New light suggestion

[IHA]

Hello,

Im going to buy a new light, probably in the next weeks. I would like to hear suggestion of the ones I have in mind, and also if any new suggestion for bucket of around $44 or less, it is welcome. Why you would like one over other, and why if is possible to know?

The ones I have in mind are:

Fenix E0
Fenix E1
Fenix L0P Special Edition
Fenix L1T
Fenix L0D CE

Thanks to all!

 

[GeorgePaul]

No-one can make a good recommendation unless you say what you want to use your new light for and what your preferences are. Is it for keychain use, diving, general around the house, in the car, for hunting, for walking around at night? What's important to you? Is it brightness, throw, runtime, aesthetics, ease of use, type of battery?

 

[IHA]

Hello GeorgePaul, thank you for your reply.

General use will be, normally use around the house at night, with only the light of the moon, not for hunting but also I will use it then im out in the forest with low light. I like brightness, aesthetics (I like the design off all those). Any kind of battery is ok for me, most the AA/AAA, easy replacement here, and long/medium runtime, I can regulate it to the lower brigthness if this one have. Easy of use is not important but is a plus, I like almost all. I will not use it for diving, since Ill do it only in the toilet, and I dont jump (I have light in the toilet! )

 

[GeorgePaul]

Well. if I were getting a Fenix light, I would get one that uses a Cree emitter -- one of the "CE" lights. I really don't think you could go wrong with the L0D CE -- it would serve your purposes well. However, I think you'd be happier with the L2D CE, which will has much better runtime, and which is physically longer and would probably be more comfortable for you to hold than the very small L0D CE. The L2D CE costs about $11 more than your budget, however.

 

[IHA]

$55 isnt bad at all, but reading the post of xiaowenzu made at https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/147215&page=1&pp=30 ; about the swich/click, I think I will go finally and without more looks with a Surefire, but they are ugly a bit ugly. Small is better for me, I would like to use it for every day carry. I have the 6P in mind. I will look now if there is any new/upgraded version of the 6P.

Thanks

 

[Chao]

From your list, I would suggest L0D CE, I have one, it's much brighter than my L0P SE.

 

[yellow]

I really tried some time now NOT to post, but I am not able to resist.

I would not give a damn at the opinion of cpf`s ONLY official Fenix hater (while he is not able to give another light suggestion IN THIS CLASS, or to give an understandable reason for not liking these high quality/medium budget lights)
((as there is no other light suggestion in this class))
In my sense its just a pointless brawl, maybe also some dissapointment that a good Led light kills most "normal" lights of his most beloved maker (and I own, by now, six of them, and thus think I can compare)

Take my advice: read about the lights and then try to get an impression how many ppl are very confident with the Fenix and how many not
AND take in mind: while the Luxeon models were an extremely good start, all the real Fenix explosion happened around december 2006, when they announced their Cree models. Now there are only very few new treads/posts on them.

Out of the ones You mentionned, the L1D-CE would be what I take (but I already have it, so ...)
btw: forget any halogen light in this size class and especially the 6P! Because then You are in L2D-CE size class, and this is smaller, lighter, BRIGHTER for LONGER TIME and using the better battery choice.
I still use my 6P which is now modded to Cree, Flupic driver set on 800 mA on max, 18650 battery. Now, such a model, originally produced this way, that would be a bringer...

[edit] I could not resist and looked at the tread You linked.
What an armchair hero. Must have at least 2 knife, one gun magazine abo, and be present in at least 5 forums on these topics + flashlights...
Dont want to be banned and thus do not give my opinion on this just some thinking:
* imho "tactical" in a light (as stupid as this is) means You can push the switch very easy --> = back end switch.
* a light with a reverse is not tactical, because You have to release the easy accessible switch to bring it to work?
* ... is not tactical because the switch makes a noise? (hey You are illuminating someone with 100 lumens at least (Your own speech) a milisecond after?
* ... is not tactical because for signaling You have to slightly press the button, after first click on, to have no light and release to signal?

right, its not this convenient than a positive clicky (when someone wants that, especially controlled signaling), but its not this No-Go than typed way too often here by Fenix-banger. Also, in a real situation, the positive CLICKE will be depressed fully by accident. Where is the advantage here?

PS: for above mentionned 6P-mod I have currently ordered the clicky tailcap, which costs about THE SAME than a Fenix, right just the tailcap alone! The normal SF tailcap, while being a momentary pushbutton, needs some action more to have the lights constant on, this is akward imho.


the whole post brings me back to my early saying:
while not being able to give another light suggestion IN THIS CLASS, or to give an understandable reason for not liking these high quality/medium budget lights ...
[/edit]

 

[IHA]

Chao, yellow,

thank you for your suggestions, they are helping me a lot.

Im taking them in considerations, and have in mind Surefire 6P, 9P and the L0D CE. I would like to use them for Every Day Carry, but 9P is a bit big, and 6P is only a bit more big than the L0D CE. Will read some more reviews and will decide for one.

