Fenix E20 Comparison Review

[UnknownVT]

Through the kind courtesy of 4sevens is this Fenix E20 - 2AA light using Cree Q2, forward/tactical clicky and adjustable focus head.

Size -

Head -

head position: screwed down = tightest focus.

vs. Fenix L2D-Q5 both on NiMH (Kodak Pre-Charged)

the L2D is brighter - as it should be with a Q5 emitter and rated at 180 lumens (vs. the rated 109 lumens of the E20)

Since the head can be focussed - comparison with head set to widest/floodiest focus - vs. L2D-Q5 -

on widest/floodiest focus there is a hole in the middle.

vs. Fenix LD20 both on NiMH

this particular sample of the LD20 has the emitter out of the optimum position causing the notorious Cree dark halo to be shown more.
Again, not surprisingly, the LD20 is brighter as it has the same rating as the L2D.

Comparison with flood focus -

again the hole in the middle - I may not have backed out the head as much this time as the hole is not as emphasized as in the comparison with the L2D above.

vs. EagleTac P10A2 both on NiMH

pretty obvious that the EagleTac is brighter (rated at 220 lumens)

How about trying to optimize the focus for the smoothest beam?

vs. Fenix PD20 on primary CR123 Turbo

again not surprisingly the PD20 is brighter (also rated as 180 lumens) the wider hotspot of the E20 when focussed like this is very nice.....
of course YMMV for what is "optimum" - and I would also tend to use the tightest focus when outdoors.

Index to follow up parts -

Standardized Stairway beamshots - post #10

 

[roymail]

UnknownVT, great pics... very helpful post! For what it is, the E20 is very impressive. Please give your overall impressions of the E20. Looks as though it would make an affordable backup light. Thanks!

 

[sol-leks]

Nice pics, I really love my e20. The flood is really great for indoor use. Also the candle mode is very cool.

 

[Woods Walker]

I purchased an E20 for a gift. I wanted to keep the light however mailed it off to my buddy. My logic being that he was only going to use alkaline batteries and the regulated runtime for those seemed better than most lights.

 

[LED_Thrift]

Thanks for the informative pictures.

 

[adirondackdestroyer]

The beam looks very smooth considering the light is using a smooth reflector.

Is this your opinion of the beam as well?

I've been thinking about buying one of these as a general use light for a while, and this review has pushed me over the edge!

 

[TONY M]

Thanks for the great pics!

It is nice that it has a smoother beam than the LD20 even with no OP reflector.

 

[squaat]

I bought an e20 for my mum awhile back, she loves it. It was her first quality flashlight and she was blown away about how bright it was.

My mum is a teacher and took it with her to an elementary school camp. She said that its white powerful beam stood out amongst all of the kids cheap incans and it was useful for shooshing the kids in their cabins.

She said that she'd open the door turn the e20 on in flood mode and light up the entire cabin. The result was a instant quietness and shocked looks on the kids faces.

While on their possum spotting night walks, the kids would ask her to light up various trees as their flashlights were not good enough. She also said that while on these walks some of the kids would attempt to run off into the bush. Most were stopped when spotted by the e20. Apparently the kids quickly learned that if the white light was upon them, that they were in trouble. LOL. So I guess its a good tool for herding kids too.

My mum really seems to like the e20. She really values the ability to focus the light, I think more than say a flashlight with multiple levels. I think the e20 is an awesome flashlight for non-flashaholics, much better than some of the cheaper flashlights that I've given away as gifts. Just wish I could afford to give everyone a $40 light.

(though if fenix made a focusable 2AA flash light with at least 2 levels, that would be a killer. Oh and a Neutral tint option too)

 

[UnknownVT]

Please give your overall impressions of the E20.

Is this your opinion of the beam as well?

I like the E20 a lot - it is very well made and works well - the adjustable focus - although may seem of limited usage to some - actually would be very useful - even if I would keep it on a single setting most of the time.

Indoors I would probably have it set on my "optimum" focus (like the comparison with the PD20) and outdoors I'd tighten the head down for the tightest hot spot for throw.

I also like the foward(/tactical) clicky - I really like being able to use the light in momentary mode.

But and this is the big BUTT -
the light is a bit too bright (for certain uses)
- as a flashaholic - it there such a thing?
Yes for me - I have long held that even a 1 watt Luxeon was too bright for reading in the dark - and that was 30 lumens on average - and would laugh at having to read with a SureFire 6P or G2 or Streamlight Scorpion - those 2x CR123 xenon lights - those are about 60-65 lumens.....
and we have 109 lumens rating for this E20.

I would have liked at least one lower light level on the region of about 10-15 lumens, and maybe a mid-level of about 50-60 lumens..... that kind of sounds like the L1T/L1D/LD10 or L2D/LD20/L2T territory.....

selfbuilt in his excellent Fenix E20 Mini-Review: OUTPUT, RUNTIME and BEAM Comparisons said the same thing.

 

[UnknownVT]

Standardized Stairway beamshots -