Fenix TK50 Review

I had posted the same review as followings dated on Jan. 11, but it was disappeared Feb. 7.
Asked adimistrator why it was disappeared and to recover it.
He replied there was an apparent glitch while sorting through spam. Unfortunately the thread
is unrecoverable.
( http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/...d.php?t=309229 )

Thanks to AnAppleSnail(CPFer), I could saved the review only. He catched the file by googling.
Thanks again AnAppleSnail.
Anyway I've spent much time in posting again.

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(Original review)

TK50 uses two 1.5v D-sized alkarine or Ni-MH batteries. I think it's the first Fenix flashlight
which is powered by D-cell batteries.



Included in the plastic hard case are TK50, lanyard, extra o-rings, warranty card and user's manual,
two alkarine batteries.
.

Looks pretty nice and big light, and well-HA III anodized as a whole. Knurling is not very aggressive, but not slippery.
.

The head has some fins to improve cooling and has dual side button switches make not only rapid
mode change but brightness change.
The side button switch on the right is power switch and the left one is a switch for selecting brightness
levels. There are two modes(general flashing mode). When the light is in the general mode, a single
press on the left button can select 4 brightness levels in the order of Turbe --> Low --> Med. -->High
--> Cycle.

When the light is in the flashing mode, a single press on the left button can transfer in the order of
Strobe --> SOS --> Warning Flashing --> Cycle. When turns on the light, it'll enter into the general
mode. The fast double press on the power switch can select the desired mode.
.

The battery tube knurling shape is quite same as TK45.
.

TK50 is split into three parts without using tools. The side button switches both have a good
feel and give the ease of operation.
.

The light has an wide deep smooth reflector with a very well centered Cree XP-G R5 LED
at the bottom.
.

The square-cut threads at the head are excellent.
.

The contact spring in the head is covered by a small gold colored cap which moves inside.
Therefore the flat-top D-cells can't work.
.

The rear part of the head can be opened with a small tool.
.

There are the circuit contact spring when opening the black colored plastic cover.
This structure avoids circuit damaging from reverse connection of battery. Nice design!
.

Screw threads are not anodized at the battery tube connect to head.
.

The straight thin furrow shapes on the inside of the large rectangular pattern look classy.
.

Screw threads are anodized at the battery tube connect to tail cap. The thickness of the battery
tube is considerably thick and this may exert high impact resistance durability.
.

The square-cut threads are anodized at the tail cap for lock-out.
.

Without any fixation device, the spring of the tail cap are integrated using elasticity of the spring
only. It's a simple and reliable way.
.

The tail allows tail standing and has two holes for mounting the lanyard.
.

The net weight of TK50 is around 288g.
.

The weight including batteries is 575g.

The following pictures are white door beamshots.
- About 50cm from the white door
- Turbo brightness (ANSI 255 lumens)
.

ISO200, F2.8, 1/125sec.
.

ISO200, F2.8, 1/250sec.
.

ISO200, F2.8, 1/400sec.
.

TK50 with smooth reflector produces a very bright hot spot and brighter widerspill beam than expected as well.
It shows cool white tint.
.
I've taken Jil-Lite STERN, FARKA F8 v5 lights, to compare to TK50.
(Sorry for not havingbig lights similar to TK50.)

.
Here are the main specifications of each light.
- STERN : Osram Golden Dragon Plus, Cool White, SMO, 1x18650 li-ion
- FARKA F8 v5 : Cree XP-G R5, Cool White, SMO, 1x18650 li-ion
- TK50 : Cree XP-G R5, Cool White, SMO, 2xD-Cell alkarines
The conditions of the indoor beamshots are
- Distance : about 7m
- Brightness : all maximum
- ISO200, F2.8, 1/4sec
.

STERN
.

FARKA F8 v5
.

TK50
.

.
You can be able to find out the beam pattern characteristics of TK50 from the above beamshots.
The conditions of the outdoor beamshots are
- Distance : about 60~65m
- Brightness : all maximum
- ISO200, F2.8, 1sec.
.

Control Shot
.

STERN (FARKA is excluded because STERN is brighter than FARKA.)
.

TK50
.

