Well, got my A2 (four flats). I've joined the club! Since I'm CPF new, and since the A2 is such an acclaimed light, I thought I'd share some of my impressions and pictures.
This'll mostly be a comparison to my LX2, the only "real" light I currently have, and the light I've EDC'd for the past month. (my cousin's been borrowing my e2dl)
design
The A2 feels fantastic. I've read many posts about the excellent four-flats grip, and now I can agree. I don't have a three sided A2 to compare, but if it's truly inferior, then what was Surefire thinking. It's more comfortable than the LX2 and the knurling makes holding the tailcap down easier. It just makes holding it easier. Although they're the same diameter, shaving down those four sides makes it feel so much smaller and easier to grip. Amazing.
The "hex" head of the A2 looks less appealing but is very good at preventing rolling. With the clips removed, the LX2 will roll away, but the A2 won't.
The tailcap switch has more resistance than the LX2's and is better for it. On the LX2, it's very easy to press just a little too hard and accidentally (and annoyingly) activate high every few seconds.
The tailcap is also much easier to turn, and for three reasons: the pocket clip doesn't get in the way, the knurling adds grip, and the lanyard ring has more friction and doesn't spin around uselessly. This is a huge deal. I'd almost say that the LX2 tailcap is flawed for those three reasons.
The A2's more compact pocketclip is less obstructive than the LX2 reversible clip in an icepick grip, but it does have a problem: it ends in a metal tab parallel to and less than a millimeter away from its body. Unlike the LX2 clip, which is smoothed or flared away from the body on both ends, the A2 clip will not slide over my pocket or belt without first being manually lifted. There is another compromise here, though: the A2's clip is far stronger and stiffer than the LX2's, which is nearly useless for bezel-up carry. Of course, the A2 can't do bezel-down carry at all, but this doesn't personally bother me. Bezel-down carrying my LX2 brought its scalloped head at just the perfect distance into my pocket to have its anodizing on the sharp corners chipped away by my keys. I've recently switched to simply placing the light inside the same pocket, allowing the keys to rub against the fluted body, which is quite scratch resistant, and I no longer have chipping issues.
Weirdly, the A2's body is better than the LX2's in nearly every way!
light
The A2 does show its age in its LEDs. They're "angry blue" except for one LED which, weirdly, is "miserable purple". The result is a venn-diagram shaped flood in various gradients of unhappy light, which appears even worse once the A2's incan kicks in. Overall, having the floody light available is very nice; my biggest complaint about the LX2 is its pencil-thin beam, which, while impressively tight, is less useful most of the time.
Surprisingly, however, the A2's low flood is actually dimmer than the LX2's low spill. The LX2 has spill on low, but you just can't see it because of the huge amount of contrast against its hotspot. I have the feeling that once my F04 arrives, the LX2 will obliterate the A2's flood. LED technology definitely has improved; in my opinion, without darkness-adapted eyes, the A2's flood is too dim and would be better with a higher output.
The LX2's high is obviously brighter than the A2's main, but that isn't the point. It's my first "real" incan, and I'm pleased to see how beautifully it renders colors. I won't post any beamshots, because I've already looked at a bunch, and none of them faithfully reproduce what it's actually like to use the A2. If you have an A2, you nod understandingly; if you don't, you should get one.
In nearly every objective point of comparison that I can think of, on high the LX2 handily outclasses the A2. It's more efficient, bright, and throwy. But! (and i admit that this is purely subjective, that i'm likely biased, and that the batteries in the LX2 are more used) The A2 is superior for illuminating objects at close to medium distance (say 10 meters away), which is where objects I'm illuminating usually are, 99% of the time! How? First, consider that their spills are approximately equal. Second, consider that the LX2 focuses much of its lumens into a tiny contrasted hotspot, but the A2's hotspot gracefully dissolves into the corona; at close/medium distances, the LX2's hotspot is jarring, and the A2's smooth beam is lovely and helpful. Third, consider the A2's superiority in color rendering (as js has so carefully explained). Its light is better. Yes, the LX2's beam is in some ways more "impressive", but the A2's beam I prefer most of the time.
snappy conclusion
The A2 is a wonderful light that creates wonderful light. Like js wrote, it's more than a series of numbers: it's a tool with an experience that only our subjective senses can evaluate.
To make it near-perfect, I'd like to replace its LEDs with modern, brighter, high-CRI versions. I guess an Onion ring is in order?
Pics!
the A2 on moss with bokeh series XD
One place where the LX2 has improved: On the left, you can see how the A2's lanyard's adjustment sliders have cracked from their springs' constant force. The LX2's lanyard, on the right, is updated and augmented with symmetrical plastic knobs. I'd personally always wondered about those knobs, and now I know. Surefire evolution. I'll try and contact SF later about a new lanyard.
aviation-related pic
(2010 blue angels at kaneohe marine afb in delta roll formation)
Random notes:
My A2 has clearer etching than the LX2
The A2 displays FCC / CE certification, the LX2 doesn't (how?)
