Magicshine MTL40

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Table of contents

Magicshine MTL40 Specifications

Brand/model	Magicshine MTL40
LED	Cree XPL Hi CW, Amber Cree XP-E2, Red Cree XP-E2, Blue Cree XP-E2
Lumens	1000, 170, 150, 80 Lumens
Beam intensity	12,100 cd
Battery config.	1*18650
Material	Aluminum
Modes	4
Blinkies	Multi
Reflector	TIR
Waterproof	IPX8
Review date	November 2020

Magicshine recently released another new interesting tactical flashlight, the Magicshine MTL40 (Magicshine Tactical Light 40). Since I like Magicshine’s products, I was eager to review this one! Luckily they were kind enough to send me this product for reviewing purposes.

The Magicshine MTL 40 is an 18650 palm-sized light that features multi-colored LEDs, with one main white LED and an additional Amber, Red, and Blue LED, suitable for traffic control, tactical, law enforcement, hunting, searching etcetera.

The main white LED has an output of up to 1000 lumens and features an overwhelming strobe. It has a beam distance of up to 220 meters and is rated IPX 8 for waterproofness.

Package quality.

As always, Magicshine delivers its products in a beautifully designed luxurious box, with full-color print, wrapped in clear shrink foil (Attention to detail, even the flashlight which is printed on the cardboard box is embossed into the cardboard box.)

All other Magicshine products have their accessories in a sturdy black foam. This one, however, has all accessories in a black recycled cardboard box. Environmentally friendly!

The Magicshine MTL40 comes with all accessories you need:

• Magicshine MTL40 flashlight with clip
• Holster
• Traffic wand
• Spare O-rings
• 18650 Battery (USB rechargeable)
• Lanyard
• Manual
• USB charging cable

The Magicshine MTL40 feels physically very well balanced, it’s not heavy, and due to its relatively small dimensions, it’s very easy to hold and operate. 

Its size is a pro since it’s still pocketable (well, okay, it’s not an AA light, but it’s smaller than a C8 type light for example)

The tactical forward clicky switch allows it to operate the light momentarily. The tail switch gives enough physical feedback as well as the side switch. The side switch will light up for a few seconds when the light is powered up. It will indicate the battery’s status with a green or RED LED (steady green up to 75%, flashing green up to 50%, flashing RED up to 25 % or steady RED, below 25% ) The side switch is placed in a very convenient position, that is easy to reach, and to operate.

Physically it has lots of large grooves milled into the tube, which gives a ton of grip. You can’t really lose it due to lack of grip ;–)

The light comes with a very convenient deep carry pocket clip, which also serves as anti-roll prevention.

The tail with mechanical switch has two protruding notches with a lanyard hole, the notches are rather small so tall standing is possible, however, it seems they’re not really designed for tailstanding.

Another nice thing is the traffic wand. It is convenient (for instance, for traffic control). The light itself is really intended for police officers, traffic attendants, and so on), especially since it has multiple LED colors, with different modes. The wand really picks up a lot of light and diffuses it very evenly, so people will have your attention.  When you use the blue LED together with the police strobe, it will make an average citizen look like an officer ;–)

Like real officers, you can use the holster for instance on your belt to store the light to be able to use it when you need it, and it won’t bother you when it’s not needed. One small downside, the traffic wand cannot be stored together with the light at the same time in the holster.

The Magicshine MTL40 is made of aluminum and finished with a satin black anodization, as said there is no real knurling. Instead, there are many lines and grooves milled into the light. At the head section, it really helps to dissipate the heat away from the LEDs, and at the tube section, it gives a ton of grip

The threads are very clean and square-shaped, providing a rigid connection that will last for years.

It seems the head cannot be removed from the tube by hand. They probably used some thread locker to prevent it from opening.

However, the top bezel can be removed by hand to gain access to the TIR and the MCPCB with the LEDs (as can be seen in the picture). One interesting detail is that it’s a proprietary TIR, to become sure it’s always placed correctly, there is a small protruding part on it which falls in the matching notch / recessed part of the head.

Another interesting detail is that the head gets sealed by two O-rings, one inside the top part of the bezel and another one on the vertical part of the head between the bezel.

Magicshine has a high reputation for physical quality, and they don’t let us down, it matches all expectations.

The Magicshine MTL40 uses three additional LEDs next to the main Cool White LED. The main CW LED is an XPL-HI, the additional LEDs are all XP-E2 LEDs but in different colors, Amber, Red and Blue. 

All LEDs are placed behind a proprietary TIR, and the white LED has the largest optics.

It produces a floody beam with a bit of throw. The smaller TIR optics for the additional LEDs are almost pure flood.

The bezel is pretty straight forward and has some light crenelations. This really helps to indicate whether your light is switched on or off when placed on the head since light will bleed through.

• Length: 135 mm (134 mm measured)
• Head diameter:   40 mm
• Body diameter:  25 mm

Weight: 

• Without cells: 115 g manufacturer rated, 114 g weighed.
• With cell:  164 g weighed

Size comparison

Size compared to other popular flashlights.

