Olight M2X-UT Javelot (XM-L2 dedome, 1x18650/2xCR123A) Review: BEAMSHOTS, RUNTIMES+

[Limey Johnson]

that may be my original thread about my 1/2 mile test.

Yes, I have a filter gel on mine and it reached the advertised distance of 810 meters.

BUT, it DOES reduce the throw. Im using a LEE #279 gel filter which is 86.5% transmissive.

So, given that information, we learn that (at least with my M2X) that the beam distance spec listing is a bit conservative. I visibly lit my white building from a distance of 816 meters WITH the filter. I could get a few more meters out of it but conditions the night of my test wouldn't allow it.

 

[RemcoM]

No, this light is dissapointing...it not even reach, a treeline at 500/600 meters away, while my nitecore TM36, reach a treeline at 1 kilometre quite easily.

My TK75, does better, than the M2X....no, its dissapointing.....hope the M3X UT, comes out quickly......but not need it.....lucky with my TM36.

But maybe, i have a underpowered M2X...its a shame, that alot of flashlights, cannot reach the manufactererstate specs.

So, i have use my M2X, as a bikelight.

 

[NoNotAgain]

Remco

The light for a single cell light does quite well for throw.Heck, it does quite well compared to most multi-cell lights.

If your light is only projecting 500-600 meters, it's possible that your battery is somewhat run down. What batteries are you using? How old are they? Have you tested them in another light to see if they work correctly? What is the voltage on your battery? When was the last time you charged it? A single cell powering this light (1020 lumens) to the levels required to project 600 meters is going to use power very fast.

I've had rain/fog every night in the past week otherwise I'd take a few pictures. Where I live the foliage hasn't grown out yet, so the field is still all brown which doesn't show any light off very well.

 

[selfbuilt]

I see on another thread on M2X a suggestion that some kind of filter can reduce the green tinge but not reduce the throw. Any thoughts?

Yes, I have a filter gel on mine and it reached the advertised distance of 810 meters.
BUT, it DOES reduce the throw. Im using a LEE #279 gel filter which is 86.5% transmissive.

Yes, the LEE filters are great way to fine-tune and adjust the tint of a light. But anything that alters the tint will reduce transmission (since, by definition, it is filtering out some parts of the color spectrum).

 

[kj2]

No, this light is dissapointing...it not even reach, a treeline at 500/600 meters away, while my nitecore TM36, reach a treeline at 1 kilometre quite easily.

My TK75, does better, than the M2X....no, its dissapointing.....hope the M3X UT, comes out quickly......but not need it.....lucky with my TM36.

But maybe, i have a underpowered M2X...its a shame, that alot of flashlights, cannot reach the manufactererstate specs.

So, i have use my M2X, as a bikelight.

Uhmm Remco what changed your mind? As you posted earlier in this thread:

Hi all,

My Olight M2x, is measured-tested at 180 kcd.

So, well overpowered. A real dedomed light. Sort of a real vinh light.

This is a real monster, like my Nitecore TM36, but in a very small package.

Like a mini TK61vn, and yes, it outthrows my TK61 stock, with ease.

Extremely happy, with this wonderfull mini monster-ultrathrowerlight.

 

[cccpull]

Yup, I'd like to know?

 

[RemcoM]

Uhmm Remco what changed your mind? As you posted earlier in this thread:

Hi kj2,

Uhhmm, im sorry...yes, indeed, i have put inside a almost drained 18650 batterie, so yes, it gave my M2X, not much power.

My fault.

Now, i have put a new ordered 18650 fully loaded.....and yes...it reached a treeline at 700 meters, very easily.

And yes, it eats the batteriy very quickly.

Look forward, to the M3X UT.

 

[CUL8R]

Selfbuilt,

As several folks have pointed out it appears Olight might have changed the LED in its newer models of this light. I've just received a "F" serial number model and it does appear that there is a very flat dome over the LED. Have you looked at a newer "F" model? I'm hoping if there is some sort of dome on the newer models (possibly as a filter to cut down on the greenish tint some have complained about) it hasn't reduced lux on the F models as some on here have perceived. Any chance you'll look at/compare one of the newer ones? Here is a very poor picture I just took of the emitter on my F serial numbered light. There appears to be a coating or flat dome over just the emitter.

 

[selfbuilt]

Hmmm, that is interesting. I have not seen one of these new samples. It is unlikely that Olight will send another one for review. Hopefully someone with a good light meter can provide lux measures.

Sent from my Z10 using Candlepowerforums mobile app

 

[kj2]

Have send Olight a email about this. Hope I receive an answer

 

[bdogps]

Selfbuilt,

As several folks have pointed out it appears Olight might have changed the LED in its newer models of this light. I've just received a "F" serial number model and it does appear that there is a very flat dome over the LED. Have you looked at a newer "F" model? I'm hoping if there is some sort of dome on the newer models (possibly as a filter to cut down on the greenish tint some have complained about) it hasn't reduced lux on the F models as some on here have perceived. Any chance you'll look at/compare one of the newer ones? Here is a very poor picture I just took of the emitter on my F serial numbered light. There appears to be a coating or flat dome over just the emitter.

