My New Surefire LX2

Rocketman

Enlightened
Joined
Jul 7, 2005
Messages
214
Location
Oklahoma, U.S.A.
Hi there and Merry Christmas.

Received my Surefire LX2 Lumamax Wednesday. It is a very nice light, I'm happy with almost everything and even a little surprised that it is such a handsome light, the anodizing is very nice, machining is very nice, printing is very nice. Yes, I think the printing is important too.

1. The TIR beam is less than perfect but still quite nice. There is a central region where the beam is slightly less bright and there are a few rings in the spill beam. My disappointment comes mostly from my expectation that the beam would be as nice as the beam on my 6P LED, which is perfect. So, tell me why Surefire has chosen their TIR lens rather than a stippled reflector? For throw? A mistake perhaps.

2. The reflective surface inside the TIR lens is damaged. I would say about 33% of the area inside the lens is somehow scarred, starting from the forward edge and reaching down towards the led emitter. I will be sending it in for warranty work.

3. Turning it on takes some practice. I turn on my 6PL using one hand quite easily, as easily as a switch. However, my LX2 requires that I avoid the lanyard ring and also the clip, which I don't actually mind. A fair amount of turning though is required for the high beam. I chose this, though, over the click switch of the E2D LED Defender. Were I to do it over, though, I might choose differently. I didn't choose this light for a "tactical" use. I'm thinking, though, the rotating selector is the way to go for all multilevel lights. I have learned how to turn it on and off with one hand, it's not difficult.

4. Haven't had any problems with the clip, although I am using a holster. I can't see relying on the clip to hold such a nice light.

5. The beam brightness can be described as a somewhat darker inner disk surrounded by a brighter circle surrounded by a gradually fading circle which is then surrounded by the spill beam. Were there no inner darker disk, I would be entirely happy with the beam. I'm thinking that it may be quite difficult to make a lens that gives a perfect beam which leads me to wonder why such a lens is used at all when I know a reflector can make a perfect beam (controversially so.)

I'll get back with you if I have issues with this light.

Edit: Having used my new light outside a few times, I must say the anomalies in the beam seem to disappear in actual use outside. Beam anomalies indoors or up close might be visible, perhaps, perhaps not. I will be quite happy with my 195 dollars when Surefire replaces my TIR lens.
 
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Called Surefire customer support this afternoon, was given an RMA number and sent my new LX2 with scratched TIR lens back to Surefire.

The guy on the line with me said they will "See if they can find the scratches."

Well... 195 dollars means different things to different people. I expected to get all of my money's worth from my LX2 and I'll keep on sending it back until I do.

I ordered a Jetbeam RRT-2 (R2) a few days ago. I hope it's high quality and not defective.

I'll get back.
 
Sorry to hear about the damaged lens. I hope it is to your satisfaction when it returns. My experiences with SF warranty work, few as they may be, have all been wonderful. I agree with your assessment of the beam imperfections. I too was initially disappointed with my LX2 indoors. I've since taken it camping twice and have discovered its true purpose. It is the best camping/outdoor light I've owned to date. Amazing output, especially for the runtime. And the TIR optic, while producing a less than desirable beam indoors, manages to work wonders outside. It can throw much better than a reflector of comparable size can, and with minimal light loss. My LX2 is now my go-to light for any outdoor task, while I now defer to my milky ML-1 for indoor use. I hope you enjoy your new LX2
 
Beyond my initial impressions of my LX2 beam pattern, it has shown itself to be rather remarkable outdoors. As such, I agree with you. I may perhaps just prefer a reflector such as that on my (factory) 6P Led. Now, if Surefire could add a sort of orange peel to their TIR lens, just enough to smooth the beam, I wonder whether that would make me entirely happy.

Regardless, if Surefire replaces my TIR, I will be quite happy. I'm building my collection :D.
 
Well that is an easy fix.

Open the head.
Place a small disk of VERY light LDF between the optic and the lens.
Done.

Surefire did this on the first E2L Cree they put out.
 
