Fenix Quality???

[Jackyl]

Since my Surefire 6PD Cree mod will be living it's life on my AR, I've been thinking about picking up a P2D-CE or P3D-CE, but I want to know what kind of quality to expect since the price seems way too good to be true. Are the waterproof? Shockproof? Glass or plastic lens? Are the clicky tailcaps built well? Thanks!!!

 

[Valpo Hawkeye]

Glass lens, fairly tough. My experience with 6 different clickies is good, not great. None of them have failed, but a few have felt a little "brittle" in their action, if that makes sense. They're nice lights, but not the first I would take of the shelf in an emergency.

BTW, what's an "AR"?

 

[Face]

I think an AR is a type of gun.

 

[CDI]

I'm interested to know this too. I have a SureFire G2 that rides on my 10.5" LMT that I'd like to convert with one of the DX drop-ins, but I don't want it to go TU on me. 5.56 isn't much recoil, and I haven't had any trouble with the regular P61 lamp, but still. I'm trying to INCREASE reliability, not decrease it.

 

[Jackyl]

Thanks Face, it is THE rifle.

http://www.f150online.com/galleries/pictureview.cfm?pnum=152074&anum=213

CDI, I went with the WolfEyes Cree drop-in. It's like $45 from Mike @ PTS (he offers a CPF discount like BatteryStation does) but I hear it's well worth it vs. the $14 jobs you get from DX, etc. If I were you and it was going on my AR, I'd spend the money.

Valpo, are you saying you've played with 6 different Fenix clickies or 6 lights with similar tailcaps? My Surefire Z59 clickie feel GREAT, but the cheesy junk in the Cyclops Incans are AWFUL.

Is there a similarly sized / priced / featured CREE unit that is higher quality?

 

[Jackyl]

BTW, been reading where Fenix has been sending P2D's out with poorly centered emitters and poor focus. Is this the rule rather than the exception? They are a great deal, sure...but I'd rather spend $20 more and get a nice beam.

 

[Optik49]

AR is an AR-15 rifle. Here is a video of basic AR15 operation.





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqxraAQ55W0

 

[Patriot]

I don't think that it qualifies as a first or second tier flashlight, but they are well built, reliable, nice to carry and have a good reputation around CPF.

 

[CDI]

Thanks Face, it is THE rifle.

http://www.f150online.com/galleries/pictureview.cfm?pnum=152074&anum=213

CDI, I went with the WolfEyes Cree drop-in. It's like $45 from Mike @ PTS (he offers a CPF discount like BatteryStation does) but I hear it's well worth it vs. the $14 jobs you get from DX, etc. If I were you and it was going on my AR, I'd spend the money.

Valpo, are you saying you've played with 6 different Fenix clickies or 6 lights with similar tailcaps? My Surefire Z59 clickie feel GREAT, but the cheesy junk in the Cyclops Incans are AWFUL.

Is there a similarly sized / priced / featured CREE unit that is higher quality?

Here's my application. It hasn't killed a P61 yet, even with the substantial muzzle blast of the 10.5".

Where can I contact PTS?

TIA,
CDI

 

[dblagent]

Man I love that MagPul stuff on the AR! Looks good, I am considering the exact setup on the lower in the same color with a Mid Legnth upper. Very nice, now get the FDE MagPul mag to match.... when they finally arrive.

 

[Jackyl]

Wow, you didn't even shock-isolate the lamp and it works? You'll definitely want to upgrade to a Cree man. I had been running the KL3 head, but always took it off before-hand to cut down on weight. Lame, I know...not with the new setup.

http://www.pts-flashlights.com/products/product.aspx?pid=6283&kw=cree&st=4

Setup an account, then email / PM him (in the dealer's corner) your CPF screen name, then log in to the site once he gives you the green light and the discount is reflected in the prices automatically. Not a bad deal actually.

I'm using the same VLTOR mount. That pic of mine was before my CTR stock & LMT buffer tube. Check out this thread as well:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=150311

'Nother goofy shot of the AR:

http://www.f150online.com/galleries/pictureview.cfm?pnum=174319&anum=213

 

[Jackyl]

Thanks for the Fenix reviews, I was under the impression that these were at least second tier flashlights. Guess I was wrong. Apples - Oranges I know, but how do they compare to say...Maglight or Brinkman / Garrity LED's???

 

[Valpo Hawkeye]

Thanks Face, it is THE rifle. Valpo, are you saying you've played with 6 different Fenix clickies or 6 lights with similar tailcaps? My Surefire Z59 clickie feel GREAT, but the cheesy junk in the Cyclops Incans are AWFUL.

Is there a similarly sized / priced / featured CREE unit that is higher quality?

