I graciously received a second flashlight from Fenix for review: a brand new LD15. Knowing there are testing sample editions out, I was a little surprised to see that they sent me the final production model with complete packaging - Thank you Fenix! This review will therefore reflect exactly what you can expect should you order one.
This flashlight is much simpler and on the opposite side of the spectrum than the previous one I was sent (a TK45 test sample). Even before receiving it, I knew that this would certainly be a much shorter review than the one I wrote for the TK45, since the LD15 is among the simplest and most compact AA lights available on the market. I am however wordy and like to cover every aspect I can think of, so this will still be a thorough review nonetheless.
Since I received so many encouraging comments for showing many outdoors beam shots last time, I will keep in line with that and hopefully help alleviate the hunger of outdoors enthusiasts. I have since bought my own camera using the knowledge and experience I have acquired from borrowed equipment. I am still experimenting with it and have some fairly realistic outdoor pictures, but in the end I found a setting that does give a nearly real impression of what it is like in the field.
One Quick Word About Me
I am an electronics technician and my job is calibrating and doing maintenance of non-destructive testing equipment. I won't go into the details of this but, to make a short point, I need to use a flashlight on various types and sizes of equipment for work on a regular basis when I'm at customer's sites.
I also am a hiker on my own time, an interest I have discovered from camping in the wild. After multiple incidents where we had to find a camping site and put up a tent in the dark, I have sworn never to be in need of light again. It was just that much easier to buy a good flashlight and new batteries than it was to change my friends. It is incredible how remedies tend to become an addiction!
Even though I have plenty of knowledge about electronics, I prefer to leave all the scientific benchmarking to those who have done this for a long time, as I don't believe we need multiple copies of similar numbers. I know they will sooner or later review this light and I let these guys do what they do best without second guessing them.
FIRST IMPRESSION
Standard quality packaging from Fenix.
Accessories included: Lanyard, two spare o-rings (there is only one o-ring on this flashlight) and a ring for attachment to regular key rings. As usual, the instructions leaflet and warranty registration card are also inside the box. It is nice to know that Fenix has thought about the possible premature use of the o-ring due to the twisty interface.
The very first thing I noticed when I looked at the still packaged LD15 was the absence of the brass ring shown on pictures from Fenix's website. It turns out the brass ring isn't really a ring, but part of the inside of the head that shows up when a battery is inserted.
The rear part of the head is made entirely of brass. This certainly has something to do with heat dissipation, since this is a very small light for an output of 117 lumens.
Once you insert a battery inside the tube part of the brass sticks out, giving this light a distinctive look from other Fenix products. It probably helps vent the heat from the head, but it certainly lets you know there is a battery inside - I love multi-purpose features! Other lights are known to have this brass ring feature, but never having seen one up close, I cannot comment much more on the subject.
Ok, this light is small, but not quite as short as I expected, having become more and more used to CR123 battery flashlights. It is very small nonetheless, for an AA flashlight.
You can really put this one in your pocket and forget about it. It's bigger than traditional AAA pocket lights, so you should be able to find it easily between your keys, unless you're a janitor of course, in which case a lanyard might be a good way to pull it out of your pocket.
I had to compare the size with the smallest flashlights I own, along with their batteries.
Left to right: E0, AAA, LD15, AA, L0D
If the L0D Q5 (ancestor of the LD01) had an impressive brightness for the package size. The LD15 gives the same proportionate impression. See the beam shot section for a direct comparison of these two lights.
The LD15 has an even, round construction with nothing to stop it from rolling away. However, if you install the key ring or the lanyard on it, it suddenly can't go very far. The design for these attachments on the tail end of the body is interesting, though: two lanyard holes and the precisely placed recess mean that you can attach either lanyard or key ring and still retain tail standing capability.
I wanted to take a picture of the key ring and lanyard attached, but even after 3 photo sessions, I kept forgetting the accessories at home, and it was too dark inside to have a good contrast ratio. Sorry about that.
The lettering on the body is very crisp and easy to read, consistent with Fenix quality. One nice feature I noticed about this is that the serial number on the head will line up centered with the logo on the body when the head is fully screwed in (with no battery in the tube)
I didn't cheat here: the head is screwed in completely. Gotta love the precision.
When you turn this flashlight off, the second the light goes out, only one eight of a turn counter-clockwise is needed to lock-out the contact. By that, I mean that even if you press the head towards the body, it will not come on, preventing the light to come on by accident in your pocket. At this point, the serial number is also centered with respect to the Logo and model number… nicely done!
The pictures illustrating this are after the next paragraph. I had to mention this here, but it really has to be included in the following section, so I'll repeat myself a little:
OPERATION AND HANDLING
To make this the small light it is, Fenix opted for a twisty rather than using a switch (the diameter would make it impractical for a switch, anyway.) This means that to turn the light on, you have to twist the head clockwise (screw it in) and to turn it off, turn it counter-clockwise – unscrew the head until it turns off. Only one quarter turn is necessary to go from lock-out to the on position.
Left to right: On, Off, Locked-out
The feeling on the threads is very smooth and easy to turn. This, combined with the fact that no more than a quarter turn is needed to operate it from full lock-out to on, mean that using this light with only one hand is something very easy to do. The knurling on the head helps here, but I will add that the length of the body also makes it easy to hold and operate, as all of your fingers should rest on the body (unless you have rally big hands.)
The LD15 is just long enough to fill the width of the hand and the diameter makes it just present enough to have a good feel of it. This gives it a somewhat manly feeling for a miniature flashlight, especially when you compare it to it's little sisters, the LD01 and the E01.
The length of this flashlight makes it just perfect for cigar grip hold too.
POWER AND BATTERY
Only one AA Battery is needed to power up this small flashlight. Fenix does not recommend the use of 14500 battery types as it may damage the circuitry, but it should accept lithium AA batteries (I don't have any on hand for the test, however). I have powered mine with and Low Self-Discharge rechargeable battery with runtimes that seem consistent with the stated numbers (see modes and runtimes)
I do not hear any battery rattle when I shake this flashlight around, unless I unscrew the head more than necessary to lock it out. I normally do not mind much about battery rattle, but I think it is something worth considering for a pocket carry light. I have enough change and keys in my pockets that I shuffle around to make sure I don't sound like a cowboy when I walk, so I'm glad I don't have to worry about an extra piece moving around in my pocket.
CONSTRUCTION
Simple and effective: there are only two parts on this flashlight… body and head.
As a technician I often say "the less parts in a machine, the less parts can break."
The shape of the LD15 is very simple and elegant. The brass ring look does add to this, but I personally find it attractive and well proportioned in all of its details.
BODY
The body is simply a tube with one closed end.
No switch and no tail cap means less maintenance needed: only one set of threads to clean and only one o-ring to lube.
Tough picture to get. I used the LD20 I'll be reviewing soon for help. I couldn't get any better resolution on the springs, but at least it has some artistic value.
The body wall is not the thickest I've seen, but the smaller the diameter, the sturdier the tube. Holding this flashlight makes me feel like I could run over it with my car with only surface damage but, not being an engineer, I could be wrong.
