LED Lenser P14 vs Fenix LD20

[cybersoga]

Hi there, just got a LED Lenser P14 from Doc at glowgadgets.co.uk, I am loving it. The beam is wide mode is amazingly nice, I thought i'd take some photographs comparing it to my Fenix LD20 (which I got from thephotonshop.co.uk). Camera set to ISO 80, 1/4, f3.2. Distance 2.5m

Led Lenser P14 takes 4xAA batteries, and is rated 172 lumens, but I don't know how long the useful light output is...
Fenix PD20 takes 2xAA batteries and is rated by Fenix 180 lumens in Turbo mode for 2 hours, with NiMH 2500 mAh batteries.

LED Lenser P14 flood

LED Lenser P14 spot

Fenix LD20 in turbo mode

Fenix LD20 in high mode

Fenix E20 spot mode

Fenix E20 flood mode

Maglite LED 3C spot

Maglite LED 3C flood

Fenix E01

Silverpoint 300 lumen LED lantern (placed in the same position as the torches)

 

[adirondackdestroyer]

Good pics. I've wanted a P14 for a while, but man that thing looks freaking HUGE!!! Do you have any other lights that you could take a picture beside the P14 for size comparison? Like maybe a 2D Mag for a Streamlight 4AA Luxeon?

 

[cybersoga]

Good pics. I've wanted a P14 for a while, but man that thing looks freaking HUGE!!! Do you have any other lights that you could take a picture beside the P14 for size comparison? Like maybe a 2D Mag for a Streamlight 4AA Luxeon?

I got a 3C maglite LED I can dig out tomorrow

 

[phantom23]

Runtime is 3:30 to 4:30h (using E91).

This LD20 has really nice beam.

 

[276]

The P14 is really nice but it is kinda big.

 

[germanium]

I have the P14 & it is slightly smaller than a standard 2D flashlight. It is bigger than you would want to put in your pocket but comes with a very nice & sturdy carrying case that has a belt loop on it that has both a heavy duty snap & velcro to secure it to your belt.

This light in throw mode is definately a thrower & its flood is very smooth with only one concentric ring to spoil the flood. All other positions beyond about 2/3rds flood going toward spotlight territory have lots of rings in the beamshot but that won't matter in most situations.

The batteries last 3 to 3.5 hours . I get 2.25 hours at full percieved brightness on my P14 modified to have turbo output even in high position on the switch with Eneloop AA batteries. Brightness falls rapidly after that. Before modification I got 3 hours but was less bright. Not bad really for turbo mode on AA batteries

Before the mod I could only get Turbo by holding the switch in. I bypassed the high resistor in the switch that is located in the base to be able to run turbo without having to hold the button in. This works great with my Eneloop & Cycle Energy Blue type batteries as I still get really good runtimes at full perceived brightness. It is also noticably brighter this way, not overwhelming on close shots but significantly brigher at long distances.

The P14 puts out considerably more light than my 4 watt luxeon based lights that I have.These are not the 2008 versions, supposedly the 2008 versions of the Inova lights are brighter than my Inova T-3. You can defocus the P14 to where the main beam is about 4-5 times bigger than my Inova T-3 and the spot is still as bright as the T-3. Both draw 4 watts according to thier manufacturers

I would like to make a special note of the thermal characteristics of the Cree XR/E type LEDs. The body of the device they are in tends to run cooler than my old Luxeon based lights for the same power draw. There is however more radiant heat energy coming out with the light beam. It appears that they get a fairly good amount of thier cooling through radiant heat similar to how vacumm tubes get cooled but not to that degree.

 

[Marduke]

I would like to make a special note of the thermal characteristics of the Cree XR/E type LEDs. The body of the device they are in tends to run cooler than my old Luxeon based lights for the same power draw. There is however more radiant heat energy coming out with the light beam. It appears that they get a fairly good amount of thier cooling through radiant heat similar to how vacumm tubes get cooled but not to that degree.

FYI, LED's radiate NO heat energy out the front of the beam, only light.

 

[germanium]

FYI, LED's radiate NO heat energy out the front of the beam, only light.

I actually have 2 lights with the Cree XR/E LED & both send a fair amount of heat out the front. Not as much as an incandecant but heat none the less. it is detectable on the skin. Any cree that is producing close to 200 lumens generates radiant heat out the front. Much more than the early Luxeons for the same wattage draw.

Do the experiments before dissing someone who has in fact done them.

 

[cybersoga]

Hi, i've added some more photographs.

 

[Art]

Could you do some testing for throw like at 25meters ?
I think the P14 will have a lot more light... but as I dont know the LD20 I would love to see that.

Regards,

 

[Marduke]

I actually have 2 lights with the Cree XR/E LED & both send a fair amount of heat out the front. Not as much as an incandecant but heat none the less. it is detectable on the skin. Any cree that is producing close to 200 lumens generates radiant heat out the front. Much more than the early Luxeons for the same wattage draw.

Do the experiments before dissing someone who has in fact done them.

Kindly look at the emission spectrum for the XR-E and tell me where the IR radiation comes from. LED's dissipate heat through the rear, they do not radiate it outwards like incans do. They are essentially a computer chip.

 

[Sonic Blast]

Sorry Marduke but with one of the laws of thermodynamics all energy must in the end end up as heat enery also IR is not the only frequency on the electromagentic spectrum to carry heat howerver it carries the most. The point is that when a photon hits your skin the kinetic energy is converted to heat and kinetic energy on your skin/ whatever it hits. From E=hf Light and indeed all parts of the emf MUST carry energy which will end up as heat so any bulb therefore emits heat. I've done experiments too with a digital thermomiter and when high power LED's are shone on it there is a small temperature rise. So germanium is right however the amout of heat is so small that it is almost unnotacable. So in a way you are both right.:touche:

 

[Marduke]

however the amout of heat is so small that it is almost unnotacable. So in a way you are both right.:touche:

That's my point. The IR radiation (the dominate heat source to radiate out the front) is several orders of magnitude smaller for LED's vs Incan.

 

[Sonic Blast]

but heat is still radiated (i hate that word)

 

[cybersoga]

Could you do some testing for throw like at 25meters ?
I think the P14 will have a lot more light... but as I dont know the LD20 I would love to see that.

Regards,

Have to wait until the weather gets better, it's still raining!

 

[cybersoga]

OK i've updated the photos again this time the camera has the same ISO, shutter speed and aperture size.

I also just tried the Led Lenser P14 outside and the spot beam is noticeably brighter and reaches further than the Fenix LD20 in Turbo mode.

 

[Art]

I also just tried the Led Lenser P14 outside and the spot beam is noticeably brighter and reaches further than the Fenix LD20 in Turbo mode.

Like I thought , that lens is great! I also owned a P14 and that thing as an incredible throw it would be strange for me that the LD20 had more with no lens system.
Thanks for the review :twothumbs

 

[HKJ]

but heat is still radiated (i hate that word)

No, visible light is radiated, and converted to heat when it hits something that absorbs the light.

Heat radiation is in the IR range and leds do not radiate any significant amount of IR.

 

[Marduke]

but heat is still radiated (i hate that word)

No, incans radiate heat. LED's conduct heat through a physical thermal path through the rear.

 

[Hitthespot]

Good pics. I've wanted a P14 for a while, but man that thing looks freaking HUGE!!! Do you have any other lights that you could take a picture beside the P14 for size comparison? Like maybe a 2D Mag for a Streamlight 4AA Luxeon?

Here you go. It is actually not all that big. I tested this light with 4 new Duracell batteries and after 4 hours it was still going strong.

Bill