woodrow
Flashlight Enthusiast
I am a minimalist. Even with flashlights. I am constantly looking for the "right" two or three lights that will make me feel like, "I have what I need" and the lights that just make me feel like I, "do not need to buy anymore" for a little while. (accept for fun or gifts of course) For a long time now, I just have not felt like I owned the "right" lights. Now, for the first time in years... I finally do.
In the last year or so I have bought a few lights... like we all have, looking for something that my (at the time) current light battery did not possess, though I was not sure what that was. So after a Spear, TK20, T1, M20, T20, TA30, TK12, 6Pl, E2DL (single level), and a number of other lights.... I feel I FINALLY have a decent 2 light flashlight battery. 2 lights that decently meet 95% of my flashlight needs/wants. I will be talking about one of those 2 lights... The Fenix TA21 here.
I knew I wanted a standard size 2x123a light. I also wanted the light to take 18650's, have a decent low, and be able to tailstand. The TK21 seemed to fit this criteria...so I thought I would give it a try.
The light comes with a clip and a cigar ring...but I took both off. The TA21 (to me) is too big to wear in a pocket, and without the cigar ting, it is ling enough (about the lenght of most 3x123a lights) to feel - just right - in my hand...to have balance. The only other Fenix I have had that just simply felt so "right" to carry is the TK20...and if that light would have had a true low level I would have Never sold it.
The next thing I liked about the TA21 is that it works with 18650 cells.
(a slightly thicker than AW 18650's LG cell is in the light in this picture) The battery tube wall is not as thick as the TA30 or TK20's massive tubes, but the light feels less heavy than the TA30 so I am OK with that since they seem more than thick enough to deal with most anything I could throw at the light.
Interestingly enough to me, this part of the light is what kept me from buying it for so long. The light has 732...ok 9 levels of output on a rotating switch that goes from 4-225 lumens...some levels so close to each other at the bright end I Honestly believe that they were thrown in just to fill up spaces on the round dial...together with a 18lm beacon flash..and the beloved sos and strobe levels.
While I did not (and still don't) think I need 9 levels of brightness...or sos for that matter, the system pretty much works well. the band can be turned easily enough (unlike the TA30) with one hand. Strobe/SOS etc can be quickly bypassed going high to low by either rotating the band the other way..or quickly (less than half a second) through them to get from high to low. It would be nice if the dial had Luminox style different colored Tritium inserts at the 7, 10 etc. markers...since you cannot read them in the dark...but oh well. The bottom line is that you can have about any level of light you want in a couple seconds or less with one hand...less with two.
The bezel does have teeth...in between the TK12's flat and TA30's sharp in thickness. The textured reflector produces a beam that is slightly more floody than the TK12's but also smoother.
Since the light will tailstand, (even when off) it makes a decent lantern. Here, the choice of 9 levels is actually a good thing...as is 18650 compatibility.
Fenix makes a inexpensive white cone for the TK series lights...and while the bezel is narrower than the TK series...it fits perfectly onto the cooling fins above the level dial. Here are a couple pictures of the lantern in high and low modes...and with camera flash.
4 lumens
225 lumens
For the last part of the observation/review/whatever of the TA21, I need to re use a picture
because it is the fins that partly make this light so great. I am not sure how well they actually cool the led, but when I said earlier that the light had "balance" they have a big part of that. when I hold the light in my hand, my first finger wraps around the fins, while my thumb fits into the one of the indentations on the other side. The light feels utterly secure..while sticking out both sides of my hand by about an inch...balance. This light just FEELS good to hold. Also, the indentations in the fins make a decent anti roll device...and allow the lantern to work...something small, making the TA21 a better light.
So, overall, I would urge you to look past the 724 levels and give this light a chance. It really nice to have a multi-task capible light with balance.
Oh..and my other new light that has made my flashlight battery complete (- a 1200 lumen Power light of course...still waiting on a certian Olight to be released)...The little Nitecore EZ123 light...no fins or 371 levels..but does fit in the pocket very nicely...thanks Nitecore!)
Thanks for reading.
In the last year or so I have bought a few lights... like we all have, looking for something that my (at the time) current light battery did not possess, though I was not sure what that was. So after a Spear, TK20, T1, M20, T20, TA30, TK12, 6Pl, E2DL (single level), and a number of other lights.... I feel I FINALLY have a decent 2 light flashlight battery. 2 lights that decently meet 95% of my flashlight needs/wants. I will be talking about one of those 2 lights... The Fenix TA21 here.
I knew I wanted a standard size 2x123a light. I also wanted the light to take 18650's, have a decent low, and be able to tailstand. The TK21 seemed to fit this criteria...so I thought I would give it a try.
The light comes with a clip and a cigar ring...but I took both off. The TA21 (to me) is too big to wear in a pocket, and without the cigar ting, it is ling enough (about the lenght of most 3x123a lights) to feel - just right - in my hand...to have balance. The only other Fenix I have had that just simply felt so "right" to carry is the TK20...and if that light would have had a true low level I would have Never sold it.
The next thing I liked about the TA21 is that it works with 18650 cells.
(a slightly thicker than AW 18650's LG cell is in the light in this picture) The battery tube wall is not as thick as the TA30 or TK20's massive tubes, but the light feels less heavy than the TA30 so I am OK with that since they seem more than thick enough to deal with most anything I could throw at the light.
Interestingly enough to me, this part of the light is what kept me from buying it for so long. The light has 732...ok 9 levels of output on a rotating switch that goes from 4-225 lumens...some levels so close to each other at the bright end I Honestly believe that they were thrown in just to fill up spaces on the round dial...together with a 18lm beacon flash..and the beloved sos and strobe levels.
While I did not (and still don't) think I need 9 levels of brightness...or sos for that matter, the system pretty much works well. the band can be turned easily enough (unlike the TA30) with one hand. Strobe/SOS etc can be quickly bypassed going high to low by either rotating the band the other way..or quickly (less than half a second) through them to get from high to low. It would be nice if the dial had Luminox style different colored Tritium inserts at the 7, 10 etc. markers...since you cannot read them in the dark...but oh well. The bottom line is that you can have about any level of light you want in a couple seconds or less with one hand...less with two.
The bezel does have teeth...in between the TK12's flat and TA30's sharp in thickness. The textured reflector produces a beam that is slightly more floody than the TK12's but also smoother.
Since the light will tailstand, (even when off) it makes a decent lantern. Here, the choice of 9 levels is actually a good thing...as is 18650 compatibility.
Fenix makes a inexpensive white cone for the TK series lights...and while the bezel is narrower than the TK series...it fits perfectly onto the cooling fins above the level dial. Here are a couple pictures of the lantern in high and low modes...and with camera flash.
4 lumens
225 lumens
For the last part of the observation/review/whatever of the TA21, I need to re use a picture
because it is the fins that partly make this light so great. I am not sure how well they actually cool the led, but when I said earlier that the light had "balance" they have a big part of that. when I hold the light in my hand, my first finger wraps around the fins, while my thumb fits into the one of the indentations on the other side. The light feels utterly secure..while sticking out both sides of my hand by about an inch...balance. This light just FEELS good to hold. Also, the indentations in the fins make a decent anti roll device...and allow the lantern to work...something small, making the TA21 a better light.
So, overall, I would urge you to look past the 724 levels and give this light a chance. It really nice to have a multi-task capible light with balance.
Oh..and my other new light that has made my flashlight battery complete (- a 1200 lumen Power light of course...still waiting on a certian Olight to be released)...The little Nitecore EZ123 light...no fins or 371 levels..but does fit in the pocket very nicely...thanks Nitecore!)
Thanks for reading.
.
