Fenix P2Dce Special Edition Q2 Comparison Review

[UnknownVT]

Once again through the kind courtesy of 4sevens of http://Fenix-Store.com come this "Special Edition" of the Fenix P2Dce with Q2 binned Cree XR-E -

I got this in the new natural HA3 finish - one can just about make out the Special Edition marking on the body.

Size and Heads -

The P2Dce Special Edition Q2 has a reticulated (orange peel) textured reflector.

L1Dce ReFocussed is simply screwing out the reflector part of the head until I got the "optimum" focus to minimize the typical Cree dark halo/ring.

L1Dce Textured was the slight texturing done by 4sevens on a stock L1Dce reflector.

In my side-by-side beamshots I took the heads from the respective L1Dce for the Refocussed and the Textured Reflector and put them on the P2D body - all tests were with primary CR123A.

P2DceQ2 vs. Fenix P2Dce both on primary CR123A both Turbo (ie: max brightness)

The P2DceQ2 is just discernably brighter than the regular P2Dce and in this one sample the Q2 tint is really good.

vs. ReFocussed L1Dce head on P2D body = Refocussed P2Dce (see ReFocussing the Fenix L1D-CE and Fenix L1D-CE )

Again the P2DceQ2 is slightly brighter than the ReFocussed L1Dce head on the P2D body.

vs. Fenix L1Dce Textured Reflector on P2D body = P2Dce with textured reflector

Q2 is slightly brighter.

vs. Fenix P3Dce (which is spec'd at 160 lumens on Turbo)

Not surpringly, the P3Dce on 2x CR123A is slightly brighter than the P2DceQ2 on a single CR123A.

So the Special Edition P2DceQ2 sits between the regular P2Dce (rated 135 lumens) and the P3Dce (rated 160 lumens).

The Special Edition P2DceQ2 is a really nice light - shown to be just brighter when compared to 3 spearate P2Dce's, and my sample of one has a really nice tint.

 

[Lite_me]

Thanks Vincent. Great review as always. :thumbsup:

I broke down and sent for one of these. The Natural finish and Q2 (read tint) emitter took me over the edge. I love the Naturals and this one looks great. I didn't think about it anymore after ordering it and wasn't sure if I was going to like it or maybe even be sorry I purchased it. It arrived within the same week! Thanks 4sevens! Didn't even get a chance to think much about it.

This is my first multifunction Fenix clickie. Threw in a new PR123, no worky. :thinking: Opened it back up, cleaned the contacts/battery, threw it back together, it fired right up. Whoo hoo... Played with it a bit, OK, not to bad. I actually prefer the reverse clickie for multi mode operation. It's a breeze.

Tint is nice! Nice warm looking smoooth beam. The OP reflector does a nice job removing the rings. At least on mine it does. The more I played with it, the more I liked it. Once it got dark and took it outside, it really shined. It out performs my P1D CE, the closest thing I have to compare it to. Especially in the tint department and also the beam is a little broader with more spill. (good thing) Maybe that's just because of the slight increased in output. Not sure but.. I'm really liking this light. I think it's a winner.

Now, I'll be waiting for 4sevens to carry the L2D bodys & tailcap in Natural so I can run it on AA's. Sweet! :twothumbs

 

[mchlwise]

Looks great! (and a great review, as always)

I'm looking forward to getting mine later this week.

:twothumbs

 

[carbonmetrictree]

Awesome! Just when I thought the p2d was good, the special edition kicks some major butt!

 

[orbital]

+

Great pictures showing the benefit of textured reflector.

I don't own a Fenix,..... although now.....:naughty:

 

[bee-man]

Thanks for the great review. Can you comment on the quality of the Natural finish? How closely matched are all the body parts? Thanks again.

 

[BSCOTT1504]

Thanx for the excellent review. I have a P2D-CE Q2 (nat) and I love it!!:twothumbs

 

[UnknownVT]

Can you comment on the quality of the Natural finish? How closely matched are all the body parts?

The photos are accurate - please look at the first large photo (which is over 1.5x life-size on my monitor) -
to my eyes the parts are pretty well matched.

