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Posted: 3/27/2010 9:40:58 PM EDT
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Just saw a good deal on one with comparable output to a much more expensive Surefire. Are they any good compared to Surefire? |
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Nutnfancy has a lot of good things to say about them. Also, check out the Quark series at 4sevens.com. I just bought one (after Nutnfancy gave a good review) and they rock! I have Surefires. Get a Quark or a Fenix and you'll cry over spending so much on Surefire lights!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arwWjpZSCmc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbPwgmYqCMo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQza1zaJ3UM -AKLferris |
Heck I like mine WAY better then surefire lights, you can run them just as hard and they work just as well...........get this HALF the price. I have a Fenix PD20 The only thing I think that sucks is I can never find "light pouches" for them like the kydex style..... Heck I am thinking about getting some sheets of kydex and making my own.... This is my EDC light, when I bought it I paid 47 dollars for it (found a deal at LAPG.com a few years back but since then its gone up) around 57 dollars now I love it!! I specked it out at the time with Surefire and the equivalent surefire would have been around 200 dollars for the same weight, size, lumen output...... There is a new PD20 Cree Premium Q5 model, it is going back to the "older design" where its more of a rounded housing as apposed to this model where its easier to use as a "in hand weapons light". However my only complaint is it doesn't have a pocket clip (which I've seen people make their own) The new one offers the clip as well as 10 more lumens... |
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Jokermann 77,
I posted a question about the Fenix LD10 and LD20 in the BOTS forum last week. No responses, so if you dont mind, hows the throw on the LD series? I want one for my duty belt as a carry all the time light. I really like the size and since it uses AA's, I'm not too worried about battery cost like I am with my old Surefire 6P (now on my carbine). I've seen the videos mentioned in your post and I am really interested in the level of light this thing actually puts out. I will still have access to my Streamlights (SL20 and Strion) in my car, I just really like the size of this light on an increasingly crowded duty belt. |
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We mount tac lights on our bows for bowfishing at night. One of my partners uses a Fenix. Don't know the model but it has 2 settings and the higher one is BRIGHT! Like seeing clearly at 200 yards bright. This light has performed well under extreme use. Hundred of shots. Wet, muddy conditions. Lots banging around in the dark. He spent less than $100 dollars for it.
I wanted this light to fail. My lips are clearly stained from Surefire kool-aid and I didn't want a chinese light to do as well. Gotta say, nice light. He uses rechargable batteries and has had great luck with the whole setup. |
I carry a PD20 everyday, great little lite, but like stated in my earlier posts on fenix lights, I like the Q5 better than the R2 PD20, there is next to no difference output wise (coworker has the R2 PD20) but the gripling all over the R2 verison eats up anyhting else in your pockets. The Q5 is more "slick sided". I also own a LD20, TK40, TA21, LD01, and just purchased a LD10. All are great lights. Surefire has been loosing ground the last few years due to other vendors marketing great lights for MUCH cheaper but I still have several Surefires. Various weaponlights, E2B, G2z/ 6Ps, U2, Kroma milspec, M3t, M6, and a few others, Also own a few other brands lights... I prefure the Jetbeam over fenix however, have a M1X and a RRt0, Reason why is most Fenix lights, if they get shut off then on quickly they change outputs, jetbeams do not, but they cost a little more. Thr RRT is also great for my pack since it runs off of CR123s or AAs. I have an AA chrager that I keep in the pack with Eneloop batts along with a surefire spares carrier of CR123s. Better for longer term sustainment in my eyes. Older pic of a few of the lights for size comparison. Been posted on ARF a few times.
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Quoted: Jokermann 77, I posted a question about the Fenix LD10 and LD20 in the BOTS forum last week. No responses, so if you dont mind, hows the throw on the LD series? I want one for my duty belt as a carry all the time light. I really like the size and since it uses AA's, I'm not too worried about battery cost like I am with my old Surefire 6P (now on my carbine). I've seen the videos mentioned in your post and I am really interested in the level of light this thing actually puts out. I will still have access to my Streamlights (SL20 and Strion) in my car, I just really like the size of this light on an increasingly crowded duty belt. I did not take this picture but I found it on "candlepowerforums.com" but it shows the throw of the LD20  I am going to guess this is the "Turbo" Mode so depending on the mode you choose the throw may not be as far. I usually keep the Bevel on my PD20 on Turbo (180 Lumens) It is nice all I do is turn the bevel and switch it to the lower lumens (9 lumens (34 hrs), 47 lumens (6 hrs), 94 lumens (5 hrs)- ) Sometimes the 180 lumens can be a bit bright for things such as vehicle searches and can cause the bounce back effect and cause your eyes to take in too much light as well as effect your night vision, if you bump it down to 47 lumens it can be easier to see things. So having the mode is a plus! It looks like the TK11 and TK10 (both 225 lumens) have great upto 200 Meters they have two modes General (TK11 = 60 Lumens [12 hrs] and the 2250 [2.7 hrs] the TK10 have 1.5 and 10hrs ) I will probably get the TK11 after a while (maybe two, one for the hand one for the AR). However, having a light with 180 Lumens like the PD20 in such a small package is AWESOME! I had a Stream light scorpion and it only had a 60 lumen and it was twice the size. The Streamlight SL20 is a good light but is big.... It is one of those type of lights that if you are called somewhere that you know you would need it right away and for a longer amount of time (Directing traffic, searches, etc...) it is a light that you will probably want to grab first. However throwing it on your belt's light ring (a lot of officers take them off anyway so they end up throwing the (SL20) in a pocket be it a cargo or a back pocket which causes it to be a very unpractical unless you know you are going to use it right away. Oh Floridacop, You know how to gain more real estate on your belt....... GET FAT, you could gain a few more inches EASY!!! HAHAHA Just kidding man. Heck depending on the Fenix Light you get (be it a TK10, TK20 (150 lumens), etc..) you can get the pocket clip and put it in a pant pocket. So that can help on the overcrowding on the belt. |
