SureFire Sidekick vs Titan vs Titan Plus PHOTOS Photo Heavy.

Pictures of Sidekick - Titan AAA - Titan Plus
This is to help those choose between the three.
Feel free to post your pictures of any of the three. Also, any pictures of size comparisons are welcome. I may add a short review of each light. Please, no flaming products based on your preferences. Different Strokes for Different Folks! Just the facts are more than welcome! :thumbsup:

Now with no further delay:
Logo View


Side View


Emitter View




Nitecore Tube & SunnyNights



Some like it hot (Sidekick one minute on High)


Some like it Hotter (Sidekick on High Five minutes) Getting very warm to the touch!!! About ready to cook some eggs. This is logo side up. It is much warmer than the backside.




Close up Beam shots on Low for about 25 seconds.
Tube - Sidekick - Titan - Titan Plus


Close up Beam shots on High for about 25 seconds.
Tube - Sidekick - Titan - Titan Plus


Randoms




One footnote of interest on the Sidekick: The PWM on Low is very very noticeable through the camera viewer. It looks like a strobe light. None of the other lights have the PWM show like this.

That is all for now. More to come later.
Str8

Reserved for future use.

Nice well focused pictures, greatly appreciated! :thumbsup:

I feel like a Sidekick v2 will smooth out these problems and be a great light.

Interesting thermal pictures ... it looks like the battery is heating up first, not the emitter ???

Is that right :thinking:

Yes, it seems battery first, then emitter begins to surpass it in temperatures.

thanks, it sure puts things in perspective as I was deciding among the three myself. The Plus is certainly the crown jewel, and the Sidekick is about function over form (sad to hear about the PWM on low) and the Titan is just the basics.

I'll probably cancel my backorder for the Sidekick, and hold off for 2.0

The PWM issue deterred me from considering it but thanks for posting the pics.

Woods, Yes when I was first using the Sidekick, I thought, I could detect some PWM on low with my bare eyes. I am not that sensitive to PWM. So I knew if I thought I noticed it, it must be bad for those who are sensitive to it. I may try and do a video today and post that. Through the camera, on low, it is kinda shocking. I have never seen a light as bad as this. In fact, it was so bad, I thought the light went into a strobe mode when I was looking through the camera. I turned it on and off several times to make sure it wasn't a fluke.
I guess they were going for a mega runtime on low? Once again, none of the Titans showed it.

Thanks for the photos!

Does the Sidekick have a cover for the recharging port?

Str8stroke said:

Woods, Yes when I was first using the Sidekick, I thought, I could detect some PWM on low with my bare eyes. I am not that sensitive to PWM. So I knew if I thought I noticed it, it must be bad for those who are sensitive to it. I may try and do a video today and post that. Through the camera, on low, it is kinda shocking. I have never seen a light as bad as this. In fact, it was so bad, I thought the light went into a strobe mode when I was looking through the camera. I turned it on and off several times to make sure it wasn't a fluke.
I guess they were going for a mega runtime on low? Once again, none of the Titans showed it.

Click to expand...

I tried to describe the Sidekick PWM on low in a post on the other thread in somewhat measured terms lest I be accused of SureFire bashing. But as you say, it's awful. :thumbsdow

wacbzz said:

Does the Sidekick have a cover for the recharging port?

Click to expand...

No, and I personally like it that way. The flashing emitter while charging is a showstopper for me though. I'd like to leave the Sidekick plugged in on the nightstand like my phone, charging while I sleep but ready to go if I need it. Or, charge the Sidekick in the car at night on its convenient micro USB connection while I drive. But, the flashing light kills both of those seemingly obvious scenarios for me.

creegeek said:

I feel like a Sidekick v2 will smooth out these problems and be a great light.

Click to expand...

Better firmware and a price drop could make this little light a bestseller would be my guess. It really does look like something that should be $19.95 at the supermarket checkout counter in the blister pack.

Well you are correct about how to describe the PWM. Also your not bashing it. That is why I put in the upper part of thread no bashing and just the facts. The PWM is present and that is just a fact. Like you, I am a huge SF fan. I only include the PWM part so that others whom are sensitive to it or just don't care for it can be aware. Of course if you only run it on high, you won't have a issue.
I assume that the average user will likely not notice it. But, I also include it for Surefire to be aware of it so hopefully they can improve upon it. Like you, I think this light has huuuuge potential.
I guess at the end of the day, having a quality, lightweight, rugged keychain light with a little PWM in one mode, is not a deal breaker for me. I really like the light. It's shape makes it super pocket friendly too. SO..for me..it has some huge positives too.

Str8stroke said:

Like you, I think this light has huuuuge potential.
I guess at the end of the day, having a quality, lightweight, rugged keychain light with a little PWM in one mode, is not a deal breaker for me. I really like the light. It's shape makes it super pocket friendly too. SO..for me..it has some huge positives too.

Click to expand...

Yep, I am always conflicted whenever I am foolish enough to buy an early unit of a new SF light. On one hand, it's great to have a new light to examine, criticize and passionately discuss here on CPF. On the other, I always kick myself for falling for revision 1.0 of any product knowing that improvements will inevitably made to remove the rough edges on the product and user interface. I always swear never again. Until the next new revision 1.0 product comes out and I buy it.

My name is Vox and I'm a flashaholic... :devil:

Str8stroke said:

Click to expand...

Thanks for the excellent photos and info.
At least 5 of the lights pictured have PWM. There will be a quiz later, here is the answer key:
Pictured Lights with PWM: Tube, Sidekick, SunnyNights, Beta aaa and Maratac aaa.
Extra credit if you spot any others.

Str8stroke said:

Pictures of Sidekick - Titan AAA - Titan Plus
This is to help those choose between the three.
Feel free to post your pictures of any of the three. Also, any pictures of size comparisons are welcome. I may add a short review of each light. Please, no flaming products based on your preferences. Different Strokes for Different Folks! Just the facts are more than welcome! :thumbsup:

Click to expand...

What is the name and brand of the light pictured on the far right of these photographs?

sidecross said:

What is the name and brand of the light pictured on the far right of these photographs?

Click to expand...

it is produced by poster named sunny_nites, click on that name for more info.

Yeah, nice comparison photo with the brass ATL mini. I like the copper one too.

The ATL is a nice size. You can see how much bigger the Surefire is. I think the SF would be a bit too big for me for a keychain.

jon_slider said:

it is produced by poster named sunny_nites, click on that name for more info.

Click to expand...

Thank you jon slider! :thumbsup:

magellan said:

Yeah, nice comparison photo with the brass ATL mini. I like the copper one too.

The ATL is a nice size. You can see how much bigger the Surefire is. I think the SF would be a bit too big for me for a keychain.

Click to expand...

Hey mag! It is bigger, however, and a big however, weight wise; that Brass ATL feels like 20 Sidekicks! lol
One thing I thought when I was taking the pics, is I wish SF had a removable magnet. So you could stick the light places. I am temped to try and crack mine open and see what is inside and if I can add a thing Neo mag.

Edit: For those who don't know, the Sunny has a great magnet that allows you to stick it to metal surfaces. I like this feature bunches.

Many thanks for the write-up and pics! :twothumbs I've been wondering how the Sidekick compared to the Titan in size, and now I know.