[Review] Convoy S2+ (Sand Colored, XP-L HI V2) ~ Best budget EDC?

The new S2+, especially with the advanced biscotti FW truly is a great EDC light. Mine has the 3A tint.

As for the switch, I actually prefer this metal one to the rubber one on my Convoy C8. The rubber one is too mushy and imprecise by comparison.

Yeap, unscrewing the switch retaining ring will be hard applying for to one side only, it will work only after the initial torque is done on both sides

As for the flashlight, of everything that comes with the new models (smooth reflector, metal button, xp-l hi, ARC glass, driver) I end up preferring to change most but glass and the driver. I switched my clear S2+ with a 219C and OP reflector, and ordered with a rubber tail cap (I believe only the clear one has both metal and rubber variants). These changes make it a best for me, but I understand how throw, output, tint and CRI will weight differently from person to person

Well I am more into throw and output so the XP-L HI is the way to go :smiley:
I even think about stacking another 4 x 7135 chips and go for a 4.2A output.
Probably I will hold back my thoughts as anything over 3A is way overkill for an EDC.

[quote=bilakos10]

Even with just 8 chips, the S2+ can get extremely hot. I canā€™t imagine what it would be like with 12 chips.

[quote=Pete7874]

It would probably start spitting flames after 90 seconds on high :smiling_imp:

It would turn into a real torch. :slight_smile:

S2+ and S3 with RMMs DIY FET-Driver and Triple-LEDs here
Takes around 45 seconds to get uncomfortably warm in the head areaā€¦
I would love more Convoys like the S8 with at least a bit of a heatsinkā€¦

It does heat up, but I find it takes a few minutes longer to get too hot to touch on turbo than what most concerns Iā€™ve read here seem to believe. And this is with the nichia on the x8 driver, the xp-l should take longer even to become burning hot. The triple with FET, of course, is another story entirely

I forgot to add another change Iā€™ve made, which is to change the GTD o-ring for a black one, in order to reduce a slight tint shift to green which is uncharacteristic of the nichia and took me a while to figure out :person_facepalming:

The reason it took so long is because the OP reflector on my other S2+ did not have this effect as visible, but the SMO reflector on the clear one made it noticeable

Out of curiosity, what LEDs are you running on your triple setup?
Heatsinks or not, the compact form factor of the light will always stop it from handling high currents.

Donā€™t make the mistake I made. Just get a set of ā€œring-pullersā€. I got a set from Tekton (via Amazon) for a decent price, and was kicking myself I didnā€™t just go and do that long ago.

4 pliers in a set, all combinations of straight/curved, squeeze-to-open/squeeze-to-close.

No more screwing around with needlenose pliers, tweezers, screwdrivers, etc. Ever.

Curling-iron.

It is very confusing. When Iā€™m recommending the S2+ light to others I almost have to write a thesis on reseller, chips, UI, colour, emitter/reflector, tint. The XP-L HI models should have used a different model name.

I think FT, BG, and GB all requested the 3/5 mode UI in their order.

Indeed. Itā€™s bad enough to have to explain the difference between S2 and S2+, let alone the myriad other models. At least the C8 is the good old C8, no closely-named similar models within Convoy itself.

Personally speaking, good reason not to purchase Convoys off of them and always go straight to Simon.

Iā€™m actually recommending the 3/5 mode version to other lighting photographers as it has a better strobe (10Hz). Whilst the variable strobe in the latest revision of Biscotti is great for giving someone a migraine, it sucks for light painting.

Good point, although light painting is (sadly) such a niche usage, Iā€™d expect the painter/photographer to request the 3/5 firmware anyway.

Then again, Biscotti, while versatile, is so open-ended in its configuration, the regular joe might get intimidated by the mode select flowchart alone. ā€œClick when it blinksā€ seems far less ā€˜scaryā€™ to them, Iā€™ll bet.

I wouldnā€™t say it is niche anymore. For example a private FB group following light painter Eric Pare has 14,000 members. He uses the Eagtac D25LC2 and it does wonders of sales of that light! Klarus XT11GT is also highly recommended by a couple of other light painters, which helps their sales. Iā€™m aware of at least 30 other light painters who have purchased Convoy S2+ or Thorfire TK15S based on my recommendations.

Sadly, a lot of newby light painters make the mistake of buying 100,000 lumen G700 zoomy clones (and wondering why they have to use ISO1600 to see any light) but I try to re- educate them!

Agreed, was tempted to pick up another desert tan S2+ at that price, but seeing the lack of biscotti firmware makes it an easy choice to just support Simon directly.

[quote=Lightbringer]

Iā€™ve bought a couple, none that Iā€™ve found are slim and long enough that I can get them in all my lights without bumping around of fitting to tight, and itā€™s extremely hard to find different models/brands in brick and mortar stores around here. I ended up buying a kit of heavy duty tweezers as I like using one, but mine bends kinda easy

Unno, I made the mistake of buying one of those watch-unscrewers, whatever theyā€™re called, and didnā€™t fit anything deep enough, not even tailswitch retaining-rings.

With the Tektons, never a problem.

[quote=Persechini]

I also tried a pair of fine tip tweezers.
Mine went Uri Geller on the first try and now they are angled :sunglasses:
Itā€™s about time we buy some snap ring pliers.