You can see that there is no actual traditional coil shaped spring for the negative terminal in here. Instead, the end of the tube has been fitted with "fin" type of springs and a post, therefore reducing the amount of travel (turns) required to lock the light out. This is a big change and time will tell if these are as durable as the original coiled springs. There seems to be very little play between the spring's extended and contracted position, where the battery stops on the negative post, so I'm confident they should last a long time.
HEAD
Once removed, the head reveals more length than expected, explaining why this flashlight is longer than one might think. The brass sticking out of the back is almost half the length of the head. I guess this was a necessary feature for heat dispersion.
We can see that the electronics are clipped in directly. I haven't tried to see if I could access the LED since I intend on using it in wet conditions, but there is a chance the head might come off in two parts if you unscrew the two parts, giving access to the reflector and the LED. I would make sure I didn't need the warranty before trying that, though.
Looks like gold plated contact.
The rubber ring serves as a simple but very efficient reverse polarity protection and, trust me, it works (D'OH!) - Rule number one of trouble shooting: check your power source, even if you just plugged it in.
LED AND REFLECTOR
The LED on mine seems slightly off, but that has no visible effect on the beam pattern. The reflector is small by necessity, but had a nice depth-to-width ratio. It is also perfectly smooth with no visible defect.
Even though Fenix opted for a smooth reflector, I cannot see any artifacts whatsoever on the beam pattern (see beam pattern.) I think the choice was right, since this will let this baby throw a little more than with an orange peel texture. The reflector is not very wide for the same reason, so I'm not expecting it to out throw anything bigger, like an LD or PD series lights on an equivalent setting. We'll see how it compares later in the beam shot section.
The color of the LED on mine is definitely on the cooler side of the spectrum. Of course, this might vary from one flashlight to the next. I have devised a simple color rendition test, so please consult the beam shots section to judge for yourself.
THREADS
These are not square cut threads like most newer Fenix flashlights. They are a very nice fit, however, and glide smoothly. There is barely any play in the threads, explaining why it's so easy to lock-out.
KNURLING
This light has almost equal parts of rhombic knurling and smooth surface, but the next picture demonstrates that the knurling seems to be strategically placed. I think the distribution of knurling, smooth surface and the various beveled rings are the major components of this light's nice look.
At the same time aggressive and at the same time smooth to the touch.
I have held my LD15 under running water for almost a minute, making sure I got it and my hand as wet as I could and I still could operate it with the same ease as with dry hands. To be honest, the only difference I could feel, whether the light and my hands where wet or dry, was while doing it on purpose to test the smooth surface. I would readily use this one in the rain with one hand busy.
FINISH
Great finish as usual from Fenix. The anodization looks even all over and there are no rough edges to be found. I don't think this flashlight could be responsible for ripping a hole in a pocket. The lettering is etched, so even if the finish came off, it would still be possible to identify it, especially the serial number.
MODES, RUNTIMES
High = 117 Lumens, 1hour 40 minutes
Low = 8 Lumens, 39 Hours
The LD15 turns on in high mode and cycling between high and low is achieved by turning the flashlight off and on less than 1.5 seconds. Leaving the flashlight off for 1.5 seconds or more will reset the mode circuit and it will turn on again in high mode.
Fenix is obviously aiming for something different this year. This flashlight has only two modes, compared with the traditional three mode of their older twisties, starts with the high mode and has no bells, no whistles, no strobe / S.O.S. / Beacon. I know a lot of people like those options, but I also have seen a growing number of flashaholics asking manufacturers to hide flashing modes. Fenix is obviously a manufacturer that prefers simplicity to complicated interfaces; after all, they showed us what to do with reverse clicky / head twisting combos.
Times tend to change and, even if it's fun to have all those disco options,
I personally don't believe they are a must for most people. I am of the opinion that different flashlights should fill in for different uses, so it seems logical that interface and mode types and order should vary. I also think it is really nice to have a pocket-sized flashlight with only two modes for a change.
A lot of flashaholics have expressed disappointment in Fenix's choice to have their new light start with high mode. I was one of them until I asked myself seriously "what are the advantages of having a light start on high?" I came up with things like "some people just prefer it that way and they deserve a break" and "This should be more practical for MR. Non-Flashaholic Everybody" (which is a real good reason after all.)
In the end, I realized that a light of this size is an excellent backup / weekend carry light. I try to always have a backup flashlight on me, because it has saved me so many times. One thing I know about having to resort to my backup is that it means I need LIGHT, otherwise 40+ hour of runtime on low would mean I should have enough battery power for the day. I have also realized that I don't really use my EDC on low, since I would use a different flashlight for hiking and camping. Ok, I'm different from most people as I also have a different EDC configuration on work days and weekends.
In choosing only two modes, Fenix had to make an important decision on output values. Obviously, high mode was imposed by technology and the type of LED / battery combination used. By having a low mode of 8 lumens, this light has a very long runtime option, while still having sufficient light for use in the dark.
REGULATION VS RUNTIME
As per usual, the regulation on this Fenix flashlight seems absolutely perfect and switches over to low mode when the battery is too weak.
I have tested mine with a Duracell Low Self-Discharge 2000mAh NiMh battery with a runtime exceeding 1 hour 40 minutes (I lost track at some point since I was working on this review.) At some point past that mark, it started quietly and gradually dimming into low mode in such a way it was hard to really tell at first.
Once the intensity had dimmed equal to low mode, I left it on like that for another 20 minutes. I then tried to switch it off and on, but it didn't come back on. I could turn it on again after waiting one or two minutes, but I didn't test the runtime any further, considering that my battery had been sufficiently discharged and that I would have had enough time to find a spare battery in my loaded backpack by now.
HEAT DISSIPATION
After leaving the LD15 running in high mode on my desk for 10 minutes it was just warm to the touch. It took 50 minutes on high before I could say it really was warm. After a whole hour (not having and infra-red thermometer) I could say it was getting hot, but nothing that causes too much discomfort to handle. I then switched it to low mode and after only three minutes, it had cooled down considerably to being only warm again and back to cool (still in low mode) another five minutes later. Very good heat dissipation!
Heat distribution is fairly even all over, but slightly gradual from head to tail. I took the battery out around the one hour mark to make sure it wouldn't suffer and it was only warm (no warmer than when it's charging.) There are no mentions of maximum recommended runtimes on high from Fenix, so I would say you can run down your battery completely without worry.
BEAM PATTERN
Note: I'm reserving the beam profile picture for the Beam Shot section.
Perfect beam pattern with a nice transition from spot to spill and no artifacts
The hotspot is about twice the width of larger lights (such as L2D Q5, PD30R2 or the LD20R4). The spill is also very useful, just like any other Fenix flashlight.
I haven't detected any signs of Pulse Width Modulation, even while holding it in front of a fan.
RELIABILITY AND USABILITY
Some lights have flickered on me in the past (none of them Fenix, though), so this is one of the tests I like to submit any new flashlight to. To achieve this, I play with the switch (not applicable here) and gently push the head sideways or towards the body. The test was a complete success. I have had no failure whatsoever with my LD15 so far and don't expect any with such a simple design.
