woodrow
Flashlight Enthusiast
I like tough lights. Lights that could be used when the poop hits the fan...without too much worry about it giving out. I was amazed by some of the Torture Tests the Fenix T1 went through when it was launched. Fenix has launched this light as its "first" impact resistant light. (what was the T1 then???) I will not go into the internal impact resistance enhancements here... but I will try to show why this light should be able to be depended on...pretty much regardless of the mess you find your self needing it to get you out of.
First, a picture of how the light comes
I really like that Fenix is putting its lights in boxes not clamshell cases you have to cut into. Also, instruction manuals and warrenty cards are a nice touch. The light is long, but it fits the hand well, it will tailstand (when it is switched on)
and it has one thing most Fenix lights have been missing...KURLING.
The light Does have teeth...it kind of reminds me of my old SF E2DL on Steroids. The teeth at the bezel are sharper than the teeth at the tail...but either end of this light could do damage to anything it strikes.
The fins on the tail do not make difficult to press the rear switch...as some people thought the fins on the T1 did. The switch sticks out 1/2 a mm out past them...but they still protect the switch. You cannot turn on the light by pushing it down on a flat surface. The best of both worlds in my opinion.
The light feels stout. Here is a picture with the tailcaps off to show the thickness of the body tube. The light on the right is the Olight M20...a great light in its own right...but not as tough as the TA30
The difference in thickness is easy to see. I have not had a 3x123a light that feels this stout in the hand since my SF M3 combat light...my favorite SF light ever...and this light does not have a bulb to break.
Operation of the light is pretty straight forward. The light has 4 settings: low, medium, high and strobe. Each can be immediately accessed with the light on or off. The ring is stiff and not U2 smooth...but it is not going to accidentially be knocked off the level you set it at either.
The whole front of the light is sealed and the light is supposed to be water resistant to IXP8 standards. I am not going to do it with my light...but I am guessing it could be thrown against a brick wall...fall into a pretty deep puddle..and still be ok. I also like that the light's length makes it stick out both sides of the hand...and the light has enough mass so when walking with it at night...I feel like I always have a decent weapon in hand.
As to its beam...the slightly textured reflector gives decent throw...while providing a really smooth and wide spillbeam. The color is typical Q5 white.
The light's output is a little (figure 9 lumens vs. 6) brighter than the Olight M20 R2's on low, maybe 10 lumens lower than the M20's on medium...and High is hard to tell which light is brighter because of tint differences...The M20 might have it by a few lumens becuase of the R2...but they are close.
Here are a couple of beamshots with the target bush at 17 yards away. Camera is at 1.5sec at f/2.8 iso 64..wb is daylight. Sorry...have not replaced my tripod yet so these are handheld with the self timer on.
The Olight M20 R2 OP High
The TA30 High
So, to sum up the light.... The Fenix TA30 is a seriously stoutly built light...with a great UI that lets you select the level of output you want easily...even when off. The beam is smooth and the light will tailstand... great for busquit hunting at night since it can be used as a lantern. The light has good runtime thanks to its 3 batts. (hi is 225 L for 3.5 H, M is 60L for 25 H, Low is 9L for 115 H, Strobe is 230L for 7 hours...Fenix Specs)
As for rechargables...Fenix is saying 3.0 rcr123a's are recomended..but I would think two AW 17500's should be fine...I have not ordered any yet...but my AW 17670 fits in the light fine...but I have heard Ultrafire 17500's might be too wide)
The best thing about the light to me is simply that it is about the toughest feeling led light that I have owned. It could easily be used as a defensive tool against a person or a dog...and has a nice wide spill for night walks.
I think Fenix has come up with another winner here...even better and tougher than the T1. And basically, that Is why if you like rugged lights.... I highly recommend you buy one. I got mine from the nice folks at Brightguy...but I also know Batteryjunction and 4Sevens carry them as well.
Thanks for reading.
First, a picture of how the light comes
I really like that Fenix is putting its lights in boxes not clamshell cases you have to cut into. Also, instruction manuals and warrenty cards are a nice touch. The light is long, but it fits the hand well, it will tailstand (when it is switched on)
and it has one thing most Fenix lights have been missing...KURLING.
The light Does have teeth...it kind of reminds me of my old SF E2DL on Steroids. The teeth at the bezel are sharper than the teeth at the tail...but either end of this light could do damage to anything it strikes.
The fins on the tail do not make difficult to press the rear switch...as some people thought the fins on the T1 did. The switch sticks out 1/2 a mm out past them...but they still protect the switch. You cannot turn on the light by pushing it down on a flat surface. The best of both worlds in my opinion.
The light feels stout. Here is a picture with the tailcaps off to show the thickness of the body tube. The light on the right is the Olight M20...a great light in its own right...but not as tough as the TA30
The difference in thickness is easy to see. I have not had a 3x123a light that feels this stout in the hand since my SF M3 combat light...my favorite SF light ever...and this light does not have a bulb to break.
Operation of the light is pretty straight forward. The light has 4 settings: low, medium, high and strobe. Each can be immediately accessed with the light on or off. The ring is stiff and not U2 smooth...but it is not going to accidentially be knocked off the level you set it at either.
The whole front of the light is sealed and the light is supposed to be water resistant to IXP8 standards. I am not going to do it with my light...but I am guessing it could be thrown against a brick wall...fall into a pretty deep puddle..and still be ok. I also like that the light's length makes it stick out both sides of the hand...and the light has enough mass so when walking with it at night...I feel like I always have a decent weapon in hand.
As to its beam...the slightly textured reflector gives decent throw...while providing a really smooth and wide spillbeam. The color is typical Q5 white.
The light's output is a little (figure 9 lumens vs. 6) brighter than the Olight M20 R2's on low, maybe 10 lumens lower than the M20's on medium...and High is hard to tell which light is brighter because of tint differences...The M20 might have it by a few lumens becuase of the R2...but they are close.
Here are a couple of beamshots with the target bush at 17 yards away. Camera is at 1.5sec at f/2.8 iso 64..wb is daylight. Sorry...have not replaced my tripod yet so these are handheld with the self timer on.
The Olight M20 R2 OP High
The TA30 High
So, to sum up the light.... The Fenix TA30 is a seriously stoutly built light...with a great UI that lets you select the level of output you want easily...even when off. The beam is smooth and the light will tailstand... great for busquit hunting at night since it can be used as a lantern. The light has good runtime thanks to its 3 batts. (hi is 225 L for 3.5 H, M is 60L for 25 H, Low is 9L for 115 H, Strobe is 230L for 7 hours...Fenix Specs)
As for rechargables...Fenix is saying 3.0 rcr123a's are recomended..but I would think two AW 17500's should be fine...I have not ordered any yet...but my AW 17670 fits in the light fine...but I have heard Ultrafire 17500's might be too wide)
The best thing about the light to me is simply that it is about the toughest feeling led light that I have owned. It could easily be used as a defensive tool against a person or a dog...and has a nice wide spill for night walks.
I think Fenix has come up with another winner here...even better and tougher than the T1. And basically, that Is why if you like rugged lights.... I highly recommend you buy one. I got mine from the nice folks at Brightguy...but I also know Batteryjunction and 4Sevens carry them as well.
Thanks for reading.
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