surefire E2D LED Defender vrs Olight M20 Warrior PREMIUM

[DHart]

The OP has already made his choice by going with an E2DL (which I think is a great choice... they both are.)

BUT for others who might be looking for such a light, I think adding the Jet III M to this comparison makes a lot of sense. It's in the same general league as the E2DL and M20 and as such is another superb light that one might want to consider in such a comparison.

Though I didn't buy my Jet III M to be my EDC carry light (I prefer 1-cells for EDC), I bought it for these reasons:

The Jet III-M meets the needs of an emergency preparedness, home use, RV use, car-light, camp-light, or military use exceptionally well.. with the 200 hour runtime, 225 lumens, IBS, super low-low output, great UI, signaling, sos, ability to tailstand, durability, and especially the wide voltage range (designed for range of 2.7v to 15v) ability to use 2 CR123 primaries ~or~ 2 RCR rechargeables ~or~ an 18650 ~or~ 17670, great throw, good useable spill, nice warm color emitter (very incan looking color), choice of several different reflector finish options (SMO, OP, HYBRID), etc. There is a lot to like about the Jet III M! I happen to use an 18650 in mine most of the time, but really value the ability to run it with so many different cell options.

 

[N/Apower]

I tested N/A Power's M600C scout. its posted in my Lumens table listing. Peak reading at turn on was 171 lumens, warmed up to 165 lumens. With his diffuser on, its 148 lumens. With his diffuser on my unit warmed up it was 181 lumens. His unit's tint is bluer when placed side by side with mine. Still well above the "rated" 120 lumens by Sure Fire.

It is what it is. G

*tear*

Oh well, still above 160L 🙂

THANKS G!

ETA: This paralells what Mike got out of the E2DL within a few lumens, I am thinking you have a freak.

ETA: any chance you did/could measure the current on mine?

 

[270winchester]

my E2DL runs on 2 3.2v R123s just fine.

 

[DHart]

my E2DL runs on 2 3.2v R123s just fine.

Have you tried two 3.7v (4.2v off charger) cells in the E2DL. Just a guess that it might run fine, but I have no idea how it might adversely affect the emitter or the driver.

 

[270winchester]

no. People say that htey use it but I'm using the 3.2v ones. The runtime is a little shorter but I recharge them every other day so I always have at least 30-40 minutes of high available. Worst case senario is I bring two spares which is no big deal with smalls cells like the CR123s.

Have you tried two 3.7v (4.2v off charger) cells in the E2DL. Just a guess that it might run fine, but I have no idea how it might adversely affect the emitter or the driver.

 

[MrGman]

*tear*

Oh well, still above 160L 🙂

THANKS G!

ETA: This paralells what Mike got out of the E2DL within a few lumens, I am thinking you have a freak.

ETA: any chance you did/could measure the current on mine?

I was going to measure the current but I thought you would like to know how thick the hard anodized coating was first so I cross sectioned the tube and took some sample readings on the metallograph. Is 5 mils okay?

Yours draws the exact same number mine does using the meter at work of 0.85 amps. So my Emitter appears to be a little more efficient than yours. The luck of the draw, errr, so to speak.

 

[1996alnl]

Have you tried two 3.7v (4.2v off charger) cells in the E2DL. Just a guess that it might run fine, but I have no idea how it might adversely affect the emitter or the driver.

I use AW 3.7V RCR123's in my E2DL with no problems.
Same brightness as primaries and 100% table flat regulation.
Runtimes are about 40 min or so on high. I always have to make sure i have a spare set of batteries in my pocket because there's hardly any dimming when the batteries low,it just "hits a wall and shuts off"

Of all the lights i own this one is one of the most potent for its size.
This thread has made me appreciate it more.

 

[DHart]

I use AW 3.7V RCR123's in my E2DL with no problems.
Same brightness as primaries and 100% table flat regulation.
Runtimes are about 40 min or so on high. I always have to make sure i have a spare set of batteries in my pocket because there's hardly any dimming when the batteries low,it just "hits a wall and shuts off"

Of all the lights i own this one is one of the most potent for its size.
This thread has made me appreciate it more.

1996alnl.... that's awesome and good to hear! Gives the E2DL a big bonus point in my view!

I have a feeling that a number of Surefires can be safely and effectively run with 3.7v rechargeables, though getting any sort of "official" confirmation on that is next to impossible. I have run my L1 on a 3.7v (4.2 off the charger) several times (though I don't do it as a practice) with no apparent ill effect. (Not to say that the led or the driver isn't suffering a bit.... I really have no idea.)

