Anything better than the Fenix PD30?

[Corvette6769]

I see the overseas dealers like DX, KD, and on eBay offering Cree Premium R2 flashlights like Solarforce and UltraFire with vague and/or unrealistic claims of 250 to 300 "manufacturer rated" or "max output" lumens, but I want a quality light that truly meets or exceeds its lumen rating.

While I am surprised that Fenix is not installing the more desirable Cree Premium R2 in the PD30, I am still considering purchasing a Fenix PD30 to replace my Fenix P3D for every day carry unless someone can point me to a better alternative (same or superior features, power, and quality).

Is there a quality flashlight the same size (118mm x 21.5mm / 4.65" x .85") or smaller than the Fenix PD30 that puts out 220 or more lumens?

 

[Bluehinder]

Short answer, no.

There are some equivelent lights. Nitecore NEX, SF E1E with LF bulbs or TLS head. SF E1B not as bright but outstanding.

You're flipping coins at this point. UI and form factor probably more important.

 

[polkiuj]

Sorry to burst your bubble but the Fenix PD30 DOES NOT put out 220 (out the front) lumens. It's probably emitter lumens. Only Fenix's T series seem to quote out the front lumens.

There is actually, but not regulated. Most single cell Li-ion direct driven will put out over 200 lumens.

Surefire L1, LD10 on 17500, etc, etc. Must be direct driven. Only puts that out for a short time.

As for 2xCR123, Eagletac P10C2 should put out 225 lumens. Malkoff's drop-ins will also make 220+ lumens. Milky modded lights will do 240+ lumens. E2DL might hit 200 if you're lucky. Others may but not sure. These are the tested ones.

 

[MichaelW]

If Fenix says 1.5 hours for the TK11 on 2 cr123a [turbo 225 lumens]
and 1.5 hours at 220 lumens with 2 cr123a in the PD30

and 10 hours at 60 lumens TK11
vs. 8 hours at 70 lumens PD30

are they not both Q5 bin? how are they not both OTF outputs.

 

[Henk_Lu]

I love my PD30 because it fits better in my large hands than the PD20. The output is higher and the runtime is longer. As it is the only light in my collection with 2xCR123A which isn't tactical, I suppose that there is no better!

Seriously, I didn't see an alternative to it yet, either I use a one cell because it fits better in my pocket or I take a tactical because they have a better beam.

I suppose that Fenix will come with the R2s soon, Olight put them in their whole collection now, plus the infinitum UI. So, the I20 R2 Premium is 1 centimeter longer, a little bit cheaper, a little bit more tactical, a little bit brighter. Perhaps I just found an alternative? 😀

 

[polkiuj]

TK11 has a bigger head.

Both Eagletac T10C2 and P10C2 has 295 emitter lumens. Yet the T10C2 makes 255 out the front lumens while the P10C2 only manages 225.

My Fenix LD10 is rated 120 lumens but it has less total with output with 1xNiMH than my Inova T1 which is rated (and tested by MrGman) 100 lumens. I'd say the LD10 is about 80 - 90 out the front lumens which is quite a bit less than the 120 claimed lumens.

Of course, it puts out approximately 2.8x more light with a 17500. Yes I've tested it.

 

[Marlinaholic]

Well, it depends how you define "better". The Fenix P3D Q5 (which I assume is pretty darn close to the PD30) will put out 2074 lux spot/67 lux spill for 5.5 hours. The E2L Outdoorsman Surefire on high will put out 2930 lux spot/85 lux spill for 6 hours, 5 minutes. So as you can see, the Surefire actually beats the Fenix when the Fenix is on high, both in output and runtime according to Flashlight Reviews. Now on Turbo the Fenix will put out more light, but at the cost of runtime. For pure horsepower, the Fenix wins, but in high mode vs the E2L, the Surefire wins on both runtime/output. The E2L is more of a thrower, the Fenix is more of a flood, so that makes a difference in perceived brightness too.

 

[dcycleman]

yeah, those e2ls are deceptively bright. If I could only keep one it would be that one.

 

[Corvette6769]

Sorry to burst your bubble but the Fenix PD30 DOES NOT put out 220 (out the front) lumens. It's probably emitter lumens. Only Fenix's T series seem to quote out the front lumens.

There is actually, but not regulated. Most single cell Li-ion direct driven will put out over 200 lumens.

Surefire L1, LD10 on 17500, etc, etc. Must be direct driven. Only puts that out for a short time.

As for 2xCR123, Eagletac P10C2 should put out 225 lumens. Malkoff's drop-ins will also make 220+ lumens. Milky modded lights will do 240+ lumens. E2DL might hit 200 if you're lucky. Others may but not sure. These are the tested ones.

