Look what just showed up today!  I've been working with the original proto awhile back when the SF boys stopped by. This one is for ME to keep and work with.  I have been waiting for this version with a hi/lo IR lum option for quite some time.  Will get up some down range pics and brief review going!  

Vic

Comparison with the M1.  Very close in size AND weight

I THINK $217.00 and official release in September time frame.

Vic

Edit, $279.00 Retail

So do I, my #1 setup for this gem!  Simply take off the pocket clip and mount.  In this case a V-Tac light mount.

Yeppers, both momentary and silent clicky. I am diggin' this light tonight.  Taking some close in pics first in da hood, then will get out down range.

Vic

Yep just slides right off, NO WARRANTY ISSUES at all with doing this, none.

Vic

This

I had to get one since I am a Surefire nerd.

Vic, why not just mount an X300V instead of using the V1 and VTAC mount?

I figured the attraction to the V1 would be hand held use.

You probably have a personal helmet for every illuminator on the market.


We need some screen shots of the M1 vs V1. Ny 14 is 2500 miles away right now.

You could mount the X300V on a helmet. A few things.

1. Weight, every ounce counts, saving 1.2 ounces with the V1 is good in my book when everything is stacked up on a helmet. NODS, mounts, counterweight, lights, etc.and wearing melon covers for hours at night
2. Price, X300V is around $83.00 more and with the V-Tac mount for the V1, the X300V still $58 bones more.
3. The X300V is about the same profile as the V1 while mounted on a helmet (just checked so revised here).
4. No hi/lo feature with the X300V which is very welcomed for me with the V1 anyhoot on helmet mounting solution for indoor work with IR.

Screen shots on the way vs. the M1, but I compared the two last night close range in the hood.  I REALLY like the 5mW IR low setting indoors.  Now the biggest gain I like from this unit in high or low mode is the beam itself.  While everyone brags about the M1 has the cleanest IR circle beam out there, which it does, a very pretty beam...What do you really gain by this, especially indoors? Basically in a very dark room, nothing. In reality it's just like having a white light with NO SPILL and I cannot see well into the shadows off to the side so I have to turn my head more to see bright.

I realize folks know about NV shadows and I won't pump my chest out saying I'm the only one who knows this as on another thread talking thermal shadows....But must of us know in very dark environments there are plenty of night time shadows at times where even the best Gen 3 gear has a hard time peering into them especially when doing indoor search work.  With the V1, in comes a diffused beam with it's TIR lens that produces spill for both the IR and white light functions. Because of the IR spill, I was able to use the unit on high IR indoors because the beam is not just one hot spot. I still like running the unit in low indoors if the environment is very dark, but if the indoor environment has some ambient light spill from windows etc., the high mode really did well with it's hot spot and spill.  
** Note, it may be hard to depict this with a camera due to the camera blacking out everything around the beam itself. Add to the fact I stink at any good camera work.**

Thanks, just some of my initial observations so far. More to come....

Vic

It does have a tail clap clicky along with momentary on/off with hi/lo.  Sorry, had not finished up talking about all the features but talked about the hi/low with my indoor review.  First click or hold is high, click or press again within 1 second goes to low. Memory is about a second or less. Thank you for the reminder!

Vic

Ugh, why do tempt SF addicts. I swear Surefire needs to issue a credit card with rewards points.

Will get pics down range early this week. V1 is 100mW high and 5mW low. M1 is 10mW

Alright sports fans, went out last night and did some testing with the new V1.  I knew from the get-go with some and home and neighborhood hood testing, this light was the ONE.  I can tell you Surefire hit it out of the park with the new V1.  Below are my test shots at 25, 50 and 100 yards vs. the SF M1 on the left, V1 on the right. Obviously our TNV-PVS-14 Omni 8 is hugely clearer through the tube, but my Samsung Notepad III did surprising well.  

A note on true effective range. We define true effective range for a light to be able to see into the shadows at night.  While the M1's beam can slightly light up a target at night at 100 yards, you can see by the pics below, it's barely effective to really see into the shadows.

