thanks for waitting:
Fenix TK45 show off the trobe and other lighting modes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJqjQBeN4YU
Fenix TK45 on my bicycle ( DIY Bike Flashlight Mount )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re3tfXZCpf4
Ding-Dong, a door bell chime, found a yellow package lying on the front door stairs. My intuition told me that this must be the Fenix TK45 that I've been dreaming of (it is real headache that some of these courier personnel can be so irresponsible, they will just let the insurance company compensate for lost packages.)
Size comparable to a corn
Taking advantage of sun's dusk
DSLR is not around at the moment, using small DC for some quick shots. When outdoor, we can use stuff like bottle as DIY baton.
I'm proud as a Chinese to see that we have a world renowned outdoor brand like Fenix. As an outdoor enthusiast, I'm also proud of the quality and attention to details that Fenix has put into their products. This is the first time that I feel Made in China product is no less than top international outdoor brand.
Independent R&D is a path that require continuous exploring and accumulating experience, I'll take an outdoor enthusiast approach in testing and evaluating Fenix TK45, and hope to share with all my view towards the pros and cons of TK45.
Note: the testing sample of this TK45 is using R4 LED instead of R5, the production model may be different.
Pros:
Areas for improvement:
Preparation for testing: 16 freshly charged Eneloop batteries + 8 Energizer Ultimate Lithium primaries
8 pieces of freshly charged Eneloop gives 1 hour 8 minutes on Turbo before the light starts to dim (the dimmed brightness is equivalent to running the light on High, it continue in this brightness for another 22 minutes) finally it runs in brightness equivalent of Low mode for rest of the total 2 hours runtime.
TK45 felt warm at the handle when continuously running on Turbo mode for half an hour, and the head assembly is hot (can't touch for more than 3 seconds) A fully submerged TK45 however is performing normally (using another 8 all freshly charged batteries) and with good waterproof-ness.
Both tests show the same runtime regardless of dry or wet condition.
When using high capacity batteries (Sanyo 2900mAH) or primaries on Turbo mode, the runtime seems get some improvements.
As a seasoned flashlight enthusiast, following are my opinions and suggestions on TK45, it is my hope that you will share yours so that I, as well as Fenix can learn and improve:
If the front bezel of the heads can be longer and wider, it should provide more protection to the lens. The crenellated bezel is a little sharp, it could ripped one's cloths or scratch one's skin.
Wider thread will gives a better feel when tightening
The head assembly could add more fins to disperse heat more effectively / a heat warning could also be mark on the head
Add a laser pointer at the centre of 3 heads / removable diffuser cap / diameter of 3 heads can be made just a little larger
If all 3 heads are user replaceable, then this will be a good design (e.g. replace with neutral white LED in foggy environment…) a flat metal bar can be used to unscrew the 3 heads to change the LED
If one can design a cap-on reflector to cap on the 3 heads, and refocus all 3 beams onto the reflector, this will potentially enhance the throw and penetration reach, when not in use, the cap-on reflector can be screw on at the tail-cap.
Not sure if the enhanced circuit can improve heat management, thus improve the wear and tear of o-ring and electronic circuits.
The rubber switch could age early due to high heat; suggest increasing the switch contact area.
It would give a better feel if the lanyard hole employ a more curvy design
Flashlight body balancing could be improve further
It would improve the stability of TK45 by enlarging the tail-cap surface area
The battery holder has some improvement over TK40, it's lighter and the contact surface is better, but it would be better to use a thinner aluminum design as plastic tends to crack upon impact, and the circuit contacts are screw on to the plastic holder, when use in high temperature, it could cause early aging or crack / battery may fall during replacement due to loosening of the holder.
Small defect, guess the production unit would not have such problem.
Very noticeable rattles when shake. This could be solved by padding with silicon at the tail-cap.
Due to weight, it feels more slippery in wet condition, suggest adding a thin layer of replaceable rubber grip.
I'm prepare to use TK45 on a 14 days walk at the Yellowstone National Park (I'll also compare it against my 150 lumens headlamp and peers' lighting equipments. If necessary, I'll bring along solar charger and this should realize the benefit of TK45's AA battery design) / I'll also evaluate the impact of using TK45 outdoor and waterproof ability, using TK45 as camping light (lantern), hopefully a reliable and high performance TK45 can replace the need for headlamp and lantern for night activities later, thus lighten the load for back-packing! (will record using Video…)
Stay tuned…
Fenix TK45 on my bicycle ( DIY Bike Flashlight Mount )
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re3tfXZCpf4[/youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re3tfXZCpf4
Fenix TK45 show off the trobe and other lighting modes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJqjQBeN4YU
Fenix TK45 on my bicycle ( DIY Bike Flashlight Mount )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re3tfXZCpf4
Ding-Dong, a door bell chime, found a yellow package lying on the front door stairs. My intuition told me that this must be the Fenix TK45 that I've been dreaming of (it is real headache that some of these courier personnel can be so irresponsible, they will just let the insurance company compensate for lost packages.)
