Surefire LX2 (Part 2)

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I share the point with the people who see the defects of this brand and complain about its products, but everytime a "surefire vs whatever else" discussion starts, the same thing happens... people who are against this brand are always wrong, even if they are right.

Just imagine if a Fenix (or any other quality brand flashlight) came with 2-tone HA, akward beam shape and greenish rings. I guess the owner would instantly create a thread talking about how ugly his flashlight is, and then he would proceed to a product return. But... what if that flashlight was a Surefire?

Don't get me wrong, my intention is not to insult anybody or bash the brand, in fact, I think I'm getting the LX2 as my first sf. Mainly because of the rated 200 lumens, secondly, it is a surefire, and I want to know how does it feel owning a surefire. Is it really that great? I don't know.. but i might fall in love with it. 🙄
 
richardcpf said:
I share the point with the people who see the defects of this brand and complain about its products, but everytime a "surefire vs whatever else" discussion starts, the same thing happens... people who are against this brand are always wrong, even if they are right.
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I don't believe the people posting in this thread and pointing out the many problems surfacing with this light are "against Surefire." On the contrary, even the strongest complaints are from disappointed fans. Nobody here is against SF.

People are upset with the multi-colored anno. Yes, even the people who try and defend it (why?) are upset, they just don't want to show it.

People are upset with the off center LED.

People are upset with the green tint and tint lottery overall.

People are upset with dirt INSIDE the sealed reflector/lens assembly.

People are upset SF doesn't care too much about this when other, lesser manufactures do.

People are upset because we LOVE SF and are disappointed. We're not against SF. We're just disappointed, that's all.
 
Just imagine if a Fenix (or any other quality brand flashlight) came with 2-tone HA, akward beam shape and greenish rings. I guess the owner would instantly create a thread talking about how ugly his flashlight is, and then he would proceed to a product return. But... what if that flashlight was a Surefire?
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Well, if it was a SF we'd be told that the mismatched HA adds character to the light, the beam shape doesn't matter since it's an 'illumination tool' and the green rings are worse on a coin cell keychain light.

Just kidding, of course...🙂

Anyway, I lubed the tailcap of my LX2 with some Nyogel and the o-ring doesn't bind as easily but I still have to be careful not to pinch it if I change batteries from the bottom.
 
At $195 US, the light should be perfect out of the box period. If mismatched anodization is common with the light, then it should be advertised as such on there website.
 
Wattnot is right at least as far as my case goes. I am a disappointed SF fan.
I purposely did not order a first run LX2, I wanted to see what others here had to say first.

I saw no mention of any green rings before I purchased from the second batch. Imagine my surprise and disappointmernt when I first saw them.

Even after posting my concern there has been little confirmation of "my ring problem" it certainly is not universal (I thank those who did offer comments), so perhaps my light is just a particularly bad example of the LX2. I will take it up with SF - probably ending up spending more on this light to send it back.

I will say this though, I also wanted an A2L and Saint, when available - but that's not happening at least for now - I am actually afraid of being disappointed again.

I am now just telling myself it's "just a light", "it's just a light", it will be obsolete in 3 years anyway. Disappointing.
 
I purchased two in the second round, one sn 23xxxx the other 37xxxx. While both had very different tints, neither one had any green ring issue. They both had the head with the brownish/copper colored anno compared to the body. I think if that is the way the anno will look their website pictures should reflect it. All the marketing shots show perfectlly matched pieces. If they are saying the color is unimportant (and I don't necessarily disagree), then their marketing photos should reflect that. You don't see a picture of a yellow car and and expect a green one.

As I think someone else mentioned, an off centered led may accentuate the green ring/tint issue.

I sold one on marketplace for a lot less than $195, someone got a great deal, but there were not many shoppers. Crazy people wanted to pay more else where I guess (it was the weekend though and I wanted to move it fast). That one had a perfectly centered LED and it was also precisely vertically positioned; it produced a perfectly round sharp focused spot. The one I kept is a little less focused.

So tint (no surprise), focus (a little surprising), centering (they should fix this), and annodizing (not uncommon, but this is an extreme case) variations all exist on this product. I can understand people wanting a little more precise control, or information on where the variables are. Not to mention what is exactly in spec, and what is out of spec.

Cosmetics are more important to some than others, but since marketing focuses on that then it is not unjustified for consumers to expect what is advertised. If they are buying a wrench, light, or yardstick they should receive exactly what they've been told and led to believe is the product (that includes color). Not a close approximation, that is almost what is advertised.

I'm pretty happy with the LX2, it's not really a big upgrade (or evenan upgrade at all) from the E2DL (my sample), but it's a different interface. Outdoors the TIR optic on this light is actually quite nice and functionable. It's a little more discrete than some high powered lights and well suited to darkened pathways. They have also managed to create enough spill that the light seems pretty natural.

So all in all, they have a nice compact high powered light, with an interface you will like, or not like.

I'm actually moving away from 2xCR123A lights, but this light is a good performer for that platform. Of course if it was twice as bright it would be twice as good, but then I might need 3 levels instead of 2.
 
people who are against this brand
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This little quote is the truly disturbing part. Being against a brand? :thinking:
And what about the lights?

When someone is "against a brand" then they can't quite discuss the lights of said brand in a way that advances the knowledge of a community like CPF.

Against a brand?
 
Vox Clamatis in Deserto said:
Well, if it was a SF we'd be told that the mismatched HA adds character to the light, the beam shape doesn't matter since it's an 'illumination tool' and the green rings are worse on a coin cell keychain light.

Just kidding, of course...🙂

Anyway, I lubed the tailcap of my LX2 with some Nyogel and the o-ring doesn't bind as easily but I still have to be careful not to pinch it if I change batteries from the bottom.
Click to expand...

:crackup::crackup:
 
Yup, another disappointed Surefire fan. I own 14 Surefires, and other than the mis-matched ano; am surprised & disappointed at some of the issues already popping up with this light.

Most of my Surefires were purchased at B&M shops. We have several Authorized Surefire dealers in New York City. Definitely an advantage. I'll wait until one of those dealers has the LX2 in stock. Then I'll look through their stock for one without smudges on the inside of the optic, and for one with a centered LED. It's ridiculous that something like that has to be done with a light costing $200.
 
Optik49 said:
I just got a SF diffuser cap for my LX2 and It works great. I highly recommend it! The LX2 has a nice defused/ flood beam with it and when you need more throw just pop it off. A must have for the LX2. My A2 just arrived today and I was messing around with the both after dark. If you gave me a choice between the two and I could also have the diffuser cap on the LX2, I would take the LX2. The flood is brighter and more diffused. The overall output is a lot better and again when you need more throw just pop it off.
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I 100% agree on the Diffuser. i got one for my LX2 early on and have been liking the setup quite a bit.

The setup made me change my mind about buying the A2L. However, I may not have the same feeling when the AZ2 is released. 🙂
 
Re: mismatching anodization- it depends on the overall appearance (I.E. shiny brown & flat gray vs. complimentary shades of similar luster). Also, "two-tone" looks better if they're each on distinct shapes, vs. just a multicolored tube design. Looks more intentional.

So S.F. played the "illumination tool/museum piece" card against complaints about beam tint, but said they would address mismatched anodization? If either one of those were legitimate complaints strictly about an illumination tool, it would be beam tint over body COLOR. A perfectly matching exterior is more in pursuit of a museum piece, assuming equal protection & no bare spots etc.
 
Does anyone know how many people had offcentered leds or very strange tints? In every production there's a % of products that aren't good enough and there is even smaller piece of them that evade quality check and actually come on store shelfs.
Like lots of you said: If SF advertised LX2 as a two or more tone light there wouldn't be all these rabble about it.(Just check new a2l's package) But overall, it's a good light and i'll probably get one for myself. 200lm, TIR, throw and compactness are all gathered in a really nice package. Maybe i'll finally get my first SF..:twothumbs:naughty:
 
I would guess that CPF is maybe %0.01 of SF's customer base. (If that!) They sell a whole mess of lights, hundreds of thousands. Look at the LX2 serial # registry thread, its a drop in the bucket.

The average SF customer wouldnt think anything of the mismatched ano, or even think to consider the "bulb" being of center, and they sure as hell dont white wall hunt, so rings go un-noticed.

Just pointing out the facts. :devil:
 
My X Serial LX2 is perfect. The anodizing matches, no green rings, no smudges, centered LED.

It seems like the people that have the ones with the most "problems'" the serial starts with an A or are the 2nd run batches. Maybe im wrong, but thats just the way it seems.
 
Just for the record, the rings my light produces are as clearly visible outside at night as they are on a white wall inside - when they have something to bounce off of - and they always have, at a minimum, the ground in front of me to reflect off of. I have not checked the diatance at which they become unnoticable but I can always see them out in front of me reflecting off of the ground.
 
I love my LX2, but I carry my SF Z2 with Malkoff M60 when I want to use a flashlight with my handgun ... it works very nicely.
 
I was lucky enough to get one of the first run LX2 flashlights that arrived in the UK. I carry this all the time with an FO4 diffuser cap on. The UI is excellent, the clip is excellent in giving me the bezel down carry I wanted, the finish won't damage my smart business trousers and the lanyard hooked to the belt means I don't worry about losing it.

I really can't recommend the FO4 diffuser enough. Initially you light up the area with a decent flood and then if you want more throw just pop the diffuser off and you have a very decent thrower.

This is pretty much my go to light at the moment...
 
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