I think most people should agree with me that 117 lumens is quite a bit of light for a small package like this and is also more than sufficient for most applications. Having it start on high mode means that this is probably not the best night stand light for people who have sensitive eyes in the dead of night like I do. I think the point here was to have a light that can be used without fumbling for work, emergency situations and for backup. The fact that the LD15 can be easily operated with just one hand makes it a very good work light.
I should add that I do not hear any inductor noise in any of the modes.
ACESSORIES, HOLSTER
Key ring attachment and Lanyard are included, but as I mentioned I kept forgetting those at home when I left for my photo shoots. Here's a picture with my keys for reference:
-------------------LD15 29 keys.jpg
With this length, I don't think the lens should get scratched by your keys, unless you attach it to a chain.
I guess this light could also be worn around the neck comfortably if it's your thing.
LAYMAN'S OPINION
I am running out of people to impress with new flashlights since I have carried a TK45 for two weeks while preparing my previous review (not counting all the lights that where delivered at work, plus the ones I carry on a daily basis.) Everyone I showed it to commented that this is a nice light. One of my coworkers is still amazed by the power of the lights I carry and had the reflex to point it under his desk, which made him laugh. He also took the opportunity to flash his desk neighbor's computer monitor who is getting used to this type of behavior by now, but was still annoyed. Another one ran for the light switch, closed the door and said he was impressed, which is encouraging to hear after I let him do the same thing with a TK45 on turbo no more than two weeks ago.
BEAM SHOTS
While there was no camping trip during this review, I still have some interesting outdoor beam shots to share. Taking those shots was an adventure in itself anyways: I am a little late on my schedule in posting this review, mainly because of the rain we've had over here lately. I have been taken by surprise twice – once during a day hike on top of a mountain by a thunder storm last Saturday and again on Monday evening by a freak rain storm while heading out with the intention to take outdoor pictures. Like that was not enough, I had to face the usual mud lakes on the path close to home, along with some blood suckers like mosquitoes, bats and frogs.
Apparently the mud "lakes" have become a permanent part of the local landscape, as I discovered that plenty of frogs kept leaping out of my way while I was headed for the field. Somehow, I went against my better judgment of wearing any repellent, so mosquitoes thought of me as an attractive meal, but fortunately I did bring a nylon jacket in case of rain, which only served as protection against the rain of mosquitoes. It was not raining mosquitoes per se, but it did feel like it at some point.
The recent heat wave, accompanied by the humidity left by the small rain storm that hit us in the afternoon before I headed out made me feel like I was headed in a rain forest wearing a hot suit. It did feel better than suffering the attacks of the small blood suckers, since we don't have enough of the larger kind (bats) to have decent population control.
I'm not complaining at all, I'm just trying to illustrate how much I wish you enjoy my outdoor beam shots even if I do not have as many as I would have liked to. For some reason, part of me does enjoy the small adventures of heading out there without decent equipment, which I do have and will probably start bringing from now on, since no part of me is that much of a masochist.
BEAM INTENSITY / PROFILE
DAYLIGHT TEST
There isn't much that can compete with the sun in terms of brightness, so I figured that if there's a way see reflected light in the day, it should be a sufficient amount of light for a lot of applications.
Reference picture
I was bent over the rock at about 12 inches away and the sun was getting close to the horizon (around 7 p.m.) but still bright enough. The blurry thing to the left is the LD15's head, not a dirty finger.
PROFILE
32---
In the white wall pictures we see an artifact ring around the corona that I cannot see in reality.
I was never a fan of white wall pictures and discovered that it is very hard to give a good impression of the beam profile because of camera sensitivity to white. I devised a completely different way to show the beam profile in a way that is very representative: I shine the flashlight through a piece of partly exposed x-ray film.
We do not see the whole circle of spill, but the transition from the spot (top) to spill (bottom) is very representative. The bright spot towards the bottom is the LD15 itself, as the whole setup has to be held at an angle from the camera.
Nice smooth corona transitioning from spot to spill with a wider spot than most other LED flashlights. The corona seems ever so slightly brighter to the eye than the spot at a distance, but I wouldn't go as far as calling it a donut hole and it doesn't even show when pointed at objects or surfaces other than white walls.
COMPARING WITH THE LITTLE BROTHER
Since the LD01 was the brightest of Fenix's smallest flashlights until this new arrival, I figured some people might be interested in seeing the difference. I have the older L0D Q5 which outputs only 5 lumens less than the LD01 if my memory is correct. I don't know if the beam profile differs, though.
Left: LD15
Right: L0D Q5
About one meter from the closet doors
About one foot away from the doors.
COLOR RENDITION
Two flashlights coming off the same line one after the other are likely to have an LED of different tint. I still thought it might be interesting to do a color rendition test. By experience I know that yellows, reds, browns and oranges are the colors most affected by the cool tint of LED's. I didn't have all of these handy, but I had this old plastic bouquet I most often point at for my own satisfaction.
I went to the sun to show the natural colors
This picture seems like exactly what I see when I compare with the real thing.
And here's a painting my Dad made:
Picture taken as the daylight was just about at maximum in my bedroom, which faces north. The exposition is not the best, but you see the true colors.
Aside some skewing deformity from being at a slight angle, this rendition seems just about right. Even when compared to an incandescent flashlight, the yellows seem yellower and the greens greener (I know some Incan junkies might not believe this, but I speak the truth.) Only the reds are darker.
I noticed that, in general, the R4 bin LED's seem cooler in color than the R2 bin LED's, on the lights I own. In the case of my LD15 sample, this doesn't seem to affect color rendition on yellows and lighter greens. This cannot be taken as a good indication, since color rendition will vary from one sample to the next, so I'll leave it at that for this part of the test.
OUTDOOR SHOTS
I am still experimenting with my new camera, so some of these shots are a little underexposed. I did adjust my camera settings as I changed areas, so the last pictures are pretty close to reality. I do not have daytime reference pictures for all of the following shooting locations, but it would not make much of a difference if I did. The pictures do speak for themselves.
CLOSED PATH
I took this one on a part that is covered by the trees. The rain left the ground and leaves darker than usual.
This is the trail on a better day
I could see better on the sides of the path than in this picture.
FOREST
I don't have a daytime reference picture for this, but it is taken from the same spot as the previous pictures, but 90 degrees to the left.
This picture rendition is much darker than in reality. The small tree branches forming a triangle in the center are anywhere in between 15 to 20 feet away. The bigger branch just right from the center is about 10 feet away from the objective...
OPEN PATH
This also is a reference picture taken on a better day.
This picture too came out much darker than it should. I am starting to realize that my camera's LCD display might be too bright to give an appropriate perception in the dark, since it was not made with flashlight beam shots in mind. The wet ground did not help on this as well.
I was aiming almost 20 feet ahead. The interesting part here is that the spot/spill transition is almost continuous in this setup. Again, I could see much better than this on the sides of the path.
FIELD
By now it seems I found a suitable camera setting for almost real rendition, so I took the liberty to add comparison pictures of the L0D Q5 and L2D Q5 for reference. Note that whatever is growing in this field has a blue hue to it to start with, so the pictures look cooler than in a normal field (I don't have a clue what in the world is supposed to grow there, but I did see some people working in the field about a month ago when I took the daytime pictures for my TK45 review. If you've seen the picture from the field, you'll notice that it has grown higher and bluer, but I did take the pictures from the exact same spot as last time.)
