Quick Compare: Fenix L2D Q5 vs Romisen RC-N3 Q5 (Outside Beam Shots)

[gokusay99]

Well, thanks to Fenix-Store, I got the light in just 2 days, super fast shipping . Everything is working fine, I couldn't hear any hiss sound from my Q5 in Turbo or Strobe mode. Anyway, I was kinda dissapointed with the Fenix because I thought its Turbo mode would be much brighter than my Romisen RC-N3 Q5. The L2D is a very nice and bright flash light but for the money, I was hoping for more. I like the different mode on the L2D so that I can use the light much longer than the RC-N3, which is the reason I bought the L2D. Well, below are some of the beamshots, I also included an old River Rock 0.5 watt 1xAA that was my ex-favorite for the comparison. And this is also my first quick review, so feel free to give me any suggestion :thumbsup: (I don't have any tool to measure lux, and no time to test run time... so this is just a quick glance at the two lights, not really a review, sorry )

River Rock 1xAA (Nichia 5mm)

Romisen RC-N3 Q5 from shiningbeam

Fenix L2D Q5 from fenix-store (TURBO mode)

Outside shot, control shot 1:

River Rock:

L2D-low:

L2D-med:

L2D-high:

L2D-turbo:

RC-N3:

Control shot #2

River Rock #2:

L2D-turbo #2:

RC-N3 #2:

RC(left) - L2D(right):

As you can see, the L2D has a more flood kinda beam and more useful, I think I will use low and med more for the long run time on the L2D. But the Romisen RC-N3 is a very nice light for about half the price of the L2D... and I like them both.

Thanks for reading. I hope this is useful...

 

[yellow]

the Fenix looks considerably brighter while offering a wider beam, that alone shows how great it is in comparison.
Then there is the almost nonexisting spill with the romisen, again compared to the spill of the L2D.
Dont even type about
regulation
machining
materials
finish
electronics
.
.
.

have both light run for some time and compare then (1/2 hour, 1 h, 1.5 h) with that side-by-side shot.
At the beginning there cant be much difference, because one cant drive a single led with much more current than the lights use - so how could this be something to consider "the more expensive light is not what I expected".

Compare it with cars. There are (dunno, what are cheap cars at Your place?) and there are Volvo, Mercedes, Audi, ...
All of them just get You from point A to point B. So why anyone pays more than the cheap one?
(because one appreciates the differences! But these dont affect the main function - transport - in no way)


PS: get some rechargeables and have both light go thru 5-10 sets. Compare again.
PS: how long is the runtime of the Romisen? Because I like to give those lights away as gifts to non-flashaholics, when runtime is some hours and when I can live with the machining. They dont look forward to those special points criticsized above
PPS: that River Rock looks like a good host for You to try a mod. Individualize Yourself a light. It offers good space. Put in a Cree or Seoul and use some driver (Badboy f.e.) set output at a higher level than the 2 other lights

 

[BigBluefish]

Re: Review: Fenix L2D Q5 vs Romisen RC-N3 Q5 (Outside Beam Shots)

A very nice post, with useful beamshots. These comparison shots are great to show the differences in output, and flood vs. throw.

The RC-N3 is a nice light. I have one with the p4 emitter, and I'll have to get a Q5. It would be great if Romisen would put a two-mode, high-low driver in it, so it would also have a longer runtime on a useful low, like the Fenix L2T v2.

 

[gokusay99]

Thanks Yellow for all the tips. Yeah, I kinda hurry in on the conclusion. I will see if I can do the run time test for them. I haven't try to see how long the RC-N3 run time is yet but several posts mention at least 3 hours... hehe hopefully that's right.

About the River Rock, the optic is really bad and the led is placed far inside the head and it doesn't have very good side spill. Yeah, probably a CREE mod will help it alot :laughing:. They're advertised 30 hours run time on it, but last time I test, only about 10 hours :thinking: and it went out.. oh well.

 

[phantom23]

RC-N3 runtime is about 3,5-4h using Ni-MHs. Flat regulation and no sudden death.

 

[TONY M]

RC-N3 runtime is about 3,5-4h using Ni-MHs. Flat regulation and no sudden death.

I have no means of measuring runtime accurately but it is regulated well enough and offers a decent runtime. It is an excellent value flashlight!

The Fenix is a different light obviously, but the Romisen can still pull its weight compared to other lights more expensive than it.

Thanks for the beamshots.

 

[abarth_1200]

thanks for the beamshots, i just bought the RC-N3 from shining light, was wondering what the difference would be like between the L2D as all i had to compare to was a P3D which has a very similair beam to the L2D

 

[bessiebenny]

the Fenix looks considerably brighter while offering a wider beam, that alone shows how great it is in comparison.
Then there is the almost nonexisting spill with the romisen, again compared to the spill of the L2D.

Well. Brighter doesn't mean it's better when it runs much shorter really.
Also, notice that RC-N3 is much brighter in the hotspot. So better throw.

Fenix L2D Q5 in Turbo mode is overall brighter. But it is made to be.
RC-N3 Q5 (or stock P4) isn't made to drive the LED that hard however.

RC-N3 has a nicely flat regulated output for at least 3 hours. (plus extra 2+ hours in moon mode)
That's very good considering it has very nice brightness also.
Also, it can be run on a single RCR and turn into a very small EDC.
Lastly, it has a nice forward clicky. All that for less than $25!
or you can just get the P4 version which is even cheaper at $17!

Benz/BMW doesn't mean it always lasts longer than Toyotas or Hondas.
Same goes for flashlights really. Just that Fenix is the more luxury one. =)

I do agree that Fenix do make some nice lights. I have some. hehe.
But I've had 2 out of 3 Fenix lights go faulty on me within 5 days! =(

 

[TONY M]

I do agree that Fenix do make some nice lights. I have some. hehe.
But I've had 2 out of 3 Fenix lights go faulty on me within 5 days! =(

Hey Bessie, I know the T1's emitter went bad but what happened to the other Fenix? Was it the T1 or the E01?

Cheers.

 

[bessiebenny]

Tony, fenix-store sent me a brand new replacement T1 and I received it 2 days ago.

But it turned out to be not as bright as previous T1 while it was working or the TK10. (which uses identical light engine)

See my post here and here.

Oh. I forgot to count the E01's. (I have 2 of them)
So it's 1 TK10, 2 T1 and 2 E01s that I've used. =P

 

[TONY M]

Tony, fenix-store sent me a brand new replacement T1 and I received it 2 days ago.

But it turned out to be not as bright as previous T1 while it was working or the TK10. (which uses identical light engine)

See my post here and here.

Oh. I forgot to count the E01's. (I have 2 of them)
So it's 1 TK10, 2 T1 and 2 E01s that I've used. =P

Thats to bad!:thumbsdow
I hope Fenix reolves these issues.

Thanks.