Fenix L2T V2.0 Small Review
***********************
Introduction
------------
All my life I have used many lights, headlamps and lanterns, including home-made, but the most of them ended in waste bin or have been left unused with dead batteries, because they were unreliable, dim, big, used expensive types of batteries and had short runtime. I wasn't satisfied with any of them. I knew there must exist something better but I saw nothing different in shops, so I started to search Internet, found some web sites with quality lights. I was happy that there are more people requiring reliable and decent flashlights. Because I'm quite choosy about all things I buy, I specified my requirements and searched. I have not found any light under $50 that can satisfy my requirements until Fenix announced L2T V2.0.
My requirements:
- 2 AA supply, Ni-MH possibility,
- one of the new high-efficiency LED (Cree XR-E, SSC P4, Lumileds Luxeon Rebel),
- high mode with minimum 100 lumens
- low mode with long runtime
- momentary on,
- simple user interface without useless modes, just click on, click off,
- constant current regulation (no flicker),
- metal reflector with orange peel structure
- smooth beam without donuts
- glass
- aluminium body, hard anodized III type,
- waterproof, dunkable, O-ring seals.
Package content
---------------
- Fenix L2T V2.0
- Holster
- Lanyard
- Spare O-rings
- Spare switch rubber cap
Construction
------------
Flashlight is made from aluminium alloy and it's black anodized (III type). Flashlight consists of head, body and tailcap. Parts can be easily demounted by unscrewing. Threads are quite smooth without visible spikes.
Body material is quite thick, which is good for heat dissipation and durability. Shape of the body was not very comfortable to hold at the first moment, but it turned out to be very effective, safe to hold and enables several styles of grip. Surface is nice to touch.
Head contains electronics, emitter, reflector and lens. Lens is glass, anti-reflective coated and is recessed to avoid its damage. Reflector is metallic and has orange-peel structure.
Switch
------
L2T V2.0 has a true tactical switch. Half-press for momentary and full click to continual light. The switch is approximately 3 mm exserted, which provides comfortable control.
Output
------
The beam has nice and effective shape -- narrow hotspot that continuoisly melts into wide flood of light. There are no visible donuts, spots or lines, due to trextured reflector. Emitter is well centered, so beam is symmetric.
I haven't got any luxmeter, so I can only post manufacturer's numbers. On low (15 lm), there is enough light to run in forest. On high (140 lm) you can clearly see objects tens of meters away.
Fenix has a full constant current regulation. This means, that the output level is full even with half-discharged batteries and there is no flickering visible. When running on high with almost dead batteries, the light is automatically switched to low.
Other things I have noticed
---------------------------
You can use output levels between low and high position if you turn the head very slowly and stop on the boundary of the two levels. It has no practical purpose, but it is possible.
There is an audible whistling, when the flashlight is lit at high level. Not very loud, but can be heard in silent places. The sound is more obvious while the light is momentary on.
When you switch the light on while using low position, there is very short time at the beginning, when light is like at high. It might be less than 1/10 s, but it is noticeable by eye.
Summary
-------
+ Great light output (140 lm)
+ Momentary-on feature
+ Two levels of output, selectable by turning head
+ Sturdy aluminium body, III-type anodized
+ Very useful tight spot and wide flood of light
+ Nice beam without donuts or defects
+ Constant current regulation
+ Waterproof
- Doesn't stand on tail
- Doesn't GID
- Rolls over
Red filter
----------
(Red filter is not in price.)
It is made of plastic. Filtration of light is very good, the light is pure red. Red light should preserve night vision. It is useful when you are walking at night and need to look up the map or anything else. Filter is also good when very low output is needed.
There is an issue with it. You can't put the flashlight into the holster with filter attached. You have to put the light into the hoslter head-up, or bring the filter it separately.
Diffuser
--------
(Diffuser is not in price.)
Diffuser is great when you need to lighten an area by smooth light. Useful for camping, reading. That's a pity, that the flashlight doesn't stand on tail. It would be a nice lantern.
For lightening a room, better results are without diffuser, just point the light at the ceiling.
P.S.: It seems that this light is discontinued and reverse-clickie RB80 version is only available now.