The flashlight spots are aimed at about 5 or 6 meters from the camera objective. The "wilderness" growth varies from knee high where I was standing to hip high where I aimed the spot. The higher plantlike thing on the right hand side is the only thing that seems to have a normal plant green color.
L0D Q5
LD15 R4
L2D Q5 (oops... seems like I resized this one to the wrong spec and can't go back now...)
THROW
The stated max beam length for the LD15 is 49 meters, and I would say this seems about right. I unfortunately was not ready for a setup at less than 50 meters at this time, with all the unexpected overgrowth and mosquito bites, so taking a picture at that distance would have been pointless without a reflective surface. I might find the time during my coming vacation to take some more comparative shots on an intermediate path and if I do, I should be posting them in late august or early September on a separate thread.
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
I unfortunately cannot take pictures of my customer's machinery (military applications and all), which is a real shame. I was at one particular site recently and had used up the battery from my brand new PD20, so resorted to my backup, which is the light I have used for the last year (neutral emitter 90 lumen AA flashlight not to name anyone.) I figured it wouldn't cost anyone more money if I just tried the LD15 for a change since I did bring it along for testing. The shame in the absence of pictures is that I actually went "wow!" when I turned it on.
I was working on a transformer box, which is a cubic box of about 24 inches on all sides, with all the transformers, bus bars and contactors you can expect on a machine that outputs 6000 amps. I really liked how the hotspot was wider than the older technology LED, which meant that despite the fact that I just put aside a neutral colored flashlight for a cool colored one, I could see better. In this case, depth perception was not as critical as in other cases, but I can say that I left the one year old light aside for the rest of the job. Ok, it wasn't as bright as the PD20, but after a half hour of using the older light, turning the LD15 on was like getting new glasses, even if my backup was really sufficient to get the job done properly.
ALL IN ALL
THE GOOD
Small, compact, light
Fits in the pocket
Can be attached to keys with the included ring
One Standard battery + takes NiMh = easy to feed
2 modes twisty – simplest operation possible = Good flashlight for people who can't figure out the simplest user interface (good gift for loved ones…)
Very easy to operate with one hand
Good length for a secure grip and good feel in the hand
Excellent heat dissipation
Good head standing / tail standing capability
THE BAD
Not anti-roll
14500 batteries not recommended
THE RELATIVE
Starts on high mode
No pocket clip
Cool color LED – I can't speak of rendition as this might vary for each sample
The final production model starts with high mode. Some have expressed a serious disappointment towards this, but I partly disagree with them. I do prefer lights that start on low to preserve night vision, but I have come to think of the LD15 as an excellent emergency backup flashlight, which should mean that you do not have to stumble to find the high. My impression is that Fenix is aiming at the outdoor sports market and average Joe with this one, rather than at the leisure night hiker market. In my case I'm not likely to use this as a primary light on my night hikes, when camping or for bed-to-toilet navigation, but outside that I don't use low all that often. I don't think that non-flashaholics normally use a low setting of 8 lumen, especially after a whole lifetime of being conditioned to just switch the lights on. I think there is a need for a portable light that starts on high: all flashlights should not be the exact same, otherwise they would all be the same light in a different package.
It seems to me that Fenix is really doing some improvements this year by filling in needs that have been neglected in the past in the flashlight industry. Everyone's needs differ and I am glad to see a response that has awakened me to something I needed despite my old habits.
RECOMMENDATIONS
This is a good light to attach to your keys and the length of it means that the lens shouldn't get scratched by the same keys. I would still like to see a lens protection cover that could double as a cheap diffuser or colored lens to protect from other loose objects.
I think that the anti-roll issue could be solved easily for just about every flashlight with one simple accessory. The idea came to me in bed one night, reminiscing about the perfect anti-roll design of the TK45. A simple triangular slide-on piece of rubber would give just about any flashlight what it needs to stay in place, even on tilted surfaces. To top that off, a few magnets inside the piece would mean that you could hang your light on any ferrous surface. To hang it securely, you might need two of those rubber pieces for some flashlights, but I have a good feeling it just might work for most personal sized light.
I like customizability and so do most flashaholics. It might be interesting to have a second model, perhaps an LD16, start with low rather than high. On the other hand, it might be more cost-effective to simply have a last mode memory and satisfy everyone interested. Of course, this would mean that it wouldn't be the same great emergency or backup light anymore and I personally like it just the way it is.
CONCLUSIONS
For some reason, I find this one the most attractive Fenix flashlight for its size and length / width ratio. It has a sturdy look and feel to it and feels real good in my hand. I really like the way I can hold it with all of my fingers resting on it, giving me a feeling that I am holding it securely and can operate it easily.
I have carried / used this flashlight for about two weeks on a daily basis. It has now become my new weekend EDC, since it's the smallest light I own that has an output of more than 100 lumens AND can take rechargeable batteries, which means I won't be ashamed of whipping it out in public. Plus it fits nicely in small pockets and I can forget I am carrying it until the need arises. In fact, the LD15 is so small that I have to check my pockets to make sure I remembered to bring it. I'll probably even forget it in my pants and run it through the wash someday, but I am one of those who have done that before and I'm not worried one bit about the results.
I think I don't need to make any further proof that I do go on night hikes for fun, but that is normally done on known grounds or in place I know I can head back anytime. On those occasions, I normally prefer to carry a ton of flashlights, but use only minimal lighting, so long as I can at least see a few feet ahead. On normal day hikes, I carry a full pack of survival gear and the least amount of flashlights possible. The saying goes "every ounce counts." I do carry at least one backup light, because I know what it is like to be stuck in unknown territory in the dark. It's not necessarily the end of the world, but when you head out on intermediate and advanced paths for a full day, you don't want to slow down, especially when you know that more road is (supposedly) behind you than ahead and have a growling stomach. Physical and mental fatigue becomes more important factors as time and miles go by. That's when the risk of injury starts to become a serious threat, especially for someone who heads out on his own like I do.
For these reasons, I want a light that is strong enough to light up any small irregularity on the ground. I know there are compact headlamps designed just for this and already own one but, as a flashaholic, I feel I must abide to the law of two equals one and one equals none… I've been there too many times and would add that no light often equals mental and/or physical pain whether you are hiking or working.
All this to say that I'm going to pack this LD15 from now on and likely use it even before my current emergency headlamp that outputs a whopping 45 lumens of still useful obsoleteness. Technology move on faster with every passing minute and flashaholics follow, sometimes just for the sheer pleasure of having something that wasn't here yesterday and blasts the flies out of the sky. Then we take that old beater out of the drawer and wonder how in the world could we see anything with that old thing? That's what happened to me when I took my old camping light out of the drawer for comparison. If you know someone who hasn't changed their flashlight in 10 years, they would definitely be under the impression they used to get light by knocking rocks together after using LD15 for a few days.
Thanks again to Peter from FenixLight for offering to review this great light and to Alex from FenixTactical for forwarding it over to me. I somehow usually know what to expect even before I receive a new Fenix flashlight and they have a special place in my heart… and on my belt.
