Replace Fenix L2D with L2D Premium Q5?

[greenskies]

Well shucks, my flashlight isnt the brightest in its model lineup anymore, so obviously I want to upgrade/replace my L2D to the L2D Premium.

Does Fenix make a Q5 bezel that will replace the old 7090 LED that maxes out at 135 lumens?

Has anyone compared these two side by side? Do the additional lumens justify the purchase?

How long have these premium editions been out? Does anyone know if Fenix is going to trump the Limited edition Q5 LEDs with something brighter and maybe more efficient in the near future? Don't want to start playing 'keep up with the Jone's' if they are fixing to upgrade in the near future. Ill then be one step behind, again, if the limited Q5s are going to be replaced soon.

Are there any easy mods for the L2D series to increase luminosity?

I use my current L2D often, doing night security, off-roading, hiking, and anywhere else I can.

All knowledge welcome

Or, Should I think outisde the box and get another companies flashlight? Visited a good many of the companies listed here http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=147393
...theres just so much to choose from!

Something AA powered, hella durable (the L2D also acts as a twirling baton after some beer in the mountains) and brighter than 135 lumens (my current L2D).

 

[Hitthespot]

Hello Greenskies welcome to CPF.

In my opinion there is not enough difference between the two versions to upgrade to the Q5. I would wait on the R2 bin which should be out this year. (this is a guess) Then I would upgrade.

Bill

 

[Stereodude]

Does Fenix make a Q5 bezel that will replace the old 7090 LED that maxes out at 135 lumens?

You could get a L1D Q5. The heads are interchangeable and if you want a smaller light grab the 2nd L1D body.

 

[greenskies]

Hello Hitthespot -

What is the R2 bin referring to? Is that another LED other than Cree that Fenix may implement? Know any specs, or approximate lumen ratings?

 

[mighty82]

I have the L2D, L2D reb 100 and L2D q5. The first L2D was actually lost for a long time, but i found it some days ago. When compared i like the rebel way more than both the other lights. Bigger hotspot with much better color rendition. And NO rings, it's superior.

When compared to the reb 100 / Q5 lights, the P4 one seems quite dim, and it has a lot of rings and artifacts (smooth reflector). The Q5/Reb on high seems almost like the same brightness as the P4 on turbo, so there IS a significant jump in output.

The head on the rebel was easy to open, just had to twist it hard. The other 2 i haven't managed to open yet. When you have opened it, it's VERY easy to change the emitter. It's just glued in place with thermal glue. A Q5 emitter is cheap from dx, but if you have smooth reflector, i would suggest changing it for a op one.

 

[LEDninja]

:welcome:

Fenix L2D-Q5 Comparison Review
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=191220

What is the R2 bin referring to? Is that another LED other than Cree that Fenix may implement? Know any specs, or approximate lumen ratings?

 

[chaosmagnet]

LEDninja: I don't know how to read the table or the graph. Could you please explain?

 

[cave dave]

LEDninja: I don't know how to read the table or the graph. Could you please explain?

The R2 has about 7% more lumens that Q5. R3 and R4 aren't available ... yet!

The Min Flux is lumens at 350mA drive.
The efficiency is lumens at 1 watt power.

The graph is color tint coding bins. The tints are pretty subtle in real life. Fenix doesn't tell us what bins they use.

 

[LEDninja]

LEDninja: I don't know how to read the table or the graph. Could you please explain?

The table indicates the brightness bin of the Cree XR-E.
The left column is the bin #: P2, P3, P4; Q2, Q4, Q5; R2, R3, R4.
Middle column is minimum lumens at 350 mA.
Right column is lumens per watt.
AFAIK N2 and Q3 cool white never got released to flashlight manufacturers though Q3 is available at cutter. N2 is available in the more inefficient warm white.
The table is slightly out of date. The newest bin available is R2 while the table indicates Q5 (yellow). R3 & R4 still to come.

The graph shows the colour bin of the Cree XR-E cool white LEDs.
WD is considered neutral white. ~6000K colour temperature.
WC is cool white. ~7000K colour temperature.
WG is neutral white with a slight green tint.
WH is WG with more yellow, a slightly more warm tint.

