mchlwise
Enlightened
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2006
- Messages
- 949
Hopefully adding somewhat to the other Fenix L0D series comparisons...
I took my recently received Fenix L0Ds out back for a shootout to try to see what the differences are, and if a clear winner can be declared.
I placed fresh Energizer E2 lithiums in both, and stood approximately 25feet from the bench in my back yard which I like to use for this kind of thing. I've added a small table with an ornamental birdhouse on it, which should give even more depth.
On to the pics (excuse the camera's difficulty focusing):
To me, they're really comparable. The L0DCE is rated at 50 lumens, and the L0DR80 is rated at 60 lumens, so I wasn't expecting a huge difference.
It might appear at first that the L0DCE is a little brighter, but I think that's due to the difference in throw from the reflectors. The CE reflector is smooth, while the R80's reflector is slightly textured or "orange peel". This concentrates the CE beam into a brighter hotspot with less throw, and diffuses the R80's beam into a much smoother overall flood pattern.
If you look closely, to the left of the bench you can see a white gutter down-spout coming down the grey siding of the house. It's clearly more visible (to me) with the Rebel than with the Cree. This would indicate that there's lots more light going off to the side, and accounts for the lumens that are apparently missing from the center around the birdhouse.
As far as brightness goes: the lumens are there, and the Rebel is putting out more of them as advertised... but they're spread out. And spread out nicely.
I didn't see any rings or artifacts whatsoever in the Rebel beam, and the transition from hotspot to sidespill is a smooth and even fade.
If you're on the fence about which one of these to buy, I think it comes down to the old "flood vs. throw" decision. If you will use it for close to medium range and want a nice even floody light, go with the Rebel version. If you want a brighter hot-spot with more throw, and aren't worried about a little ringiness, go with the Cree.
Of course, I wouldn't be thoroughly reviewing the lights if I didn't throw a 3.7volt 10440 cell in 'em. :naughty:
Here's the L0DCE:
As expected, the thing was astoundingly bright. It was putting out more light than my L1DR100 was! :green:
The problem, of course, is runtime and what it does to the cell. I had read this post (by Luminescent) before:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showpost.php?p=2134527&postcount=32
so I was being careful and using it for short periods at a time. From my observations, Luminescent is right-on with his assessment that the draw these lights put on the poor little cells is not just brutal, but possibly dangerous. I put the 10440 in the Rebel, and it was BRIGHT!... then it started to dim. I might have gotten 10-15 seconds before it was noticibly dimming. I turned it off quickly and called my wife over. I turned it to high again, and asked "Notice anything?" (pause) "Yeah, it's getting dimmer." :shakehead Sure that it wasn't my eyes, I vowed to never put the poor 10440 cell in the Rebel again. After a brief rest, the light would light up again just as bright, so there wasn't any apparent damage to the emitter - the lithium cell just can't keep up with the draw from the Rebel.
I recharged the cell before trying it out in the Cree. The Cree's lower draw was easier on the cell, but it still didn't last very long. I vaguely remember seeing something about a 10 minute to 50% runtime on high on a 10440. I was just messing around a little bit after taking the shot above, and started noticing it dimming on high. I don't know if I had gotten to 10 minutes, or if the cell wasn't 100% after running the Rebel, but not wanting to damage it I decided it was done, and so was I.
Bottom line:
I can't declare a clear winner.
These are both great lights. They are surprisingly bright for such a small package, even on regular alkaline cells. There are clear differences in the emitters and reflectors, which affect the way the light is put out, but not the amount of it.
It's going to come down to personal preference at this point. If you want smooth flood - get the Rebel. If you want an undisputed pocket rocket thrower, get the Cree.
The only real "advantage" I could see to distinguish one over the other would be the Cree's ability to run a 10440 cell. The Rebel is just simply too much for the tiny lithium cell, and I would STRONGLY recommend against ever doing it. Personally, for someone "new to the game", I would recommend against investing in a 10440 cell for the Cree also. Sure it's ridicuously bright and will amaze your friends... for a short time. It won't last long, and unless you want to be in the dark for the rest of the night you'd better bring another light or at least another cell.
