot say a precise time, since I did not time it.

 

[Patriot]

Re: Microfire Warrior III K3500R - Mini Review - Many Images and BeamShots

3) No would say it takes about 5-10 seconds to reach full brightness (I counted backwards from 10 inside my head every time I turned it on, and that seams to be the time before it is warmed completely up).quote]

5-10 second warm up time for an HID is really fast! My AE24/S takes a good 20-25 seconds before it's really blazing. Every time I look at this review I start contemplating the purchase.

 

[whc]

Re: Microfire Warrior III K3500R - Mini Review - Many Images and BeamShots

3) No would say it takes about 5-10 seconds to reach full brightness (I counted backwards from 10 inside my head every time I turned it on, and that seams to be the time before it is warmed completely up).quote]

5-10 second warm up time for an HID is really fast! My AE24/S takes a good 20-25 seconds before it's really blazing. Every time I look at this review I start contemplating the purchase.

And I thought the Warrior III was slow at worm up . But overall i would say it is well worth the money, a very well build flashlight with awesome output.

 

[Patriot]

Since most all of my HIDs have smooth reflectors and are great throwers, I like the idea of the frosted reflector and the "wall of light" (compared too other HID lights) effect that I see in the pictures. The only thing that could be better is if it came with two reflectors, one smooth and one frosted. What a neat combo that would be.

 

[Patriot]

whc, now that you've had your light for a couple of weeks is it still living up to your expectations? Anything about it now that you don't like?

Thanks

 

[whc]

whc, now that you've had your light for a couple of weeks is it still living up to your expectations? Anything about it now that you don't like?

Thanks

Don't have the light, only borrowed it to do a review for a Danish website, had it for a few days, so hard to say how it is on the long run ...

 

[Patriot]

Don't have the light, only borrowed it to do a review for a Danish website, had it for a few days, so hard to say how it is on the long run ...

I see now that you said right at the top of your OP that it was borrowed.

I guess that I've been a little silly at the thought of ordering one of these for the past two weeks. I thought the WE/Boxer/24w was well constructed and performed great for it's size. I actually sold that light but sometimes I miss it. The pictures that you posted were great and it does appear to be a notch higher in quality that my Boxer. The machining and parts look nicer to me and it appears to be finished better. I never cared for the finish of WE light all that much. Your review has drawn me more to this light than any of the other threads.

Thanks again whc :thumbsup:

 

[whc]

I know exactly how you are feeling, after doing this review I also had thought very intensively about buying this flashlight, was just so amazed about the output you could get from this flashlight, man I thought I had bright LED flashlights, but nothing compares to this .

Though it is not in the cheap end, even though the US dollar is very low, it is still at a price that is just a tad more that I can justify for, I mean 90% of the time it is my EDC 120P that I uses, rest of the time my bigger VB-16, and rarely has need for the amount of output from the WIII, maybe for about 2-5% of the time, that is just allot of money to spend on a item that will only be used rarely, so that made me drop the idea of getting one, though am still in the search of a more cheap HID or maybe a multi LED flashlight. But right now I am saving my money for the upcoming flashlights from HDS .

 

[Patriot]

I know exactly how you are feeling, after doing this review I also had thought very intensively about buying this flashlight, was just so amazed about the output you could get from this flashlight, man I thought I had bright LED flashlights, but nothing compares to this .

Though it is not in the cheap end, even though the US dollar is very low, it is still at a price that is just a tad more that I can justify for, I mean 90% of the time it is my EDC 120P that I uses, rest of the time my bigger VB-16, and rarely has need for the amount of output from the WIII, maybe for about 2-5% of the time, that is just allot of money to spend on a item that will only be used rarely, so that made me drop the idea of getting one, though am still in the search of a more cheap HID or maybe a multi LED flashlight. But right now I am saving my money for the upcoming flashlights from HDS .

Well you're picture intensive review inspired me to pull the trigger on this thing. Mine will be arriving on Thursday.

 

[whc]

Well you're picture intensive review inspired me to pull the trigger on this thing. Mine will be arriving on Thursday.

Did you get your WIII yet?

 

[Patriot]

No....I didn't. I purchased the light and overnight shipping, but the following day I was sent an automatic email saying that it was back-ordered. Since it was automated, no ETA was given.
Although I wanted to inquire about ETA and ended up canceling my order.


To make a long story short, it will be another 2-4 weeks before I have one. Thanks for asking though. I've saved one of your Warrior pictures to my desktop to stare at while I wait. :shrug:

 

[whc]

To bad, waiting time is always the hardest . But when you get it would be interesting to hear your opinion when you get it, after all you have some more experience with HID flashlights than me, would be nice to hear if you like this monster ...

 

[picard]

where can one buy microfire online in the US?

 

[Border]

where can one buy microfire online in the US?

I have seen Microfire on opticshq.com and fenix-store.com.

 

[brightnorm]

No matter how cheap or tempting a HID light is, I've decided to not buy another one unless its color temperature is no higher than 5000K, (although a truly exceptional one with a slightly higher K might tempt me). I've been happy with my compact and light Boxer 24. My only gripe is that darn 6000K beam. It is simply too blue.

The question is, with the availability of lower color temperature bulbs, WHY are we stuck with these Blue Babies? Some of the more expensive HIDs (Polarion, etc) have 4200K bulbs. Is it just a matter of price?

I have yet to hear a satisfactory answer to this question. I have HID money burning a hole in my pocket, but I will not spend it on another Blue Baby.

Brightnorm