csshih
Flashlight Enthusiast
Hi Everyone,
Up for review is a more budget oriented light, the MTE SSC P7-C. This light has a aluminum reflector, and is reported to be from DX... I'm unsure of the SKU, though.
Here are some of the specs:
A bit of background:
Not much background comes with these budget lights. They seem to usually suddenly appear (or disappear)
here is the light:
The lasering on the light is actually one of the most precise I've ever seen. an oddity on a "cheaper" budget light.
the light is actually rather well designed and offers a easy to grip surface
It uses one of the older P7 LEDs, with the "cloudy" dome.
the light appears to be HA III anodize. it has not scratched much at all. A definate plus.
the tailcap is a reverse 2-stage clicky. click and release once, and you get high.
repeat, and you get a resistored low, repeat again, and you get off. It takes longer to shut the light off from high, but offers simplicity.
there were 2 orings at the tail, but when I got the light from Gary, they werer dried out and cracked. I replaced them with silicone o-rings.
Comparisons:
Comparison Beamshots:
the lights sat for roughly 20 seconds while I set up the camera.
White Wall Shots:
at distance, you can detect some slight donut-holeing, but this is a very floody light, and less noticeable.
Impressions
note: The MTE SSC P7-C is one of the cheapest high output lights I have ever handled, but, there are some shortcomings that come with the low price. Gary reported that initially, the light would flicker, and he needed to place a spacer between the reflector and the LED to get it to stop. I don't know what exactly was happening there, but this immediately stops me from recommending this light to average users, as this modification is possibly needed. There also is usually a higher rate of failure with budget lights, but YMMV. Personally, I have not had many budget lights fail.
I imagine the odd jump in runtime was caused by the flickering.
Now, barring the problems with the light, This is a rather well designed, ergonomics, wise. The body is only slightly knurled, but the wider tailcap helps with grip. the tailcap also has ridges which help with antiroll. there are flats at the base of the head, but these serve for more asthetic purposes as they do not contact the surface when set down. the reverse 2 stage clicky is recessed, allowing for easy tailstand. The tailcap's threading is actually rather "large", cross threading will not be a problem with this light.
Overall, the body of the light is very well made. The important part, though, (the circuitry) lags a bit behind in quality. I am hesitant to recommend this light to average users, but to ones that have the skill (and the time) to work with a light like this, It is a pretty good deal.
Up for review is a more budget oriented light, the MTE SSC P7-C. This light has a aluminum reflector, and is reported to be from DX... I'm unsure of the SKU, though.
Here are some of the specs:
- SSC P7 C bin
- 2 Mode(High/Low)
- 900 Lumens (probably overstated)
- 151mm(L)x40mm(H)x24mm(B)
- 154g
- 1x18650(not included)
A bit of background:
Not much background comes with these budget lights. They seem to usually suddenly appear (or disappear)
here is the light:
The lasering on the light is actually one of the most precise I've ever seen. an oddity on a "cheaper" budget light.
the light is actually rather well designed and offers a easy to grip surface
It uses one of the older P7 LEDs, with the "cloudy" dome.
the light appears to be HA III anodize. it has not scratched much at all. A definate plus.
the tailcap is a reverse 2-stage clicky. click and release once, and you get high.
repeat, and you get a resistored low, repeat again, and you get off. It takes longer to shut the light off from high, but offers simplicity.
there were 2 orings at the tail, but when I got the light from Gary, they werer dried out and cracked. I replaced them with silicone o-rings.
Comparisons:
Comparison Beamshots:
the lights sat for roughly 20 seconds while I set up the camera.
White Wall Shots:
at distance, you can detect some slight donut-holeing, but this is a very floody light, and less noticeable.
Impressions
note: The MTE SSC P7-C is one of the cheapest high output lights I have ever handled, but, there are some shortcomings that come with the low price. Gary reported that initially, the light would flicker, and he needed to place a spacer between the reflector and the LED to get it to stop. I don't know what exactly was happening there, but this immediately stops me from recommending this light to average users, as this modification is possibly needed. There also is usually a higher rate of failure with budget lights, but YMMV. Personally, I have not had many budget lights fail.
I imagine the odd jump in runtime was caused by the flickering.
Now, barring the problems with the light, This is a rather well designed, ergonomics, wise. The body is only slightly knurled, but the wider tailcap helps with grip. the tailcap also has ridges which help with antiroll. there are flats at the base of the head, but these serve for more asthetic purposes as they do not contact the surface when set down. the reverse 2 stage clicky is recessed, allowing for easy tailstand. The tailcap's threading is actually rather "large", cross threading will not be a problem with this light.
Overall, the body of the light is very well made. The important part, though, (the circuitry) lags a bit behind in quality. I am hesitant to recommend this light to average users, but to ones that have the skill (and the time) to work with a light like this, It is a pretty good deal.
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