View Full Version : Surefire mini pro DF initial impressions
My surefire turbo mini arrived. It is advertised as 95k LUX with an 18350, and 55,000 with cr123.
My first move was to test this. I measured 100k LUX at 1m with 18350 fully charged, and exactly 55,000 with a new cr123. My modlite plhv2 dual fuel measured 80,000 lux with a new molicel p28a, for comparison.
I next compared spill intensity. The difference between the PLH V2 and Surefire, taken mid spill (roughly outer zone 2 for you NV folks), was 12% in favor of the PLH v2. This isnt visually significant imo. Distance testing was conducted was roughly 10ft for this. It produced 37 LUX. With cr123, it produced 15 lux.
Beam profile comparison, this is the PLH v2 DF and Surefire compared next to and on top of each other.
The Modlite beam is larger.
Upon running the light until moon mode levels, it was found that at 3.18-3.22v open circuit voltage was roughly where this occurred with an 18350. I used an unprotected Keeppower YDL rewrap. This is the only viable 18350 on the market (the YDL). This shows that unprotected cells will cease to provide utility well before they are drained to dangerous or damaging levels. This was a concern of mine, as it is a single cell dual fuel light.
In comparison the Modlite gives a low voltage warning blink at around 3.6v, and drops significantly in output. At this point the Surefire is still producing 60-70 thousand 1m Lux. It is producing 50k lux 1m down to 3.3-3.4v, where it begins to taper more notably.
More to follow.
https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/453733/20230212_085919_jpg-2709200.JPG
https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/453733/20230212_085841_jpg-2709201.JPG
I generated some interesting data. I tested the Surefire Mini DFT Turbo using my lux meter, and found that it was 100K lux or above at turn-on, and laser measured temp was 78*f. At 1 minute, the temperature measured 100*F and the LUX was unchanged. At 2 minutes, the head measured 100*F, and the LUX had been cut in half to roughly 50K LUX. At 3 minutes, the head was 100*F, and LUX was still hovering low 50K range. At 4 minutes, the head was 100*F, and LUX was still hovering low 50's, at 5 minutes, the head was 99.5*F, and LUX was still low 50's.
I then placed the whole light over my heating vent, and laser measured a temperature of 108-120*f depending on what part was lasered. The light performed at 100K+ LUX.
It seems SF is very strict on their thermal limits, but it's also quite intelligently done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zTUUM_S6U4
hotbiggun42
02-19-23, 22:37
Looks like a pretty tight beam?
El Vaquero
02-28-23, 19:45
Good post. Thanks for the write up.
vicious_cb
03-01-23, 17:42
Thanks for the review, been eyeing this since it came out just because it was a duel fuel 1 cell which Modlight doesnt offer, good to see that performance is comparable. Now if SF would just release a non-Pro version so I can use my own mounts instead of their pivoting garbage.
Thanks for the review, been eyeing this since it came out just because it was a duel fuel 1 cell which Modlight doesnt offer, good to see that performance is comparable. Now if SF would just release a non-Pro version so I can use my own mounts instead of their pivoting garbage.
Have you had issues with the pro mount?
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Now if SF would just release a non-Pro version so I can use my own mounts instead of their pivoting garbage.
Of course, this is the day on which I said to myself “haven’t heard anything bad about those pivot mounts yet, time to order a Vamp Pro”……
Thanks for the review, been eyeing this since it came out just because it was a duel fuel 1 cell which Modlight doesnt offer, good to see that performance is comparable. Now if SF would just release a non-Pro version so I can use my own mounts instead of their pivoting garbage.
So buy the Arisaka 18650 or 18350 modlite compatible body and motor on. Yes it is annoying to spend extra, but it gets you exactly what you want, and you can flip the pro body likely.
titsonritz
03-01-23, 20:47
So buy the Arisaka 18650 or 18350 modlite compatible body and motor on. Yes it is annoying to spend extra, but it gets you exactly what you want, and you can flip the pro body likely.
I also like the Reptilia Torch bodies.
vicious_cb
03-01-23, 23:03
Have you had issues with the pro mount?
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Nothing catastrophic but I got one of those AAA Pro-lights for cheap to play around with, even after cranking the bolt down, it eventually went all floppy under recoil. Not cool when your hot spot starts bouncing around during a night shoot. Not a huge deal since you can just crank it down but its just another something you have to baby on your rifle, I could lok-tite it down but then its probably going to seize up in the rain making it pain to remove.
So buy the Arisaka 18650 or 18350 modlite compatible body and motor on. Yes it is annoying to spend extra, but it gets you exactly what you want, and you can flip the pro body likely.
True but Im not exactly dying for a lumens/lux upgrade currently with PLHV2 and OKWs I picked up last Black Friday. I just like redundancy of a duel fuel option, just not willing to go through the hassle.
Nothing catastrophic but I got one of those AAA Pro-lights for cheap to play around with, even after cranking the bolt down, it eventually went all floppy under recoil. Not cool when your hot spot starts bouncing around during a night shoot. Not a huge deal since you can just crank it down but its just another something you have to baby on your rifle, I could lok-tite it down but then its probably going to seize up in the rain making it pain to remove.
True but Im not exactly dying for a lumens/lux upgrade currently with PLHV2 and OKWs I picked up last Black Friday. I just like redundancy of a duel fuel option, just not willing to go through the hassle.
Interesting, I’ve had at least two DF pros for a few years and never had an issue.
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Nothing catastrophic but I got one of those AAA Pro-lights for cheap to play around with, even after cranking the bolt down, it eventually went all floppy under recoil. Not cool when your hot spot starts bouncing around during a night shoot. Not a huge deal since you can just crank it down but its just another something you have to baby on your rifle, I could lok-tite it down but then its probably going to seize up in the rain making it pain to remove.
