Layman’s Flashlight Reviews

Fenix has come a long way from the old days of one or two models of simple AA powered lights to arrive at the agressive multistage weaponlight that is the TA30. Years of research and development seem to be culminating in this first model of what appears to be a new line of Fenix products.

Fenix TA30

Meat and Potatoes

The Fenix TA30 is a rugged, beefy torch billeted as a recoil/impact resistant, weapon mountable, personal flashlight. How this plays out is through a thick walled, aggressively styled light with a very toothy strike bezel. From the moment you pick up the TA30, you sense the designers intent for it to be used as a cudgel. No portion of this light gives any impression of fragility, rather it appears to be almost bulletproof. From its relatively heavy weight, to its exaggerated size, it possesses an overbearing presence that is immediately noticed.

The technological superiority of this light comes in the form of a selector ring used to set the level of light output independently from the actual power switch in the tail. This is a very similar method to those used by Surefire in the U2 and Kroma, but it is a first for Fenix. Gone on this model are the soft “half” clicks of the switch in order to cycle through modes to reach your optimum choice. Instead, your desired light level can even be pre-selected prior to activation, only ever giving you the mode you need at that particular juncture. Fenix has even provided easily deciphered symbols denoting the various modes and an obvious indicator as to the current level. Also, the ring provides enough tactile and audible feedback when selecting output and is just stiff enough that accidental mode changes are virtually impossible. The resultant user interface is simple and intuitive, requiring no complex instruction to use; even to a non-connoisseur.

Fenix TA30 Control Ring

The three levels of light seem to be very adequately chosen, providing either a noticeable bump in output or a significant increase in runtime depending on direction of travel. The beam of the TA30 is tightly focused for long range illumination and is relatively smooth, though the typical dark ring surrounding the hotspot, common to most XR-E based lights, can still be seen. I personally have been leaning toward more flood-beam lights as of late, however in this specific instance I believe the designers made a very wise decision. It would be an injustice to this light’s intended purpose to do otherwise.

Throughout their development, Fenix has become increasingly complex with the machining that each light utilizes, and the TA30 is definitely a continuation of this trend. The machine work that has gone into the TA30 is far more intricate than anything they produced a mere 2-3 years ago but yet manages to not appear gaudy or unnecessary. The knurling that covers the majority of the body is uniform and grippy without converting the light into some form of file or rasp.

Constructive Criticism

Whatever else the TA30 may be, it is no featherweight. There’s no way around it, it is big even for its three cell form factor. I don’t necessarily think that its intimidating structure could be preserved if the construction were made less chunky. Rather I am at a loss as to how it is intended to be carried. The included lanyard is, at best, a joke. I fear that due to the increased heft of the TA30, it would only require a single casual drop to cause the lanyard and light to part ways. What is needed is a holster or clip specifically designed to work with the duty belt worn by those in law enforcement or the military. Something injected with the same quality and durability that the light itself appears to exude. As it stands, the TA30 will likely find itself relegated to storage around the house or in the car to be called upon when needed rather than carried around, ready for instant action.

Fenix TA30

One of my personal pet peeves with flashlight manufacturers lately is when they attempt to make a light be everything to everyone. This is most often apparent, as is the case here, with the tailcap. The growing trend lately is to produce a tailcap switch that is both protruding for easy access in a tactical scenario while at the same time being recessed to allow tailstanding in “candle mode”. While the TA30 is more adept at this than other attempts have been, it still manages to be unnecessarily uncomfortable for urgent use whilst not providing a genuinely stable base for standing. I implore all manufacturers the same thing. Pick ONE, please! In this case I feel justified recommending that since it is designed as a tactical light, it really should have a truly protruding switch and that tailstanding will not likely be necessary with this particular piece of equipment.

Conclusions

Improvements notwithstanding, this is an excellent light seemingly designed to primarily shed light on the mysteries of “things that go bump in the night”. Whether it is your duty to seek them out, or you are merely insuring that they are not seeking you out, it will get the job done well. Just don’t expect it to be a pocketable Every Day Carry tool in the mean time.

Fenix TA30

Fenix PD20

The Fenix PD20 is the latest iteration of the Fenix line of 1xCR123A based lights. This pocketable form factor seems to be rapidly becoming a staple of many brands packing a powerful torch into a very small size.

Fenix PD20

Meat and Potatoes

To call the PD20 a new model would be slightly overstating the facts. It really is much more of a series of evolutionary updates from the venerable P2D. As such it behaves as much the same light with some key changes that are, in my opinion, generally improvements.

The PD20 still sports the same user interface as it’s predecessor; featuring both the head-loosened General Use mode (low-medium-high-SOS) and the head-tightened Turbo mode (Max power-Strobe) with all of the varying levels a mere half click of the tailcap away. This user interface allows quick access to both minimum and maximum power while tucking the other modes in relatively easy to get to locations, yet still out of the way.

The Q5 binned Cree XR-E LEDs that were considered premium options on the previous model are now the standard emitter. This boasts an output of 180 lumens on Max and is really an impressive amount of light for an unit this size. It is noticeably brighter than many lights in it’s class. Unfortunately, as Fenix merely swaps out the emitter for more efficient versions, not only does the Max brightness increase, but the Minimum as well.

Fenix has addressed a couple of my pet peeves from the P2D in this model. There is now physical anti-reverse polarity protection preventing you from frying the light by putting a CR123A cell in backwards. Also, they have removed the bright flash of light when starting the light in the low mode. Another apparent new standard is the choice of a textured reflector rather than the former smooth one. This renders the beam that much more even and inviting than previous. Definitely a welcome addition.

