A compact black Sofirn SC13 Flashlight lies horizontally on a wooden surface, featuring a circular button and visible branding. A Zeroair logo is displayed in the bottom left corner.

Sofirn SC13 Nichia 519a Flashlight Review

Leave a Comment / 18350, Chargers, Complete Package, Cool White, E-Switch, EDC, Flashlight, Flashlights, LED, Nichia 519A, On-Board, Pocket, Sofirn, USB-C, USB-C Charging

Sofirn SC13 Nichia 519a Flashlight Review

The Sofirn SC13 Nichia 519a flashlight has a great updated High CRI emitter. The USB-C charging, indicating switch, and magnet are great and remain. Read on!

Official Specs and Features

Here’s a link to the Sofirn SC13 Nichia 519a flashlight product page.

Versions

There are at least two versions of the Sofirn SC13, including this Sofirn SC13 Nichia 519a flashlight but it’s available with or without the 18350 cell. I’ve reviewed the previous version, too! Check it out if you just want to compare the outputs and beamshots, etc.

Price

With the cell (which is what you should buy), the Sofirn SC13 Nichia 519a flashlight is only $20.99!

And here’s a 30% discount code!! REDDIT30

What’s Included

Sofirn SC13 flashlight what's included

  • Sofirn SC13 Nichia 519a flashlight
  • Sofirn 1100mAh 18350
  • Pocket clip
  • Lanyard
  • Charging cable
  • Spare o-rings (2)
  • Manual

Package and Manual

Sofirn SC13 Nichia 519a flashlight box

This is an updated manual for both versions of the SC13!

Build Quality and Disassembly

Sofirn SC13 flashlight

The build quality is fine. There’s nothing bad to say here.

The tailcap threads are well-lubed and long. The head does not come off – the body is one part.

Sofirn SC13 flashlight tailcap off showing threads

Below you can see the positive terminal – just a button. A nicer build quality would probably include a spring, but this button does work just fine in a non-tactical light like this one.

Sofirn SC13 flashlight showing button in body

Size and Comps

28.5mm x 64.6mm and 40g without the 18350.

If the flashlight will headstand, I’ll show it here (usually the third photo). If the flashlight will tailstand, I’ll also show that (usually in the fourth photo).

Sofirn SC13 flashlight in hand

Here’s the test light with the venerable Convoy S2+. The version below is a custom laser-engraved Convoy S2+ host by GadgetConnections.com. I did a full post on an engraved orange host right here! Or go straight to GadgetConnections.com to buy your Convoy S2+ now!

Also above is the light beside a TorchLAB BOSS 35, an 18350 light. I reviewed the aluminum version of that light in both 35 and 70 formats. I also reviewed that specific edition, the “Oveready BOSS FT Collector Vintage Brass” 35. I love it!

Retention and Carry

Sofirn includes a friction-fit pocket clip with the SC13 Nichia 519a flashlight.

Sofirn SC13 flashlight pocket clip

This clip attaches only on the very front-most part of the SC13. The clip can’t go anywhere else, and I’d say that the light looks weird without the clip, too.

Sofirn SC13 flashlight pocket clip

A lanyard is included, and it attaches through this loop in the tailcap. You could also use the pocket clip hole, too.

Sofirn SC13 flashlight lanyard hole

Sofirn SC13 flashlight lanyard

And finally, there’s the magnet in the tailcap. This magnet is perfectly sufficient for attaching the SC13 to things!

Sofirn SC13 flashlight tailcap magnet in use

Power and Runtime

The package price (which adds around $2 to the base price of the SC13) includes an 1100mAh 18350 cell. It’s a button top cell.

Sofirn SC13 flashlight with included cell

The cell goes with the button toward the head.

Sofirn SC13 flashlight with included cell in place

If you forget that orientation, you can observe the battery orientation indicator on the tailcap.

Sofirn SC13 flashlight battery direction indicator

Below are a few runtime tests. The light does not seem to hit the claimed 1100 lumens, but I think the manual means the 1100 lumens is the initial output with a planned stepdown to 420. It does steady for a minute or so – around 600 lumens. The stepdowns after a minute are dramatic, to around 200 lumens.

Sofirn SC13 Nichia 519a flashlight runtime chart

Sofirn SC13 Nichia 519a flashlight runtime chart

Sofirn SC13 Nichia 519a flashlight runtime chart

Sofirn SC13 Nichia 519a flashlight runtime chart

Low voltage protection was observed in every test and the switch will also indicate the power level (as follows):

Green: 70-100% power
Red: 30-70% power
Red flashing: 0-30% power

Charging

Charging is built in. There’s a USB-C port in the head. This port has a press-in cover.

