Olight T20 Q5 Review with Beamshots

[Dr.Glock27]

Hello everyone, this is my first time to write a review. I hope you enjoy it.

Just got my new Olight T20 Q5.



Included in box are:
Extra O rings
Extra tailcap
Lanyard
Holster (and a nice one too)

Impressions:
Great Fit
Excellent HAIII finish
can stand like a candle
anti roll design works well
12.5 cms long. 17670 sized-tube and has 2cms of checkering in the middle of the tube for a positive grasp.
A/R glass (i dont know if its just me but the glass seems to magnify the led and reflector).
Q5 led.
DEEP reflector half OP and half smooth
Reverse clickey seems a little hard to press using my thumb but well, Ive got short fingers
Twisty switch for changing light levels glides smoothly
Nice O rings
5 Brightness levels+2 SOS and 2 strobes
Memory for last level used
uses 2x123A battery or 2xRCR123 previous owners of the T20 had good experience with 17670s. I tried using the Ultrafire unprotected 17670 but got around 15 mins use until low battery warning kicked in. (I shocked the cell and used it again. I was able to get a 1:45 runtime at 205 lumens before the low battery warning kicked in)
fully regulated

Claimed run times are:
205L 1.5 hours
120L 3.8 hours
65L 10 hours
33L 30 hours
15L 70 hours


op reflector near the base and smooth near the lens

Beamshots: (please excuse the photo quality)


Olight T20 Q5 Highest setting


Fenix P3D Rebel 100 at turbo mode

Fenix P3D Rebel 100 at Turbo. The tall tree behind is measured at 25m using a laser meter.

Olight T20 Q5 at highest setting with the hot spot still visibly clear.

Bottomline, the Olight T20 Q5 is a very good light. It is bright and it clearly outthrows the Fenix P3D rebel.

I give it a :twothumbs.

My only regret is that I have 2 Fenix P3Ds. Wish I had 2 Olight T20s instead. But I think that can be remedied. :naughty:

 

[FASTCAR]

Fenix who?

 

[mchlwise]

Fenix who?

Based on those pictures, I prefer the beam pattern of the Fenix, and will NOT be buying an Olight.

 

[fasuto]

Fenix who?

:mecry:

 

[WadeF]

Based on those pictures, I prefer the beam pattern of the Fenix, and will NOT be buying an Olight.

Hard to tell from the beam shots which has a brigher hotspot. Was the camera on automatic I wonder? Or ws it a locked exposure?

The Fenix P3D probably has a more practical beam for most, and for those who want a small light with more throw, the Olight is a good choice. However, I can drop an aspheric lens in my P3D Q5 and surely smoke the Olight when it comes to throw.

 

[mchlwise]

The Fenix P3D probably has a more practical beam for most...

That's why I prefer it. I like the nice large and smooth hotspot.

It appears that the Olight has an interesting looking beam with a brighter but much smaller hotspot, and brighter spill.

The Fenix has a nice wide and bright spill that's very useable and not as obvious in those pictures.

Personal preference, of course.

 

[maxilux]

Sorry, but can you make other pictures ?

 

[FASTCAR]

We all have different likes.

I tested the fenix and Olight side by side for an hour.I prefer the Olight by a wide margin..but thats me.NOT beam shots or others reviews..by real world use.

Personally I have all fenix lights on a lower level then eree, Wolf Eyes, Surefire,Olight..to name a few

 

[light_emitting_dude]

I have heard nothing but good things about the Olights espically build quality and smooth threads. I may have to take the plunge on one of these soon. I am interested in the AA version (T15). Thanks for the review.

 

[LG&M]

DR. Glock27 Thanks for the review. :thumbsup: It looks like a nice light. The way I see it lights are like knives the "perfect one" is unobtainable. Just when you think you have found it you want something else. If our biggest problem is this light is better then that light we have nothing to worry about. Think about it all these lights are way better then anything we had a year ago. What until next year.
P.S. Glock 30 is way better then 27... you know it's true.

 

[Dr.Glock27]

Hard to tell from the beam shots which has a brigher hotspot. Was the camera on automatic I wonder? Or ws it a locked exposure?

It was just a 5MP camera on digital Macro, +1 exposure at 400 ISO

 

[Dr.Glock27]

DR. Glock27 Thanks for the review. :thumbsup: It looks like a nice light. The way I see it lights are like knives the "perfect one" is unobtainable. Just when you think you have found it you want something else. If our biggest problem is this light is better then that light we have nothing to worry about. Think about it all these lights are way better then anything we had a year ago. What until next year.
P.S. Glock 30 is way better then 27... you know it's true.

Thanks LG&M. I agree about the .45. Only 1 poblem though==short fingers

 

[lumenal]

How does the regulation of the Olight compare with the Fenix regulation circuits, which are among the best in the business?

 

[PhantomPhoton]

So side by side with a Fenix, what about the body construction? Fenix always feels thin to me much like its cheaper ultrafire cousins. Are the sidewalls of the battery tube thicker?

 

[da.gee]

It appears that the Olight has an interesting looking beam with a brighter but much smaller hotspot, and brighter spill.

This is exactly correct. The overall beam is much narrower than the P2D 100 as is the hot spot but the hot spot is much brighter and more defined than the Rebel hotspot.

 

[Dr.Glock27]

So side by side with a Fenix, what about the body construction? Fenix always feels thin to me much like its cheaper ultrafire cousins. Are the sidewalls of the battery tube thicker?

Absolutely! the sidewalls are a lot thicker yet the body remains slim. That's why others are able to "bore" through it to make a protected 17670 cell fit.

 

[LG&M]

Thanks LG&M. I agree about the .45. Only 1 poblem though==short fingers

I don't want to high-jack your thread here but I have short fingers also I had http://www.rosssportinggoods.com/ do a grip reduction. Now I just need to find more time to shoot

 

[Patriot]

DR. Glock27 Thanks for the review. :thumbsup: It looks like a nice light. The way I see it lights are like knives the "perfect one" is unobtainable. Just when you think you have found it you want something else. If our biggest problem is this light is better then that light we have nothing to worry about. Think about it all these lights are way better then anything we had a year ago. What until next year.
P.S. Glock 30 is way better then 27... you know it's true.

G27 = structurally superior model
G30 = structurally superior cartridge/case
G29 = possibly the best of both worlds other than factory ammo availability and variety.

DR. Glock27, nice review and pictures. I actually prefer he beam shot over the Rebel. Thanks for the right up.

 

[Phaserburn]

ok. How exactly do you change brightness levels? I know you twist the head; but do you twist in one direction and then back again to change a level? With 5 levels, do you need to twist back and forth 5 times each to go full circle?

 

[Pokerstud]

ok. How exactly do you change brightness levels? I know you twist the head; but do you twist in one direction and then back again to change a level? With 5 levels, do you need to twist back and forth 5 times each to go full circle?

Yes and yes, 1/4 turn and back. Then you change modes -> constant light > strobe > SOS by tapping the tailcap.