rookiedaddy
Enlightened
[Part 1]
Received a sample Fenix C7 for testing earlier this months. The second part of this review will be my comparisons of Fenix C7 with Olight's Seeker 2/Pro offering.
This is a new 21700 battery all purpose flashlight. Featuring max 3000 lumens and USB-C rechargeable capability.
Let's take a quick glance at the specifications:
Fenix ARB-L21-5000, a 21700 size protected LiIon rechargeable battery is included in the Fenix C7 package:
take note that because the tail cap has strong magnet, the battery will get pull out together when you replaces the battery or wanted to recharge the battery in an external charger. So once you unscrew the tailcap, pull it out slowly.
The side switch feature a battery status indicator with dual-color display:
Green light on: 100% - 85%
Green light flashes: 85% - 50%
Red light on: 50% - 25%
Red light flashes: 25% - 0%
Although Fenix says that "this only works with Fenix ARB-L21-5000 battery", my testing shows that it works with any good quality 21700 (both protected and unprotected) batteries as long as it's button top and less than or equal to 76mm (The Fenix ARB-L21-5000 is measured 76mm).
Like the previously reviewed PD35 v3.0, the battery indicator only lights up for 3 seconds everytime Fenix C7 being turned ON. I would really like to see Fenix offer additional way for user to check the status of the battery charge, and not wait until it reaches below critical level to flash the red LED indicator.
Fenix C7 features a USB-C rechargeable port, covered by a protective rubber to protect the port from the elements:
While charging, the battery indicator will turned RED:
and GREEN when charging completed:
A 2.4A USB output power source charges the ARB-L21-5000 at 2A rate, the charging will take approximately 3 hours to fully charge the battery from near empty via the USB-C port.
The UI of Fenix C7 activated through the side electronic-switch.
To Turn ON: hold the e-switch for 0.5 seconds to turn the Fenix C7 on
To Turn OFF: hold the e-switch for 0.5 seconds to turn the Fenix C7 off
To engage electronic lockout: double-click the side-switch while Fenix C7 is at off state, the light will blink twice to indicate it has successfully lockout. when Fenix C7 electronic lockout is engaged, clicking/pressing the switch will make Fenix C7 blink twice.
To disengage electronic lockout: double-click the side-switch and Fenix C7 will turn on in Eco mode (regardless of previously memorized mode, effectively resetting the memory)
To switch/cycle modes: with Fenix C7 switched ON, click the e-switch once to cycle through Eco => Low => Medium => High => Turbo
To access Strobe and SOS mode: with Fenix C7 switched ON or OFF, press and hold the side switch for 1.2 seconds, click again to cycle between Strobe and S.O.S., press and hold for 1.2 seconds to return to previously memorized mode, or press and hold for 0.5 seconds to swith Fenix C7 OFF.
Note: Fenix C7 has mode memory to memorize your last used mode, including the Turbo mode.
There are 2 big lanyard holes at the tailcap...
however, the design of the tailcap creates opportunities for the tailcap to easily dented around the outer rim:
The dent that you can see from the picture came directly from Fenix, haha...
The pocket clip is thinner than I like and allows you to rotate the clip position in any direction you like easily.
The Luminus SST70 LED powering the output of Fenix C7. My test unit is quite greenish at the lower three modes (Eco, Low, Med), while High and Turbo is acceptably white.
(Rant)Many in social medias who bought their flashlight from (O)ther manufacturers often claims their greenish cool-white and neutral white light as being neutral or warm, they are not. They are just Puky-GREENISH!(End-Of-Rant)
My measured output:
The usual disclaimer: I do not claim the above measured lumens as authoritative nor an indication of over/under-stating the number given by manufacturer. It's calibrated against some known light output (e.g. SureFire, Elzetta, etc.) so take it with a grain of salt and just as a relative reading.
and beam shots comparing the different modes:
My runtime plot for Fenix C7 Turbo and High modes:
[End of Part 1]
Received a sample Fenix C7 for testing earlier this months. The second part of this review will be my comparisons of Fenix C7 with Olight's Seeker 2/Pro offering.