Equipment used: TNV-PVS-14 L3 Omni 8.
Date: 28 August 2014
Time: 2100hrs Pacific Time
Conditions: Dark,  No Moon, Clear-Starlight, City Sky Glow from 10 miles
Temp: 81deg F.

25 Yards  (No white out ever noted real eye, camera processing too much light on white target with the V1


50 Yards


100 Yards


V1 Specs

**High/low mode operation**
- First press high
- 2nd press within 1/4 second goes to low mode
-Clicky tail cap or momentary
- Lock out tail cap, simply turn the tail cap until no contact with battery

M1 Specs
Output: IR Only - 10mW
Runtime: 15 Hours
Weight: 3.10 Ounces
Length: 3.80 Inches
Bezel Diameter: 1.00 Inch


As I spoke about earlier in this thread, not only can this new V1 be used out to 150yards with TRUE effective range, it's lens design allows for much brighter spill which the M1 and it's perfect circular beam does not. You can see it in the beam pics, but indoors is where this light does extremely well seeing off to the side in the shadows. It's hard to depict the effective spill with a camera indoors because the camera wants to black out the scene outside the main beam which is not close to what the user see's through a Gen 3 NVD.

Another great feature of the V1 is the ability to use as a pocket light and you can remove the clip and helmet mount using a V-Tac for helmet mounting.  One area of the light that that requires a strong manipulation is the pull and turn feature of the bezel to change modes. While this is easily done with the light in your hand, having it on your helmet requires some effort with the pull and turn manipulation.  Talking with Surefire engineering, this function will become lighter over time with more working of the mechanism.  

Here is the true effective ranges for each at night I observed.  

V1 (IR)
High: 150 Yards
Low: 30 Yards

V1 (Vis)
High: 75 Yards
Low: 15 Yards

M1 (IR Only/Single Intensity)
65-70 Yards

Pro's for the V1
1. Light weight
2. Pocket and helmet worn
3. Dual Mode, IR/Vis
3. Bright side spill beam for truly seeing off to the sides which really assists with indoor work
4. 150 yard true range (high mode)
5. Pocket clip (removable)

Cons for the V1
1. Tight "pull" mechanism when changing light modes
2. Run times (for some users in high mode) IR Mode 4- 5 Hours High / 57 Hours Low - Vis Mode 1.5hrs High / 20.5 Low


Pro's for M1
1. Light Weight
2. Price $112.00
3. Run time, 15 hours

Con's for the M1
1. Too perfect beam, no spill
2. IR mode only
3. No pocket clip

In closing, while the Surefire M1 has been my go to IR light for many years now for me and many others, I feel strongly the torch has been past.  SF hit a real home run with the V1 and it's does everything I want a small lightweight light to do.  I feel we have a real tool for both the day and night fighters out there.  It's a gem of a light and for $279.00, I feel it will be met with open arms for many.  These units should hit the official shelves in September.  

Thanks all!

Vic Di Cosola

Awesome!!

Thank you.

I want to caveat a bit on "true effective range". I know the marketing can get pretty hot an heavy and some could say the new V1 is a 200 yard light and the M1 at 125 because they could "see the beam".  One could market the effective range at these longer distances, but we here at TNVC with our primary customer base want to be able to see into the shadows and ID their target as best they can.  I know I am conservative with estimates at times, but I feel comfortable knowing the ranges we talk about, that the end user can REALLY see a target and what that target may or may not be doing.  

Hope this clarifies a bit with my definition.  


Vic

Hey MM,

Light does measure OD of approx 0.800".  Have not burned though a 123 as yet.

On the shelves in a few weeks for commercial sales.

Vic

Surefire does not recommend mounting any of their handheld dual output lights on to a weapon. The M300V would be the better option for this and the KM1-A (single output head) can be purchased separately as well.

Vic

No, the V1 ships with the Z68 tailcap, which will not fit on the V2 body. One could use the Z59 click type tailcap on the V2 however they would lose function of the low output, and the light would be high only in both Visible and IR spectrums.
http://www.surefire.com/click-on-lock-out-tailcap-z59.html


Edit, MM basically said the same thing.  Just saw that...Typing and viewing on cell while on the road.