D-mini Q5 digital quick review...indoor/outdoor beamshots. vs. T20Q5

[woodrow]

I just received the new Lumapower D-mini Q5 digital from Batteryjunction today. I had time to take a few photos, and compare it to the Q2 digital mini I had a few days ago.

First, I believe the biggest thing going for this light is its UI. (user interface) It has a forward...yes forward... clicky. When you turn the light on, it comes on to High. Press till it clicks to lock in, or quickly press again to select Medium or Low. That's it...no 5 levels, no strobe, no sos to cycle through. If you leave the light on any level for more than 5 seconds, you will see a quick flash (more noticeable on medium or low than high) and that lets you know that when you turn the light off and on again, it will start again on high.

If you would rather the light come on to medium or low, just quickly cycle to the level above where you want the light to come on again next and turn off the light.

That is why I am keeping this light and why I just ordered the 18650 tube for it. All of my other multi-level lights always have strobes, sos or two hand required bezel turning to access all the levels. Not this light.

Next the beam. This is the second new D-mini I have gotten in the digital series. Both the Q2 and Q5 versions have had nice...spot on...white tints. Maybe I have just been winning the lottery, but I have won it twice in one week now. The Q5 is brighter than the Q2 (I do not have them side by side to compare having sold the Q2, but I do have pics with each beam and the same exposure settings on the camera) but the Q5 is mainly brighter in spot, not spill.

Lastly, I highly recommend Lumapower's or PEU's 18650 tube for this light. It will give you around 3 hours of non dimming light on high. I could not guess how many hours or days on medium or low. RCR123a's will also give you 30+ minutes of non dimming light on high according to selfbuilt's charts.

OK, some pics.
Here is the D-mini SEQ5 next to the Olight T20Q5

The D-mini is shorter, but wider than the T20, because of its thicker walls, it does not get as hot after extended use.


Indoor beamshots at approx 8ft. Camera at f/2.8 1/10 sec. White balance Sunlight for all photos.

Left the T20, Right D-mini SE

Now underexposed at 1/320th of a second to show the D-mini's brighter spot.

Now for some outdoor shots. Target is approx 25 yards away and shutter is at 1 sec, f/2.8

First the Q2 smooth reflector

Next, the Q5 smooth reflector

Next, the Olight T20Q5

As you can plainly see, the Q5 mini is brighter than the Q2, but mainly in spot. Neither D-mini can touch the T20Q5 in spill brightness. In fact, the T20 has as bright of spill as the A8Q5. (to my eyes anyway) But the D-mini Q5 does out throw the T20 by a decent margin, and its spill is decently bright for real life use.

I have actually decided to leave the OP (textured) reflector in the D-mini. It has a nice SF P61 (but brighter and whiter) type beam with it and it still throws well out to 40+ yards...with a nice man sized spot... which is what I need anyway. If I really want 100+ yards of throw, that is MRV/Tiablo/DBS territory anyway, not the D-mini or Olight's area of true strength anyway.

Here is a picture of the D-mini's beam with the OP reflector. 1/15 sec, f/3.6

So overall, I highly recommend (especially with the 18650 tube) the D-mini digital. I actually like the T20's beam better in many situations...just for its incredibly bright spill...but the D-mini just has the WAY better UI. It works much better than the old version with primary 123a's, and again, with the 18650 tube, you will have 3 hours of Q5 brightness...and lower levels just a thumb press away. Thanks LP and Batteryjunction...and PEU for making this such a good light!

 

[djblank87]

I have seen that D-Mini some other place haven't I? :wave:




Thanks for the review, it looks like a very nice mini-thrower.

 

[woodrow]

I think maybe you have...

How do you like the UI... also, is the tint on that thing as perfect as I said it was?!! Thats the reason I sold my first D-mini...with the PEU tube/AW charger and batt that I just had to buy again... My P4 (origional) D-mini looked Slightly purpleish next to my Pelican 7060.... These do not. These new leds have me spoiled with their pure white tints.

 

[Lobo]

A very nice review as always, woodrow.

I actually like the beam of the olight better. Does it have the halfsmooth/half OP reflector? IIRC there's something special with the reflector they use.

And I've never been a great fan of UI:s where you choose the levels with the same clicky you turn the light on/off, but this one didn't look too bad actually.

But what happens if you for example set the light to start on medium the next time. Will it start on high or medium the time after that?

 

[woodrow]

A very nice review as always, woodrow.

I actually like the beam of the olight better. Does it have the halfsmooth/half OP reflector? IIRC there's something special with the reflector they use.

And I've never been a great fan of UI:s where you choose the levels with the same clicky you turn the light on/off, but this one didn't look too bad actually.

But what happens if you for example set the light to start on medium the next time. Will it start on high or medium the time after that?

I am always seriously impressed by the T20's beam as well...and too, often like its beam better than that of the D-mini q5. Actually I would like the D-mini's beam best of all if it had its spot and the Olight's spill, but oh well. Here is the reflector from the Olight, it is a great reflector.

The Olight does have a cooler white beam than the D-mini with a blue ring around the spot...where the D-mini's beam is all white. A Great beam none the less.

I like the Olight's UI just fine when I am just sticking to High...which I do 85% of the time. I just don't like switching (by rotating the bezel back and forth) through 4 levels to get to low. I also wish it would ditch the sos mode. But, the Olight is in my pocket right now...The 18650 tube is part of what makes the D-mini great, and it will not be here until tomorrow.