True but Im not exactly dying for a lumens/lux upgrade currently with PLHV2 and OKWs I picked up last Black Friday. I just like redundancy of a duel fuel option, just not willing to go through the hassle.
Was it mounted close to a brake compared to a flash hider or even suppressor. I wonder if that would have an extra concussive force added to it.
Thanks for the review.
I've heard of the Turbo Scout, but had no idea it's a legitimate performer The fact that it out throws an OKW is a complete departure from....well....every Surefire weaponlight that's come before it. I looked at some retailers, and they all list the CD as being 71,000, so Surefire must have recently upgraded it.
Your PLHv2 delivers 80K lux? Aren't they only rated at 54K? I guess I need to measure mine to see what it'll do.
I just checked candlepowerforums, and didn't see any threads about it. With a price approaching $100 more than an OKW, it's really hard to justify the additional expense.
vicious_cb
03-02-23, 22:10
Interesting, I’ve had at least two DF pros for a few years and never had an issue.
Loc-tite or no? I still have the some of the yellow stuff on threads from the factory but Im not exactly doing anything crazy other than taking it out in the wet.
Was it mounted close to a brake compared to a flash hider or even suppressor. I wonder if that would have an extra concussive force added to it.
Not really, the head sits mostly behind the front of the Warcomp, maybe the 2 side most port holes are somewhat close to the head at the 10:30 - 11 o'clock position but pretty much every light Ive mounted sits at that position.
I get that things will come loose eventually but after only 200 rnds, c'mon.
Loc-tite or no? I still have the some of the yellow stuff on threads from the factory but Im not exactly doing anything crazy other than taking it out in the wet.
Not really, the head sits mostly behind the front of the Warcomp, maybe the 2 side most port holes are somewhat close to the head at the 10:30 - 11 o'clock position but pretty much every light Ive mounted sits at that position.
I get that things will come loose eventually but after only 200 rnds, c'mon.
Nope. There was a recent thread on here about the pro mount where I posted a photo of one of mine, its actually taken more abuse than most of my stiff because it was mounted on the run n gun rifle and got banged around some. I tighten the hell out of them, but they've been solid for me. I do keep the bezel flush with the end of the rail though. The extra barrel shadow is worth the trade off for me in protecting the light and ensuring I can poke my muzzle through something if I need to (VTAC slot mostly).
Thanks for the review.
I've heard of the Turbo Scout, but had no idea it's a legitimate performer The fact that it out throws an OKW is a complete departure from....well....every Surefire weaponlight that's come before it. I looked at some retailers, and they all list the CD as being 71,000, so Surefire must have recently upgraded it.
Your PLHv2 delivers 80K lux? Aren't they only rated at 54K? I guess I need to measure mine to see what it'll do.
I just checked candlepowerforums, and didn't see any threads about it. With a price approaching $100 more than an OKW, it's really hard to justify the additional expense.
My orignal PLHV2 was about 50-60K LUX. This one is the dual fuel, and much later production, and measures what it does. My numbers should be taken as comparative rather than empirical, however, as I am not using an actual lab to generate them.
The entire light is $299 street price and includes the mount (1913 or MLOK), so I find it cheaper than an OKW.
I didn't get a mini but I now have a full size 640DFT and two X300Ts and have been impressed with all of them. This is my first experience with the lightsaber category as I've typically avoided the other options due to run time, complexity (# of parts to order), lack of CR123 dual fuel, and/or form factor. So with the beams, while slightly less spilly and a defined hard edge on all of them, at the moment, I am happy with the trade off. The way I see it, I can always scan the light left to right to see more of the area surrounding my hotspot but with a legacy light, there's nothing I can do to gain distance with my light.
So in essence, its a small trade off in the left to right visibility for a significant gain in the near to far visibility. Keep in mind these are all larping in the house impressions which is why its not even worth its own thread.
vicious_cb
08-16-23, 16:37
Now that I have experience with all 3 of the lights in question.
Tightest beam goes as follows: SF 340DF followed by the OKW then the PLHv2. The 340DF and OKW are very similar in beam pattern with the 340DF being a bit more intense and the peripheral edge of the light ends just a bit sooner than the OKW. Honestly you would have to run the lights side by side to notice the difference they are so close.
Then of course the PLHv2 is the most floody, no surprise there but what is surprising is the impressive amount of throw PLHv2 has compared to the higher candela 340DF and OKW, it very much keeps up with the other 2.
No issues with the pro mount so far.
I didn't get a mini but I now have a full size 640DFT and two X300Ts and have been impressed with all of them. This is my first experience with the lightsaber category as I've typically avoided the other options due to run time, complexity (# of parts to order), lack of CR123 dual fuel, and/or form factor. So with the beams, while slightly less spilly and a defined hard edge on all of them, at the moment, I am happy with the trade off. The way I see it, I can always scan the light left to right to see more of the area surrounding my hotspot but with a legacy light, there's nothing I can do to gain distance with my light.
So in essence, its a small trade off in the left to right visibility for a significant gain in the near to far visibility. Keep in mind these are all larping in the house impressions which is why its not even worth its own thread.
The REIN Micro 3.0 will be dual fuel, and is arriving soon.
The REIN Micro 3.0 will be dual fuel, and is arriving soon.Looks like it's been for sale for a while.
Looks like it's been for sale for a while.
Not released yet. Just sign up for the drop.
Not released yet. Just sign up for the drop.Oh. I missed the "micro" part. It's the standard Rein 3.0 that's in stock.
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