This flashlight is much simpler and on the opposite side of the spectrum than the previous one I was sent (a TK45 test sample). Even before receiving it, I knew that this would certainly be a much shorter review than the one I wrote for the TK45, since the LD15 is among the simplest and most compact AA lights available on the market. I am however wordy and like to cover every aspect I can think of, so this will still be a thorough review nonetheless.
Since I received so many encouraging comments for showing many outdoors beam shots last time, I will keep in line with that and hopefully help alleviate the hunger of outdoors enthusiasts. I have since bought my own camera using the knowledge and experience I have acquired from borrowed equipment. I am still experimenting with it and have some fairly realistic outdoor pictures, but in the end I found a setting that does give a nearly real impression of what it is like in the field.
One Quick Word About Me
I am an electronics technician and my job is calibrating and doing maintenance of non-destructive testing equipment. I won't go into the details of this but, to make a short point, I need to use a flashlight on various types and sizes of equipment for work on a regular basis when I'm at customer's sites.
I also am a hiker on my own time, an interest I have discovered from camping in the wild. After multiple incidents where we had to find a camping site and put up a tent in the dark, I have sworn never to be in need of light again. It was just that much easier to buy a good flashlight and new batteries than it was to change my friends. It is incredible how remedies tend to become an addiction!
Even though I have plenty of knowledge about electronics, I prefer to leave all the scientific benchmarking to those who have done this for a long time, as I don't believe we need multiple copies of similar numbers. I know they will sooner or later review this light and I let these guys do what they do best without second guessing them.
FIRST IMPRESSION
Standard quality packaging from Fenix.
Accessories included: Lanyard, two spare o-rings (there is only one o-ring on this flashlight) and a ring for attachment to regular key rings. As usual, the instructions leaflet and warranty registration card are also inside the box. It is nice to know that Fenix has thought about the possible premature use of the o-ring due to the twisty interface.
The very first thing I noticed when I looked at the still packaged LD15 was the absence of the brass ring shown on pictures from Fenix's website. It turns out the brass ring isn't really a ring, but part of the inside of the head that shows up when a battery is inserted.
The rear part of the head is made entirely of brass. This certainly has something to do with heat dissipation, since this is a very small light for an output of 117 lumens.
Once you insert a battery inside the tube part of the brass sticks out, giving this light a distinctive look from other Fenix products. It probably helps vent the heat from the head, but it certainly lets you know there is a battery inside - I love multi-purpose features! Other lights are known to have this brass ring feature, but never having seen one up close, I cannot comment much more on the subject.
Ok, this light is small, but not quite as short as I expected, having become more and more used to CR123 battery flashlights. It is very small nonetheless, for an AA flashlight.
You can really put this one in your pocket and forget about it. It's bigger than traditional AAA pocket lights, so you should be able to find it easily between your keys, unless you're a janitor of course, in which case a lanyard might be a good way to pull it out of your pocket.
I had to compare the size with the smallest flashlights I own, along with their batteries.
Left to right: E0, AAA, LD15, AA, L0D
If the L0D Q5 (ancestor of the LD01) had an impressive brightness for the package size. The LD15 gives the same proportionate impression. See the beam shot section for a direct comparison of these two lights.
The LD15 has an even, round construction with nothing to stop it from rolling away. However, if you install the key ring or the lanyard on it, it suddenly can't go very far. The design for these attachments on the tail end of the body is interesting, though: two lanyard holes and the precisely placed recess mean that you can attach either lanyard or key ring and still retain tail standing capability.
I wanted to take a picture of the key ring and lanyard attached, but even after 3 photo sessions, I kept forgetting the accessories at home, and it was too dark inside to have a good contrast ratio. Sorry about that.
The lettering on the body is very crisp and easy to read, consistent with Fenix quality. One nice feature I noticed about this is that the serial number on the head will line up centered with the logo on the body when the head is fully screwed in (with no battery in the tube)
I didn't cheat here: the head is screwed in completely. Gotta love the precision.
When you turn this flashlight off, the second the light goes out, only one eight of a turn counter-clockwise is needed to lock-out the contact. By that, I mean that even if you press the head towards the body, it will not come on, preventing the light to come on by accident in your pocket. At this point, the serial number is also centered with respect to the Logo and model number… nicely done!
The pictures illustrating this are after the next paragraph. I had to mention this here, but it really has to be included in the following section, so I'll repeat myself a little:
OPERATION AND HANDLING
To make this the small light it is, Fenix opted for a twisty rather than using a switch (the diameter would make it impractical for a switch, anyway.) This means that to turn the light on, you have to twist the head clockwise (screw it in) and to turn it off, turn it counter-clockwise – unscrew the head until it turns off. Only one quarter turn is necessary to go from lock-out to the on position.
Left to right: On, Off, Locked-out
The feeling on the threads is very smooth and easy to turn. This, combined with the fact that no more than a quarter turn is needed to operate it from full lock-out to on, mean that using this light with only one hand is something very easy to do. The knurling on the head helps here, but I will add that the length of the body also makes it easy to hold and operate, as all of your fingers should rest on the body (unless you have rally big hands.)
The LD15 is just long enough to fill the width of the hand and the diameter makes it just present enough to have a good feel of it. This gives it a somewhat manly feeling for a miniature flashlight, especially when you compare it to it's little sisters, the LD01 and the E01.
The length of this flashlight makes it just perfect for cigar grip hold too.
POWER AND BATTERY
Only one AA Battery is needed to power up this small flashlight. Fenix does not recommend the use of 14500 battery types as it may damage the circuitry, but it should accept lithium AA batteries (I don't have any on hand for the test, however). I have powered mine with and Low Self-Discharge rechargeable battery with runtimes that seem consistent with the stated numbers (see modes and runtimes)
I do not hear any battery rattle when I shake this flashlight around, unless I unscrew the head more than necessary to lock it out. I normally do not mind much about battery rattle, but I think it is something worth considering for a pocket carry light. I have enough change and keys in my pockets that I shuffle around to make sure I don't sound like a cowboy when I walk, so I'm glad I don't have to worry about an extra piece moving around in my pocket.
CONSTRUCTION
Simple and effective: there are only two parts on this flashlight… body and head.
As a technician I often say "the less parts in a machine, the less parts can break."
The shape of the LD15 is very simple and elegant. The brass ring look does add to this, but I personally find it attractive and well proportioned in all of its details.
BODY
The body is simply a tube with one closed end.
No switch and no tail cap means less maintenance needed: only one set of threads to clean and only one o-ring to lube.
Tough picture to get. I used the LD20 I'll be reviewing soon for help. I couldn't get any better resolution on the springs, but at least it has some artistic value.
The body wall is not the thickest I've seen, but the smaller the diameter, the sturdier the tube. Holding this flashlight makes me feel like I could run over it with my car with only surface damage but, not being an engineer, I could be wrong.
You can see that there is no actual traditional coil shaped spring for the negative terminal in here. Instead, the end of the tube has been fitted with "fin" type of springs and a post, therefore reducing the amount of travel (turns) required to lock the light out. This is a big change and time will tell if these are as durable as the original coiled springs. There seems to be very little play between the spring's extended and contracted position, where the battery stops on the negative post, so I'm confident they should last a long time.