 

[1996alnl]

I have run my L1 on a 3.7v (4.2 off the charger) several times (though I don't do it as a practice) with no apparent ill effect. (Not to say that the led or the driver isn't suffering a bit.... I really have no idea.)

I bought my L1 last June,i only used the Sf batteries that came with the light,since then i've used RCR's in it.
i'd say a good 60+ cycles now.
It's still 30% brighter than with primaries.
Enjoy the light don't worry about it.

 

[MarshallManiac]

That's good to know, since I was wondering the same thing.

 

[DHart]

I bought my L1 last June,i only used the Sf batteries that came with the light,since then i've used RCR's in it.
i'd say a good 60+ cycles now.
It's still 30% brighter than with primaries.
Enjoy the light don't worry about it.

That's how I've been thinking about it lately. Enjoy, my friend!

 

[MrGman]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YXTKvi_oEo

quick video of the SureFire E2DL versus the Dereelight with 3 mode Q5 pill in an OP reflector. Again at about 53 feet in back yard with my color "targets". The overall beam patterns of the hot spot are about the same size. The video camera can't pick up the spill versus the hotspot in this mode of operation but the human eye can. The Dereelight had more spill and made it a little easier to see the targets that were out of the main beam of the light. Both were very comparable though. They are both in the over 200 lumen range (as we all now know and its in the "common knowledge" domain) and the little extra lumens the Dereelight module had really isn't noticeable.

 

[MarshallManiac]

Thank you for the video documentation :thumbsup: The E2DL is a great EDC.

 

[CR123_CR123_CR123]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YXTKvi_oEo

quick video of the SureFire E2DL versus the Dereelight with 3 mode Q5 pill in an OP reflector. Again at about 53 feet in back yard with my color "targets". The overall beam patterns of the hot spot are about the same size. The video camera can't pick up the spill versus the hotspot in this mode of operation but the human eye can. The Dereelight had more spill and made it a little easier to see the targets that were out of the main beam of the light. Both were very comparable though. They are both in the over 200 lumen range (as we all now know and its in the "common knowledge" domain) and the little extra lumens the Dereelight module had really isn't noticeable.

nice comparison vid, makes me appreciate 200 lumens lights more now. :candle:

 

[rumack]

Judging from the pic of the two lights side by side, I'm guessing I would find the Olight M20 too large for me to EDC. I have an E2DL and love the throwy beam but I don't carry it because of the crenellated bezel. I would love to get rid of that bezel. I am taking a night class and the E2DL would be most welcome the times that I have left school after dark to find the lights in the parking lot are all turned off. I don't like walking 40 or so yards through a dark parking lot to my black car. My E1B has served me well on those occassions but I'm guessing the E2DL would be noticeably better. That said, I wouldn't mind checking out the M20 also. :devil:

 

[deranged_coder]

Judging from the pic of the two lights side by side, I'm guessing I would find the Olight M20 too large for me to EDC. I have an E2DL and love the throwy beam but I don't carry it because of the crenellated bezel. I would love to get rid of that bezel. I am taking a night class and the E2DL would be most welcome the times that I have left school after dark to find the lights in the parking lot are all turned off. I don't like walking 40 or so yards through a dark parking lot to my black car. My E1B has served me well on those occassions but I'm guessing the E2DL would be noticeably better. That said, I wouldn't mind checking out the M20 also. :devil:

I think the M20 is difficult to EDC if you are planning to carry it in your pockets. Even the E2DL might be a bit long for easy pocket carry and the crenellations in the tailcap and bezel might make it a bit uncomfortable. If you go with using a belt holster (comes with the M20, separate accessory for the E2DL) or keep in in a backpack then either light is fine for EDC.

You can probably grind down the bezel on the E2DL (I have seen some pics of people who have done that to their E2DL) to remove the crenellations if they really bother you. Both my E2DL and M20 are noticeably brighter than my E1B so if you want something with more output than the E1B then either light will fulfill your needs well.

If I were to sum up the pros and cons of either light then the M20 is more affordable, comes with accessories like a lanyard and holster, and can take 18650 rechargeable li-ion cells but is noticeably bulkier than the E2DL. The E2DL is much more compact, the two levels are easy to access with one hand, can tailstand, and with the addition of an F04 diffuser produces a beautiful flood beam but is much more expensive and is designed to only take CR123 primaries.