Hey mate can you provide a beam shot? Does the beam look kind of greenish? Thanks.

 

[kj2]

Olight confirms via email, the led has changed from XM-L2 to XP-L.

 

[John7Boy]

My light Meter is not an expensive one but it shows quite a drop in output for the F series M2X-UT which I also have. My E series fully dedomed bare metal and LED shows about 115,000 lux from about one metre. From exactly the same distance and conditions my Thrunite TN32 gave 115,000 lux but my F series measured only 95,000 lux and to my naked eye does NOT throw as far as the E series. I swapped the identical batteries between F & E series M2X-UT and got the same results. The E series M2X-UT has slightly different wording on the box as well. eg E series "Latest top of the line, highest-performing, single-die CREE XM-L2 LED" whereas the F series reads "Customized CREE LED with a smooth reflector creates a tightly-focused beam to maximise throw reaching out to 810M (2675ft)". Unanounced but significant change with F series definitely having clear-coat or shallow dome over LED, does not look anything like their advertising on Ebay and other dealers websites. My E series as previously stated has light corrosion coat on LED metal base which I have also noted on our M2X-UT forums.

Regards John

Olight SR95-UT SBT-70, Fenix TK-70, Thrunite TN32, Olight M2X-UT (both F&E versions), Nitecore EA8, Ultrafire C8, Thrunite Neutron 2a v2, Nitecore HC90, Olight S15, XTAR VP2 x2, Maha MH-C808M

 

[Limey Johnson]

I figure when just doing comparisons, an expensive meter isn't necessary. It just needs to be consistent.

I'm not interested typically in the actual number, but comparing is always fun.

I did some ceiling bounce tests once with a 40 year old GE candela meter. It was fun to log the difference in each light, but I'd guess the accuracy of the actual readings would be reasonably off.

 

[selfbuilt]

My light Meter is not an expensive one but it shows quite a drop in output for the F series M2X-UT which I also have. My E series fully dedomed bare metal and LED shows about 115,000 lux from about one metre. From exactly the same distance and conditions my Thrunite TN32 gave 115,000 lux but my F series measured only 95,000 lux and to my naked eye does NOT throw as far as the E series.

Thanks for the numbers. I too saw little difference between my M2X-UT and TN32. Interesting to see the F-series has dropped, although a ~20% drop is not as severe as I feared (from the apparent spec difference reported here).

I figure when just doing comparisons, an expensive meter isn't necessary. It just needs to be consistent.
I'm not interested typically in the actual number, but comparing is always fun.

Absolutely right. For many years I used cheap lightmeters, and found them all to be quite internally consistent. I only moved to a NIST-calibrated one to provide more accurate readings for my samples. But for more people, all that counts in consistent comparisons.

 

[RemcoM]

Hi Selfbuilt,

1 I will mount the Olight M2X UT Javelot on my bicycle, to see, how it is, to drive with 160 kcd...will test it at night, outside urban area, to not blind anyone...

...and will test it, at midday/afternoon, in not urban, and urban area...to see, how i the 160 kcd is visible, for other traffic.

Visible you think, even at afternoon?

2 Can my local bikestore hopefully, mount the M2X, on my bike?

I will try, and ask tomorrow.

Maybe a bad idea, mount so much kcd on my bicycle, but want know, how it is, for me, and other traffic, cycling, with the low...med, and HIGH mode, of my Olight M2X UT Javelot.

What you think?

 

[selfbuilt]

What you think?

Again, I think it's a bad idea to mount such a focused thrower on a bicycle. Unless you only plan to drive in deserted areas (?), you are likely to blind any other people you come across. And since you are never driving at high speed on a bike, you don't need to see hundred of meters in front of you - what you really need is the immediate area in front of the bike illuminated. A general purpose flashlight beam is recommended for bike riding.

 

[Limey Johnson]

my .02. A mountain biker for 10 years. The M2X is WAY too focused for night riding. The only way I could see this working would be just around the neighborhood at a nice relaxing speed. If you were to attempt to ride singletrack with this light, I'm 100% sure it will end up in something broken! Light, bike, or (if you ride anything like I do), maybe YOU.

 

[Nikola3000]

Hi i just received my olight m2x ut and it has different led it is completely domed and its F serial number ? it is defrent from both lights from this thread
so olight updated this led once more ?

 

[clemence]

Hi SB,

Could you post the M2X-UT runtime using the OEM battery extender (2x18650)? I have purchased 4 M2X-UT for my friends all with the battery extender. Just curious if the runtime curve is comparable to M3X-UT. I notice that the M2X-UT runtime curve is not as constant as the M3X-UT because the single 18650 can't sustain needed power. Your test with M3X-UT using 2x18650 showed a very good stabilization over a longer time after the timed step down. I'm just wondering if it's the upgraded driver or just capacity limitation. We know that M2X-UT is driven less than the M3X-UT, if anything is the same it should last longer. I really love this little pocket thrower and the added performance of M3X-UT doesn't really tempting because of it's bigger size except, for the flatter runtime curve.

Many thanks,
Clemence