The Sofirn ST2 multi-function flat flashlight options white, crimson, and UV output and runs two normal 18650 cells (included) and a ramping interface. Learn on!
Official Specs and Options
Right here’s a hyperlink to the Sofirn ST2 multi-function flat flashlight product web page.
Variations
There’s only one model of the Sofirn ST2 multi-function flat flashlight.
Worth
The introductory value of the Sofirn ST2 multi-function flat flashlight is $62.99, with an MSRP of $109.99.
What’s Included
- Sofirn ST2 multi-function flat flashlight
- Charging cable
- Lanyard
- Handbook
Bundle and Handbook
Construct High quality and Disassembly
The Sofirn ST2 multi-function flat flashlight has a stable and good construct high quality. However it additionally has an attention-grabbing design. The pinnacle rotates from placing mild ahead to 90 diploma output.
Sure, twist lights exist already, however this is among the extra stable implementations of this characteristic.
Initially, it could look like this mild doesn’t come aside, however the tailcap does come off. Simply two T6 TORX screws maintain this tailcap on. The tailcap magnet does complicate getting the screws again in, however it may be managed.
The constructive contact are simply buttons. Extra about these cells later.
Dimension and Comps
113mm x 46.3mm x 22mm and 248g
Right here’s the sunshine in hand:
Right here’s the check mild with the venerable Convoy S2+. The model beneath is a customized laser-engraved Convoy S2+ host by GadgetConnections.com. I did a full publish on an engraved orange host proper right here! Or go straight to GadgetConnections.com to purchase your Convoy S2+ now!
Additionally within the picture above, my Commonplace Reference Materials (SRM) flashlight is the Hanko Machine Works Trident, an 18350 mild. Whereas I’ve not reviewed or examined the Gunner Grip model seen right here, I’ve examined a Hanko Machine Works Trident Whole Tesseract in brass. I really like the Trident, and it’s a hanging distinction to the cheap Convoy S2+, one other nice SRM.
Retention and Carry
The Sofirn ST2 multi-function flat flashlight ships with a beefy belt clip put in.
There’s additionally a lanyard. The one place to connect the lanyard is the belt clip.
The tailcap has a powerful magnet, too.
Above, chances are you’ll be aware a brand new holder for my magnetic-tailcap objects. That’s the Exceed Designs Hyzer Titanium Mini Hatchet D2 axe. The deal with (because the title suggests) is titanium. However the blade is D2 metal and ideal for retaining magnetic tailcap flashlights! The Hyzer is out there in a bunch of cerakote physique colours in addition to completely different thickness D2 heads.
Energy and Runtime
The Sofirn ST2 multi-function flat flashlight is powered by two 3800mAh 18650 cells. These are normal flat-top cells , and whereas not meant for altering within the area, they completely are accessible (and never soldered or anything). So this can be a good characteristic!
Each cells go into the sunshine with the constructive finish towards the pinnacle. This could imply they’re in parallel and that the sunshine will work from only one cell, however I didn’t check that.
The Sofirn ST2 multi-function flat flashlight claims 3000 lumens, and even at startup, I don’t see 3000 lumens. The sunshine does maintain preliminary output for a good period of time, although (round a minute) earlier than stepping down dramatically to round 500 lumens.
The temperature strains in these charts are included as normal context, not exact measurements. The values symbolize the vary (min to max) throughout testing, however shouldn’t be taken as actual readings. A temperature sensor just isn’t all the time hooked up to the bezel (and even the most popular spot, assuming that may very well be outlined). Even with splendid placement, too many variables have an effect on temperature to definitively state a particular max worth.
Charging
The Sofirn ST2 multi-function flat flashlight expenses through USB-C. The cost port has a press-in cowl.
Sofirn features a USB-C to USB-C cable.
Charging works tremendous and is fairly fast, at round 4 hours. C to C and A to C work equally nice.
Modes and Currents
| Mode | Mode Claimed Output (lm) | Claimed Runtime | Measured Lumens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turbo White | 3000-650 | 1m+5h28m | 2482 (0s) 2304 (30s) |
| Low White | 5 | 430h | 5 |
| Turbo Purple | 130-70 | 3m+7h30m | – |
| Low Purple | 1 | 430h | – |
| Excessive UV | 1240mW | 7h | – |
| Low UV | 400mW | 27h | – |
Pulse Width Modulation
Neither of the regular white LED modes use PWM.