STERN(Up), TK50(Down)

(Original review)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.
UPDATE : Jan. 17, 2011
I've taken an Wolf Eyes NIGHT-HUNTER to compare to TK50 as well.
Here are the main specifications of each light.
- NIGHT HUNTER : Cree XP-G R5, Cool White, OP with Aspherical Lens, 1x18650 li-ion
- TK50 : Cree XP-G R5, Cool White, SMO, 2xD-Cell alkarines
.

The conditions of the outdoor beamshots are
- Distance : about 60~65m
- Brightness : all maximum
- ISO200, F2.8, 1sec
.

Control Shot
.

NIGHT-HUNTER
.

TK50
.

TK50(Up), NIGHT HUNTER(Down)
.

It's amazing.
.
UPDATE : Jan. 25, 2011
At present Fenix dosen't make the diffuser for TK50 and I thought where would I get it.
But I realized that I don't need to buy or make it because the plastic hard case came with TK50
may be a good diffuser. OK let's see it.
.

It's OK to insert TK50 into the case.
.

The case is well suited to TK50.
.

Looking down on the head of TK50.
.

Turn on the light. Still bright.
.
Now let's see in the small room. The beamshot conditions are
- Brightness : High Turbo
- ISO200, F2.8, 1/2sec

Control shot (It's black as styx that I can't see anything in the room.)
.

High level without diffuser
.

High level with diffuser
.

Turbo level without diffuser
.

Turbo level with diffuser
.

The plastic case is not only a good for keeping the light but a diffuser.

(Original review)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.
UPDATE : Feb. 11, 2011
I'd introduce the other review from www.ohled.com for TK50. The reviewer is kojs1901.
He compared TK50 with the followings :
- Fenix TK30, MC-E, 2x18650
- Tiablo A10, Cree R2, 1x18650
- Dereelight DBS with Optic Lens, Cree R2, 1x18650
.

From left to right, TK50, TK30, A10, DBS with Optic lens
.

Control Shot
.

Tiablo A10
.

DBS with Optic lens
.

TK50
.

TK30
.
He said that although not exactly expresssed by the pictures due to a resolution adjustment, DBS has the most
brightest hot spot with no spill beam and A10 has a tight hot spot with negligible spill beam. However TK50 has
not only a tight hot spot but also an harmonious spill beam as you can see.
.
I'd introduce an intersting beamshots for TK50, Suterfire C10, and Skylay 1JC8.

The spec. of the lights are
- Suterfire C10, Cree Q5, 1x18650
- Skylay 1JC8, Cree Q5, 1x18650
.

.
Beamshot condtions :
- Auto shot mode, 1 sec, F2.8

Control Shot
.

Skylay 1JC8
.

Suterfire C10
.

TK50
.

From the top Skylay 1JC8, Suterfire C10, TK50
.

.
He said that C2 has more hotspot due to the cool white tint in the near distance.
In the long distance, TK50 never fall behind C2 because of a larger, wider reflector, beam pattern of a low color
temperature and harmonious spill beam.

In my view, TK50 is not a thrower only showing tight hoptspot with negligible spill beam, and it has an harmonious
bright spill beam too.
.
UPDATE : Apr. 10, 2011
I received D-cell adapters(converters). They are 2xAA to D-sized battery converter cases.

.

.

They make the light weigh a lot less and I think this is a great buy for anyone who wants to convert
there D cell electronics to a AA source batteries.

All the replies are gone with the wind.

Yes but look at the bright side, your very well done review was saved and re posted. I'm sure you'll get more replies in time.

Great review of an interesting light.
All that needs to be added is a Solarforce MPP-1?
Great and practical review. Also great idea with the box as diffuser!

Great review! I have this light and I have to say it's pretty amazing for only 255 lumens. As a matter of fact, it throws as well as my TK35, although it doesn't have as big a spot. (my flashlight lingo isn't up to snuff) That said, I highly recommend it anyone needing excellent throw without a huge flood effect.

Great review!!!
Thanks for sharing your review.

Great review! I'm sorry that you lost some replies during the crash, at least you still have this review. However, I think I got the loose end of the deal: I lost my entire account

Anyways, I love your vivid close-ups. BTW you might want to double-check some of your pictures because some do not seem to show. Maybe the link does not exist anymore.

