Fenix P1ce Special Edition Q2 Review

[UnknownVT]

On loan for review courtesy of 4sevens (http://Fenix-Store.com)

Fenix P1ce Special Edition Q2 size

Heads

The most obvious comparison is with the P2Dce-Q2 Special Edition

vs. Fenix P2Dce Special Edition Q2 on Turbo/Max. both on primary CR123A

The P1ce-Q2 is not as bright as the P2Dce-Q2 on Turbo/max....
read the specs the P1ce-Q2 is rated at 90 lumens to get the longer runtime of 2.5hours (1.75hrs to 50%)

so....

vs. Fenix P2Dce Special Edition Q2 on High both on CR123A

similar brightness level with the P1ce-Q2 perhaps just a little brighter.
(makes sense, since the P2Dce-Q2 on High is spec'd at 80 lumens)

vs. regular Fenix P2Dce on Turbo/max, both on CR123A

similar - again with the regular P2Dce perhaps just a shade brighter on Turbo/max.

For those who want to hark back to the simple single stage twisty flashlight this P1ce-Q2 special edition is a small pocket rocket -
At its rated 90 lumens - it outshines most of the 2x CR123A Xenon lights like the SureFire 6P, G2 and Streamlight Scorpions of this world (rated at about 65 lumens), and has a much better runtime on just a single CR123A...... such is the advance in technology......

 

[irjws]

Nice review, I also purchased a P1ce-Q2 very efficient runtime vs. multi-stage lights. I could be wrong but the way I understood the lumens ratings is the normal P1-ce is rated at 90 lumens, the Q2 has a increase of approximately 16%, which should be rated at 104 lumens?

 

[paulr]

The p1ce's 80-90 lumen rating is exaggerated or is just the emitter output. Actual torch lumens is probably around 60. Still pretty darn good for something that tiny. It's very similar in design to the original LL123/Firefly. While the L1CE doesn't have anywhere near the Firefly's solidity or smoothness, it's actually a more appealing light to use, partly because it's so much brighter (and has a nicer beam due to its reflector) and maybe partly because it weighs less. I have no idea why they used a brass heat sink. The LL123 used solid copper because its heat conductivity made up for the weight. Brass weighs a lot AND doesn't conduct heat all that well. Who knows what they were thinking.

It does seem to me that the P1CE is more solidly made (better battery contacts, etc.) than the L1P or L0D CE. I haven't seen a P1/P1D* or P2D to compare it to. I have the impression that the P1 was not so good in this respect and part of the P1CE's goal was to fix that. I hope they make an L1T CE / L2T CE along the same lines.

 

[UnknownVT]

The p1ce's 80-90 lumen rating is exaggerated or is just the emitter output. Actual torch lumens is probably around 60. Still pretty darn good for something that tiny.

I agree that the spec'd/rated output (like almost any other LED flashlight) is most probably the LED total rated/spec'd output. I'm not too sure if incandescent flashlights are not also similarly "exaggerated".

That's why I always use "rated" and/or "spec'd" as a qualifier. My citation in this case was merely to show relative rated brightness levels.

However to remove any doubts that this P1ce-Q2 is bright and brighter than even the xenon 2xCR123 flashlights of this world such as the SureFire 6p, G2 and Streamlight Scorpion) - here's a side-by-side comparison -

Size and Heads -

vs. Streamlight Scorpion (xenon 2x CR123)

the difference in color/tint makes this comparison hard -
but I removed/desaturated the color - to leave only the luminance information/image for a more direct/easy comparison -

vs. Streamlight Scorpion - color removed/desaturated -

Now one could still argue that the charateristics of the beams are different enough to make this comparison difficult -

The Stairs shot should help see the real practical difference - but it is daylight in my house right now which would make this difficult - so I picked another light that I had already done a Stairs shot of to compare to the Scorpion - the Fenix L1D-CE which is rated the same 90 lumens on Turbo - using a single NiMH AA -

Stairs - Color DeSaturated -
Scorpion ........................................................ Fenix L1D-CE (NiMH)

Just in case anyone thinks I've got an extra bright regular L1Dce -

vs. Fenix L1D-CE Turbo/max on NiMH (reflector Refocussed)

the P1Dce-Q2 is brighter than the regular L1Dce on NiMH - which confirms that this P1Dce-Q2 would be brighter than the xenon 2xCR123 lights of this world..... and that the Q2 binned Cree is brighter than the regular P4(?) binned Cree in the L1Dce.......