Thanks to gottawearshades for the A2
That's it for now!
(pics are CC Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License)
This'll mostly be a comparison to my LX2, the only "real" light I currently have, and the light I've EDC'd for the past month. (my cousin's been borrowing my e2dl)
design
The A2 feels fantastic. I've read many posts about the excellent four-flats grip, and now I can agree. I don't have a three sided A2 to compare, but if it's truly inferior, then what was Surefire thinking. It's more comfortable than the LX2 and the knurling makes holding the tailcap down easier. It just makes holding it easier. Although they're the same diameter, shaving down those four sides makes it feel so much smaller and easier to grip. Amazing.
The "hex" head of the A2 looks less appealing but is very good at preventing rolling. With the clips removed, the LX2 will roll away, but the A2 won't.
The tailcap switch has more resistance than the LX2's and is better for it. On the LX2, it's very easy to press just a little too hard and accidentally (and annoyingly) activate high every few seconds.
The tailcap is also much easier to turn, and for three reasons: the pocket clip doesn't get in the way, the knurling adds grip, and the lanyard ring has more friction and doesn't spin around uselessly. This is a huge deal. I'd almost say that the LX2 tailcap is flawed for those three reasons.
The A2's more compact pocketclip is less obstructive than the LX2 reversible clip in an icepick grip, but it does have a problem: it ends in a metal tab parallel to and less than a millimeter away from its body. Unlike the LX2 clip, which is smoothed or flared away from the body on both ends, the A2 clip will not slide over my pocket or belt without first being manually lifted. There is another compromise here, though: the A2's clip is far stronger and stiffer than the LX2's, which is nearly useless for bezel-up carry. Of course, the A2 can't do bezel-down carry at all, but this doesn't personally bother me. Bezel-down carrying my LX2 brought its scalloped head at just the perfect distance into my pocket to have its anodizing on the sharp corners chipped away by my keys. I've recently switched to simply placing the light inside the same pocket, allowing the keys to rub against the fluted body, which is quite scratch resistant, and I no longer have chipping issues.
Weirdly, the A2's body is better than the LX2's in nearly every way!
light
The A2 does show its age in its LEDs. They're "angry blue" except for one LED which, weirdly, is "miserable purple". The result is a venn-diagram shaped flood in various gradients of unhappy light, which appears even worse once the A2's incan kicks in. Overall, having the floody light available is very nice; my biggest complaint about the LX2 is its pencil-thin beam, which, while impressively tight, is less useful most of the time.
Surprisingly, however, the A2's low flood is actually dimmer than the LX2's low spill. The LX2 has spill on low, but you just can't see it because of the huge amount of contrast against its hotspot. I have the feeling that once my F04 arrives, the LX2 will obliterate the A2's flood. LED technology definitely has improved; in my opinion, without darkness-adapted eyes, the A2's flood is too dim and would be better with a higher output.
The LX2's high is obviously brighter than the A2's main, but that isn't the point. It's my first "real" incan, and I'm pleased to see how beautifully it renders colors. I won't post any beamshots, because I've already looked at a bunch, and none of them faithfully reproduce what it's actually like to use the A2. If you have an A2, you nod understandingly; if you don't, you should get one.
In nearly every objective point of comparison that I can think of, on high the LX2 handily outclasses the A2. It's more efficient, bright, and throwy. But! (and i admit that this is purely subjective, that i'm likely biased, and that the batteries in the LX2 are more used) The A2 is superior for illuminating objects at close to medium distance (say 10 meters away), which is where objects I'm illuminating usually are, 99% of the time! How? First, consider that their spills are approximately equal. Second, consider that the LX2 focuses much of its lumens into a tiny contrasted hotspot, but the A2's hotspot gracefully dissolves into the corona; at close/medium distances, the LX2's hotspot is jarring, and the A2's smooth beam is lovely and helpful. Third, consider the A2's superiority in color rendering (as js has so carefully explained). Its light is better. Yes, the LX2's beam is in some ways more "impressive", but the A2's beam I prefer most of the time.
snappy conclusion
The A2 is a wonderful light that creates wonderful light. Like js wrote, it's more than a series of numbers: it's a tool with an experience that only our subjective senses can evaluate.
To make it near-perfect, I'd like to replace its LEDs with modern, brighter, high-CRI versions. I guess an Onion ring is in order?
Pics!
the A2 on moss with bokeh series XD
One place where the LX2 has improved: On the left, you can see how the A2's lanyard's adjustment sliders have cracked from their springs' constant force. The LX2's lanyard, on the right, is updated and augmented with symmetrical plastic knobs. I'd personally always wondered about those knobs, and now I know. Surefire evolution. I'll try and contact SF later about a new lanyard.
aviation-related pic
(2010 blue angels at kaneohe marine afb in delta roll formation)
Random notes:
My A2 has clearer etching than the LX2
The A2 displays FCC / CE certification, the LX2 doesn't (how?)
Thanks to gottawearshades for the A2
That's it for now!
(pics are CC Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License)
Last edited:
in anticipation.)