I'm running my TK50 on 8 Eneloops using a custom adapter from "mdocod". If you catch him at the right time he will build these connectors special order. Quality is topnotch but it may seem silly to drop $50 on an adapter to use in an $80 light. I just haven't found any D cells that work as well as my Eneloops.

I tried using Energizer Lithium AAs and the extra voltage doesn't allow the modes to work properly. Everything is fine on High and Turbo but Med and Low are the same brightness as High. Basically turning the TK50 into a two mode light. It would be okay if you wanted the longest runtime on Turbo or High.

Thefo said:

Yes but look at the bright side, your very well done review was saved and re posted. I'm sure you'll get more replies in time.

Click to expand...

Thanks Thefo.

atbglenn said:

Great review! I have this light and I have to say it's pretty amazing for only 255 lumens. As a matter of fact, it throws as well as my TK35, although it doesn't have as big a spot. (my flashlight lingo isn't up to snuff) That said, I highly recommend it anyone needing excellent throw without a huge flood effect.

Click to expand...

You have TK35 is great light. It has bright & big spot beam, and wider spill beam.

iso9009 said:

Great review!!!
Thanks for sharing your review.

Click to expand...

Thanks for your excellent pictures & riviews for surefire too.

Fluffy Ops said:

Great review! I'm sorry that you lost some replies during the crash, at least you still have this review. However, I think I got the loose end of the deal: I lost my entire account

Anyways, I love your vivid close-ups. BTW you might want to double-check some of your pictures because some do not seem to show. Maybe the link does not exist anymore.

Click to expand...

I'm sorry that you lost your entire account.
Thanks for your comment and I upload the pictures again. If you can't see the pictures, let me know at any time.

357mag1 said:

I'm running my TK50 on 8 Eneloops using a custom adapter from "mdocod". If you catch him at the right time he will build these connectors special order. Quality is topnotch but it may seem silly to drop $50 on an adapter to use in an $80 light. I just haven't found any D cells that work as well as my Eneloops.

I tried using Energizer Lithium AAs and the extra voltage doesn't allow the modes to work properly. Everything is fine on High and Turbo but Med and Low are the same brightness as High. Basically turning the TK50 into a two mode light. It would be okay if you wanted the longest runtime on Turbo or High.

Click to expand...

You use mdocod's D-cell adapter for 8 AA cells. I envy you.
I experienced the same thing with very fresh two 1.5V Duracell alkarines. The low & med. are the same brighteness during about 5~10 minutes at first.

Excellent review, have placed one on order, for work, thanks to your review. Cheers.

Great review, but wouldn't the case heat up if you were to use it as a diffuser on the high mode? It's a smart idea but i think it would get too hot in there. What do you say? )

securityman888 said:

Excellent review, have placed one on order, for work, thanks to your review. Cheers.

Click to expand...

Thanks and you will certainly be happy with it.

gate2091 said:

Great review, but wouldn't the case heat up if you were to use it as a diffuser on the high mode? It's a smart idea but i think it would get too hot in there. What do you say? )

Click to expand...

Thanks for your support.
I prefer to use it as a diffuser on med. brightness because it's not only bright enough but safe for heat treatment.
High is OK for 20~30 minutes as well. I'd rate TK50's heat dissipation highly.

Candle lamp.....Great review...and fantastic photos. I have the TK45 and have had various 'throwers' that I always sold right away for the far reaching..but usually limited use beams, so I struggled to buy this light, but your review helped me give in. I did miss the part in it on my first read where brand new batteries eleminate the lowest level. This is also the case with my light. That being said, I really like the beam. It is pretty flawless for a smoot reflector...has NO R5 donut hole...yet will throw for 200+ (easilly) yards with a beam that is not just a small circle, but a ussable surround and a very bright spill beam. I like it SO MUCH better than my Streamlight Stinger HP led that has a narrower spill, (often off center led) heavy pwm, nicad batt much worse runtime. This is just a great light. I like the fact that regular D cells give such fantastic runtime, though I plan to buy rechargable's soon. I also think I might buy a couple D-AA battery converter tubes and try it with 2 AA lithium Energizers in it. (should lighten the light a bit I would think. Again, thanks for the review...I am glad I bought the light.

woodrow said:

I like the fact that regular D cells give such fantastic runtime, though I plan to buy rechargable's soon. I also think I might buy a couple D-AA battery converter tubes and try it with 2 AA lithium Energizers in it. (should lighten the light a bit I would think. Again, thanks for the review...I am glad I bought the light.