Surefire makes excellent lights and their customer service often bends backwards to help out customers. I am sure you will be satisfied. Once you start using Surefires much else starts to seem cheap and underengineered.
 
it has shown itself to be rather remarkable outdoors.

White walling with a TIR lens is not going to make you warm and fuzzy. I have owned 3 or 4 TIR Surefire flashlights and none were very pretty on a white wall. But outside at distances most people use a flashlight for there is no better beam pattern in my opinion. The TIR focuses most of the light right where you need it with little going to waste. You seem to have discovered this on your own. I'm not sure what the scratches are, but I do know if your talking about scratches on the backside of the lens these scratches have no effect on the beam. If your talking about scratches on the outside looking down at the emitter this is a Pyrex glass cover. I'm sure Surefire Customer service will take very good care of you regardless of what the problem is. A lot better than you will see from that Jetbeam if you have a problem.

Bill
 
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Received my LX2 back from Surefire this evening. The TIR lens is again marked, although not as badly. Also, the lens is dirty inside, obstructing the light, and the hotspot is off center.

I will be sending it back again. I suppose Surefire is somewhat sloppy in their work. You might disagree, but my experience says it's so.
 
Sorry to hear that Rocketman. It is surprising, as generally if someone returns something as being sub-par, you would make sure the replacement is perfect. Very strange. I hope they are able to make up for sending you damaged items with a flawless light. Good luck.
 
Sorry to hear that Rocketman. It is surprising, as generally if someone returns something as being sub-par, you would make sure the replacement is perfect. Very strange. I hope they are able to make up for sending you damaged items with a flawless light. Good luck.

Yeah, I'm hoping for some luck. I'm actually going to ask them on the phone if I can get a refund. But I'd rather have a light without defects. I know that's not asking for too much because I also have on my desk a new Jetbeam RRT-2 Raptor and it has zero defects. Man, it's nice. Now I want the Jet-III M. I can get two of those for the price of one LX2, hey.

I just going to have to be tough with Surefire and make them give me a zero defect light for my 195 dollars.
 
I talked with my flashlight dealer this morning, he said I can send my defective LX2 back to him and he will send me a Fenix TK40. I'm happy with that, I don't believe Surefire is going to fix my LX2 and if they do I expect they may create another defect, I'm already tired of dealing with this.

I'm lucky because it was one month ago exactly when I ordered my LX2.

I hope he can get Surefire to fix it or I suppose sell it to a customer who doesn't mind the defect, dirty lens and off-center beam.
 
You have to be the only person with this problem. Pictures would be nice though, something doesn't add up.

Hell, no big company that CPF buys from has ever not fixed anything like that.

All of my TIRs have a slightly off center beam, but step outside where it's supposed to be used and it will suddenly not be visible. It's a flashlight, not an ice sculpture.

You're going to regret the trade.
 
A minor imperfection on the backside of the TIR will not cause any aberrant effects on the beam. It is pretty tough to determine looking through the front into the TIR what the so called defect really is or its size.
 
On a friendlier note, it could be something like the LED wires you are seeing. A good picture might reveal something overlooked.

My E1B has a slightly off center hot spot inside the main hot spot. Never have I noticed it when actually using. Only when I want to shine it on a wall because I'm bored.
 
My E1B has a slightly warmer center hot spot surrounded by a cooler white corona, and outside the corona are a few very faint rings. I presume the warmer hot spot to be a projection of the LED unit inside.

My LX2 has a very bright and nice center hot spot followed by a slightly dimmer corona, followed by some faint looking rings.

Overall I am very happy with both lights. I have come to appreciate the TIR optics for outdoor usage as I carry any of them as an EDC. These lights are not made for white wall hunting.
 
These lights are not made for white wall hunting.

I don't think any are! :laughing:

It's just something we Flashaholics tend to do.

Seriously, who in their right mind would point an M6 HOLA at a wall to see the beam pattern... other than a Flashaholic :whistle:
 
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