Group 1: Magicshine MTL40 vs Magicshine MTL60

From left to right; Convoy S2+, Magicshine MTL40, BLF Q8, Convoy C8, Magicshine MTL60.

The MTL40 features mode memory. When you turn the light on, it will return to the previously memorized mode except for the Strobe mode. Note that it always starts with the white LED.

Modes:
White, 4 levels + strobe, Amber, 2 levels, Red, 2 levels + strobe and SOS, Blue, 2 levels + police strobe.

From OFF:

You always have to use the tactical tailswitch to switch the flashlight on or off

From ON:

• Press and Hold: activates strobe (in all modes, holding the switch activates strobe).
• Single-click: next mode
• Double-click: Next LED 
• Triple-click: Not applicable, after 2 clicks the next LED is selected, so you cycle through modes and LEDs 
• Four-clicks: NA

Mode memory:

•  It only has a memory for the main (CW) LED

Low voltage warning:

• The MTL40 has a voltage indicator in the side switch, which will indicate the battery level by means of a green or RED LED (steady green up to 75%, flashing green up to 50%, flashing RED up to 25 % or steady RED, below 25% )
• It also featured Low Voltage Protection. The light will shut off when the battery is below 3.X Volts.

Strobe/blinkies

• Cool Whit (CW) has strobe by holding for >1s. RED has Strobe and SOS, Blue has police strobe, which makes it very useful for police officers (especially with the traffic wand) 

Lock-out mode: 

•   Not applicable

PWM

•   I did not notice any PWM

The Magicshine MTL40 comes with a charging cable plus a 3500 mAh 18650 battery that includes a charging port.

One drawback is the micro USB connector. This feels outdated in 2021 (I mean I’m using USB-C on my phone for 5 years already). The second con is the charging speed.

Charging is terribly slow because it charges at 500 mA. It would take almost 7 hours to charge an empty battery. 

Luckily I had the additional MAS C1 module that came with the MTL60, which charges a lot faster, so I could use that for charging.

The light uses springs on both ends, so button tops and flat tops will work with this flashlight.

Lux readings are done with a UNI-T UT 383 S lux meter. Temperature readings are recorded with an infrared Non contact thermometer, type Benetech GM-320. Current readings are done with a UNI-T 210E Digital Clamp Meter

Amp measurement  

W (Lm vs A)	Y (Lm vs A)	B (Lm vs A)	R (Lm vs A)
8 Lm = 0.041 A	7 Lm = 0.055 A	19 Lm = 0.112 A	12 Lm = 0.056 A
92 Lm = 0.206 A	115 Lm = 0.715 A	129 Lm = 0.93 A	212 Lm = 0.756 A
320 Lm = 0.74 A	.	.	.
872 Lm = 3.04 A	.	.	.

Runtime graph

As can be seen in the charts, the runtime on Turbo isn’t very long. It can maintain the high output for approx 15 minutes until it will step down. After that, it will maintain its output for about 60 minutes until it steps down again. It will step down 2 more times, even though it functions for another 100 minutes, which is very good.

Level 3 will hold its output for almost 4 hours, which is quite impressive!

Level 2 will hold a stable output of about 92 Lm for a stunning 15 hours! (which left me thinking, let’s skip level 1)

The Yellow LED will step down at 15 minutes and 50 minutes and continues for about 250 minutes.

What’s interesting to see is that only the red will give a stable output without noticeable stepping down. It will sustain for almost 4 hours!

The blue has another different character, where you can see the battery drain after 2,5 hours, so it is clear that each LED behaves differently and gives different results!

Lumen measurements (for each mode)

For the Lumen/runtime results, I am using an integrating Lumen tube which is not officially calibrated. However it is calibrated against one of BLF member Maukka’s officially calibrated lights, so it will give a very good indication, but for error a safety margin of 10% should be taken into account.

W (Lm vs A)	Y (Lm vs A)	B (Lm vs A)	R (Lm vs A)
8 Lm = 0.041 A	7 Lm = 0.055 A	19 Lm = 0.112 A	12 Lm = 0.056 A
92 Lm = 0.206 A	115 Lm = 0.715 A	129 Lm = 0.93 A	212 Lm = 0.756 A
320 Lm = 0.74 A	.	.	.
872 Lm = 3.04 A	.	.	.

Throw numbers: 

Throw is measured at 5 meters

W Lx	Cd	M	Y Lx	Y Cd	M	R Lx	R Cd	M	B Lx	B Cd	M
6	150	24.5	0	0		0	0		10	250	31.6
83	2075	91.1	10	250	31.6	17	425	41.2	39	975	62.4
298	7450	172.6	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
838	20950	289.4	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.

Beamshots: 

I took the beamshots at an open field with trees near the end and a small ditch. This is approximately 400 meters, according to Google Maps. A fun fact, I had no trouble doing beamshots, except for the BLF GT90. When I powered the BLF GT90  up, I just saw the shape of the beam surrounded by fog (even an owl was distracted by it, and it flew towards me until he noticed me)

Disclaimer: This flashlight was sent to me for review at no cost, by Magicshine. I have not been paid to review, nor have I been holding back on problems or defects.

1lumen selects and reviews products personally. We may earn affiliate commissions through our links, which help support our testing.