A USB to USB-C charging cable is included, too.

Sofirn SC13 flashlight charging cable

Below you can see a C to C and A to C charging test. They’re both very good – steady charging at around 1C, with completion at around 1.5 hours.

Sofirn SC13 Nichia 519a flashlight charging chart

While charging, the switch is red. When charging is complete, the switch turns green.

Modes and Currents

Mode Mode Claimed Output (lm) Claimed Runtime Measured Lumens Tailcap Amps
Turbo 1100-420 2m+1h5m 564 (0s)
516 (30s)		 2.87
High 420 1h30m 202 0.81
Medium 140 3h40m 69 0.28
Low 10 18h 5.5 0.01
Moonlight 1 90h 0.6 [low]

Pulse Width Modulation

Only the lowest mode doesn’t use PWM. The other modes use fairly fast PWM, though.

Here you can see a “baseline” – a chart with almost no light hitting the sensor. Then there’s the Ultrafire WF-602C flashlight, which has some of the worst PWM I’ve seen. It’s so bad that I used a post about it to explain PWM! Here are multiple timescales (10ms, 5ms, 2ms, 1ms, 0.5ms, 0.2ms) to make comparing this “worst” PWM light to the test light easier. That post also explains why I didn’t test the WF-602C at the usual 50us scale.

User Interface and Operation

The Sofirn SC13 Nichia 519a flashlight is controlled by a single indicating e-switch.

Sofirn SC13 flashlight indicating switch

I like this switch (so this is not a complaint): it has a good bit of travel (but it’s clean travel and not mushy). There’s also a hollow-ish sound when clicking that you’ll probably notice (but not hate).

Sofirn SC13 flashlight switch actuation

Here’s a user interface table!

State Action Result
Off Click On (Memory)
On Click Off
On Hold Mode advance (LMH)
Off Hold Moonlight
Any Double click Turbo
Turbo Double click Strobe
Strobe Double click Turbo
Off Click 3x Lockout (LED flashes twice to indicate)
Locked Click 3x Unlock to on (Mode memory)
Locked Hold Momentary Moonlight
Locked Click LED flashes twice to indicate lockout

LED and Beam

Sofirn updated the SC13 with a Nichia 519a in this tiny little light. That emitter is coupled with a “ripple” TIR.

Sofirn SC13 Nichia 519a flashlight emitter and TIR

Sofirn SC13 Nichia 519a flashlight emitter on

It’s a great update!

Sofirn SC13 Nichia 519a flashlight emitter on

LED Color Report (CRI and CCT)

The updated version of this SC13 is now High CRI and approximately 5000K. Just under 5000K, really. The output is really great. If there’s any complaint, it could be that the Duv is positive. It’s not bad, but you won’t get any “rosy” at all.

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.

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.

I compare everything to the KillzoneFlashlights.com 219b BLF-348 because it’s inexpensive and has the best tint!

Summary and Conclusion

I happen to love 18350 flashlights and I’m pleased to see the SC13 offering by Sofirn. The user interface is nice and simple while offering the features I want, and overall the performance is fine. IUSB-C charging works great, too. I’m very pleased that Sofirn has put a Nichia 519a in this light!

All this for around $20, and the Sofirn SC13 Nichia 519a flashlight seems like a deal.

The Big Table

Sofirn SC13 Nichia 519a flashlight
Emitter: Nichia 519a
Price in USD at publication time: $20.99
Cell: 1×18350
Runtime Graphs
LVP? Yes
Switch Type: E-Switch
Quiescent Current (mA): ?
On-Board Charging? Yes
Charge Port Type: USB-C
Charge Graph
Power off Charge Port with or without cell or tailcap: lowest three modes
Claimed Lumens (lm) 1100
Measured Lumens (at 30s) 516 (46.9% of claim)^
Candela per Lumen 7.78
Claimed Throw (m) 150
Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s) 185lux @ 4.699m = 4085cd
Throw (Calculated) (m) 127.8 (85.2% of claim)^
Claimed CCT 5000
Measured CCT Range (K) 4600-4900 Kelvin
Item provided for review by: Sofirn
All my Sofirn 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 I like

  • Good build quality especially for the price
  • Uses Nichia 519a
  • High CRI
  • Complete package
  • Runs one 18350 cell
  • Good e-switch
  • Simple but useful user interface
  • Good tailcap magnet

What I don’t like

  • If you don’t install the pocket clip the head looks sort of weird (like you forgot to add a part)
  • Does not hit the output specification

Notes

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