Review with X-ray image: Convoy S2+ Desert Tan/Sandy Brown

Disclaimer

This review was using 3 Convoy S2+ Desert Tan flashlights, one purchased by myself (yes, thats a rarity), directly from Shenzhen Convoy Flashlight store on AliExpress, and two purchased from GearBest using a gift card won in a giveaway.

Overview

The Convoy S2+ is a budget 18650 tube light, which is very popular with flashlight enthusiasts. The S2+ Desert Tan is the evolution of the Convoy S2 and S2+. Changes include AR glass, DTP copper star, Biscotti firmware/user interface if purchased from Convoy’s AliExpress store (otherwise 3/5 Mode), smooth (SMO) reflector (instead of orange peel (OP)), and Cree XP-L HI emitter (instead of Cree XM-L2). The Desert Tan model is also known as Sandy Brown or Sand model depending on the retailer.

The reviewed lights have 8x7135 chips for maximum output (2.8A current), and cool white V2-1A and warm white U4-7A LED emitter. The S2+ Desert Tan is also available with more neutral white U6-3A or U6-4C emitters, or with 3, 4, or 6x 7125 chips. GearBest and Banggood only stock the most powerful 8*7135 version. For some odd reason Convoy’s AliExpress does not sell the U4-7A option. The choice of tints and power is a bonus, but can also be confusing to consumers. Personally, I think Convoy should drop the 3 and 6x 7135 versions.

The Desert Tan S2+ is marginally longer than previous S2+ models. Construction quality of Convoy’s is usually very good for the price. Unfortunately the first Desert Tan S2+ send to me from Convoy was defective (driver issue), and a replacement was sent after some troubleshooting. The two from GearBest worked perfectly. With the S2+ Desert Tan, a clip is included as standard, and this can be used the normal way around, or reverse (for use on caps for example). A lanyard is included, which is much higher quality than lanyards with previous S2+s I’ve purchased.

There is a black metallic tail switch. Personally, I prefer the rubber tail switch as found on the Black S2+, but my opinion may change as I get more used to it.

The battery tube has springs at both ends, so accepts button, raised, and flat top batteries. The tube was bored slightly wider than some of my older S2+, and protected Sanyo GA cells (18.65mm x 67.3mm) fitted OK.

A diffuser, headband, holster, and magnet are optional accessories for the S2+ that can be purchased from Convoy. This is a great range of accessories from a budget manufacturer!






User Interface

The Convoy S2+ Desert Tan is available with different user interfaces depending on the retailer. The version from Convoy’s AliExpress store has the new Biscotti user interface. The version from GearBest had the old 3/5 mode user interface (as does the version from Banggood and FastTech).

The new Biscotti firmware is massive improvement over the previous user interface on the S2+. Options included or excluded from some mode groups include moonlight, strobe, bike flashing, SOS, battery check, various mode spacings, increasing or decreasing brightness order, and memory on or off. The mode groups are as follows:
1 0.1, 1, 10, 35, 100%, strobe, biking, battery-check
2 0.1, 1, 10, 35, 100%
3 100, 35, 10, 1, 0.1%
4 1, 20, 100%, strobe, biking, battery-check, SOS
5 1, 20, 100%
6 100, 20, 1%
7 0.1, 1, 10, 50, strobe, biking, battery-check, SOS
8 0.1, 1, 10, 50
9 50, 10, 1, 0.1
10 1, 10, 35, 100
11 100, 20, strobe
12 100% only

Changing mode groups and turning memory on/off is fairly easy process, starting with 10 taps to enter configuration mode. To change mode groups, a half press during the first “fuzzy” flash will be followed by flashes donating the mode group. Turning the light off after the relevant flash (e.g. click after two flashes for group 2) chooses that mode group. A half press after the second fuzzy flash toggles memory mode on or off. I managed to stuff it up a few times before I learnt to tap the button instead of a full click, but after a few tries it is very easy to change modes.

Full click turns the light on and off. To advanced to the next mode requires a tap, rather than a full click. I really like this user interface, as there are so many options, and it is still easy to use. I currently have mine set on mode group 1 - 0.1, 1, 10, 35, 100%, strobe, bike, battery check - with memory on. For light painting photography, this is useful as I can turn the light on in any memorised mode including strobe.

Unfortunately, the strobe in Biscotti was changed from the previous 10Hz strobe with 50% on/off, to a varying 8/16Hz frequency strobe which is only on 33% of the time. Whilst this strobe is quite annoying if you were on the receiving end of it, it is poor for light painting photography which is an increasing market segment for flashlight purchases. This unfortunately means I can no longer recommend the S2+ with Biscotti to fellow light painters. If anyone thinks that the light painting market is insignificant, lets just say that more than 4000 models of a competitors light have sold just on the recommendations of one photographer!

The S2+ Desert Tan purchased from GearBest has the older 3/5 mode user interface. This has the modes 5, 40, 100, strobe, bike flash. A full press turns the light on/off, and a tap changes modes. There is a 10 second timer for memory to activate, which is quite annoying. The strobe is 10Hz with 50 on/off which is perfect for light painting photography.

Warm white with 10Hz strobe, cool white with 8/16Hz strobe.