I own both the Fenix P3D (rated 215 lumens) and and a Fenix TK10 (rated 225 lumens) and see almost no difference in actual light output (other than slightly different beam pattern). Since they both use the same 2xCR123 batteries and Cree Premium Q5 LED (same emitter lumens) I assume Fenix rates all their flashlights by out-the-front lumens. As I recall all Fenix lights are direct drive in Turbo Mode.

Since the Cree Premium Q5 easily exceeds 225 emitter lumens, what makes you think that Fenix rates some models by emitter lumens and others by out-the-front lumens and why would they do that?

 

[richardcpf]

The Fenix P3D Q5 will put out 2074 lux spot/67 lux spill for 5.5 hours. The E2L Outdoorsman Surefire on high will put out 2930 lux spot/85 lux spill for 6 hours, 5 minutes.

You are skipping the beam size. The surefire can do more than the fenix in numbers, but the hotspot and the spill are WAY smaller in diameter.

If you measure a aspherical light you will get 30k+ lux and you'll say holy s*** thats bright, but the beam is so small, it becomes useless in most situations.

Surefires are designed for throw, fenixs are designed for general use. We shouldnt go into another throw vs overall output discussion.

 

[Outdoors Fanatic]

The SureFire E2DL totally kills the PD30.

 

[Marduke]

Sorry to burst your bubble but the Fenix PD30 DOES NOT put out 220 (out the front) lumens. It's probably emitter lumens.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but the PD30 DOES put >200 OTF lumens. So does the P3D-Q5.

 

[WadeF]

The SureFire E2DL totally kills the PD30.

Depends on what you want to use it for. Yeah, the E2DL out throws the PD30, but if you want a beam with more flood, larger hot spot, the PD30 would be better. The PD30 should have more total out the front lumens as well, but I think some of the E2DL's are out performing their rated specs so it may depend on the E2DL.

 

[Corvette6769]

The SureFire E2DL totally kills the PD30.

How is this possible with the SureFire E2DL being almost an inch longer, more than twice the weight, double the price, and only putting out 120 lumens?

 

[Corvette6769]

...Both Eagletac T10C2 and P10C2 has 295 emitter lumens. Yet the T10C2 makes 255 out the front lumens while the P10C2 only manages 225.

All I see on their website is emitter lumen ratings. Where did you find the out-the-front lumen ratings for the Eagletac T10C2 and P10C2 ?

 

[Marduke]

All I see on their website is emitter lumen ratings. Where did you find the out-the-front lumen ratings for the Eagletac T10C2 and P10C2 ?

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=229135

 

[Corvette6769]

Wow what a great thread that is! Thank you for the link. I sure wish I could find list like that containing more of the newer Fenix models like LD01, TK10, TK11, P3D, PD20, and PD30.

 

[jhc37013]

I see the overseas dealers like DX, KD, and on eBay offering Cree Premium R2 flashlights like Solarforce and UltraFire with vague and/or unrealistic claims of 250 to 300 "manufacturer rated" or "max output" lumens, but I want a quality light that truly meets or exceeds its lumen rating.

While I am surprised that Fenix is not installing the more desirable Cree Premium R2 in the PD30, I am still considering purchasing a Fenix PD30 to replace my Fenix P3D for every day carry unless someone can point me to a better alternative (same or superior features, power, and quality).

Is there a quality flashlight the same size (118mm x 21.5mm / 4.65" x .85") or smaller than the Fenix PD30 that puts out 220 or more lumens?

I have not found any light for EDC better than the PD30 or P3DQ5, it is the perfect size not to big not to small which gives it plenty of grip without being to large to carry. I have found carrying a PD30 in the older open top Fenix holster very easy to carry and easy to draw. So right out of the box and into the supplied holster its one heck of EDC light.

 

[Painful Chafe]

There really isn't much benefit going with the PD30 if you have a P3D. They rate it at 5 lumens more on Turbo. You will never see that even if it is truly there. I actually think the P3D has a better beam profile. No rings with a smoother spot spill transition. Maybe they were trying to get more throw out of the PD30. I researched lights this size for a bit, but I didn't see anything that bettered the P3D. If you want something better, you will probably have to get something bigger that can handle the heat.

If I was going to get something of similar size now I would have a serious look at the Olight "I" series with the R2. Probably the I20.(though it is bigger than the PD30, it is still pretty small.)
http://www.batteryjunction.com/olight-i20.html

 

[Egsise]

As I recall all Fenix lights are direct drive in Turbo Mode.

Nope, Fenix has 1xCR123, 1xAA and 1xAAA models too. 🙂