4sevens (http://Fenix-Store.com) very kindly loaned me some of the latest single AAA Fenix flashlights for review.
Size -
Heads -
Design - a nice feature is that slot/cutout in the tail that allows an attached key split-ring to sit so that the light will stand on its tail
showing slot and a worm's eye view of the light standing on its tail.
The most obvious comparison is with the ArcAAA - there are so many apparent similarities (with the current ArcAAA-P(remium) - HA3 (hard) anodization and similar spec'd outputs of 5.5 lumens) -
I only have the classic ArcAAA (circa 2003)
similar characteristics both with blue'ish hotospots - the Fenix E0 is definitiely brighter when shown side-by-side. The Fenix E0 has the typical characteristics of the Nichia CS - a sunny/yellow corona/side-spill with blue center. ArcAAA (2003) has more of a brownish corona again typical of the characteristic of a Nichia 5mm LED of the time.
Another light that might bear comparison even if it is way of the price bracket - is the budget choice here on CPF -
vs. Dorcy 1AAA (gen 2)
again the Fenix E0 definitely shows brighter.
What else? how about
vs. Chinese "clone"
again Fenix E0 is definitely brighter.
This shows that the Fenix is brighter than the previous generation (ie: pre-Nichia CS) 5mm white LED 1AAA lights
Now let's play in more serious company -
vs. Nuwai 0.5w 1AAA (TM-310H)
hmmm.... the Nuwai TM-310H 1/2watt is brighter - it may be the tighter/more concentrated hotspot - the Nuwai betrays its typical blue tint......
vs. 1AAA 0.5w AdvancedMart LED-050AAA
the 1/2watt is brighter.
On paper these 1/2 watts are probably about twice as bright as the Fenix E0 - but in practice the increase in brightness doesn't make that much difference....
saying that this applies equally to the Fenix E0 vs. the previous generation 1AAA 5mm LEDs.......
Now the step from the previous gen 5mm to the 1/2watt is a worthwhile and noticable difference...... and the Fenix E0 sits in between level.
More lights of interest -
vs. Fenix E1 with power Nichia LED -
vs. Fenix E1 Special* with U-bin Lux III
*Special - this is a mod by 4sevens that he's trying out......
contact him for more details
The most worthwhile thing about the Fenix is the spec'd runtime and current regulation. A claimed battery life of 20 hours with about 10 hours on high seems very impressive.
Unfortunately I can't do runtimes - but xiaoyao's excellent review -
Fenix E0 (simple review)
has a runtime graph along with figures for the ArcAAA-P(remium) (2005)
Update - ADDED Nov/2/2006 -
I have a current production ArcAAA-P on loan -
so here are the comparisons with the Fenix E0 -
sizes and heads -
Fenix E0 vs. ArcAAA-P(remium) both using alkaline AAA -
The ArcAAA-P is noticably brighter with a seemingly better tint - but the beam characteristics are similar to the E0 - just brighter - look at the -2 stops underexposed beam of the ArcAAA-P and compare it to the Fenix E0 in the full exposure.... that's the Nichia CS for you......
Just for completeness here's comparison of the current ArcAAA-P with my classic ArcAAA (circa 2003)
Size -
Heads -
Design - a nice feature is that slot/cutout in the tail that allows an attached key split-ring to sit so that the light will stand on its tail
showing slot and a worm's eye view of the light standing on its tail.
The most obvious comparison is with the ArcAAA - there are so many apparent similarities (with the current ArcAAA-P(remium) - HA3 (hard) anodization and similar spec'd outputs of 5.5 lumens) -
I only have the classic ArcAAA (circa 2003)
similar characteristics both with blue'ish hotospots - the Fenix E0 is definitiely brighter when shown side-by-side. The Fenix E0 has the typical characteristics of the Nichia CS - a sunny/yellow corona/side-spill with blue center. ArcAAA (2003) has more of a brownish corona again typical of the characteristic of a Nichia 5mm LED of the time.
Another light that might bear comparison even if it is way of the price bracket - is the budget choice here on CPF -
vs. Dorcy 1AAA (gen 2)
again the Fenix E0 definitely shows brighter.
What else? how about
vs. Chinese "clone"
again Fenix E0 is definitely brighter.
This shows that the Fenix is brighter than the previous generation (ie: pre-Nichia CS) 5mm white LED 1AAA lights
Now let's play in more serious company -
vs. Nuwai 0.5w 1AAA (TM-310H)
hmmm.... the Nuwai TM-310H 1/2watt is brighter - it may be the tighter/more concentrated hotspot - the Nuwai betrays its typical blue tint......
vs. 1AAA 0.5w AdvancedMart LED-050AAA
the 1/2watt is brighter.
On paper these 1/2 watts are probably about twice as bright as the Fenix E0 - but in practice the increase in brightness doesn't make that much difference....
saying that this applies equally to the Fenix E0 vs. the previous generation 1AAA 5mm LEDs.......
Now the step from the previous gen 5mm to the 1/2watt is a worthwhile and noticable difference...... and the Fenix E0 sits in between level.
More lights of interest -
vs. Fenix E1 with power Nichia LED -
vs. Fenix E1 Special* with U-bin Lux III
*Special - this is a mod by 4sevens that he's trying out......
contact him for more details
The most worthwhile thing about the Fenix is the spec'd runtime and current regulation. A claimed battery life of 20 hours with about 10 hours on high seems very impressive.
Unfortunately I can't do runtimes - but xiaoyao's excellent review -
Fenix E0 (simple review)
has a runtime graph along with figures for the ArcAAA-P(remium) (2005)
Update - ADDED Nov/2/2006 -
I have a current production ArcAAA-P on loan -
so here are the comparisons with the Fenix E0 -
sizes and heads -
Fenix E0 vs. ArcAAA-P(remium) both using alkaline AAA -
The ArcAAA-P is noticably brighter with a seemingly better tint - but the beam characteristics are similar to the E0 - just brighter - look at the -2 stops underexposed beam of the ArcAAA-P and compare it to the Fenix E0 in the full exposure.... that's the Nichia CS for you......
Just for completeness here's comparison of the current ArcAAA-P with my classic ArcAAA (circa 2003)
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