HEAD
Once removed, the head reveals more length than expected, explaining why this flashlight is longer than one might think. The brass sticking out of the back is almost half the length of the head. I guess this was a necessary feature for heat dispersion.
We can see that the electronics are clipped in directly. I haven't tried to see if I could access the LED since I intend on using it in wet conditions, but there is a chance the head might come off in two parts if you unscrew the two parts, giving access to the reflector and the LED. I would make sure I didn't need the warranty before trying that, though.
Looks like gold plated contact.
The rubber ring serves as a simple but very efficient reverse polarity protection and, trust me, it works (D'OH!) - Rule number one of trouble shooting: check your power source, even if you just plugged it in.
LED AND REFLECTOR
The LED on mine seems slightly off, but that has no visible effect on the beam pattern. The reflector is small by necessity, but had a nice depth-to-width ratio. It is also perfectly smooth with no visible defect.
Even though Fenix opted for a smooth reflector, I cannot see any artifacts whatsoever on the beam pattern (see beam pattern.) I think the choice was right, since this will let this baby throw a little more than with an orange peel texture. The reflector is not very wide for the same reason, so I'm not expecting it to out throw anything bigger, like an LD or PD series lights on an equivalent setting. We'll see how it compares later in the beam shot section.
The color of the LED on mine is definitely on the cooler side of the spectrum. Of course, this might vary from one flashlight to the next. I have devised a simple color rendition test, so please consult the beam shots section to judge for yourself.
THREADS
These are not square cut threads like most newer Fenix flashlights. They are a very nice fit, however, and glide smoothly. There is barely any play in the threads, explaining why it's so easy to lock-out.
KNURLING
This light has almost equal parts of rhombic knurling and smooth surface, but the next picture demonstrates that the knurling seems to be strategically placed. I think the distribution of knurling, smooth surface and the various beveled rings are the major components of this light's nice look.
At the same time aggressive and at the same time smooth to the touch.
I have held my LD15 under running water for almost a minute, making sure I got it and my hand as wet as I could and I still could operate it with the same ease as with dry hands. To be honest, the only difference I could feel, whether the light and my hands where wet or dry, was while doing it on purpose to test the smooth surface. I would readily use this one in the rain with one hand busy.
FINISH
Great finish as usual from Fenix. The anodization looks even all over and there are no rough edges to be found. I don't think this flashlight could be responsible for ripping a hole in a pocket. The lettering is etched, so even if the finish came off, it would still be possible to identify it, especially the serial number.
MODES, RUNTIMES
High = 117 Lumens, 1hour 40 minutes
Low = 8 Lumens, 39 Hours
The LD15 turns on in high mode and cycling between high and low is achieved by turning the flashlight off and on less than 1.5 seconds. Leaving the flashlight off for 1.5 seconds or more will reset the mode circuit and it will turn on again in high mode.
Fenix is obviously aiming for something different this year. This flashlight has only two modes, compared with the traditional three mode of their older twisties, starts with the high mode and has no bells, no whistles, no strobe / S.O.S. / Beacon. I know a lot of people like those options, but I also have seen a growing number of flashaholics asking manufacturers to hide flashing modes. Fenix is obviously a manufacturer that prefers simplicity to complicated interfaces; after all, they showed us what to do with reverse clicky / head twisting combos.
Times tend to change and, even if it's fun to have all those disco options,
I personally don't believe they are a must for most people. I am of the opinion that different flashlights should fill in for different uses, so it seems logical that interface and mode types and order should vary. I also think it is really nice to have a pocket-sized flashlight with only two modes for a change.
A lot of flashaholics have expressed disappointment in Fenix's choice to have their new light start with high mode. I was one of them until I asked myself seriously "what are the advantages of having a light start on high?" I came up with things like "some people just prefer it that way and they deserve a break" and "This should be more practical for MR. Non-Flashaholic Everybody" (which is a real good reason after all.)
In the end, I realized that a light of this size is an excellent backup / weekend carry light. I try to always have a backup flashlight on me, because it has saved me so many times. One thing I know about having to resort to my backup is that it means I need LIGHT, otherwise 40+ hour of runtime on low would mean I should have enough battery power for the day. I have also realized that I don't really use my EDC on low, since I would use a different flashlight for hiking and camping. Ok, I'm different from most people as I also have a different EDC configuration on work days and weekends.
In choosing only two modes, Fenix had to make an important decision on output values. Obviously, high mode was imposed by technology and the type of LED / battery combination used. By having a low mode of 8 lumens, this light has a very long runtime option, while still having sufficient light for use in the dark.
REGULATION VS RUNTIME
As per usual, the regulation on this Fenix flashlight seems absolutely perfect and switches over to low mode when the battery is too weak.
I have tested mine with a Duracell Low Self-Discharge 2000mAh NiMh battery with a runtime exceeding 1 hour 40 minutes (I lost track at some point since I was working on this review.) At some point past that mark, it started quietly and gradually dimming into low mode in such a way it was hard to really tell at first.
Once the intensity had dimmed equal to low mode, I left it on like that for another 20 minutes. I then tried to switch it off and on, but it didn't come back on. I could turn it on again after waiting one or two minutes, but I didn't test the runtime any further, considering that my battery had been sufficiently discharged and that I would have had enough time to find a spare battery in my loaded backpack by now.
HEAT DISSIPATION
After leaving the LD15 running in high mode on my desk for 10 minutes it was just warm to the touch. It took 50 minutes on high before I could say it really was warm. After a whole hour (not having and infra-red thermometer) I could say it was getting hot, but nothing that causes too much discomfort to handle. I then switched it to low mode and after only three minutes, it had cooled down considerably to being only warm again and back to cool (still in low mode) another five minutes later. Very good heat dissipation!
Heat distribution is fairly even all over, but slightly gradual from head to tail. I took the battery out around the one hour mark to make sure it wouldn't suffer and it was only warm (no warmer than when it's charging.) There are no mentions of maximum recommended runtimes on high from Fenix, so I would say you can run down your battery completely without worry.
BEAM PATTERN
Note: I'm reserving the beam profile picture for the Beam Shot section.
Perfect beam pattern with a nice transition from spot to spill and no artifacts
The hotspot is about twice the width of larger lights (such as L2D Q5, PD30R2 or the LD20R4). The spill is also very useful, just like any other Fenix flashlight.
I haven't detected any signs of Pulse Width Modulation, even while holding it in front of a fan.
RELIABILITY AND USABILITY
Some lights have flickered on me in the past (none of them Fenix, though), so this is one of the tests I like to submit any new flashlight to. To achieve this, I play with the switch (not applicable here) and gently push the head sideways or towards the body. The test was a complete success. I have had no failure whatsoever with my LD15 so far and don't expect any with such a simple design.
I think most people should agree with me that 117 lumens is quite a bit of light for a small package like this and is also more than sufficient for most applications. Having it start on high mode means that this is probably not the best night stand light for people who have sensitive eyes in the dead of night like I do. I think the point here was to have a light that can be used without fumbling for work, emergency situations and for backup. The fact that the LD15 can be easily operated with just one hand makes it a very good work light.