DSLR is not around at the moment, using small DC for some quick shots. When outdoor, we can use stuff like bottle as DIY baton.
I'm proud as a Chinese to see that we have a world renowned outdoor brand like Fenix. As an outdoor enthusiast, I'm also proud of the quality and attention to details that Fenix has put into their products. This is the first time that I feel Made in China product is no less than top international outdoor brand.
Independent R&D is a path that require continuous exploring and accumulating experience, I'll take an outdoor enthusiast approach in testing and evaluating Fenix TK45, and hope to share with all my view towards the pros and cons of TK45.
Note: the testing sample of this TK45 is using R4 LED instead of R5, the production model may be different.
Pros:
- Compare to TK40 (630 lumens) it can output a higher 760 lumens using a smaller form factor and with the same number of battery! (The brightness is just astonishing, leaving TK45 doing a ceiling bounce, it lighted up the whole leaving room!!)
- It can disperse heat more effectively with the 3 headed design
- The use of AA batteries means more accessible power source when you are travelling or doing extended outdoor activities
- Improvement to the battery holder's front contact will results in more stable operation under high heat
- Strong waterproof-ness design
- Balance in portability and high performance
- Very detailed and fine machining
- Compare to TK40, thread are now anodized
Areas for improvement:
- It has less throw than TK40
- It can only sustain running in Turbo mode for an hour+ (but there seems to be significant improvement when using higher capacity primaries)
- It runs warmer
- The battery holder rattles, and the batteries seems to easily fall off from the holder
- There are no lanyard hole at the tail-cap
- Due to weight, the new anti-slip design seems to be more slippery when wet
- The material used for battery holder seems to be weaker
Preparation for testing: 16 freshly charged Eneloop batteries + 8 Energizer Ultimate Lithium primaries
8 pieces of freshly charged Eneloop gives 1 hour 8 minutes on Turbo before the light starts to dim (the dimmed brightness is equivalent to running the light on High, it continue in this brightness for another 22 minutes) finally it runs in brightness equivalent of Low mode for rest of the total 2 hours runtime.
TK45 felt warm at the handle when continuously running on Turbo mode for half an hour, and the head assembly is hot (can't touch for more than 3 seconds) A fully submerged TK45 however is performing normally (using another 8 all freshly charged batteries) and with good waterproof-ness.
Both tests show the same runtime regardless of dry or wet condition.
When using high capacity batteries (Sanyo 2900mAH) or primaries on Turbo mode, the runtime seems get some improvements.
As a seasoned flashlight enthusiast, following are my opinions and suggestions on TK45, it is my hope that you will share yours so that I, as well as Fenix can learn and improve:
If the front bezel of the heads can be longer and wider, it should provide more protection to the lens. The crenellated bezel is a little sharp, it could ripped one's cloths or scratch one's skin.
Wider thread will gives a better feel when tightening
The head assembly could add more fins to disperse heat more effectively / a heat warning could also be mark on the head
Add a laser pointer at the centre of 3 heads / removable diffuser cap / diameter of 3 heads can be made just a little larger
If all 3 heads are user replaceable, then this will be a good design (e.g. replace with neutral white LED in foggy environment…) a flat metal bar can be used to unscrew the 3 heads to change the LED
If one can design a cap-on reflector to cap on the 3 heads, and refocus all 3 beams onto the reflector, this will potentially enhance the throw and penetration reach, when not in use, the cap-on reflector can be screw on at the tail-cap.
Not sure if the enhanced circuit can improve heat management, thus improve the wear and tear of o-ring and electronic circuits.
The rubber switch could age early due to high heat; suggest increasing the switch contact area.
It would give a better feel if the lanyard hole employ a more curvy design
Flashlight body balancing could be improve further
It would improve the stability of TK45 by enlarging the tail-cap surface area
The battery holder has some improvement over TK40, it's lighter and the contact surface is better, but it would be better to use a thinner aluminum design as plastic tends to crack upon impact, and the circuit contacts are screw on to the plastic holder, when use in high temperature, it could cause early aging or crack / battery may fall during replacement due to loosening of the holder.
Small defect, guess the production unit would not have such problem.
Very noticeable rattles when shake. This could be solved by padding with silicon at the tail-cap.
Due to weight, it feels more slippery in wet condition, suggest adding a thin layer of replaceable rubber grip.
I'm prepare to use TK45 on a 14 days walk at the Yellowstone National Park (I'll also compare it against my 150 lumens headlamp and peers' lighting equipments. If necessary, I'll bring along solar charger and this should realize the benefit of TK45's AA battery design) / I'll also evaluate the impact of using TK45 outdoor and waterproof ability, using TK45 as camping light (lantern), hopefully a reliable and high performance TK45 can replace the need for headlamp and lantern for night activities later, thus lighten the load for back-packing! (will record using Video…)
Stay tuned…
Fenix TK45 on my bicycle ( DIY Bike Flashlight Mount )
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re3tfXZCpf4[/youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re3tfXZCpf4
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