I've had six different Fenix's, two of them I still have. Like I said, I haven't had one fail, but sometimes they don't 'catch' and other times they get stuck in the middle of the clicky action (poor description, sorry).

Cyclops tail clicky is definitely junk. I have one in the bathroom for if the power goes out while I'm in the shower. That's about all I feel that light is good for. The Fenix clickies are a big step up from there, but still not as nice as the SF's.

 

[Jackyl]

Thanks Valpo, any experience with the P2D / P3D yet?

 

[Patriot]

Thanks for the Fenix reviews, I was under the impression that these were at least second tier flashlights. Guess I was wrong. Apples - Oranges I know, but how do they compare to say...Maglight or Brinkman / Garrity LED's???

No, you're not wrong Jackyl. It's quite subjective really. Like you said, "Apples - Oranges." Please understand where I'm coming from with the tier thing. I'm piling all the beautiful, high end custom EDCs in the first tier, then the finest production lights in the second, such as Surefire, HDS and so on.

In my opinion, the Fenix is much nicer than a brinkman or garrity and the Cree LED is awesome. I can't even think of a Maglight that I'd be interested in EDCing and as far as I know none of them are waterproof. I'm speculating that 98%+ of the general public would be blown away by the quality and light output of any Cree powered Fenix. I'd speculate that at least 8 out of 10 people here at CPF hold Fenix lights in high regard or at least respect them for their value.

 

[Jackyl]

Thanks man, I'll try one out for myself and see. Now if I could only decide which one. I think the P3D would fit my hand better...

 

[woodrow]

I too am interested in the 3D-CE. I like 2 cell lights that can still fit in a pocket. The Palmblaze was great for that, but Crees put out more light with less draw than K2 leds. I look forward to seeing some reviews and beamshots before buying.

As to quality, I am sure it is as good as my C2. which does not have perfect fit and finish, but puts out a great beam every time I push the button. I give its tailcap no more odds of failing than a U2's or Inova T3's. The nice thing about all these less than $100 lights is that you really can have several lying around.

 

[gadgetnerd]

Since my Surefire 6PD Cree mod will be living it's life on my AR, I've been thinking about picking up a P2D-CE or P3D-CE, but I want to know what kind of quality to expect since the price seems way too good to be true. Are the waterproof? Shockproof? Glass or plastic lens? Are the clicky tailcaps built well? Thanks!!!

Hi Jackyl. I've got the P2D-CE and it's definitely a pretty decent light. I wouldn't say Fenix quality is outstanding like an HDS, but it's still pretty good and definitely represents excellent value for money. To answer your questions directly:

-Water resistant. I wouldn't go diving with one though
-Reasonably shockproof, like most fenix lights it will take a bit of a beating I'd imagine (I haven't thrown mine out a window to test though )
-Glass lens with AR coating.
-Clicky tailcap is as well built as any other fenix clicky ie good enough but not as good as a higher end light eg HDS

Personally I think the P2D-CE is a great light for the money. Small, pretty well built, nice looking, very bright, multilevel. It has the same drawbacks as all recent fenix cree lights (low not low enough, not perfectly centered LED, ringy beam) so if these are an issue for you then....

 

[bill_n_opus]

Thanks for the Fenix reviews, I was under the impression that these were at least second tier flashlights. Guess I was wrong. Apples - Oranges I know, but how do they compare to say...Maglight or Brinkman / Garrity LED's???

I've experienced all three of those you mentioned ... and i'd reach for a Fenix any day of the week over them.

No one is directly comparing a Fenix to an HDS or a Surefire in terms of absolute build quality and so forth ... but they aren't priced like one neither and are relatively well built and represent very good value for money. Especially the Cree versions.

That's why Fenix is so popular around here ... when value for money talks, forum members listen. After all, money is a limited resource otherwise i'd have a Polarion Helios right now. :rock:

 

[Handlobraesing]

Since my Surefire 6PD Cree mod will be living it's life on my AR, I've been thinking about picking up a P2D-CE or P3D-CE, but I want to know what kind of quality to expect since the price seems way too good to be true. Are the waterproof? Shockproof? Glass or plastic lens? Are the clicky tailcaps built well? Thanks!!!

First of all, I don't own one but I have heard of things from people who owned them.

shockproof?
Similar, but a different L2D-CE have had multiple reported shock induced malfunctions.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=159668

Water resistance seems to be right up to par with a Minimag. Someone reported his Fenix resisted 2 1/2 hour submersion in water. My Maglite also passed the test with the same result.

lens: glass


other quality thing: member opinion is that the HA coating on Fenix isn't quite up to par with Surefire, ArcAAA and reports that it isn't quite as durable.