SOLARFORCE M6  CREE XM-L (T6)

 

This was received from www.Solarforce-sales.com and I must admit that it was love at first sight when I saw the new M6 photos.

This did look like a compact but well balanced flashlight with a tactical look and highly detailed with a stainless steel front and rear bezel, 
but would it live up to my expectations? 

Before I go into my review, I have listed the Manufacturer technical data sheet

M6

Features:

- Uses CREE XM-L (T6) high power output LED

- Body made of T6061 T6 aluminum alloy in HAIII (dull black) finish with strengthened anti-wearing and corrosion features

- Aluminum alloy reflector with mirror-like reflective surface for maximal reflectivity and focusing power

- Strengthened glass lens with anti-reflective coating for ultra high transparency and light transmittance

- Forward click tail-cap switch

- Water-proof (Standard IPX-8)

- Current-regulated and stable output with input voltage range of 2.7- 9V

- Battery type: 18650 x 1 or 2 or CR123A x 2 (Note: the flashlight will become hot with CR123A batteries)

- Special head-controlled 2-level output (and strobe mode) design

n Head in tightened position: high output (100%)

n Head in loosen position: low output - strobe - repeat (press slightly the tail-cap switch or re-activate the flashlight to switch between the two modes)

n When the flashlight is turned off for ?? 3 sec, it will remember the lastly used output mode and go to that mode direct when being turned on again

- Lumen rating and runtime (with 18650 x 1)

n 100%: 550 lumens, 110 minutes

n 10%: 55 lumens, 20 hours

- Low battery voltage alert function: when the overall input voltage drops to 2.8V, the light will automatically switch to the candle-mode (8 lumens)

- Built-in reversed battery polarity circuit protection

- Length x diameter (head, battery tube, tail-cap): 142 x 36 x 25.4 x 29 mm

- Weight (without batteries): 142 g

 

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Overall first impression:
The M6 come in a box with a magnetic lid similar to many other Chinese manufacturer, inside the box is a foam insert with cut out for the M6 and an other one for a small bag containing spares: "o" rings, a GDI switch boot and a high quality paracord lanyard with a clip and a small split ring. The light purchased was flawless, with nice sharp white logo and writing on the head which has a rear cooling fins. These are well made with no sharp edges and due to the relatively short size of the light assist in your grip. The light is a fraction bigger and longer that my L2P and sit very nicely in my hand. This is my first light with the square knurling and must admit is very pleasing and has a positive feel. The rear stainless steel bezel is beautifully manufactured and engraved with www.solarforce.hk. The rear bezel has very smooth edges and allow ample room to operate the forward clicky switch. It is also wider than the body giving a very firm base when you tail stand the light.
Looking good so far, but I soon as I laid the flashlight down, it started rolling away from me! After more study of the M6 I realised that they was no Anti Rolling Device incorporated into the flashlight. Not a major problem as the addition of Solarforce SS Lanyard Ring, will stop it rolling away, but I do think that this type of flashlight should have one build into it. (the easiest way to rectify this omission would be to include the SS Lanyard Ring in the accessory pack). The light was taken apart, and the single o ring on either side of the body will need lubing. The rear stainless bezel can be unscrewed living the tail switch with an exposed thread, but with a protruding switch which could be appreciated by gun owners when the light is used as a weapon light. All my 18650 including flat top AW batteries fitted without any problems in the battery tube.
Then the light was switch on, again here no disappointment, nice wide beam of light coming out with a very large central hot spot, the throw is also good for an XML, see the photos taken in my garden.
The lower mode about 55 lumens was achieved by rotating the head about 1 /8 of a turn towards the right. This level still give you plenty of workable light and according to Solarforce has a run time of 20 hours. From this setting you can access the strobe mode via the cliky. I think like many of you, I will ask the question WHY? I do not know many flashlight enthusiast who like to have a strobe on their Flashlight! 
A low setting 10 lumen, would have been much more useful to everyone!. A feature that I like and have now experienced is the low battery alert function. I let the M6 run for another 3mn into  candle mode and then decided to turn it off, not wanting  to over drain the battery. 
This is a good safety feature as you know you will not be left in the dark without prior warning!


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In conclusion:

For: Stunning look and design, quality feel, compact, good output and run time, low battery warning, tail stand, removable rear stainless steel bezel, circuit protection, broad voltage.

Against: no anti roll system, unable to upgrade the drop-in (?), interface lacking a low setting, (from personal preference, I would have preferred 3 modes 100%, 55%, 10% or maybe a 4 mode, ie high/medium on first setting and may be low/ flash on second setting), a bit on the expensive side for two modes and a strobe XML from Solarforce.

Living with the Solarforce M6

I have done a mountain bike night trail ride with it and the throw and flood pattern is much better than the L2/L2P series fitted with XM-L 6, actually this quite well suited for biking, you get quite a powerful hotspot in the distance with a wide light aurora in between, the low 55 lumen (manufacturer data) is ok for wide trail riding where loads of light is not required,  the rotating head mode changing is just not friendly for cycling and I did not experience unexpected switching of modes while rough riding.  What I found while using my light around the house is that it has the annoying habit of going in strobe mode from the low mode when the light is positioned in candle mode heavily on firm surface, this does not happen with my L2P (I am unsure if this is a fault with my light or a characteristic of this model), I also found on mine that the rear chrome bezel had a tendency to loosen itself, this was sorted by fitting a thin "o" ring to take up the thread slack and act as a thread lock. 
In my mind, the M6 would also have benefited of a third lower mode, the 55 lumens is a good choice but you sometime need a little less! 
I can not get close to the manufacturer run time on high, my test are on continuous under cooling fan with Ultrafire 2600 mAh 
2 years old batteries. 
 What I got is still very impressive. 
The first 20mn were at a constant 34400 Lux (in my home made integration sphere)
there after a gradual brightness drop, the 50% of initial output (17200 lux) was achieved at 100mn then the candle light low power safety system kicked in at108mn giving 300 lux, the light was turned off by myself at 150mn, but I think this will probably go onto the 180mn: ie the 3 hours advertised run time. 

So in short:
Full output to 50% in 1hour 40mn and loads of candle light time!

So Am I still loving it?
Yes! This feels and look quality with still a fairly good output versus run time!

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Copyrights 01/06/2011
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