New Flashaholic reporting in // Searching an AAA-torch

[Asgar]

Hello everyone,

about a week ago I knew nothing about the goodness of flashlights. Then, I decided to go on a night-time hike with friends and decided I need a good flashlight. The trekking store in my city recommended a LED Lenser P7, but I decided to consult the internet before shelling out 70€ for a flashlight.

So I came here and after a lot of reading I finally bought a Fenix LD20.

During the night hike, I really enjoyed my LD20. Changing the brightness was really handy, but I missed the feature to change the focus as my friend could with his LED Lenser P6. Another friend had a standard maglight, which was very dim compared to the LED lights. :D

Since then I am really fond of my LD20. I never thought that such a small fleshlight could produce that much light. I always have it with me now and it already was useful a few times - more often than I could imagine.

Anyway, though it is small compared to an ordinary maglite, it is not that convenient, so I want to buy a small single AAA-flashlite. As I really like the build quality of the LD20, I consider buying a Fenix E01. Is this a good choice for small flashlights? (My budget is 22€ including postage, as this is the limit for tax-free import.)

A second question: Why do most flashlights have a fixed focus? Isn't it useful to have more "spill" in certain situations?

A third one: I read somewhere that the power mode of the Fenix LD20 should not be used for more than 10 minutes continously, is this true? The manual didn't mention that.

And last, but not least: Are there any reviews of the Fenix diffusor cap?


Thank you, and please excuse my lengthy post ;)


Greetings

Asgar

 

[sol-leks]

the e01 is a great light, as is the ld01 if you want to spend a little more. The ld01 is also seriously bright if you drop a 10440 in it. I'm trying to think of something in between the e01 and the ld01, but can't really think of anything much better, maybe a leatherman serac or one of the kd v5 buckles.
http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=182486

 

[Polar_Hops]

i've been told that when it comes to fleshlights, size does not matter.
A nice AAA light is the liteflux LF2x =) but that seems to be out of your price range, so i would get one of those small fenix ones.


Most flashlights tend to be one sort of "focus" because they want to have nice, pretty white wall beams. You cannot have a perfect flashlight beam if you use a moving reflector or optic. It will still light stuff up good, just somewhat ringy.

 

[Asgar]

Thanks so far.

Others flashlight in my price range are the LED Lenser P2/P3, but I can't find any reviews for it... the official technical data is impressive, and price is comparable. Has anyone used them?

 

[Gunner12]

The E01 should make a good backup light. I'm not sure how good the Ledlenser P2 and P3 are. I know that the runtime is probably to 0%, very misleading.

I think most light are fix focus because unless the light has a special optic like some of the LedLensers, defocussing the light for flood will result in a ringy beam. That's just my guess.

Don't worry about the 10 minute thing. As long as the light has a decent way of removing heat, it should be fine. If your using the light in the middle of the desert under the hot sun on a record high day, in a warming oven, or a well insulated area, like turning the light on and dropping it into a coat pocket, then you shouldn't use it for more then 10 minutes. As long as you are holding the light it will be fine.

I've heard the diffuser works pretty well.

:welcome:

 

[sol-leks]

I don't really think thats true. I have a fenix e20 and the focusing optic is great and very smooth. coast also makes a light with a focusing optic, the lenser I think, and I don't own one but I hear those are great too.

i've been told that when it comes to fleshlights, size does not matter.
A nice AAA light is the liteflux LF2x =) but that seems to be out of your price range, so i would get one of those small fenix ones.


Most flashlights tend to be one sort of "focus" because they want to have nice, pretty white wall beams. You cannot have a perfect flashlight beam if you use a moving reflector or optic. It will still light stuff up good, just somewhat ringy.

 

[paulr]

The E01 is a nice little keychain light with a blueish beam. Its output is comparable to those little coin cell lights, which is to say that it's very handy for close-up use, making your way through a darkened room, etc., but it is much less powerful than your LD20. The LD01 is much more powerful than the E01 but is demanding on batteries (you really want to run it on rechargeables) and is likely outside your 22 GBP limit. They are around 50 USD for the aluminum version from Fenix-store.com (includes worldwide shipping) or 60 USD for stainless steel, if I remember right. Either way, use the CPF5 discount code on checkout to get 5% off (I think the minimum order for the discount is 20 USD or so).

If you just want a cheap handy keychain light, get a bag of ten of them for 4.50 USD (yes 45 cents each) from dealextreme.com. They are great for giving out to your friends, too.

 

[richardcpf]

-Bright
-Solid
-Multimode
-Reliable
-Compact
-Can take any type of AAA
-Best lumen-dollar ratio :D

Save some more and get the Fenix LD01 / LD01SS.

I will only recommend the E01 if you love dim and purple light output.