 

[MrGman]

I was at a gun show this weekend and was surprised to see some high quality LED lights on the tables and not just a lot of the never heard of the no name brands (there was a lot of those).

Couple of different vendors had the O-Light M20 and Warrior R2 on their tables, they tried to impress me and I won't say they did a bad job but I had the EagleTac T10C2 in one pocket and the SF E2DL in a Fenix Holster that it fits into very well on my belt. I was able to do some quick checking of the beams side by side on the table and on the ceiling (obviously couldn't shut the house lights down) but they were all comparable in overall brightness. I like the feel of the M20 Warrior and its cren. bezel unscrews, but it would definitely be a holster light and not a pocket light.

Another woman had several of the Tiablo lights that I was really surprised to see on the table. A9, A10 R2, A10 ACE. Batteries were kind of weak by the time I got to her table in the afternoon, none of them really appeared all that bright from what I would have expected. So it would have been easy for would be customer's to get the feel of these lights and compare them hands on for a change.

There was a whole bunch of this low budget 2 AA light with a long crenellated bezel front end and a ring built in like on the O-light M20 Warrior for only $20 but it was only a 1 watt LED. It had a 1 inch size tube and it looked like it was meant to go on the equipment rail for an AR 15 (it was gun dealers and AR-15 accessory dealers selling them. Had the "tacticool" look but it was not worth the $20 to me from what I could see.


As an additional side note
A couple of guys were selling green lasers, 5mW, 20mW and 50mW. Since I could compare them all side by side I could easily see that they were in fact brighter and higher power. I was so very tempted but saved my cash for ammo.


In general the level of light quality I am seeing at the gun shows is going up with M20 Warrior's and A10, A10 ACE's on the tables.

 

[rumack]

I think the M20 is difficult to EDC if you are planning to carry it in your pockets. Even the E2DL might be a bit long for easy pocket carry and the crenellations in the tailcap and bezel might make it a bit uncomfortable. If you go with using a belt holster (comes with the M20, separate accessory for the E2DL) or keep in in a backpack then either light is fine for EDC.

You can probably grind down the bezel on the E2DL (I have seen some pics of people who have done that to their E2DL) to remove the crenellations if they really bother you. Both my E2DL and M20 are noticeably brighter than my E1B so if you want something with more output than the E1B then either light will fulfill your needs well.

If I were to sum up the pros and cons of either light then the M20 is more affordable, comes with accessories like a lanyard and holster, and can take 18650 rechargeable li-ion cells but is noticeably bulkier than the E2DL. The E2DL is much more compact, the two levels are easy to access with one hand, can tailstand, and with the addition of an F04 diffuser produces a beautiful flood beam but is much more expensive and is designed to only take CR123 primaries.

That's a good summation of the two lights.

Yes, I should have mentioned that I carry my lights in pockets. I don't like carrying things on my belt.

I have briefly entertained the thought of grinding down the crenelations on the E2DL but I hate to do that, mostly because I'm not confident it would come out looking very good.

 

[deranged_coder]

That's a good summation of the two lights.

Yes, I should have mentioned that I carry my lights in pockets. I don't like carrying things on my belt.

I have briefly entertained the thought of grinding down the crenelations on the E2DL but I hate to do that, mostly because I'm not confident it would come out looking very good.

You can do what I do and keep the F04 diffuser on the light when you carry it. The diffuser will keep the crenelations from catching on anything and it can easily be removed when you want throw.

 

[DHart]

Runmack... sounds to me like the E1B is a great choice for you. At moderately close ranges, it'll more than sufficiently blind an opponent... do you really need more than that?

Sure, you can go with an even brighter light (E2DL), and the quest for "brighter" can go on forever, really, but does the extra expense and extra size/bulk of acquiring an E2DL really buy you anything you MUST have?

Not taking anything away from the E2DL, and I'd say go ahead and buy one just because you want to... if you do, but I think an E1B in the pocket is just the ticket for what you're describing... if you don't want to holster carry on a belt. (I don't like doing that either.)

If you really want a "parking lot tactical blinder", take the money you would have spent on the E2DL and buy a FM3P body, 6P head, Z59 tailcap, AW16340, and a Malkoff M30 lamp module. It's bulky, but short and goes in a pocket no problem and it's blindingly bright. Runtime isn't long, but that's not the need in this type of light. And being single mode, you'll get tactical brightness first time every time. EXACT same length as the E1B, but a bit fatter! Here's mine, which happens to have a P7 lamp module & IMR16340 in it at the time of this photograph: