meeshu
Enlightened
I just received the Olight T20-Q5 flashlight today.
The first thing that surprised me was that it is a small(ish) light! I was expecting a larger and bulkier light.
It measures 124.7 mm long x 24.4 mm diameter at the head (bezel).
Overall the finish/anodizing is of good quality. However, there is minor damage on end of the head.
There is very minor damage on the tail end also.
But as these marks are only minor, they have little affect on the overall quality of the light.
The light feels solid and fairly well built but not heavy. Light weighs 70 g without batteries.
Runs on two primary lithiums (CR123), or two rechargeable li Ions (RCR123) / 16340, or one 17670 or 14670 Li Ion.
Batteries inserted with positive end facing towards the head.
Tail clicky switch is recessed so light can tail stand.
After switching the light on, pressing the switch lightly (half press), cycles illumination modes from constant, strobe, and SOS. Each light press on the switch cycles through the modes.
Five brightness levels are available. Levels are selected by unscrewing the head slightly and then rescrewing the head. Each operation of unscrewing/rescrewing the head steps brightness DOWN one level, and then recycles from lowest to brightest level again etc.. Light defaults to maximum brightness level when first switched on, but remembers last level when light is switched off (and remembers level even when batteries are removed). :twothumbs Last level used will again operate when light is switched back on.
I used several batteries for a quick test of this light. The primary CR123 batteries went into the light easily. The light worked flawlessly with a pleasant warmish toned beam almost without artifacts. There was a very minor dark spot within the beams' hotspot, but is only noticeable when shining the beam on a light colored wall. Very minor rings within the spill beam, but again only really noticeable on light colored walls.
The two CR123 sized 3V (yes 3 volt) rechargeable Li Ion batteries also worked quite well in the light, but on one odd occasion while wanting to change brightness level, the light went into strobe mode!?
I tried using AWs' 17670 1600mAh Li Ion batteries, but they were difficult to fit into the light due to their larger diameter. I had to remove the labels from the batteries to allow an easier but still a tight fit! Light switched on OK to last level used. However, trying to change brightness levels caused the light to go into strobe mode :duh2:. Another attempt at changing brightness level then made the light go into SOS mode!! Then the light went back to constant mode on another level change attempt. And again the light went back to strobe mode after another level change attempt!!?
:thinking:
The light was now changing modes (which is normally done by pressing the tail clicky switch ONLY) instead of changing levels!?
I swapped out the 17670 batteries for the primary batteries, and the light worked normally again!
I suspect that the batteries within the light have to have freedom of movement along the tube while changing brightness levels in order for the levels to be changed successfully. The primary CR123 and RCR123 batteries could slide in and out of the lights tube fairly easily, but the 17670 batteries could not due to their size and consequent snug fit.
For reference, measured battery diameters were -
CR123's - 16.3 mm
RC123's - 16.5 mm
17670 - one was 16.9 mm, other was 17.2 mm!
So it would appear that brightness changes are only possible with batteries that have freedom of movement along the lights tube.
Sorry that there are no beamshots (yet). I may add these later.
Although I have equipment for generating runtimes, it is not quite setup, and I don't have much free time. But if I get the chance I may add runtimes later.
The (apparent) requirement for batteries to have freedom of movement along the lights tube while changing brightness levels is not the best method I believe. Perhaps incorporating level changes using the clicky switch would be more practical, regardless of whether batteries are free to move or not within the light.
Overall it is a good light. Whether I'll keep it or not, I don't know yet. I have other lights coming, and depending on their performance, they may cause the T20-Q5 light to become surplus, in which case I'll sell the T20.
The first thing that surprised me was that it is a small(ish) light! I was expecting a larger and bulkier light.
It measures 124.7 mm long x 24.4 mm diameter at the head (bezel).
Overall the finish/anodizing is of good quality. However, there is minor damage on end of the head.
There is very minor damage on the tail end also.
But as these marks are only minor, they have little affect on the overall quality of the light.
The light feels solid and fairly well built but not heavy. Light weighs 70 g without batteries.
Runs on two primary lithiums (CR123), or two rechargeable li Ions (RCR123) / 16340, or one 17670 or 14670 Li Ion.
Batteries inserted with positive end facing towards the head.
Tail clicky switch is recessed so light can tail stand.
After switching the light on, pressing the switch lightly (half press), cycles illumination modes from constant, strobe, and SOS. Each light press on the switch cycles through the modes.
Five brightness levels are available. Levels are selected by unscrewing the head slightly and then rescrewing the head. Each operation of unscrewing/rescrewing the head steps brightness DOWN one level, and then recycles from lowest to brightest level again etc.. Light defaults to maximum brightness level when first switched on, but remembers last level when light is switched off (and remembers level even when batteries are removed). :twothumbs Last level used will again operate when light is switched back on.
I used several batteries for a quick test of this light. The primary CR123 batteries went into the light easily. The light worked flawlessly with a pleasant warmish toned beam almost without artifacts. There was a very minor dark spot within the beams' hotspot, but is only noticeable when shining the beam on a light colored wall. Very minor rings within the spill beam, but again only really noticeable on light colored walls.
The two CR123 sized 3V (yes 3 volt) rechargeable Li Ion batteries also worked quite well in the light, but on one odd occasion while wanting to change brightness level, the light went into strobe mode!?
I tried using AWs' 17670 1600mAh Li Ion batteries, but they were difficult to fit into the light due to their larger diameter. I had to remove the labels from the batteries to allow an easier but still a tight fit! Light switched on OK to last level used. However, trying to change brightness levels caused the light to go into strobe mode :duh2:. Another attempt at changing brightness level then made the light go into SOS mode!! Then the light went back to constant mode on another level change attempt. And again the light went back to strobe mode after another level change attempt!!?
:thinking: The light was now changing modes (which is normally done by pressing the tail clicky switch ONLY) instead of changing levels!?
I swapped out the 17670 batteries for the primary batteries, and the light worked normally again!
I suspect that the batteries within the light have to have freedom of movement along the tube while changing brightness levels in order for the levels to be changed successfully. The primary CR123 and RCR123 batteries could slide in and out of the lights tube fairly easily, but the 17670 batteries could not due to their size and consequent snug fit.
For reference, measured battery diameters were -
CR123's - 16.3 mm
RC123's - 16.5 mm
17670 - one was 16.9 mm, other was 17.2 mm!
So it would appear that brightness changes are only possible with batteries that have freedom of movement along the lights tube.
Sorry that there are no beamshots (yet). I may add these later.
Although I have equipment for generating runtimes, it is not quite setup, and I don't have much free time. But if I get the chance I may add runtimes later.
The (apparent) requirement for batteries to have freedom of movement along the lights tube while changing brightness levels is not the best method I believe. Perhaps incorporating level changes using the clicky switch would be more practical, regardless of whether batteries are free to move or not within the light.
Overall it is a good light. Whether I'll keep it or not, I don't know yet. I have other lights coming, and depending on their performance, they may cause the T20-Q5 light to become surplus, in which case I'll sell the T20.