 

[HKJ]

Anyway, though it is small compared to an ordinary maglite, it is not that convenient, so I want to buy a small single AAA-flashlite. As I really like the build quality of the LD20, I consider buying a Fenix E01. Is this a good choice for small flashlights? (My budget is 22€ including postage, as this is the limit for tax-free import.)

I would suggest the Fenix LD01, it is much brighter and the light is white (E01 has a serious color tint).
Fenix has resellers in many countries, maybe you can find a local one, to get around the tax limit (In EU there are many good Fenix shops).

 

[kaichu dento]

-Bright
-Solid
-Multimode
-Reliable
-Compact
-Can take any type of AAA
-Best lumen-dollar ratio :D

Save some more and get the Fenix LD01 / LD01SS.

I will only recommend the E01 if you love dim and purple light output.

I would suggest the Fenix LD01, it is much brighter and the light is white (E01 has a serious color tint).
Fenix has resellers in many countries, maybe you can find a local one, to get around the tax limit (In EU there are many good Fenix shops).

+ 1

My L0D's were my first Fenix and I still carry a couple all the time. E01's that I bought were too purple in tint and I much prefer the Arc AAA in comparison.

 

[lyyyghtmaster]

I gave my mom an L0D for Christmas a 14 mos ago and she carries it and uses it often. Great little light! I carry an L2D for its longer runtime, but if space didn't permit I would happily use an LD01. Make sure the user interface is for you. Also there may still be some 100Hz PWM strobing at med and low like there was with the L0D. This bothers some people.

 

[kaichu dento]

I gave my mom an L0D for Christmas a 14 mos ago and she carries it and uses it often. Great little light! I carry an L2D for its longer runtime, but if space didn't permit I would happily use an LD01. Make sure the user interface is for you. Also there may still be some 100Hz PWM strobing at med and low like there was with the L0D. This bothers some people.

I gave one of the red L0D's to my mom and she got home to a power outage just a couple hours later! All my family and closest friends now have L0D's!

 

[Asgar]

The LD01 looks great, but I don't want to spend that much right after I purchased a 55€ LD20. So I either have to wait or go for something less expensive.

I'm a bit confused about Coast LED Lenser, they seem to be the same as Zweibrüder's LED Lenser. Are they manufacturing them on their own or is Coast the distributor in America? Anyway, the P3 is interesting and affordable. The runtime they claim seams exaggerated...

A last thing to the E01: I read it has no lense / glass in the front. I really wonder if it can survive in my pockets without the protection...

 

[ruger357]

I have a LOD on my keychain. Great little light.

 

[Derek Dean]

The LD01 looks great, but I don't want to spend that much right after I purchased a 55€ LD20. So I either have to wait or go for something less expensive.

A last thing to the E01: I read it has no lense / glass in the front. I really wonder if it can survive in my pockets without the protection...

My recommendation, wait...... save your money, then get the LD01. You will enjoy it for years to come.

However, if you must have another light right now, the E01 will easily survive pocket use. That's what it was designed to do.

 

[Henk_Lu]

I would also advise you to wait and to get the LD01. I have the ss version, it is just great, incrdible output for that little flashlight!

But, there's another option : I also have an L0D in the car, didn't compare it to the LD01ss, but it ain't weak for sure, much better than the E01. Have a look at the marketplace, maybe you find one for a good price? Yu may even find an LD01, who knows? :thumbsup:

 

[Oddjob]

I have a Fenix LD01 SS and it is great but it lacks a low low setting which you may find useful for up close night time use or for situations where you want to preserve night vision. Take a look at the Liteflux LF2X. Here are some reviews here and here and here.

 

[Asgar]

I just ordered a E01. I think I'm not yet enough of a Flashaholic for a 50$-Keychain pendant ;)

And if I determine it's not good enough, I think I find someone who'll enjoy it as a gift, so the 15$ won't be wasted.

Thanks anyway. I'll let you know wether I enjoy it.

 

[metlarules]

Try a Streamlight Stylus Pro. Great light for the price.
http://www.batteryjunction.com/streamlight-stylus-pro.html

 

[farmer17]

If you want a small AAA cheap light you might try a Tank 007 from DX. I got one about a month ago for around 10 bucks and it works great and its about as small and bright as the Fenix LDO1. It has a rear clicky instead of a twisty, which I like, and is pretty floody with a nice smooth spill. It will also tail stand and can be used like a candle to light up a small area. The only adjustable beam lights I have owned were Maglites and none of them worked that well. Unless its an expensive light with a very well engineered adjustable head/lense, I would stay away from the adjustable beam flashlights. For inexpensive lights, you want to keep them as simple as possible so there are less things to possibly break. Only time will tell if this Tank 007 will last, but so far everything looks great.