 

[bee-man]

Yeah, that's what I thought, yours looks really good and well matched - I can't say the same for mines. Everyone was raving about the natural so I went against my original impulse and took a chance on that finish. Don't get me wrong, the output is amazing, but it bothers me that the finish on the unit I received appears to have 3 different shades of natural on each body part. Maybe I'm too critical or I was just unlucky? :shrug: Thanks again.

 

[Lite_me]

Mine is ...acceptable I guess. :shrug: The head has a more matte finish. Note lack of reflection. It looks good unless you really,, inspect it.
Actually, it looks better than the pic. VT's does look even better.

 

[bee-man]

To close, this is my last post regarding the finish because I don't want to jack this thread. Here's mine...



There's also some imperfections that are not visible in the picture.
I guess for the price, I was expecting a package that met or exceeded the MKII or even my trusty ol' L1P.

Aside from that, the beam and tint is bee-you-tee-ful. Cheers.

 

[UnknownVT]

To close, this is my last post regarding the finish because I don't want to jack this thread. Here's mine...
There's also some imperfections that are not visible in the picture.
I guess for the price, I was expecting a package that met or exceeded the MKII or even my trusty ol' L1P.
Aside from that, the beam and tint is bee-you-tee-ful. Cheers.

I don't consider talking about the P2Dce in this thread as any form of "hijacking" - it's very relevant.

I agree for a "Special Edition" one should expect a finish at least as good as a regular version - to be fair the "Special" is basically the use of a Q2 binned Cree and a orange-peel reflector and the rest is essentially stock.

However since the body is specially marked with the designation - the finish - like I said should at least be as good a a regular stock version.

 

[AWGD8]

Does the P2D CE Q2 same or brighter than Orb Raw aluminum 120 lumen?

 

[cue003]

great pics and writeup. I wonder how it will compare to the new Cree L1.

 

[UnknownVT]

While playing around with this Fenix P2Dce-Q2 I found that the reflector part of the head unscrewed easily - which meant I could focus the beam.

Not that there was anything wrong with the stock beam as is -
just like most - I just don't know when to leave well alone.....

ReFocussing the P2Dce-Q2 beam can achieve a more evenly distributed beam - looking very smooth - perhaps with some attendant loss of absolute throw.

Heads comparison both having been refocussed -

Side-by-side beam comparison - formed by a composite of 2 photos -

I like this smoother beam - especially for indoor usage - the process is entirely reversible - so if and when I need the throw I can easily screw the reflector part of the head flush to get the original stock setting.

 

[ingokl]

Hello,

do you have any beamshots comparing low and medium mode of the standard L2D versus the Q2. I red somwhere that the two modes are hardly dustinguishable in the Q2 becuase of its brightness. Does your light have the same characteristic?

Best regards

Ingo

 

[ensile]

I can clearly distinguish the different modes on my unit, i don't have beamshots sorry. I think it is a case more so with the L1dce, with its lower voltage.

 

[UnknownVT]

do you have any beamshots comparing low and medium mode of the standard L2D versus the Q2. I red somwhere that the two modes are hardly dustinguishable in the Q2 becuase of its brightness. Does your light have the same characteristic?

I no longer have the regular P2Dce to compare.

BUT the Q2 Special Edition on Primary CR123A definitely shows the different levels, and I can easily see that -
otherwise I would have mentioned this in my review.

If I have time I'll do a set of beamshots comparing the three lower levels with the Fenix P1ce Special Edition Q2 (single level) that I still have at hand.

 

[UnknownVT]

do you have any beamshots comparing low and medium mode of the standard L2D versus the Q2. I red somwhere that the two modes are hardly dustinguishable in the Q2 becuase of its brightness. Does your light have the same characteristic?

the Q2 Special Edition on Primary CR123A definitely shows the different levels, and I can easily see that
I'll do a set of beamshots comparing the three lower levels with the Fenix P1ce Special Edition Q2 (single level) that I still have at hand.

Fenix P2Dce-Q2 Fenix P1ce Special Edition Q2 (single level) both on Primary CR123A

Low -

Medium -

High (on General Mode - NOT Turbo) -

For the comparison of the P2DceQ2 on Turbo (and another set of beamshots on High) vs. P1ce-Q2 please see the thread -

Fenix P1ce Special Edition Q2 Review

 

[ingokl]

Thaaaaanks alot!!!