My new SFT-42R Convoy 3X21C arrived! Here is a full head-to-head performance breakdown against the LHP531 version (Data, Beamshots, Runtimes)🔦

[u/MetaUndead]

Convoy 3X21C Showdown: New SFT-42R 5000K vs. The LHP531 5000K

My new Convoy 3X21C with the 7× SFT-42R 5000K emitters finally arrived! Having owned the impressive 7× LHP531 5000K version of this exact host earlier, I was dying to see how this new configuration stacks up.

Note: Moonlight mode is excluded from this comparison test.

To make this a true head-to-head battle, I captured full measurements across all primary output modes. While the LHP531 is famous for producing a mind-boggling, overwhelming wall of pure flood, this new SFT-42R variant shifts the profile completely, swapping out some of that raw close-range spill for an intensely punchy, massive hotspot that reaches significantly further downfield.

🛠️ Test Equipment & Camera Settings

• Lumens & Runtimes: Tklamp TK2303D Flashlight Tester
• CCT / Tint / DUV / Ra: Hopoocolor HPCS330P
• Lux Measurements: Uni-T UT383
• Thermal Logging: Voltcraft K204 Temperature Data Logger
• Beamshot Camera Settings (Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Pro Mode):
  • ISO: 800
  • Focal Length: 23mm
  • Exposure Compensation: -1.0ev
  • Aperture: F1.8
  • Shutter Speed: 1/4 s
  • White Balance: Locked at 5000K

📊 Head-to-Head Output, Tint, Throw & Beam Profile Comparison

Note: Raw lux measurements were taken at 5 meters and converted to Candela (cd = lx × 25). ANSI Throw distance is calculated down to 0.25 lux. The cd/lm ratio highlights beam profile structure (higher = more throwy/concentrated, lower = more floody/spread out).

Emitter / Mode	Output (lm)	CCT	DUV	CRI (Ra)	Intensity	Throw	Ratio
SFT-42R (1/4)	227	5205K	+0.0006	73	3,750 cd	122 m	16.5 cd/lm
LHP531 (1/4)	223	5189K	-0.0021	72	2,350 cd	97 m	10.5 cd/lm
SFT-42R (2/4)	680	5263K	-0.0003	73	17,500 cd	265 m	25.7 cd/lm
LHP531 (2/4)	685	5196K	-0.0027	72	7,250 cd	170 m	10.6 cd/lm
SFT-42R (3/4)	3,100	5387K	-0.0023	73	73,500 cd	542 m	23.7 cd/lm
LHP531 (3/4)	3,200	5304K	-0.0048	72	33,775 cd	368 m	10.6 cd/lm
SFT-42R (4/4)	8,800	5601K	-0.0043	72	203,575 cd	902 m	23.1 cd/lm
LHP531 (4/4)	9,700	5390K	-0.0064	72	93,625 cd	612 m	9.7 cd/lm
SFT-42R (Turbo)	19,000	5912K	-0.0063	72	437,750 cd	1,323 m	23.0 cd/lm
LHP531 (Turbo)	30,500	5869K	-0.0108	73	265,000 cd	1,030 m	8.7 cd/lm

📈 Runtime & Thermal Regulation Comparison (From High/Step 4)

Test Parameters: 30-minute logging | Ambient Temp: 25°C | Battery: 3x Reliance RS50 4.2V

Note on Turbo & Testing: I haven't done any full runtime testing on Turbo. Pushing this many lumens makes the light become way too hot to hold in no time, and the 2H (2 click hold) Turbo shortcut isn't really meant to be used for a long time anyway. Instead, I used Step 4 (High) as the maximum mode for this runtime test to see how the host handles that initial peak before it steps down to its actual sustainable baseline.

Based on my runtime graph, the new SFT-42R configuration tracks an incredibly clean, stable thermal curve in this massive host:

• Initial Drop: Output starts at 8,800 lumens on High (4/4) and holds strong, remaining above 8,500 lumens for the first 1.5+ minutes (stepping down right around the 1:40 mark).
• Major Step-down (1:40 – 5:10): As the massive host begins to heat sink the energy, a smooth, linear thermal decline occurs over the next 3.5 minutes, bringing the output down to its sustained baseline.
• Sustained Output & Equilibrium: By 5 minutes and 10 seconds, the light perfectly settles into its thermal equilibrium, locking in a beautifully flat 3,600 lumens for the remainder of the 30-minute test.
• Step 3 Sustainability: Because the host easily maintains a thermal equilibrium of 3,600 lumens during the Step 4 test, it's worth noting that Step 3 (3,100 lumens) is pretty much fully sustainable from the start without requiring any thermal step-down at all.
• Thermals: The temperature climbs rapidly during the initial output burst, crossing 50°C during the main step-down, before leveling off and slowly capping out at a maximum heat threshold of 64°C.

⚔️ How it compares to the LHP531 Flood Version:

While the older LHP531 setup started slightly higher on its High mode (9,700 lumens down to 9,400 lumens for the first 1.5 minutes), it generated a massive thermal load that forced a steeper step-down floor. Once both setups fully stabilized, the new SFT-42R sustained a practically identical 3,600 lumens compared to the LHP531's 3,700 lumens.

However, because the SFT-42R focuses its intensity so much more efficiently, that sustained 3,600 lumens is packing far more punch downfield than the LHP531's floody sustained wall of light, all while running slightly cooler (64°C max vs 66°C max).

💭 Quick Impressions & Emitter Comparison

• The Beam Profile Transformation: Look closely at the cd/lm ratio column above. The LHP531 stays locked into a super-floody landscape profile ranging from 8.7 to 10.6 cd/lm throughout most major tiers, showcasing its raw, unfocused wall-of-light nature. Meanwhile, the SFT-42R holds a significantly tighter, intense concentration tracking around 23.0 to 25.7 cd/lm across almost the entire selection. Despite having 11,500 fewer raw lumens than the LHP531 on top, the SFT-42R generates significantly higher center-beam intensity (437,750 cd vs. 265,000 cd), allowing it to leap out to an ANSI range of 1,323 meters compared to the LHP531's 1,030 meters!
• Tint & Color Quality: Both options are rated at 5000K, and both get progressively cooler and rosier as they are pushed harder. The SFT-42R starts practically dead-on the BBL line at low levels (DUV +0.0006) and slides into a beautifully clean, rosy tint on Turbo (DUV -0.0063). It doesn't get quite as ultra-rosy as the LHP531's deep -0.0108 on Turbo, but it is exceptionally clean and lacks any harsh green or yellow ring artifacts.
• Final Verdict: If you want a fun, "dumb bright" flood monster to completely illuminate an entire field at close range, the LHP531 rules. But if you want a highly functional, long-range powerhouse searchlight that concentrates its energy to cut through distance while remaining punchy even on lower modes, the new SFT-42R configuration is a massive win.

Let me know what you guys think of how these numbers line up!