Thanks

 

[yellow]

forgot: think about the power source also.
CR123s are costy
(and I just dont like to produce unnecessary waste. Best SF in this class is the 9N, as I see it. Was my most used light, till the led got this good)

 

[Raptor#]

btw: forget any halogen light in this size class and especially the 6P! Because then You are in L2D-CE size class, and this is smaller, lighter, BRIGHTER for LONGER TIME and using the better battery choice.

:thumbsup: Agreed.

/Edit: Ok, i guess i should tag this clearly...

[IMHO]Theres just no point in 2x123 Xenon lights anymore, except for the A2 maybe. It's simply outdated technology.

The only use where xenons are still king is super-bright lights (think Mag85, The Torch, etc.), and even there the new leds are slowly taking theyr place, for lights arround 500 lumens they only advantage they still have is price (well, at least such lights as the Ultrafire WF-500, or the Gp Scorpion R500... but this certainly isn't the case for Surefires).[/IMHO]

 

[Lobo]

Pretty much what Yellow said. Unfortunate that you happened to base your judgement on one of those posts. The fellow isn't only a hater of Fenix, but anything chinese, read some of his posts and you'll see that he talks down anything chinese, and without even basing it on any real facts. In one thread it even appeared that he faked some beamshots to make "his" brand look better than Fenix. Don't feel good to badmouth another cpfer, but felt you should be aware of his extreme bias before basing your decision on his opinions.

And about tactical switches. Who REALLY needs it? And since your considering to buy a LOD CE(twistie), it probably wont matter for you if the ligth is "tactical" or not. And as mentioned in the other thread, "tactical" is mostly a marketing ploy, any light can be tactical,depending on your needs and how you use it.

Just my 2 öre.

 

[ScooterBug]

LOD-CE and don't look back.

 

[Lit Up]

Just grab the 27 dollar Civictor by Fenix, which ironically is the 'cheapest' model they have yet the one you rarely hear people having troubles with.
I pull mine out, twist it on, do my thing and twist it back off. No hassles.

Most single cell lights are geared toward personal/30 ft out useage. The Civictor does this well.

 

[GeorgePaul]

Im taking them in considerations, and have in mind Surefire 6P, 9P and the L0D CE. I would like to use them for Every Day Carry, but 9P is a bit big, and 6P is only a bit more big than the L0D CE.

Actually, the 6P is much larger than the L0D CE. And the 6P and 9P are incandescent lights that use 123A cells -- you wanted AA or AAA cells. If you want a light like this, I would suggest a SureFire G2, which costs less than $40 and is a very good general purpose light. There are some very rational people, by the way, who prefer incandescent lights to LED lights.

 

[GeorgePaul]

...CR123s are costy

In the States, we can get CR123s for $1/ea from Internet dealers. Not too bad, IMO. For those who use their lights a lot, rechargeable CR123 batteries are available -- many lights that use CR123s can also use RCR123s, especially the 3V ones.

 

[jumpstat]

There are many choices to be had with varying prices nowadays. IMHO the chosen brand/model's ability to take rechargeables of any kind for that matter is a MUST. 2nd is the aftersales service. Lights are tools and thus require maintenance and repairs during its service life which is then can provide continuous reliability. Look for brands that offers service/spare parts/accessories nearest to you. Zoom in on your finalist and then search within SPF for comments cons/pros. All the best to you IHAN and welcome to CPF..

P.S. I have bought Surefires and do not have the need to look at others as SF fits my criteria as a flashlight tool. This is no means there aren't any better ones out there, it is just my own preferences.

 

[cerbie]

I'd second the Civictor. I had an L1P for a short time, and it just wasn't my thing--but I also wasn't going for a EDC light. The Civictor has the same electronic bits (based on output and runtime graphs), and is a simple twisty. It should be good with Alkies (if you use it seldom and/or for short periods) or NIMHs (if you plan to really tax it), and it's cheap.

 

[Flying Turtle]

I've got an E1, E0, L0Pse, and a Civictor. Like them all and carry the E0 and L0Pse. But for a first Fenix I'd now buy the L0Dce, and I probably will soon. It should give almost all the service you'll need. You still might also consider adding the E0 for its long runtime, good regulation, and small size.

Geoff

 

[Alteran]

You may also want to consider some 1x123a lights, if you don't mind buying batteries online. I believe lithium really is a better chemistry for flashlight batteries. Some good ones are (I think, I only own 1 or 2) the Fenix P1 and P1D-CE, Amilite Neo T3 and T5, the Rexlight 2.0, Lumapower M3 (which you can also configure to use 1xAA and 2xAA). But if you really want a AAA, I'm surprised the Arc AAA hasn't been brought up. Again, never had one, but it sounds good. And I've had a great experience with Fenixes myself.

 

[GeorgePaul]

But if you really want a AAA, I'm surprised the Arc AAA hasn't been brought up. Again, never had one, but it sounds good.

The Arc AAA, which uses a 5mm Nichia LED, is a good keychain light. But, IMO, it's just too dim for general use.