Sofirn SD06 Links
I review the new Sofirn SD06 dive light. It also doubles as an excellent side-switch flashlight.
The Sofirn SD06 is available soon from:
https://www.sofirnlight.com/
This flashlight was provided by Sofirn as a sample for this review. I was not paid for making this video, nor have I held back on any negative opinions.
Sofirn SD06 Review
General thoughts after a week of usage/size comparison/practicality/interesting things:
• Sofirn reached out to me and offered a sample of the SD06 for review. This is marketed as a diving light and features an SFT70 paired with a simple UI. I think that’s what drew to me this light in the first place – I can’t think of any other Sofirn light that uses the SFT70, and the fact that it’s relatively small and pocketable too.
• What you get in the box: 21700 battery, battery charger, USB-C cable, and lanyard.
• Comparison with M21B, and other Sofirn 21700 lights.
Overall Construction, LED, lens, bezel and reflector
• Simply design – nothing special but I like that it doesn’t draw any attention. Cooling fins on the side of the head. The battery tube has some knurling too. Operated by one side switch. The switch can be turned to lock/unlock the light. Press down to activate the switch. The light is rated IP68 @100m water resistance, 1m drop resistance. The head and tailcap are sealed, and the battery tube has two thick o-rings installed.
• Tailcap cannot be removed, it tailstands (barely) and also can hold a lanyard.
• The bezel/head has a larger diameter than the battery tube. This makes space for the larger SMO reflector. SFT70 with glass lens on the front.
UI – modes
• Simple UI – turning the button will lock/unlock the light. Single press to turn on (memory mode) and keep pressing to switch from LMH. Press and hold to switch off.
Performance – total output, beam profile, longevity, practicality
• Ceiling bounce test, CRI, CCT
• Impressive throw + flood combo. I like the large, focused hotspot you get with the SFT70 – no donut hole too which is common on many smaller SFT70 lights.
Considerations
• Magnet will activate the light, so be careful with this or screw the head slightly before storing it with any magnetic objects.
• 1 minute of high runtime is decent but I wish it could hold up for longer – it is smaller than many other diving lights out there though.
• No onboard charger, but thankfully Sofirn includes an external charger. The battery fits too snugly for my liking in the charger though – probably because it’s designed for other battery types (and not for a 21700 cell).
• Moonlight mode would have made this more of a general-purpose flashlight.
Verdict
I know this is marketed as a diving light, but I think it also could be used as a no-nonsense general-purpose flashlight. I like the sturdy build quality, simple UI, and surprisingly throwy beam. I recommend this if you’re someone looking for a powerful, compact, and easy-to-use flashlight, regardless of whether you’re using it for diving or not.