Fenix PD20

The remainder of the changes seem to exist in the body shape and aesthetics. Fenix has definitely shown their increased knowledge of milling and machine work. The light has been given anti-roll function, slight crenelations to the bezel, better knurling on the tail, and a slightly more exposed tailcap switch. To my overly critical eye, these changes, though welcome in theory, tend to give the light a little bit of a patchwork appearance in practice. I’m not certain I like the overall outcome. However where a light should look it’s best is not in your hand or on a table, but in the dark shining on your intended illumination target. Also since aesthetics are purely opinion based, I am sure that there are those who truly love the new design over the sleeker look of models past.

Constructive Criticism

One area I am not at all fond of for this light is the switch. I can understand selecting a reverse clicky switch for this style of UI so I will not fault it there, however this particular model seems to be incredibly touchy about when it is being pressed. An extremely casual brush against it will often trigger it to the next mode and intending to change modes can accidentally switch it all the way off. I would personally like to see something with a little more resistance used for this light.

Also focusing on the tailcap, I must draw attention to the scallops around the switch that I assume are there to offer slightly better access to the still recessed button. The idea is to give your thumb more purchase while retaining the ability to tailstand. In my opinion this is a mistake. All that is really being accomplished is limiting tailstanding stability and not really affording an access premium to the lights operation. This isn’t as much trouble in a short light such as this as it is with other longer lights that use the same technique. I still believe that this is one area that should be all or nothing. Either give us a full base to stand on, or grant us tactical access to the switch. Don’t mix and match. It doesn’t work.

My final critique is for a light with this many modes, it doesn’t seem right to not have a genuine low mode that is more compatible with fully adjusted night vision. As Fenix introduced the higher efficiency LEDs they should also have re-programed their lights to reduce the low to more extreme levels. This would even further increase the runtime as well as give the light a more broad spectrum usefulness to tackle any situation.

Fenix PD20

Conclusions

Even with a few minor annoyances, this light has packed a voluminous quantity of usefulness into a very pocketable size. With the outstanding efficiency of a Q5 bin Cree, Fenix has provided a very adept and efficient product at a reasonable price. An excellent choice for those times when space is at a premium, but quantity of light cannot be compromised.

Fenix E01

The Fenix E01 is a little light trying to fill a big role.  Hardly bigger than the AAA cell that powers it, this little light seems to be designed around the ability to be completely forgettable, but only until it is needed.

Fenix E01

Meat and Potatoes

The Fenix E01 utilizes a Nichia 5mm LED to provide consistent low levels of illumination for extended periods of time.  The fact that the E01 has a flat discharge curve over the first 10 hours of battery life is fantastic.  This light is the perfect key chain companion ready to serve in a moments notice, even for just an average Joe who wouldn’t normally take to carrying a larger, higher powered flashlight at all times.

The simple twisty switch supplements this intent by performing as a no frills reliable and out of the way switching mechanism that doesn’t add any unnecessary bulk to the light at all.  With no extra parts at all, it literally cannot get any simpler than this.

One of the most interesting features of this light has been proven through numerous documented accidents and destructive testing.  Through the combination of quality building materials and light weight, this light appears to be nigh unto indestructible.  Tales have been told of E01’s surviving falls from multiple stories in height, apparently unperturbed by the precipitous drop, nor the concrete impact awaiting the end of the trip, that would invoke the demise of lights with more gargantuan proportions.

Constructive criticism

My E01 does have one glaring fault that I find slightly disconcerting.  The bad news is, it’s big.  The good news however, is that it is quite likely my individual unit rather than a design flaw for the entire run.  The LED is angled quite severely off to one side shedding a beam that is disturbingly out of alignment.  The further away from myself I shine the light, the further off center the beam shows up.  Navigating my way around a dark room, I find myself having to consciously aim the light away from my intended target.  Whether high, low, left, or right of center depends entirely on how I happened to extricate it from my pocket on that particular occasion.  I know that this is not likely to be a design error, and that Fenix is probably not exactly intending this to be within tolerance, however apparently some further care needs to be taken when inspecting the final product before it leaves the factory destined for the hands of the consumer.

Off center beam

Another point of contention where this light could stand to improve somewhat is the tints.  No, that is not a typo.  The beam of the E01, though it still classifies as white overall, is actually a varying duo of two different tints throughout the beam.  The diffuse hotspot appears with a strong blueish hue fading extremely smoothly into a yellow toned corona/spill.  Admittedly, this concatenation is only apparent when hunting down the elusive uninterrupted stretch of white wall, but it is there none the less.

I have read of some high end, semi-custom lights in this category sporting a Cree based high color rendition 5mm LED.  While I suspect it will be some time before that caliber of LED begins to show up at this pricepoint, it would be quite a feat if Fenix were to be able to become one of the first mass production lights utilizing this technology.

Conclusions

This little light has an occasional use or emergency use mindset that benefits it greatly.  It’s long lasting low level light is probably better suited to a disposable Lithium AAA cell rather than rechargeables of whatever sort, due to its ability to not be in your way until you find yourself in need of light.  From finding a keyhole in the dark, to navigating a prolonged power outage, these are the situations where this light really shines.  My E01 has found it’s way onto my keyring, where it is likely to endure for some time to come.

Fenix E01