TK30 or TK40
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DimeRazorback
Flashlight Enthusiast
Well I would rather having to recharge only 2 batteries over 8 anyday 
Jackscrj
Newly Enlightened
TK40 definitely has the wow factor at 630 lumens max
tk30 tops out at 225
however the tk30 is more practical you really don't need a tk40 except for search and rescue
yes tk30 has same output as tk40 *i must have been thinking of a ta30*
tk30 tops out at 225
however the tk30 is more practical you really don't need a tk40 except for search and rescue
yes tk30 has same output as tk40 *i must have been thinking of a ta30*
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tolkaze
Enlightened
I'm pretty sure the business end of the light is the same, it really depends on if you like skinny bodies with a bigger head, or a fatter body. I guess the TK30 has the advantage of being run on 1x 18650 or 2xCR123's with a shorter body for up to 370 lumens, or with the extension tube for maximum power
I think you will find that the TK30 also has 630 Lumens max on 2 batteries
I think you will find that the TK30 also has 630 Lumens max on 2 batteries
headophile
Enlightened
just something to consider:
i had the chance to handle a big-head, thin-body solarforce mce flashlight in a store. the feel on the hand is very different from my tk40 which is a lot more balanced as opposed to being top-heavy. tk40's tailcap is a chunk of aluminum that effectively counterbalances the weight of the head. imo the tk40 will be more comfortable to carry for extended periods of time.
i had the chance to handle a big-head, thin-body solarforce mce flashlight in a store. the feel on the hand is very different from my tk40 which is a lot more balanced as opposed to being top-heavy. tk40's tailcap is a chunk of aluminum that effectively counterbalances the weight of the head. imo the tk40 will be more comfortable to carry for extended periods of time.
Rod911
Enlightened
You're referring to the TA30 which has a max lumen output of 225. The TK30 on the other hand, has the same/similar head as the TK40. The only differences are the power source and UI.
Personally, I'd go with the TK30. As DimeRazorback pointed out, I prefer the simplicity of the one/two battery (18650) option the TK30 provides versus the TK40's 4/8 AA batteries. I also like TK30's twisty UI.
wonder that most of You think a big, bulky, high weight light will be mor comfortable to use at extended periods.
Smaller, better to grip (less body diameter), less number of cells (and not that 2 strings of 4 in parallel)
TK30 or Jetbeam M1X sound much better - to me at least
... simply changing cells out in the nowhere is a big argument: bring 2 spares, or 8!
Smaller, better to grip (less body diameter), less number of cells (and not that 2 strings of 4 in parallel)
TK30 or Jetbeam M1X sound much better - to me at least
... simply changing cells out in the nowhere is a big argument: bring 2 spares, or 8!
Swedpat
Flashlight Enthusiast
Isn't that clear that TK30 will provide 370lm with 2xCR123 and 630lm with 4xCR123? Yes, I see that 630lm only is stated for 2x18650, but I think they actually have missed to mention performance with 4xCR123?
Regards, Patric
Regards, Patric
Buckley
Newly Enlightened
The tie-breaker for me is the issue of parasitic drain: The TK40 has it; the TK30 doesn't.
berry580
Flashlight Enthusiast
extra weight will always weight one down. A non-center balanced light can always be held off-centered to take account of its weight distribution.
headophile
Enlightened
the weight and size of the tk40 are blown way out of proportion in this forum in my opinion. the tk40 on 4 cells pretty much weighs as much as the solarforce light, only with a much better balance so it actually feels lighter. it's smaller than a d-sized mag and much easier to put in a bag versus a long thin light. it's very comfortable to hold too (i'm 6'1" though with fingers that are proportional to my height so this might not be true for shorter guys with shorter fingers).
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bill_n_opus
Enlightened
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2006
- Messages
- 365
Do us proud ... and buy both.
collo
Newly Enlightened
Depends whether you would rather carry a toffee apple or a hot dog..
berry580
Flashlight Enthusiast
lol, nice analogy.Depends whether you would rather carry a toffee apple or a hot dog..
snala
Newly Enlightened
It says working voltage is 3-12v so 4 CR123's i guess would work? 4 RCR's maybe bad for it though?
Also wondered is it full power on 2 x RCR123's as well? Would be 2 x 3.7volts, same as 2 x 18650's? How would it know otherwise?
Also wondered is it full power on 2 x RCR123's as well? Would be 2 x 3.7volts, same as 2 x 18650's? How would it know otherwise?
pseudoblue
Newly Enlightened
Hi, I have a TK40, and would get the TK30 if I could too In the end it really depends on you, both offer similar output but different UI and battery config.
I managed to have a hands-on experience with the TK30 from a friend. It actually looks smaller than the pictures and cute too. Similar head diameter size as the TK40. Its single body tube is thick and knurling feels good, The tailcap is identical with the TA series but does not tail stand. The body tube extender is a smooth anondized type, no knurling though. The threads looked like they are squared, and changing into different sets of modes felt very smooth and quite easy too. The UI is not complicated at all once you understand how it works. Basically you can have 2 switchable modes at one time, but you can switch into different sets respectively by the smooth bezel twists. The beam for this light is also smooth, but has a small donut hole in the hostpot, even at about 5 meters. I doubt this would be a bother in any applicable situations, The TK40's beam however has no donut hole even at 1 meter.
From my experience, it's difficult to find a wow factor if you experience both. But I would say to consider TK30 because of it's configurable size (with or without extender, less or more runtime), and battery configuration. If you were to use the light everyday and for hours, it's easier to pop 1 or 2 Li-IONs into the charger and back in again, it is also easier to switch batteries if they are drained. Than to have managed 8x AAs all the time, also making sure each are close to matching cells. To add, the light is not that imbalanced at all, the head is a little heavier but it's just a small difference.
Are you looking at other MCE options?
In the end it really depends on you, both offer similar output but different UI and battery config.I managed to have a hands-on experience with the TK30 from a friend. It actually looks smaller than the pictures and cute too. Similar head diameter size as the TK40. Its single body tube is thick and knurling feels good, The tailcap is identical with the TA series but does not tail stand. The body tube extender is a smooth anondized type, no knurling though. The threads looked like they are squared, and changing into different sets of modes felt very smooth and quite easy too. The UI is not complicated at all once you understand how it works. Basically you can have 2 switchable modes at one time, but you can switch into different sets respectively by the smooth bezel twists. The beam for this light is also smooth, but has a small donut hole in the hostpot, even at about 5 meters. I doubt this would be a bother in any applicable situations, The TK40's beam however has no donut hole even at 1 meter.
From my experience, it's difficult to find a wow factor if you experience both. But I would say to consider TK30 because of it's configurable size (with or without extender, less or more runtime), and battery configuration. If you were to use the light everyday and for hours, it's easier to pop 1 or 2 Li-IONs into the charger and back in again, it is also easier to switch batteries if they are drained. Than to have managed 8x AAs all the time, also making sure each are close to matching cells. To add, the light is not that imbalanced at all, the head is a little heavier but it's just a small difference.
Are you looking at other MCE options?