I should add that I do not hear any inductor noise in any of the modes.
ACESSORIES, HOLSTER
Key ring attachment and Lanyard are included, but as I mentioned I kept forgetting those at home when I left for my photo shoots. Here's a picture with my keys for reference:
-------------------LD15 29 keys.jpg
With this length, I don't think the lens should get scratched by your keys, unless you attach it to a chain.
I guess this light could also be worn around the neck comfortably if it's your thing.
LAYMAN'S OPINION
I am running out of people to impress with new flashlights since I have carried a TK45 for two weeks while preparing my previous review (not counting all the lights that where delivered at work, plus the ones I carry on a daily basis.) Everyone I showed it to commented that this is a nice light. One of my coworkers is still amazed by the power of the lights I carry and had the reflex to point it under his desk, which made him laugh. He also took the opportunity to flash his desk neighbor's computer monitor who is getting used to this type of behavior by now, but was still annoyed. Another one ran for the light switch, closed the door and said he was impressed, which is encouraging to hear after I let him do the same thing with a TK45 on turbo no more than two weeks ago.
BEAM SHOTS
While there was no camping trip during this review, I still have some interesting outdoor beam shots to share. Taking those shots was an adventure in itself anyways: I am a little late on my schedule in posting this review, mainly because of the rain we've had over here lately. I have been taken by surprise twice – once during a day hike on top of a mountain by a thunder storm last Saturday and again on Monday evening by a freak rain storm while heading out with the intention to take outdoor pictures. Like that was not enough, I had to face the usual mud lakes on the path close to home, along with some blood suckers like mosquitoes, bats and frogs.
Apparently the mud "lakes" have become a permanent part of the local landscape, as I discovered that plenty of frogs kept leaping out of my way while I was headed for the field. Somehow, I went against my better judgment of wearing any repellent, so mosquitoes thought of me as an attractive meal, but fortunately I did bring a nylon jacket in case of rain, which only served as protection against the rain of mosquitoes. It was not raining mosquitoes per se, but it did feel like it at some point.
The recent heat wave, accompanied by the humidity left by the small rain storm that hit us in the afternoon before I headed out made me feel like I was headed in a rain forest wearing a hot suit. It did feel better than suffering the attacks of the small blood suckers, since we don't have enough of the larger kind (bats) to have decent population control.
I'm not complaining at all, I'm just trying to illustrate how much I wish you enjoy my outdoor beam shots even if I do not have as many as I would have liked to. For some reason, part of me does enjoy the small adventures of heading out there without decent equipment, which I do have and will probably start bringing from now on, since no part of me is that much of a masochist.
BEAM INTENSITY / PROFILE
DAYLIGHT TEST
There isn't much that can compete with the sun in terms of brightness, so I figured that if there's a way see reflected light in the day, it should be a sufficient amount of light for a lot of applications.
Reference picture
I was bent over the rock at about 12 inches away and the sun was getting close to the horizon (around 7 p.m.) but still bright enough. The blurry thing to the left is the LD15's head, not a dirty finger.
PROFILE
32---
I was never a fan of white wall pictures and discovered that it is very hard to give a good impression of the beam profile because of camera sensitivity to white. I devised a completely different way to show the beam profile in a way that is very representative: I shine the flashlight through a piece of partly exposed x-ray film.
We do not see the whole circle of spill, but the transition from the spot (top) to spill (bottom) is very representative. The bright spot towards the bottom is the LD15 itself, as the whole setup has to be held at an angle from the camera.
Nice smooth corona transitioning from spot to spill with a wider spot than most other LED flashlights. The corona seems ever so slightly brighter to the eye than the spot at a distance, but I wouldn't go as far as calling it a donut hole and it doesn't even show when pointed at objects or surfaces other than white walls.
COMPARING WITH THE LITTLE BROTHER
Since the LD01 was the brightest of Fenix's smallest flashlights until this new arrival, I figured some people might be interested in seeing the difference. I have the older L0D Q5 which outputs only 5 lumens less than the LD01 if my memory is correct. I don't know if the beam profile differs, though.
Left: LD15
Right: L0D Q5
About one meter from the closet doors
About one foot away from the doors.
COLOR RENDITION
Two flashlights coming off the same line one after the other are likely to have an LED of different tint. I still thought it might be interesting to do a color rendition test. By experience I know that yellows, reds, browns and oranges are the colors most affected by the cool tint of LED's. I didn't have all of these handy, but I had this old plastic bouquet I most often point at for my own satisfaction.
I went to the sun to show the natural colors
This picture seems like exactly what I see when I compare with the real thing.
And here's a painting my Dad made:
Picture taken as the daylight was just about at maximum in my bedroom, which faces north. The exposition is not the best, but you see the true colors.
Aside some skewing deformity from being at a slight angle, this rendition seems just about right. Even when compared to an incandescent flashlight, the yellows seem yellower and the greens greener (I know some Incan junkies might not believe this, but I speak the truth.) Only the reds are darker.
I noticed that, in general, the R4 bin LED's seem cooler in color than the R2 bin LED's, on the lights I own. In the case of my LD15 sample, this doesn't seem to affect color rendition on yellows and lighter greens. This cannot be taken as a good indication, since color rendition will vary from one sample to the next, so I'll leave it at that for this part of the test.
OUTDOOR SHOTS
I am still experimenting with my new camera, so some of these shots are a little underexposed. I did adjust my camera settings as I changed areas, so the last pictures are pretty close to reality. I do not have daytime reference pictures for all of the following shooting locations, but it would not make much of a difference if I did. The pictures do speak for themselves.
CLOSED PATH
I took this one on a part that is covered by the trees. The rain left the ground and leaves darker than usual.
This is the trail on a better day
I could see better on the sides of the path than in this picture.
FOREST
I don't have a daytime reference picture for this, but it is taken from the same spot as the previous pictures, but 90 degrees to the left.
This picture rendition is much darker than in reality. The small tree branches forming a triangle in the center are anywhere in between 15 to 20 feet away. The bigger branch just right from the center is about 10 feet away from the objective...
OPEN PATH
This also is a reference picture taken on a better day.
This picture too came out much darker than it should. I am starting to realize that my camera's LCD display might be too bright to give an appropriate perception in the dark, since it was not made with flashlight beam shots in mind. The wet ground did not help on this as well.
I was aiming almost 20 feet ahead. The interesting part here is that the spot/spill transition is almost continuous in this setup. Again, I could see much better than this on the sides of the path.
FIELD
By now it seems I found a suitable camera setting for almost real rendition, so I took the liberty to add comparison pictures of the L0D Q5 and L2D Q5 for reference. Note that whatever is growing in this field has a blue hue to it to start with, so the pictures look cooler than in a normal field (I don't have a clue what in the world is supposed to grow there, but I did see some people working in the field about a month ago when I took the daytime pictures for my TK45 review. If you've seen the picture from the field, you'll notice that it has grown higher and bluer, but I did take the pictures from the exact same spot as last time.)
