woodrow
Flashlight Enthusiast
My Olight M20 was having some issues so I decided I needed a new 2 cell tactical light. I decided to take a chance on a Fenix TK12. It is much smaller than my TA30, and slightly smaller than my Olight M20.
The light comes with with what apears to be a very robust clip and cigar ring attached.
The cigar ring and clip are removable...or can be used individually.
When used without the cigar ring...but with the clip, most of the cigar ring threads are covored...except for a small gap.
The light has an slight orange beal reflector with an crenalated bezel...but the "teeth" are not like the TA30 sharp "weapon" teeth, they are wide and should not raise the eyebrows of airport security or tear clothing.
The tailcap is surrounded by protective ridges...but cannot tailstand when on like the TA30. Activation of the switch is not difficult for either momentary or constant on.
EDIT: tHERE IS NOW A 18650 TUBE AVAILIBLE FOR THIS LIGHT. THE TK12 runs at full regulation on 123a's and a 18650. link to review from light-reviews.com below. Way to go Fenix!
The light will only work with 123a's (rcr's ok) and not 18650's
But has a nice balance of wall thickness without making the light overly heavy. Here is a picture of the thickness of the TK12's tube, next to the Olight M20's tube.
And finally, the lights beam. I could do beamshots, but Low, 90 lumens and 225 lumens are basically identical to my M20 R2's (OP) beam in output across the board...(though the strobe on the TK12 is faster...do not know if that is good or bad) and the beams even look identical in throw...just with the R2 being warmer and TK12 being cooler...seriously, beams are basically identical. (and both leds in this case are ever so slightly off centered...but not horribly) Here is a picture of both the TK12 and M20 on low. TK12 on left.
As to the output modes of the TK12, for me, it has 3 modes. Mode one..."Inside" gives a choice of 90 lumens with bezel tight and 5 lumens with it loosened. Perfect for use arround the house.
To get to what I am calling "Outdoor" mode, you twist the head loose and tight again twice within a second or so and you will see the light increase to 225 lumens. Loosen the head and it goes to 45 lumens. Basically what I use if I am outdoors.
The third mode "tactical" can be accessed by loosening and tightening the head again twice quickly and the light will be at 225 high again with the head tightened...or strobe with it loosened. I do not plan to use this mode..so I can bypass it qiuickly with two more quick twists...to be back to "inside" mode.
I both like and dislike the UI of this light. I like how smooth the light is to move from high to low with a simple twist. (smoother than the Olight) I like that Finally I have a "TK10" with a low mode. I also like that I do not have to bypass the strobe or medium level to get from high to low or low to high...like on my beloved Olight. Also, the UI is really simple in that most of the time I will only be using high/low, and when I need to switch modes, it really is a pretty fast change.
I dislike having to go through the "Tactical" strobe mode to get from "Outdoor" to "Inside" mode, but in all honestly, I find this less annoying than constantly going throught the Olights strobe and the common level misses that I have put up with for the last year. (not that its strengths did not make up for this)
Overall, although it does not have a new super led in it, I feel like I am going to like the TK12. It is compact and solid...without being heavy. It lets me have a TK10 with a Low mode...nice for moving around the house when others are asleep, and it feels like it could take most any amount of abuse I could possibly throw at it.
I also like the very solid clip and that it is a nice looking light with a great HAIII finish, and has bezel teeth that will not tear my pockets. Others who have not played with one may scoff at its different UI, but I think it is a pretty good solution for giving four levels of output (and a strobe if you want it) and a very simple UI 95% of the time.
Good job Fenix!
The light comes with with what apears to be a very robust clip and cigar ring attached.
The cigar ring and clip are removable...or can be used individually.
When used without the cigar ring...but with the clip, most of the cigar ring threads are covored...except for a small gap.
The light has an slight orange beal reflector with an crenalated bezel...but the "teeth" are not like the TA30 sharp "weapon" teeth, they are wide and should not raise the eyebrows of airport security or tear clothing.
The tailcap is surrounded by protective ridges...but cannot tailstand when on like the TA30. Activation of the switch is not difficult for either momentary or constant on.
EDIT: tHERE IS NOW A 18650 TUBE AVAILIBLE FOR THIS LIGHT. THE TK12 runs at full regulation on 123a's and a 18650. link to review from light-reviews.com below. Way to go Fenix!
The light will only work with 123a's (rcr's ok) and not 18650's
But has a nice balance of wall thickness without making the light overly heavy. Here is a picture of the thickness of the TK12's tube, next to the Olight M20's tube.
And finally, the lights beam. I could do beamshots, but Low, 90 lumens and 225 lumens are basically identical to my M20 R2's (OP) beam in output across the board...(though the strobe on the TK12 is faster...do not know if that is good or bad) and the beams even look identical in throw...just with the R2 being warmer and TK12 being cooler...seriously, beams are basically identical. (and both leds in this case are ever so slightly off centered...but not horribly) Here is a picture of both the TK12 and M20 on low. TK12 on left.
As to the output modes of the TK12, for me, it has 3 modes. Mode one..."Inside" gives a choice of 90 lumens with bezel tight and 5 lumens with it loosened. Perfect for use arround the house.
To get to what I am calling "Outdoor" mode, you twist the head loose and tight again twice within a second or so and you will see the light increase to 225 lumens. Loosen the head and it goes to 45 lumens. Basically what I use if I am outdoors.
The third mode "tactical" can be accessed by loosening and tightening the head again twice quickly and the light will be at 225 high again with the head tightened...or strobe with it loosened. I do not plan to use this mode..so I can bypass it qiuickly with two more quick twists...to be back to "inside" mode.
I both like and dislike the UI of this light. I like how smooth the light is to move from high to low with a simple twist. (smoother than the Olight) I like that Finally I have a "TK10" with a low mode. I also like that I do not have to bypass the strobe or medium level to get from high to low or low to high...like on my beloved Olight. Also, the UI is really simple in that most of the time I will only be using high/low, and when I need to switch modes, it really is a pretty fast change.
I dislike having to go through the "Tactical" strobe mode to get from "Outdoor" to "Inside" mode, but in all honestly, I find this less annoying than constantly going throught the Olights strobe and the common level misses that I have put up with for the last year. (not that its strengths did not make up for this)
Overall, although it does not have a new super led in it, I feel like I am going to like the TK12. It is compact and solid...without being heavy. It lets me have a TK10 with a Low mode...nice for moving around the house when others are asleep, and it feels like it could take most any amount of abuse I could possibly throw at it.
I also like the very solid clip and that it is a nice looking light with a great HAIII finish, and has bezel teeth that will not tear my pockets. Others who have not played with one may scoff at its different UI, but I think it is a pretty good solution for giving four levels of output (and a strobe if you want it) and a very simple UI 95% of the time.
Good job Fenix!
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