This is a new 21700 battery all purpose flashlight. Featuring max 3000 lumens and USB-C rechargeable capability.
Let's take a quick glance at the specifications:
Fenix ARB-L21-5000, a 21700 size protected LiIon rechargeable battery is included in the Fenix C7 package:
take note that because the tail cap has strong magnet, the battery will get pull out together when you replaces the battery or wanted to recharge the battery in an external charger. So once you unscrew the tailcap, pull it out slowly.
The side switch feature a battery status indicator with dual-color display:
Green light on: 100% - 85%
Green light flashes: 85% - 50%
Red light on: 50% - 25%
Red light flashes: 25% - 0%
Although Fenix says that "this only works with Fenix ARB-L21-5000 battery", my testing shows that it works with any good quality 21700 (both protected and unprotected) batteries as long as it's button top and less than or equal to 76mm (The Fenix ARB-L21-5000 is measured 76mm).
Like the previously reviewed PD35 v3.0, the battery indicator only lights up for 3 seconds everytime Fenix C7 being turned ON. I would really like to see Fenix offer additional way for user to check the status of the battery charge, and not wait until it reaches below critical level to flash the red LED indicator.
Fenix C7 features a USB-C rechargeable port, covered by a protective rubber to protect the port from the elements:
While charging, the battery indicator will turned RED:
and GREEN when charging completed:
A 2.4A USB output power source charges the ARB-L21-5000 at 2A rate, the charging will take approximately 3 hours to fully charge the battery from near empty via the USB-C port.
The UI of Fenix C7 activated through the side electronic-switch.
To Turn ON: hold the e-switch for 0.5 seconds to turn the Fenix C7 on
To Turn OFF: hold the e-switch for 0.5 seconds to turn the Fenix C7 off
To engage electronic lockout: double-click the side-switch while Fenix C7 is at off state, the light will blink twice to indicate it has successfully lockout. when Fenix C7 electronic lockout is engaged, clicking/pressing the switch will make Fenix C7 blink twice.
To disengage electronic lockout: double-click the side-switch and Fenix C7 will turn on in Eco mode (regardless of previously memorized mode, effectively resetting the memory)
To switch/cycle modes: with Fenix C7 switched ON, click the e-switch once to cycle through Eco => Low => Medium => High => Turbo
To access Strobe and SOS mode: with Fenix C7 switched ON or OFF, press and hold the side switch for 1.2 seconds, click again to cycle between Strobe and S.O.S., press and hold for 1.2 seconds to return to previously memorized mode, or press and hold for 0.5 seconds to swith Fenix C7 OFF.
Note: Fenix C7 has mode memory to memorize your last used mode, including the Turbo mode.
There are 2 big lanyard holes at the tailcap...
however, the design of the tailcap creates opportunities for the tailcap to easily dented around the outer rim:
The dent that you can see from the picture came directly from Fenix, haha...
The pocket clip is thinner than I like and allows you to rotate the clip position in any direction you like easily.
The Luminus SST70 LED powering the output of Fenix C7. My test unit is quite greenish at the lower three modes (Eco, Low, Med), while High and Turbo is acceptably white.
(Rant)Many in social medias who bought their flashlight from (O)ther manufacturers often claims their greenish cool-white and neutral white light as being neutral or warm, they are not. They are just Puky-GREENISH!(End-Of-Rant)
My measured output:
The usual disclaimer: I do not claim the above measured lumens as authoritative nor an indication of over/under-stating the number given by manufacturer. It's calibrated against some known light output (e.g. SureFire, Elzetta, etc.) so take it with a grain of salt and just as a relative reading.
and beam shots comparing the different modes:
My runtime plot for Fenix C7 Turbo and High modes:
[End of Part 1]