The flashlight spots are aimed at about 5 or 6 meters from the camera objective. The "wilderness" growth varies from knee high where I was standing to hip high where I aimed the spot. The higher plantlike thing on the right hand side is the only thing that seems to have a normal plant green color.
L0D Q5
LD15 R4
L2D Q5 (oops... seems like I resized this one to the wrong spec and can't go back now...)
THROW
The stated max beam length for the LD15 is 49 meters, and I would say this seems about right. I unfortunately was not ready for a setup at less than 50 meters at this time, with all the unexpected overgrowth and mosquito bites, so taking a picture at that distance would have been pointless without a reflective surface. I might find the time during my coming vacation to take some more comparative shots on an intermediate path and if I do, I should be posting them in late august or early September on a separate thread.
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
I unfortunately cannot take pictures of my customer's machinery (military applications and all), which is a real shame. I was at one particular site recently and had used up the battery from my brand new PD20, so resorted to my backup, which is the light I have used for the last year (neutral emitter 90 lumen AA flashlight not to name anyone.) I figured it wouldn't cost anyone more money if I just tried the LD15 for a change since I did bring it along for testing. The shame in the absence of pictures is that I actually went "wow!" when I turned it on.
I was working on a transformer box, which is a cubic box of about 24 inches on all sides, with all the transformers, bus bars and contactors you can expect on a machine that outputs 6000 amps. I really liked how the hotspot was wider than the older technology LED, which meant that despite the fact that I just put aside a neutral colored flashlight for a cool colored one, I could see better. In this case, depth perception was not as critical as in other cases, but I can say that I left the one year old light aside for the rest of the job. Ok, it wasn't as bright as the PD20, but after a half hour of using the older light, turning the LD15 on was like getting new glasses, even if my backup was really sufficient to get the job done properly.
ALL IN ALL
THE GOOD
Small, compact, light
Fits in the pocket
Can be attached to keys with the included ring
One Standard battery + takes NiMh = easy to feed
2 modes twisty – simplest operation possible = Good flashlight for people who can't figure out the simplest user interface (good gift for loved ones…)
Very easy to operate with one hand
Good length for a secure grip and good feel in the hand
Excellent heat dissipation
Good head standing / tail standing capability
THE BAD
Not anti-roll
14500 batteries not recommended
THE RELATIVE
Starts on high mode
No pocket clip
Cool color LED – I can't speak of rendition as this might vary for each sample
The final production model starts with high mode. Some have expressed a serious disappointment towards this, but I partly disagree with them. I do prefer lights that start on low to preserve night vision, but I have come to think of the LD15 as an excellent emergency backup flashlight, which should mean that you do not have to stumble to find the high. My impression is that Fenix is aiming at the outdoor sports market and average Joe with this one, rather than at the leisure night hiker market. In my case I'm not likely to use this as a primary light on my night hikes, when camping or for bed-to-toilet navigation, but outside that I don't use low all that often. I don't think that non-flashaholics normally use a low setting of 8 lumen, especially after a whole lifetime of being conditioned to just switch the lights on. I think there is a need for a portable light that starts on high: all flashlights should not be the exact same, otherwise they would all be the same light in a different package.
It seems to me that Fenix is really doing some improvements this year by filling in needs that have been neglected in the past in the flashlight industry. Everyone's needs differ and I am glad to see a response that has awakened me to something I needed despite my old habits.
RECOMMENDATIONS
This is a good light to attach to your keys and the length of it means that the lens shouldn't get scratched by the same keys. I would still like to see a lens protection cover that could double as a cheap diffuser or colored lens to protect from other loose objects.
I think that the anti-roll issue could be solved easily for just about every flashlight with one simple accessory. The idea came to me in bed one night, reminiscing about the perfect anti-roll design of the TK45. A simple triangular slide-on piece of rubber would give just about any flashlight what it needs to stay in place, even on tilted surfaces. To top that off, a few magnets inside the piece would mean that you could hang your light on any ferrous surface. To hang it securely, you might need two of those rubber pieces for some flashlights, but I have a good feeling it just might work for most personal sized light.
I like customizability and so do most flashaholics. It might be interesting to have a second model, perhaps an LD16, start with low rather than high. On the other hand, it might be more cost-effective to simply have a last mode memory and satisfy everyone interested. Of course, this would mean that it wouldn't be the same great emergency or backup light anymore and I personally like it just the way it is.
CONCLUSIONS
For some reason, I find this one the most attractive Fenix flashlight for its size and length / width ratio. It has a sturdy look and feel to it and feels real good in my hand. I really like the way I can hold it with all of my fingers resting on it, giving me a feeling that I am holding it securely and can operate it easily.
I have carried / used this flashlight for about two weeks on a daily basis. It has now become my new weekend EDC, since it's the smallest light I own that has an output of more than 100 lumens AND can take rechargeable batteries, which means I won't be ashamed of whipping it out in public. Plus it fits nicely in small pockets and I can forget I am carrying it until the need arises. In fact, the LD15 is so small that I have to check my pockets to make sure I remembered to bring it. I'll probably even forget it in my pants and run it through the wash someday, but I am one of those who have done that before and I'm not worried one bit about the results.
I think I don't need to make any further proof that I do go on night hikes for fun, but that is normally done on known grounds or in place I know I can head back anytime. On those occasions, I normally prefer to carry a ton of flashlights, but use only minimal lighting, so long as I can at least see a few feet ahead. On normal day hikes, I carry a full pack of survival gear and the least amount of flashlights possible. The saying goes "every ounce counts." I do carry at least one backup light, because I know what it is like to be stuck in unknown territory in the dark. It's not necessarily the end of the world, but when you head out on intermediate and advanced paths for a full day, you don't want to slow down, especially when you know that more road is (supposedly) behind you than ahead and have a growling stomach. Physical and mental fatigue becomes more important factors as time and miles go by. That's when the risk of injury starts to become a serious threat, especially for someone who heads out on his own like I do.
For these reasons, I want a light that is strong enough to light up any small irregularity on the ground. I know there are compact headlamps designed just for this and already own one but, as a flashaholic, I feel I must abide to the law of two equals one and one equals none… I've been there too many times and would add that no light often equals mental and/or physical pain whether you are hiking or working.
All this to say that I'm going to pack this LD15 from now on and likely use it even before my current emergency headlamp that outputs a whopping 45 lumens of still useful obsoleteness. Technology move on faster with every passing minute and flashaholics follow, sometimes just for the sheer pleasure of having something that wasn't here yesterday and blasts the flies out of the sky. Then we take that old beater out of the drawer and wonder how in the world could we see anything with that old thing? That's what happened to me when I took my old camping light out of the drawer for comparison. If you know someone who hasn't changed their flashlight in 10 years, they would definitely be under the impression they used to get light by knocking rocks together after using LD15 for a few days.
Thanks again to Peter from FenixLight for offering to review this great light and to Alex from FenixTactical for forwarding it over to me. I somehow usually know what to expect even before I receive a new Fenix flashlight and they have a special place in my heart… and on my belt.
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I'm moving it to the Reviews forum.
.I have been looking at this light as a possible for my mum she is not in the first flush of youth and her vision is suffering in low light 