Click to expand...

It's my pleasure and thanks. woodrow
Congratuate on your getting the light.
I'm using two 1.2v Eneloop Ni-Mh rechargeable batteries in a D-cell converter and highly pleased.

Never tempted on this one before reading the review.

I'm amazed you can substitute 6 or even 12 volts of AA for 3 volts of D? This must void the warranty. If I'm going to spend $80 for a Fenix I want the warranty. If the alkalines leak I think Duracell backs it up with their own warranty?

I'd be curious what the regulation looks like with alkalines?

How long will it take for the parasitic drain to drain alkalines? I'm not interested in yet another charger and battery type. The only way this flashlight makes sense for me personally is as a garage light with cheap alkalines and it is very likely that my wife or I will forget to lock it out.

woodrow said:

Candle lamp.....Great review...and fantastic photos. I have the TK45 and have had various 'throwers' that I always sold right away for the far reaching..but usually limited use beams, so I struggled to buy this light, but your review helped me give in. I did miss the part in it on my first read where brand new batteries eleminate the lowest level. This is also the case with my light. That being said, I really like the beam. It is pretty flawless for a smoot reflector...has NO R5 donut hole...yet will throw for 200+ (easilly) yards with a beam that is not just a small circle, but a ussable surround and a very bright spill beam. I like it SO MUCH better than my Streamlight Stinger HP led that has a narrower spill, (often off center led) heavy pwm, nicad batt much worse runtime. This is just a great light. I like the fact that regular D cells give such fantastic runtime, though I plan to buy rechargable's soon. I also think I might buy a couple D-AA battery converter tubes and try it with 2 AA lithium Energizers in it. (should lighten the light a bit I would think. Again, thanks for the review...I am glad I bought the light.

Click to expand...

Keep in mind if you use the battery converters and Lithium Energizers your light will have the same brightness on low, med and high. Each of those levels will appear to be high. The light does not seem to be able to regulate for the lower levels but does well on high and turbo with the extra voltage supplied by the Energizer lithiums.

recDNA said:

Never tempted on this one before reading the review.

I'm amazed you can substitute 6 or even 12 volts of AA for 3 volts of D? This must void the warranty. If I'm going to spend $80 for a Fenix I want the warranty. If the alkalines leak I think Duracell backs it up with their own warranty?

I'd be curious what the regulation looks like with alkalines?

How long will it take for the parasitic drain to drain alkalines? I'm not interested in yet another charger and battery type. The only way this flashlight makes sense for me personally is as a garage light with cheap alkalines and it is very likely that my wife or I will forget to lock it out.

Click to expand...

The mdocod battery holders I referred to are wired to provide 2.4v so when using 8 Eneloops it is equivalent to having two 8000mah LSD D cells. The light struggles to regulate with two lithium Energizers in series so I'm pretty sure 6 or 8 nimhs in series would burn the driver up. In fact I would be scared to try 3 nimh cells in series.

357mag1 said:

The mdocod battery holders I referred to are wired to provide 2.4v so when using 8 Eneloops it is equivalent to having two 8000mah LSD D cells. The light struggles to regulate with two lithium Energizers in series so I'm pretty sure 6 or 8 nimhs in series would burn the driver up. In fact I would be scared to try 3 nimh cells in series.

Click to expand...

Wouldn't 3 Volts be better? Anyway with your custom holder do all modes work properly?

recDNA said:

Wouldn't 3 Volts be better? Anyway with your custom holder do all modes work properly?

Click to expand...

I might have confused you. Two nimh cells in series are generally referred to as having 2.4v due to single nimh cells averaging 1.2v under load. Indeed if all 8 cells read 1.5v then the resting voltage across the terminals of the holder would be 3 volts.

Yes, all modes work when using the custom holder.

candle lamp said:

It's my pleasure and thanks. woodrow
Congratuate on your getting the light.
I'm using two 1.2v Eneloop Ni-Mh rechargeable batteries in a D-cell converter and highly pleased.

Click to expand...

What kind of runtimes are you getting with these adaptors using Eneloops? BTW, I just ordered a couple for my TK50.