Got this inexpensive thermal camera (which is also a multimeter!) for a review recently. Although it is not a high-end device, the resolution of 32 × 32 pixels (with high resolution camera overlay) is absolutely sufficient for many applications – and a lot of fun as well! Finally I'm able to see how my flashlights warm up.

Flashlights in the pictures are: Skilhunt EC200, EC500 and M200 V4

If you are interested in the review of the Zoyi ZT-R01, you can find it here:

English review at BudgetLightForum
German review on my website

The full review is available here

English review at BudgetLightForum
German review on my website

Summary

The Cyanlamp M12R from Cyansky combines many good ideas: A spotlight for throw, that can also be used as a headlamp when clipped to a cap. A floodlight that evenly illuminates at close range. There are also RGB LEDs with various effects and work great as a beacon or marker. The flashlight can be attached either with the large clip, an eyelet or the integrated magnet. It can also be switched on and off with a simple gesture control.

However, there is still room for improvement in the implementation: Starting with the cool white light with low CRI, the unattractive color shift of the spotlight, to the simple driver that cannot keep the brightness constant. In addition, it doesn’t indicate whether you turn on the spotlight or floodlight.

The full review is available here

English review at BudgetLightForum
German review on my website

Summary

With up to 600 lumens, the tiny Nitecore TINI3 achieves an impressive brightness for its size and with the adjustable color temperatures it adapts to any situation. The practical OLED display provides information about brightness, battery level and remaining runtime. Thanks to its small size and a weight of just 20 g, it is barely noticeable on your key ring, but is always ready for use.

It would have been nice to have an (optional) automatic lockout to prevent the flashlight from turning on in the pocket if you forget to lock it manually. Time will tell whether a glass would have been useful to protect the TIR optic. Other than that, the TINI3 is pretty much perfect.

The full review is available here

English review at BudgetLightForum
German review on my website

Summary

The Nitecore EDC23 flashlight has been my everyday companion for a few months. The Nitecore EDC29 is the perfect alternative when more light is needed. The two UHi 20 MAX LEDs are not only quite bright at 6500 lm, but also produce a wall of light in Lumin Shield mode. I also like the great UI with two buttons and the “Rapid Lock” lockout using a slide switch.

Given the compact design, it is not surprising that the flashlight heats up quickly and cannot maintain the high brightness for long. In the lower levels however, the constant current driver keeps the brightness pretty constant. Unfortunately it is not possible to choose freely between the wide and narrow beam for each brightness level. The permanently installed rechargeable battery can also be seen as a disadvantage.

The full review is available here

English review at BudgetLightForum
German review on my website

Summary

For years the Wurkkos TS10 has often been recommended when people are looking for a small EDC flashlight with lots of functions. Compact, fun, great light and also inexpensive. Over time, different colors and materials such as titanium, brass and copper were added.

If you think the TS10 was too small and not bright enough, you should take a look at the new Wurkkos TS10 Max. It has a larger 18650 battery with four times the capacity and Nichia 519A LEDs with even higher light quality, but is otherwise very similar to the classic TS10.

The full review is available here

English review at BudgetLightForum
German review on my website

Summary

How does someone come up with such an idea? The Cyansky Vanguard is a great toy for flashlight enthusiasts and gun lovers – definitely a flashlight with a high fun factor. What makes it so special? Its unique design, which is slightly reminiscent of a Glock and that it is loaded with a “9 × 19 mm” battery after the slide has been pulled back. Crazy!

As a flashlight, it is a pretty decent thrower. The beam shape is perfectly fine, but it has a strong green tint. The (matching) green laser is a nice extra. After all, you need something to shoot with, right? When it comes to the buttons, design comes before ease of use.

Got curious? You can preorder the Cyansky Vanguard now here on Kickstarter.

The full review is available here

English review at BudgetLightForum
German review on my website

Summary

When you first see the Nitecore EDC31, it may not appear that special. But a closer look reveals its special secrets. A compact EDC flashlight with a touch of tactical flair, a rather unusual LED with nine dies and a super simple control scheme with a two-stage electronic switch. While most modes are optimized for throw, the “Lumin Shield” mode impresses with a bright and floody wall of light. I also like lockout with a slide switch, called “Rapid Lock”.

Given the compact design, it is not surprising that the flashlight heats up quickly and cannot maintain the high brightness for long. In the lower levels however, the constant current driver keeps the brightness pretty constant. Unfortunately it is not possible to choose freely between the wide and narrow beam for each brightness level. The permanently installed rechargeable battery can also be seen as a disadvantage.

The full review is available here

English review at BudgetLightForum
German review on my website

Summary

Despite its slim head, the new Sofirn SR12 is a real thrower – the deep reflector and the Luminus SFT-25R make it possible. With a length of only 112 mm and a diameter of about 24 mm, it should still fit easily into your pocket, making it perfect as an EDC flashlight. It becomes even more interesting when combined with an optional short battery tube for 18350 batteries, which reduces its length to 79 mm.

The full review is available here

English review at BudgetLightForum
German review on my website

With this little review I wish you a merry Christmas! Have fun, but don’t overdo it with the lights. The tree should not start to burn at any time! 😉

Summary

When the Wurkkos TS10 was released in mid-2022, only few might have imagined what a great success this flashlight would become. Compact, playful, great light and also affordable. Over time, different colors and materials such as titanium, brass and copper were added.

The Wurkkos TS10 SG is a successful update of the classic TS10. With the new optics and the Luminus SFT-25R, the throw has been significantly increased. Otherwise everything has remained the same. There’s a reason the TS10 has enjoyed great popularity for years.

The full review is available here

English review at BLF
German review at my website

Summary

The Sofirn IF23 Pro has a lot to offer: a bright spotlight, a floody side light with adjustable color temperature and various RGB effects. It is controlled quite intuitively via a button and a rotating ring. The battery can be swapped easily and the flashlight can also be used as a power bank in an emergency.

On the other hand, some details are not fully thought through to the end: finding the right position of the rotating ring in the dark is a matter of luck, the magnet is too weak to hold the flashlight reliably in horizontal orientation. The spotlight needs more throw to better stand out from the floodlight. Whether you like the flashlight depends very much on your individual requirements.

The full review is available here

English review at BLF
German review at my website

Summary

Earlier this year, Wurkkos released their first “flat” flashlight with a floody sidelight and a green laser. Now they added a variant with UV instead of the laser: the Wurkkos HD01 UV.

White spotlight and UV light, plus white and colored floodlight, combined with an elegant, flat design – the Wurkkos HD01 UV has a lot to offer. It is rare to find such a variety of light sources in a single flashlight.

Although the driver is simple, this should be acceptable considering the low price. With the HD01, you get a versatile companion for EDC use.

The full review is available here

English review at BLF
German review at my website

Summary

The Nitecore EDC23 EDC flashlight has been my everyday companion for a few weeks now. Thanks to its flat design and compact dimensions, it disappears nicely into the pockets of my pants. Nevertheless, it offers unexpectedly high performance for its size and a long runtime. I particularly like the operation with a separate button for turbo and a slide switch for the lockout.

The beam was optimized for high efficacy and throw. Therefore you have to accept some compromises, particularly with the light color: a slightly green tint and low CRI are the result. It would be nice to have a clip that allows the flashlight to be carried deeper in the pocket.