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I have an older P3D (160lumens, 2xCR123) and a T1 (225lumens, 2xCR123). They are both well made and have good output. For the money though, I recently found this light: MTE M3-2i (740lumens, 2xCR123 or 1x18650). It's also well made and WAY brighter than either of my Fenix lights obviously. At $65, it was a great deal for me. http://shop.gregmcgeeengineering.com/M3-2I-Tactical-740-Lumen-Anti-Roll-Finland-Lens-007.htm |
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Quoted:
Are any of them shock isolated, like Surefire lights, for mounting on a weapon? Supposedly shock isolation is only important for incandescent bulbs. I know a lot of guys run non-surefire LED lights on their guns without problems. I run an Eagle Tac T100Mk2 on my AR. With tape switch and crappy mount, its less than $100. I ditched their mount and just used a left over scope ring that I had. Some other lights to look at: Olight Jetbeam 4 777s iTac Defense Personally, I like the Eagletac because it has a simplistic interface (which is what you want on a gun) - tight head - bright, loose head - normal. The T100Mk2 also has a pretty focused beam - so it throws farther than the Olight M21, which has a wider beam. I haven't seen that iTac in person yet, but that looks really promising. I used to own several Fenix lights - they've all been given to friends... They're good lights, but what I don't like about them is that they cannot run reliably on rechargable Li-Ion cells. Now, for a gun that is "at the ready" in case of SHTF, I would never put rechargable batteries in it - they loose their charge just sitting there.... However, for a light I use daily and carry with me, I want rechargable convenience. |
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Jokermann77,
Thanks for the reply (along with everyone elses). I am going to go ahead and order a LD10 and a LD20. From some of what I've read the only real difference may be some minor increase in lumens on the two cell LD20, as well as some increase in run time. I figure I'll carry the one that I can find a light scabbard (gotta be basket weave too) that fits and it looks like the newer Q5 model may be the way to go. I also think the adjustable settings are a benefit like you mentioned, I've searched cars and other crampled settings where my lights have almost gave me a sense of "white out". The bigger lights (TK) are interesting, but I'll have to look into getting rechargeable cells and a charger for them. My SL20 is like a old friend. To be honest it only really gets used for three things. Traffic direction like you mentioned. I also use it from my car when seated, as I am a supervisor and drive an un-marked car without a spotlight (point out the window and look for house numbers). And Finally, I take it with me to calls for disturbances (bars or houses) or when dealing with crowds. Its nice to have something in your hands that can be used as a straight baton with little notice and without attracting alot of attention. Also the one good thing about the SL20 is it can be dropped (repeatedly) with little or no damage to the light. |
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Quoted: Jokermann77, Thanks for the reply (along with everyone elses). I am going to go ahead and order a LD10 and a LD20. From some of what I've read the only real difference may be some minor increase in lumens on the two cell LD20, as well as some increase in run time. I figure I'll carry the one that I can find a light scabbard (gotta be basket weave too) that fits and it looks like the newer Q5 model may be the way to go. I also think the adjustable settings are a benefit like you mentioned, I've searched cars and other crampled settings where my lights have almost gave me a sense of "white out". The bigger lights (TK) are interesting, but I'll have to look into getting rechargeable cells and a charger for them. My SL20 is like a old friend. To be honest it only really gets used for three things. Traffic direction like you mentioned. I also use it from my car when seated, as I am a supervisor and drive an un-marked car without a spotlight (point out the window and look for house numbers). And Finally, I take it with me to calls for disturbances (bars or houses) or when dealing with crowds. Its nice to have something in your hands that can be used as a straight baton with little notice and without attracting alot of attention. Also the one good thing about the SL20 is it can be dropped (repeatedly) with little or no damage to the light. You could always try to see if they would fit in a small OC holder or Leather ASP scabbard |
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As much as I am not a fan of Chinese made gear, I wanted to see what all the hubbub was about in regards to Fenix. I picked up a LD10 about 6 months ago and have been carrying it every day.... I gotta tell ya.. it has worked well so far and runs very bright on a single AA battery.
Now I realize this is a sample of one and I am still a big surefire fan, but they have not really impressed me with any NEW technology. I have spent some time on the Candlepower forum and from what I have read, most of the LED tech is coming from overseas and Surefire has not been embracing it much. If there only claim to fame is great CS, well that's good, but others can and have matched it... so where doe that leave them. A lot of Light gurus over there banter around an inside joke which has serious undertones as it refers to Surefire lack of innovation compared to the competition. SHOT sure did not prove any of them wrong... and the CR123 batteries are nice, but I get tired of having to order them when I run low as I will not buy them locally as they are over priced. C'mon Surefire.. where are all the AA lights.... 
I just want a fairly simple and straight forward EDC light that If I lost it, I would not cry a river for a week that takes common, get them any where batteries. So far the Fenix has done all that I ask.. I may have to get a Quark just to increase my sample size . |
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