Thoughts on Sofirn? Both the SP31 vs SC35, and their 4x18650 lantern? We’re thinking about going on a trip where we will need lights and it’s an excuse to buy some new bigger ones.
I have all three. What's your need, or purpose?
There's really nothing extraordinary about the SC31 Pro. Just another typical 18650 tube light with a ubiquitous SST40. It had humbler beginnings as a basic, cheap light, albeit with onboard charging, first with an SST20, then was given a cleaner-looking switch, and finally an SST40 and Anduril firmware in "Pro" guise. That made it the cheapest such light at the time, and when the "fan-men" took notice it became a star.
It is a good value, but if it ran ordinary firmware, it probably wouldn't stand out at all. The FET driver and constrained thermal mass means it heats up quickly, and loses much of its on-paper performance rather quickly. It's billed as "2000 lumen" light on turbo, but under sustained usage, is more like a 500 lumen light, and fades from there as voltage drops.
To be fair, that kind of marketing is typical in the industry. Its half-sibling, the Wurkkos FC11, follows the same performance path, but the LH351D emitter it has starts at a lower ceiling and performs similarly at a lower level. But at least it's a high CRI emitter, though I find that the bins they use can have a rather ugly green tint. In the high CRI game, Nichia is where it's at.
The SP35 is a better performer, given its regulated driver, 21700 cell, and higher mass. Off hand, it's maybe 1/2" taller, and +1/4" in diameter, so it's not as pocketable, but I think it's a better all-rounder, and throws father, without sacrificing that character. The button is a bit mushy, and could be tighter, as well as standing a bit too proud, but since you won't be mashing it repeatedly to configure settings, that's much less of an issue than it could be (think TS21). Unlike a lot of cheap lights, and their cheap FET drivers, the SP35 delivers ruler-flat sustained output, at a higher level and for longer, on the modes where the temp regulation isn't required. Starting from turbo mode, where ATR does come into play, the output will fluctuate, which some say they can see, others say they cannot. Because it doesn't run Anduril, it doesn't have the buzz, and will go unnoticed by those who think that is the be all/end all. But as a tool, and not a toy, it's a better light.
Between those two, I think the SP35 is superior, both objectively and subjectively. Anduril is fun to play with, and provides a lot of flexibility, but for most users, isn't going to be as much of a factor as it is for the hobbyists. What's amusing is when you come across the forum posts where even they become confused by why it does or does not behave in some fashion, according to the spider web diagrams, and others have to jump in to try to figure it out. No doubt, it is a remarkable achievement to cram all that functionality into such cheap hardware, but an on/off switch and flashes is a rotten UI nobody would choose if there was a choice.
For normal folk, it would be a detriment, even though it has a simple mode. The standard Sofirn UI on the SP35 and other recent models is good, and shared with other makes like Olight. Other than wishing it has a voltage-check function, I don't find it significantly lacking in any other way.
The LT1 was conceived at a time when the lantern segment wasn't as crowded, and there wasn't anything occupying the middle ground between the cheap plastic stuff, and the costly plastic stuff that at least performed well, without eating loads of alkalines.
Derived from the Q8 can light, it ticked off the boxes -- high CRI, good output, metal construction, moderate price, though by no means cheap. And Anduril. The quad-18650 arrangement gives it a lot of run time. The downsides? It's relatively heavy, and lacks a red mode, so it's not brilliantly suited for a backpacking/camping expedition. And while its weight does help, it's still tallish with a small base, so it's not the most stable thing in the world. It's not by accident that wider bases, whether 3D printed, or screwed-on, are a common accessory for the LT1, even for the wilds of one's home. They've repeated the pattern again with the LT1 Mini. It's cheaper and simpler to use a flashlight as a base, but perhaps not the best way for something where stability is a desired trait.
That doesn't make it a bad light, but since it appeared, the competition has grown, and become stronger, not least of all from its smaller sibling, the LT1S, which has a red mode, is more compact, and is better suited for travel, though its single 21700 limits its duty cycle. I don't regret my LT1, but if the LT1S had been around back then, It would have probably gotten my money instead.