If the D-mini is shut off on high, but not locked into it, it will turn back on on medium. If you wanted the light to turn on to medium the next time, you would have to cycle to high quickly again. Keep in mind, this takes about 2 seconds because it is done with one button.

The D-mini's UI best suits those who like their lights to come on high first. I am one of them...others are different. Some people may like a light coming on low better...for them another light's UI might work better.

 

[djblank87]

I think maybe you have...

How do you like the UI... also, is the tint on that thing as perfect as I said it was?!! Thats the reason I sold my first D-mini...with the PEU tube/AW charger and batt that I just had to buy again... My P4 (origional) D-mini looked Slightly purpleish next to my Pelican 7060.... These do not. These new leds have me spoiled with their pure white tints.

Everything on the D-Mini is as advertised/as you said it would be. I love the light, a great litte thrower like you said.

Thanks again for the review.

 

[discoverEDC]

Thanks for the review. It was the straw that broke the camels back. I received my D-mini Q5 last night. Awsome thrower for how big it is. FWIW I took lux readings with both reflectors and a fresh RCR.
smooth: 8,330
OP: 5,370
For reference my NovaTac 120P read (on max): 2310

 

[woodrow]

Thanks for the lux #'s. A increase over the Q2, but not night and day.

 

[Chao]

Thanks for the review, very informative, and I think D-mini Q5 digital+ 18650 body is really a nice combo :thumbsup:, just don't know the Fenix T1 also has same bezel diameter (35mm) can out throw D-mini Q5?

 

[woodrow]

Thanks for the review, very informative, and I think D-mini Q5 digital+ 18650 body is really a nice combo :thumbsup:, just don't know the Fenix T1 also has same bezel diameter (35mm) can out throw D-mini Q5?

C'mon Chao, after all the lights I have HAD to buy after reading your reviews...you could buy both and do a comparison review...Its only fair

I had forgotten about the Fenix...one more light I am sure I will have to come up with an excuse to buy. Looking at selfbuilt's runtime/lux charts on the Q2, I hope the light is putting out over 9k lux on the 18650 after 20 minutes or so. Its nice to see a light increase in output after it has been running a while for a change.

 

[TITAN1833]

Thanks for the review,I am a great fan of the D-MINI having one of the originals.Recently the light module replaced with Q2 man this thing throws,it put my "dare I say it" novatacs to shame,ok mine does not have the low,med,high..but when I'm out walking the dog I just need throw and I love it.

Just one note this is not knocking the novatac"they are great lights" but for throw give me the D-MINI.

I am getting the digital Q5 D-MINI for xmas,pressy from my wife:twothumbsas she has took stock of the Q2 .
.

 

[woodrow]

Thanks for the review. It was the straw that broke the camels back. I received my D-mini Q5 last night. Awsome thrower for how big it is. FWIW I took lux readings with both reflectors and a fresh RCR.
smooth: 8,330
OP: 5,370
For reference my NovaTac 120P read (on max): 2310

How long was the light on before you did your lux readings...based on selfbuilt's charts, the Q2 gets brighter 10 minutes into its use. Do you mind letting your D-mini run for 10 minutes or so and taking another reading?

 

[discoverEDC]

I pretty much took it immediately. I'll do the 10 minute burn-in but Thanksgiving is coming up and I won't have time until afterwards. Hang tight, I'll get the reading you're looking for.

 

[woodrow]

I pretty much took it immediately. I'll do the 10 minute burn-in but Thanksgiving is coming up and I won't have time until afterwards. Hang tight, I'll get the reading you're looking for.

Can't wait to see if the #'s are higher...Thanks!

 

[TITAN1833]

beam shots of my D-Mini Q2 only 10ft away but it always makes me smile.

one 6ft away

 

[woodrow]

Cool Pics!

 

[discoverEDC]

I haven't forgotten, just have to get the time...

Can't wait to see if the #'s are higher...Thanks!

 

[selfbuilt]

How long was the light on before you did your lux readings...based on selfbuilt's charts, the Q2 gets brighter 10 minutes into its use. Do you mind letting your D-mini run for 10 minutes or so and taking another reading?

Hi Woodrow ... Sorry to disappoint you, but the difference isn't as great as it seems on my Q2 D-mini graphs.

Output drops quickly over the first few seconds the RCR is in there. My initial throw readings (6900 lux) were taken with the battery hot off the charger, and it takes for a few seconds to get a stable max lux reading. The light then goes into my lightbox and the datalogger takes over. However, it can take a few seconds before the logger kicks in and takes its first overall output reading.

The end of result of all this is usually insignficant, but in this case those combined few seconds do matter. As it turns out, initial output on a fresh RCR is actually ~56 on my scale, and rapidly drops to <55. At 10+ minutes, the light is ~57 on my scale. That difference is pretty neglible.

I've just checked the lux measurements of my Q2 for you, and the throw difference between initial and 10 mins is well within measurement/positioning error. I suspect it's likely the same for the Q5, since it's the same circuit.

:wave:

 

[woodrow]

selfbuilt,
What if you read it the story of "the little engine that could"...maybe with some extra encouragement

Oh well, it was worth the thought. I still think the 18650 tube makes the light great. Thanks for the info again selfbuilt