***********************
Introduction
------------
All my life I have used many lights, headlamps and lanterns, including home-made, but the most of them ended in waste bin or have been left unused with dead batteries, because they were unreliable, dim, big, used expensive types of batteries and had short runtime. I wasn't satisfied with any of them. I knew there must exist something better but I saw nothing different in shops, so I started to search Internet, found some web sites with quality lights. I was happy that there are more people requiring reliable and decent flashlights. Because I'm quite choosy about all things I buy, I specified my requirements and searched. I have not found any light under $50 that can satisfy my requirements until Fenix announced L2T V2.0.
My requirements:
- 2 AA supply, Ni-MH possibility,
- one of the new high-efficiency LED (Cree XR-E, SSC P4, Lumileds Luxeon Rebel),
- high mode with minimum 100 lumens
- low mode with long runtime
- momentary on,
- simple user interface without useless modes, just click on, click off,
- constant current regulation (no flicker),
- metal reflector with orange peel structure
- smooth beam without donuts
- glass
- aluminium body, hard anodized III type,
- waterproof, dunkable, O-ring seals.
Package content
---------------
- Fenix L2T V2.0
- Holster
- Lanyard
- Spare O-rings
- Spare switch rubber cap
Construction
------------
Flashlight is made from aluminium alloy and it's black anodized (III type). Flashlight consists of head, body and tailcap. Parts can be easily demounted by unscrewing. Threads are quite smooth without visible spikes.
Body material is quite thick, which is good for heat dissipation and durability. Shape of the body was not very comfortable to hold at the first moment, but it turned out to be very effective, safe to hold and enables several styles of grip. Surface is nice to touch.
Head contains electronics, emitter, reflector and lens. Lens is glass, anti-reflective coated and is recessed to avoid its damage. Reflector is metallic and has orange-peel structure.
Switch
------
L2T V2.0 has a true tactical switch. Half-press for momentary and full click to continual light. The switch is approximately 3 mm exserted, which provides comfortable control.
Output
------
The beam has nice and effective shape -- narrow hotspot that continuoisly melts into wide flood of light. There are no visible donuts, spots or lines, due to trextured reflector. Emitter is well centered, so beam is symmetric.
I haven't got any luxmeter, so I can only post manufacturer's numbers. On low (15 lm), there is enough light to run in forest. On high (140 lm) you can clearly see objects tens of meters away.
Fenix has a full constant current regulation. This means, that the output level is full even with half-discharged batteries and there is no flickering visible. When running on high with almost dead batteries, the light is automatically switched to low.
Other things I have noticed
---------------------------
You can use output levels between low and high position if you turn the head very slowly and stop on the boundary of the two levels. It has no practical purpose, but it is possible.
There is an audible whistling, when the flashlight is lit at high level. Not very loud, but can be heard in silent places. The sound is more obvious while the light is momentary on.
When you switch the light on while using low position, there is very short time at the beginning, when light is like at high. It might be less than 1/10 s, but it is noticeable by eye.
Summary
-------
+ Great light output (140 lm)
+ Momentary-on feature
+ Two levels of output, selectable by turning head
+ Sturdy aluminium body, III-type anodized
+ Very useful tight spot and wide flood of light
+ Nice beam without donuts or defects
+ Constant current regulation
+ Waterproof
- Doesn't stand on tail
- Doesn't GID
- Rolls over
Red filter
----------
(Red filter is not in price.)
It is made of plastic. Filtration of light is very good, the light is pure red. Red light should preserve night vision. It is useful when you are walking at night and need to look up the map or anything else. Filter is also good when very low output is needed.
There is an issue with it. You can't put the flashlight into the holster with filter attached. You have to put the light into the hoslter head-up, or bring the filter it separately.
Diffuser
--------
(Diffuser is not in price.)
Diffuser is great when you need to lighten an area by smooth light. Useful for camping, reading. That's a pity, that the flashlight doesn't stand on tail. It would be a nice lantern.
For lightening a room, better results are without diffuser, just point the light at the ceiling.
P.S.: It seems that this light is discontinued and reverse-clickie RB80 version is only available now.
Last edited:
I like the smooth beam profile and tint of the Rebel too. I really like the forward clickie.:thumbsup:
