Hi:
U2 arrived today from BatteryStation; I asked them to send it with 10 Sanyo CR123 instead of BatteryStation CR123 out of paranoia after reading about exploding CR123s in another forum.
I've had the Fenix for a few days already. It is now my EDC pocket light.
Here are my strange impressions:
Considering that U2 costs almost 6x the L1p, the Fenix actually makes me have more of a sense of satisfaction for what I got for the price. :huh: I already have a bunch of Pelican 3W LEDs at work, and an LedWave X-33 3W at home, which are bright lights. So the U2's 80 lumens vs. the 45 or so from these other lights is a nice improvement, but not enough to blow me away. Also, the U2 doesn't throw like the M6 3W LED either. Though, the M6 can be a little too tight for many purposes, whereas the throw/flood balance of the U2 is a bit more well balanced.
Nonetheless, the brightness adjustment of the U2 and ability to light momentarily with a partial button press is great, and far superior to my X-33's operation. I think I will actually wind up enjoying the lower light settings of the U2 more than the max.
My U2 has a very slight "donut hole". But I think this isn't an accurate description. The light's reflector is to some degree imaging the large square emitter. So it doesn't produce as smooth of a transition from the central hotspot to the spill region of the output. When looking at the spot at various distances, there are some distances at which the bonding wires and the seams between the emitters actually produce visible artifacts in the beam. Mind you, these are all VERY SUBTLE observations, and really are nothing to fuss about. :thinking: My point is that I think the perceived donut hole that people notice is a spatial transform (physical optics) effect caused by the bond wires and seams between the dice. My U2's color is very nice.
Overall, I think the light is great, but just too expensive for what you get. For this kind of money I'd like to see a solid 120 lumens and an adjustable focus system with at least 50% better throw at optimal focus, as well as the brightness adjustment. I am happy with the light overall though. I won't be returning or selling it. But it should be priced at about $199-$229 max.
Now to the Fenix.
I am floored by this light. It is the coolest toy I've gotten my hands on in years. It simply kicks butt :wow: , for the size, the price, and the fact that it's plain only 1xAA. Of course, I will be packing it with e2 Lithium or NiMH.
It is small enough that I hardly notice it's addition to my key pocket. And bright enough that it's perfectly adequate for inspection tasks in dark corners of machinery in a well lit room. In the dark it is plenty bright.
Now I just have to decide if I want to buy 4 more of them to send one to each of my moms, give one to my wife, and have a spare.
Love Fenix L1p!!!
I just hope the switch lasts a long time because I turn the thing on many times a day just to gloat over how cool it is.
Now I am waiting for only one more light, the ARC AAAp. Once that arrives I will put my collection on display here on the forum.
It's getting late... :sleepy:
Cheers!
U2 arrived today from BatteryStation; I asked them to send it with 10 Sanyo CR123 instead of BatteryStation CR123 out of paranoia after reading about exploding CR123s in another forum.
I've had the Fenix for a few days already. It is now my EDC pocket light.
Here are my strange impressions:
Considering that U2 costs almost 6x the L1p, the Fenix actually makes me have more of a sense of satisfaction for what I got for the price. :huh: I already have a bunch of Pelican 3W LEDs at work, and an LedWave X-33 3W at home, which are bright lights. So the U2's 80 lumens vs. the 45 or so from these other lights is a nice improvement, but not enough to blow me away. Also, the U2 doesn't throw like the M6 3W LED either. Though, the M6 can be a little too tight for many purposes, whereas the throw/flood balance of the U2 is a bit more well balanced.
Nonetheless, the brightness adjustment of the U2 and ability to light momentarily with a partial button press is great, and far superior to my X-33's operation. I think I will actually wind up enjoying the lower light settings of the U2 more than the max.
My U2 has a very slight "donut hole". But I think this isn't an accurate description. The light's reflector is to some degree imaging the large square emitter. So it doesn't produce as smooth of a transition from the central hotspot to the spill region of the output. When looking at the spot at various distances, there are some distances at which the bonding wires and the seams between the emitters actually produce visible artifacts in the beam. Mind you, these are all VERY SUBTLE observations, and really are nothing to fuss about. :thinking: My point is that I think the perceived donut hole that people notice is a spatial transform (physical optics) effect caused by the bond wires and seams between the dice. My U2's color is very nice.
Overall, I think the light is great, but just too expensive for what you get. For this kind of money I'd like to see a solid 120 lumens and an adjustable focus system with at least 50% better throw at optimal focus, as well as the brightness adjustment. I am happy with the light overall though. I won't be returning or selling it. But it should be priced at about $199-$229 max.
Now to the Fenix.
I am floored by this light. It is the coolest toy I've gotten my hands on in years. It simply kicks butt :wow: , for the size, the price, and the fact that it's plain only 1xAA. Of course, I will be packing it with e2 Lithium or NiMH.
It is small enough that I hardly notice it's addition to my key pocket. And bright enough that it's perfectly adequate for inspection tasks in dark corners of machinery in a well lit room. In the dark it is plenty bright.
Now I just have to decide if I want to buy 4 more of them to send one to each of my moms, give one to my wife, and have a spare.
Love Fenix L1p!!!
I just hope the switch lasts a long time because I turn the thing on many times a day just to gloat over how cool it is.
Now I am waiting for only one more light, the ARC AAAp. Once that arrives I will put my collection on display here on the forum.
It's getting late... :sleepy:
Cheers!