Just got this in the mail today. Its the TANK007-E07 from DX
It looks like a EZ-AA clone, i dont own one so i cannot compare but i was quite pleasantly surprised at this light. I can't remember how much i paid for this but it couldnt have been much above $10 or so.
Knurling: nice, easy to grip but not too aggressive, its something like the knurling on my EX10 but the EX10's seems just a tad more sandpapery (sorry if i can't get my impressions across).
After lubricating the head with Break Free, its a cinch to turn, operating this light one handed is not a problem at all. This light is a one mode twisty by the way.
Cells: used a Trustfire 14500 and Soshine NiMH, no problems with either, but there is a slight rattle when you shake the light without turning it on. Once the head is tightened and the light is on, no rattle.
There are no springs in this light i couldnt get a shot down the battery tube but there isnt a spring there that i can see and when the cells are inserted there is no 'bounce' to indicate there is a spring.
Weird thing:-
In the pictures below, you will see that there is a lanyard attachment ring (not removable) and also that there are 2 symbols on the bottom (lock and unlock) tailcap area.
This is kind of weird as the tailcap portion can be unscrewed one entire revolution and then locks there. I have unscrewed it while the light is on and naturally it deactivates the light. Perhaps this is a 'lock out' function that addresses the problem of losing the head of a light due to it untwisting while in the pocket. If that is the purpose, then it surely works fine.
However, without being able to detect any signs of an O-ring in the tailcap portion, i would strongly hesitate getting this light wet if it was in 'lock out' mode.
Over all, first impressions are good, seems to be a decent, simply operated light which would make a good first gift for a non-flashaholic or a beater/loaner light for us.
On to the pictures:-
Comparison with Nitecore EX10
Picture comparing lights (from top to bottom)
Jetbeam Jet I Pro v2.0, Akoray K106, Akoray AAA, Tank007(E07)
Picture of the head showing Tank light
Picture of head assembly
Picture of head from the bottom (note no spring)
Picture of the lanyard ring showing the lock/unlock symbol (note: this is when partially loosened when fully tightened and fully loosened, the lanyard ring is exactly (or nearly) opposite the symbols, think 12 and 6 o'clock on a watch face)
Picture (side profile) of the lanyard ring
and now, even though its mid afternoon here in Singapore, BEAMSHOTS
Shut my curtains, this is the shot of the walk-in wardrobe
TANK 007 E07 on 14500
Control
Again on 14500.
White wall beamshot range roughly 5 ft.
EDIT: Just did some drop tests from about 5 ft on to a tiled floor, dropped 3 times, no issues, light still works fine.
2nd Edit: Earlier on, i posted that the tailcap portion can be twisted about 180 degrees. This light has now exhibited some problems after a bit of twisting, the light will flicker and starts getting cranky i.e. doesnt want to work. Twisting the head tight and simply using the tailcap portion is now a nightmare. I have contacted DX CSE and am awaiting their reply.
The other sample that i have cannot twist 180 degrees, it goes only about 90 degrees and this light has zero problems.
Note also that the 1st light's ability to revolve 180 degrees was apparent even before conducting any drop test.
It looks like a EZ-AA clone, i dont own one so i cannot compare but i was quite pleasantly surprised at this light. I can't remember how much i paid for this but it couldnt have been much above $10 or so.
Knurling: nice, easy to grip but not too aggressive, its something like the knurling on my EX10 but the EX10's seems just a tad more sandpapery (sorry if i can't get my impressions across).
After lubricating the head with Break Free, its a cinch to turn, operating this light one handed is not a problem at all. This light is a one mode twisty by the way.
Cells: used a Trustfire 14500 and Soshine NiMH, no problems with either, but there is a slight rattle when you shake the light without turning it on. Once the head is tightened and the light is on, no rattle.
There are no springs in this light i couldnt get a shot down the battery tube but there isnt a spring there that i can see and when the cells are inserted there is no 'bounce' to indicate there is a spring.
Weird thing:-
In the pictures below, you will see that there is a lanyard attachment ring (not removable) and also that there are 2 symbols on the bottom (lock and unlock) tailcap area.
This is kind of weird as the tailcap portion can be unscrewed one entire revolution and then locks there. I have unscrewed it while the light is on and naturally it deactivates the light. Perhaps this is a 'lock out' function that addresses the problem of losing the head of a light due to it untwisting while in the pocket. If that is the purpose, then it surely works fine.
However, without being able to detect any signs of an O-ring in the tailcap portion, i would strongly hesitate getting this light wet if it was in 'lock out' mode.
Over all, first impressions are good, seems to be a decent, simply operated light which would make a good first gift for a non-flashaholic or a beater/loaner light for us.
On to the pictures:-
Comparison with Nitecore EX10
Picture comparing lights (from top to bottom)
Jetbeam Jet I Pro v2.0, Akoray K106, Akoray AAA, Tank007(E07)
Picture of the head showing Tank light
Picture of head assembly
Picture of head from the bottom (note no spring)
Picture of the lanyard ring showing the lock/unlock symbol (note: this is when partially loosened when fully tightened and fully loosened, the lanyard ring is exactly (or nearly) opposite the symbols, think 12 and 6 o'clock on a watch face)
Picture (side profile) of the lanyard ring
and now, even though its mid afternoon here in Singapore, BEAMSHOTS
Shut my curtains, this is the shot of the walk-in wardrobe
TANK 007 E07 on 14500
Control
Again on 14500.
White wall beamshot range roughly 5 ft.
EDIT: Just did some drop tests from about 5 ft on to a tiled floor, dropped 3 times, no issues, light still works fine.
2nd Edit: Earlier on, i posted that the tailcap portion can be twisted about 180 degrees. This light has now exhibited some problems after a bit of twisting, the light will flicker and starts getting cranky i.e. doesnt want to work. Twisting the head tight and simply using the tailcap portion is now a nightmare. I have contacted DX CSE and am awaiting their reply.
The other sample that i have cannot twist 180 degrees, it goes only about 90 degrees and this light has zero problems.
Note also that the 1st light's ability to revolve 180 degrees was apparent even before conducting any drop test.
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The only concern I have thus far is the reverse-polarity protection ring on the head. If I've done the math right, if you insert a cell backwards, you'll effectively hard-short the battery, as the raised ring in the head is grounded to the battery tube, which is in turn connected to the positive terminal of the battery through the negative contact in the tail. I guess you could get lucky if the shrink wrap makes contact before the neg terminal does, but care should still be taken when reloading this little guy.Other than that little worry, I am loving this light so far!