So when you buy a Cree XR-E cool white LED you can select brightness and tint.
For example at cutter you have a choice of
P4 Flux (WG Tint) Cold White
P4 Flux (WD Tint) Cold
P4 Flux (WM Tint) Cold White (+$0.70)
Q2 Flux (WH Tint) Soft
Q3 Flux (WB Tint) Cold White (+$0.35)
Q4 Flux (WH Tint) Cold White (+$1.40)
Q5 Flux (WH Tint) Cold White (+$2.10)
Q5 Flux (WG Tint) Cold White (+$2.10)
Q5 Flux (WC Tint) Cold White (+$4.06)
Q5 Flux (WD Tint) Cold White (+$4.06)
R2 Flux (WH Tint) (+$4.90)
http://www.cutter.com.au/proddetail.php?prod=cut651

I am not discussing the out and out yellow warm white at this time.

 

[chaosmagnet]

Thanks for the explanations! :thanks:

 

[wjb3]

You could get a L1D Q5. The heads are interchangeable and if you want a smaller light grab the 2nd L1D body.

I would not get the Q5 for the output.
I like my L2D Q5 for the improved head (added grip stripes), Orange Peel reflector, and olive body/ orange switch boot.
I bougth olive L1D Q5 for both Dads so they do not have the Turbo warning (Note 1). They did not have the Orange Peel reflector. The one with the good beam I gave to my Outdoors Dad. The one with the ringy beam and the squashed O-Ring, I gave to my Engineer Dad.
I gave my L2D to my wife who doesn't turn the bezel, does not need a perfect beam and does not care if it is black (Note 2).
-WJB3
Note 1)
Recommends <10min in High Temperature.
Note 2)
she uses max only.
So she can find it in the dark, we added a flourescent cord with a reflective tape ribbon at the end.
I lucked out and my L2D had a perfect beam but she does not care.
=

 

[Stereodude]

The L1D Q5 doesn't have the warning because a single 1.5V battery can't push it as hard as a L2D so the heat isn't as big of a problem. However, the head is the same as L2D Q5's head, so the warning would apply to the head if used on a L2D body.

 

[Tubor]

Yea I like the rebel and am waiting for the rebel 120 version.

 

[cave dave]

Might I suggest the Fenix powerpack bundle. It contains a 1AA and 1 CR123 body with the Q5 head and some other accessories for a good price. Everything would be interchangeable with what you already have.

 

[TORCH_BOY]

Welcome,

I have both lights, there is a bit of difference but not much.
I would keep your L2D

 

[Burgess]

to greenskies --


Gee, i'd welcome you to CandlePowerForums, but . . . .


i see you've been a registered member even longer than i have.





Anyway, good luck in your quest to find the perfect flashlight.


Be advised, the target keeps moving. (as you've discovered)



Just try to enjoy what you have.


Hold off upgrading until something comes out that you simply canNOT resist.



Betcha' won't hafta' wait very long. :devil:

_

 

[greenskies]

Haha, Greetings Burgess -

Yeah I registered a couple of years back, in quest of a green laser for astronomical purposes. Man does this site have endless resources!

Yeah, sounds like I'll hold off replacing my L2D until something substantially brighter comes along powered by 2xAA.

Anyone know estimated release dates on an R2 batch of fenixs?

Thanks for ya'lls input!

 

[Burgess]

Anyone know estimated release dates on an R2 batch of fenixs?



Usually, a day or two after you've Just Ordered a new Q5. :devil:



_

 

[worldedit]

I upgraded my L2D and it was really worth it. It is much brighter and doesnt get that hot any more on the turbo mode. I could do a runtime without cooling it.

Another thing is that Fenix puts the emitter a little low on the heat sink. You can see from the front that there is half a mm between led and reflector. So i sanded down the existing led and glued the new one on top of it. I got a little tighter hot spot and less Rings.

 

[Kraid]

The lumens to money ratio just doesn't make any sense to upgrade. However, if you sell the P4 on CPFMP, you should make up alot of the cost of the Q5. You'll just be paying the difference. But if you don't wanna sell, you should wait for at lease the R4. If not the next big LED to come out. I've heard rumor of some much larger jumps in lumens around the corner in the next year(or two the way LEDs are taking to come to market).