Click on right here to see a “baseline” – a chart with virtually no mild hitting the sensor.
Then there’s the Ultrafire WF-602C flashlight, which has a few of the worst PWM I’ve seen. It’s so unhealthy that I used a publish about it to clarify PWM! Listed below are a number of timescales (10ms, 5ms, 2ms, 1ms, 0.5ms, 0.2ms) to make evaluating this “worst” PWM mild to the check mild simpler. That publish additionally explains why I didn’t check the WF-602C on the typical 50us scale.
Consumer Interface and Operation
The Sofirn ST2 multi-function flat flashlight is managed first by a selector change with three positions. After that, management is by the indicating e-switch, seen beneath, indicating in orange.
The rotary has three positions, on this order: Purple, White LED, and UV (UV is chosen above).
Right here’s a person interface desk!
| State | Motion | End result |
|---|---|---|
| Off | Click on 4x | Lockout |
| Lockout | Click on 4x | Unlock to mode reminiscence |
| Lockout | Click on | White LED Blink 2x to point lockout |
| Off | Click on | On in mode reminiscence of chosen output |
| On | Click on | Off |
| Off | Maintain | Low of chosen output |
| Unlocked, off | Double click on | Turbo of chosen output (or Excessive UV) |
| Turbo | Double click on | Low |
| Unlocked, off | Triple click on | Strobe group. White: Strobe Purple: Double blink |
| Strobe group | Double click on | White: Strobe advance: Strobe > SOS > Beacon Purple: (No change, there is just one crimson blinky output) |
| White or crimson on | Maintain | Ramping up (preliminary maintain) or down (after releasing and reapplying maintain) |
| UV on | Maintain | Iterate between UV excessive/low |
LED and Beam
The white LED is a Luminus SFT-42R, and Sofirn says it’s 6500K. It has a small reflector.
LED Coloration Report (CRI and CCT)
Even on turbo, the output just isn’t fairly as cool as 6500K. CRI is low.
CCT (Correlated Coloration Temperature) refers back to the measurement of the colour look of sunshine, expressed in Kelvins (Ok), which signifies whether or not the sunshine is heat (yellowish) or cool (bluish). A decrease CCT (beneath 3000K) is taken into account heat mild, whereas a better CCT (above 5000K) offers cooler, bluish mild.
CRI (Coloration Rendering Index) is a measure of how precisely a lightweight supply renders colours compared to pure daylight. Scored on a scale from 0 to 100, increased CRI values point out that colours seem extra true to life and vibrant, just like how they might look underneath the solar.
Beamshots
These beamshots all the time have the next settings: f8, ISO100, 0.3s shutter, and handbook 5000K publicity. These photographs are taken at ground degree, and the beam hits the ceiling round 9 ft away.
Tint vs BLF-348 (KillzoneFlashlights.com 219b model) (affiliate hyperlink)
I preserve the check flashlight on the left and the BLF-348 reference flashlight on the precise. These photographs are taken round 18 inches from the door.
I evaluate all the pieces to the KillzoneFlashlights.com 219b BLF-348 as a result of it’s cheap and has the perfect tint!
Abstract and Conclusion
At the start, I recognize that it’s attainable to swap the cells on this mild and that they’re normal. I dislike very strongly that the Sofirn ST2 multi-function flat flashlight provides solely ramping. As for usually utilizing the sunshine, it’s tremendous. The construct high quality is sweet, and the present value is cheap.
The Huge Desk
^ Measurement disclaimer: Testing flashlights is my pastime. I take advantage of hobbyist-level gear for testing, together with some I made myself. Strive to not get buried within the particulars of producer specs versus measurements recorded right here; A certain quantity of distinction (say, 10 or 15%) is completely cheap.
What I like
- Good construct high quality
- Tilt head doesn’t really feel low cost
- Cells are accessible
- Cells are normal flat-tops
- Hits the throw declare
- Purple has ramping too (by that I imply: many output ranges of crimson, however I nonetheless want they have been stepped)
What I don’t like
- Ramping solely
- UV (however at the least it’s simple to keep away from!)
- Misses (dramatically?) the output specs
- No powerbank possibility? I don’t see it on the product web page… Looks as if a pure characteristic of this mild.
