Emisar D1 Flashlight Review

The Emisar D1 is a single emitter flashlight, utilizing a Cree XP-L HI. It runs on a single 18650 and features a ramping firmware. Read on!

Official Specs and Features

Here’s a link to the Emisar D1 Flashlight product page.

Versions

There are three (or four?) colors available. And only one emitter (Cree XP-L HI) but two tints.

Price

Like the D4, this is $40, with some different cell tubes available too.

Short Review

While the head is a little big for pocket carry, this is an excellent light with a wonderful UI. Easily recommended.

Long Review

The Big Table

Emisar D1
Emitter:	Cree XP-L HI (V2 3A – Neutral white)
Price in USD at publication time:	$40
Cell:	1×18650
Turbo Runtime
LVP?	No
Switch Type:	E-Switch
Quiescent Current (A):	?
On-Board Charging?	No
Claimed Lumens (lm)	–
Claimed Throw (m)	415
Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s)	1145lux @ 6.245m = 44655cd
Throw (Calculated) (m)	422.6 (101.8% of claim)^
All my Emisar reviews!

^ Measurement disclaimer: Testing flashlights is my hobby. I use hobbyist-level equipment for testing, including some I made myself. Try not to get buried in the details of manufacturer specifications versus measurements recorded here; A certain amount of difference (say, 10 or 15%) is perfectly reasonable.

What’s Included

Emisar D1
Spare o-rings (2)

Package and Manual

Simple cardboard box, with a sticker.

There is no manual. Here’s a flow chart (from mtn) of the UI:

Build Quality and Disassembly

Just like the D4, the build is great. My biggest complaint is that I don’t think the greens match between the head and tail, and body. The center seems lighter. Minorly annoying.

A green metal flashlight with a black circular button is standing upright on a wooden surface, with a blurred brown background.

A green metal flashlight stands upright on a wooden surface, with a blurred brown and beige background. The flashlight has a simple, cylindrical design with ridges near the top and bottom.

A matte green metal flashlight standing upright on a wooden surface with a blurred background.

A green metal flashlight lies on its side on a wooden surface, with the words High Power illumination and EMISAR visible on the end cap. The background is blurred.

A green flashlight with a metallic finish is lying on its side on a wooden surface. The flashlight is cylindrical with a slightly wider head and a button near the front. The background is out of focus.

A close-up of the threaded top section of a metallic, cylindrical flashlight body, shown without its head or cap, against a blurred brown and beige background.

Two circular objects with concentric colored patterns, including red, yellow, and white, rest on a wooden surface outdoors. The objects are different sizes and cast soft shadows.

A disassembled flashlight is shown on a wooden surface. The green end cap with an exposed LED and circuit board is on the left, while the reflective silver head is on the right.

A green flashlight with no lens or bulb is lying on its side on a wooden surface, with the open end facing the camera. The background is blurred.

The head and tail come off easily, but the driver et al will provide some difficulty to remove. It can be done if your attitude is right.

Size

Officially:

Dimensions: 105mm(length) * 35mm(head) * 24mm(body)

The head is big enough that it doesn’t ride in my pocket easily. That doesn’t mean I don’t try, though…

A green flashlight and a brown flashlight with a black clip stand upright side by side on a wooden surface, with a blurred background.

A close-up of two flashlights lying on a wooden surface, one green with a single large LED and one brown with three smaller LEDs. The flashlights are positioned side by side, facing the camera.

Retention

This page [is] intentionally left blank.

Power

The D1 uses a single 18650. I tested this light with a 25r, but with a beefy spring on both ends, and long threads on the body, any type 18650 should work fine. You’ll want to use a high-quality cell for the best output.

After the D4 killed one of my cells, I was leery to do a runtime test. But this test went fine. At about 23 minutes I checked the cell voltage and put the light back to turbo. Note that it didn’t reset to full output. The light did get warm, but never really hot, to hold.

User Interface and Operation

There’s a single side e-switch, on the head of this light.

I’ll refer to the flow chart for the UI, which is very comprehensive.

Note the special modes at the bottom – this is a very versatile, feature-rich UI!!

LED and Beam

The emitter of choice in this light is a Cree XP-L HI. My variant is the V2 3A tint, and I couldn’t be more pleased. I love XP-L HI’s and this is no exception.

The beam is throwy, but the spot is very even all the way across. Not like a typical thrower (TM38, or C8 for example) where all the light seems to converge to a point. With the D1, the light all seems to converge to a spot, which is even all the way across.

Beamshots

These beamshots always have the following settings: f8, ISO100, 0.3s shutter, and manual 5000K exposure. These photos are taken at floor level, and the beam hits the ceiling around 9 feet away.

A dim, circular white light is visible in the center of a black background. The text ZEROAIR @ R/FLASHLIGHT is faintly visible along the left edge.

A bright white light source shines at the center of a black background, creating a glowing halo effect. The text ZEROAIR @ R/FLASHLIGHT is visible along the left edge of the image.

A bright white circular light source in the center fades gradually to a darker surrounding, resembling a flashlight beam pattern. The text “ZEROAIR @ R/FLASHLIGHT” appears vertically on the left.

A bright circular light source projects a white beam with soft, fading edges onto a dark background. Text along the left side reads: ZEROAIR @ R/FLASHLIGHT.

A bright white circular light beam with a soft halo effect is projected onto a smooth, neutral wall. The text ZEROAIR @ R/FLASHLIGHT is visible along the left side of the image.

A bright, circular beam of white light shines on a plain wall, creating a clear central hotspot and a wider halo. The words “ZEROAIR @ R/FLASHLIGHT” are visible on the left side of the image.

A bright white beam of light from a flashlight shines on a plain wall, forming a circular pattern with a bright center and gradual fading edges. The text ZEROAIR @ R/FLASHLIGHT appears vertically on the left side.

Tint vs BLF-348 (KillzoneFlashlights.com 219b version) (affiliate link)

I keep the test flashlight on the left and the BLF-348 reference flashlight on the right.

Random Comparisons and Competitive Options

The most compared light to the D1 seems to have been the Zebralight SC600 mk III HI. I have both of these lights and there’s really no comparison. The SC600 fits in the pocket easily. Build quality is better. I like the user interface better on the 600…. Overall the SC600 is much preferred, but it’s also over twice the price.

Conclusion

What I like

Throw
Build quality
Color options
Emitter choice

What I don’t like

Body doesn’t match head and tail perfectly (it IS close)
Head’s too big for easy pocket carry
No means to carry (lanyard/clip) are included.

Notes

This light was provided by me for review. I was not paid to write this review.
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