Stick with "standard" cells, and neither of these lights should ever let you down.
:twothumbs
I took my recently received Fenix L0Ds out back for a shootout to try to see what the differences are, and if a clear winner can be declared.
I placed fresh Energizer E2 lithiums in both, and stood approximately 25feet from the bench in my back yard which I like to use for this kind of thing. I've added a small table with an ornamental birdhouse on it, which should give even more depth.
On to the pics (excuse the camera's difficulty focusing):
To me, they're really comparable. The L0DCE is rated at 50 lumens, and the L0DR80 is rated at 60 lumens, so I wasn't expecting a huge difference.
It might appear at first that the L0DCE is a little brighter, but I think that's due to the difference in throw from the reflectors. The CE reflector is smooth, while the R80's reflector is slightly textured or "orange peel". This concentrates the CE beam into a brighter hotspot with less throw, and diffuses the R80's beam into a much smoother overall flood pattern.
If you look closely, to the left of the bench you can see a white gutter down-spout coming down the grey siding of the house. It's clearly more visible (to me) with the Rebel than with the Cree. This would indicate that there's lots more light going off to the side, and accounts for the lumens that are apparently missing from the center around the birdhouse.
As far as brightness goes: the lumens are there, and the Rebel is putting out more of them as advertised... but they're spread out. And spread out nicely.
I didn't see any rings or artifacts whatsoever in the Rebel beam, and the transition from hotspot to sidespill is a smooth and even fade.If you're on the fence about which one of these to buy, I think it comes down to the old "flood vs. throw" decision. If you will use it for close to medium range and want a nice even floody light, go with the Rebel version. If you want a brighter hot-spot with more throw, and aren't worried about a little ringiness, go with the Cree.
Of course, I wouldn't be thoroughly reviewing the lights if I didn't throw a 3.7volt 10440 cell in 'em. :naughty:
Here's the L0DCE:
As expected, the thing was astoundingly bright. It was putting out more light than my L1DR100 was! :green:
The problem, of course, is runtime and what it does to the cell. I had read this post (by Luminescent) before:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showpost.php?p=2134527&postcount=32
so I was being careful and using it for short periods at a time. From my observations, Luminescent is right-on with his assessment that the draw these lights put on the poor little cells is not just brutal, but possibly dangerous. I put the 10440 in the Rebel, and it was BRIGHT!... then it started to dim. I might have gotten 10-15 seconds before it was noticibly dimming. I turned it off quickly and called my wife over. I turned it to high again, and asked "Notice anything?" (pause) "Yeah, it's getting dimmer." :shakehead Sure that it wasn't my eyes, I vowed to never put the poor 10440 cell in the Rebel again. After a brief rest, the light would light up again just as bright, so there wasn't any apparent damage to the emitter - the lithium cell just can't keep up with the draw from the Rebel.
I recharged the cell before trying it out in the Cree. The Cree's lower draw was easier on the cell, but it still didn't last very long. I vaguely remember seeing something about a 10 minute to 50% runtime on high on a 10440. I was just messing around a little bit after taking the shot above, and started noticing it dimming on high. I don't know if I had gotten to 10 minutes, or if the cell wasn't 100% after running the Rebel, but not wanting to damage it I decided it was done, and so was I.
Bottom line:
I can't declare a clear winner.
These are both great lights. They are surprisingly bright for such a small package, even on regular alkaline cells. There are clear differences in the emitters and reflectors, which affect the way the light is put out, but not the amount of it.
It's going to come down to personal preference at this point. If you want smooth flood - get the Rebel. If you want an undisputed pocket rocket thrower, get the Cree.
The only real "advantage" I could see to distinguish one over the other would be the Cree's ability to run a 10440 cell. The Rebel is just simply too much for the tiny lithium cell, and I would STRONGLY recommend against ever doing it. Personally, for someone "new to the game", I would recommend against investing in a 10440 cell for the Cree also. Sure it's ridicuously bright and will amaze your friends... for a short time. It won't last long, and unless you want to be in the dark for the rest of the night you'd better bring another light or at least another cell.
Stick with "standard" cells, and neither of these lights should ever let you down.
:twothumbs