Output and beam

The previous versions (Black, Grey, Blue, Green, and Red) of the Convoy S2+ had a Cree XM-L2 emitter and orange peel (OP) reflector. This created a pretty much perfect floody beam, with a wide hotspot. The Desert Tan S2+ is different, with a Cree XP-L HI emitter, and smooth (SMO) reflector. This creates for a beam profile balanced between flood and throw, with a smaller and more intense hotspot. I would estimate the lux to be approximately 14,000 candela (cd). For light painters such as myself, this is much better for illuminating tubes and light swords.

The lumen output is similar to the XM-L2 based S2+ at around 850 lumens @30 seconds. The output declines gradually, with no sudden brightness step downs as on many other 18650 tube lights. I personally prefer the lack of automatic stepdown, however the downside of this is that the user needs to be responsible for manually stepping down the brightness when the light starts to get too hot. This light should never be left alone on 100% power! A 50% maximum mode can be selected if you are loaning the light to someone without any common sense. For added safety, turning the tail cap will lock out the light when not in use. Having 3 young kids in my house, I always lock out my li-ion lights when not in use.

The S2+ uses PWM, however it is so fast that it could not be detected in video or on long exposure photos. CRI appears to be in the usual >70CRI category - good enough for most tasks.

XM-L2/OP (left) vs XP-L HI/SMO (right)

7A (left) vs 1A (right) tints (note: 1A is not as blue in reality but almost pure white)

Conclusion

Things I like:
-Good build quality, and genuine Cree LED.
-Good output (lumens) for all 8*7135 models.
-Very good peak beam intensity (lux/candela per lumens) for this class of light.
No annoying step down in brightness but requires common sense to avoid excessive heat!
-Accepts most flat and button top 18650 batteries (but not very long or wide protected 18650s).
-Choice of cool, neutral, and warm white tints.
-Excellent range of accessories.

Things that depend on the model:
Biscotti User Interface Excellent configurable user interface, moonlight mode, low voltage protection, but disappointing 8/16Hz strobe.
3/5 Mode User Interface Average user interface (10sec timer for memory is annoying), no moonlight mode, but great 10Hz strobe.

Things I don’t like:
-No USB charging (I’m being extremely picky at this price point!)
-No momentary functionality
-No manual (instructions available online)
Very confusing range of different S2+ models and options the XP-L HI/SMO version should have used a different model name

The Convoy S2+ Desert Tan is almost definitely the best value for money 18650 tube light on the market. The XP-L HI/SMO based Desert Tan model is well balanced between flood and throw, and compliments the floody XM-L2/OP based models. Unfortunately, the new strobe in Biscotti is a step backwards for some users (there was nothing wrong with the 10Hz strobe in the 3/5 mode user interface) and this means that I cannot recommend Biscotti based Convoy lights to my photography peers. The confusing range of options makes the Convoy S2+ less popular to the consumer (rather than enthusiast) market than it should be. A version of the Convoy S2+ with USB charging and 8*7135 would increase appeal to the consumer market as well.

Nice review stephenk :slight_smile: Even if I had opened and disassembled my Convoy S2+ flashlights, it is the first time I’ve see one though the X-Ray :sunglasses: Nice :+1:

I always find how much space is left in the battery tube is quite interesting on the x-ray. In this case not much (that’s a 67.3mm long protected GA).

Thanks for the review :+1:

Even if I already own a given light - as in this case - I always check your review for the X-ray image :slight_smile:

One place where I differ is that I do like having the 3×7135 driver option available, because it’s virtually impossible for an inexperienced user to make it overheat. The 4×7135 still gets a little too hot at full power for my taste.

I have five S2+ lights:

  • three 3×7135 for anyone to use.
  • one 4×7135 for experiments. It has a much warmer LED colour temperature than I normally use, so I went up a step to offset the lower output bin.
  • one 8×7135, which is reserved for my use only.

Thanks for the review. Love the xray for checking the tolerances of the threads. :beer:

Love the X-ray too, and the nice review. :slight_smile:

You can actually leave a (8×7135) S2+ alone at 100% power, I checked that out at room temperature without airflow. Eventually the light reaches a maximum of 90degC and stays there. You will burn your fingers but the light keeps working, will not damage and 90degC is still in the safe zone for the battery. link

My reasoning is that I’ve had a lot of feedback from photographers who are deterred from purchasing Convoy lights due to the confusing range of options. Obviously reducing the tint options would be detrimental, but reducing the 7135 options may not. I’ve written a seperate review in some light painting groups on FB which is written as a buying guide to try and reduce the confusion, but even then I’m still being asked which is the best one to purchase.

are all desert tan with DTP or just the Biscotti ones?

Good to know djozz, thanks.

Excellent review stephenk! I also prefer the rubber tail switch and that’s the reason why I recently ordered a black S2+ host which I plan on installing a lighted switch. Interesting how the desert tan body is slightly different than the black. I just assumed all the S2+s would be the same.

Not sure why the Desert Tan is slightly longer. Maybe for reverse clip?

I’ve shown it here and here on S2+ thread. The difference is on the tailcap, so that it can take the metal switch :wink:

Thanks MascaratumB! Makes sense that the metal switch accounts for the difference. So I guess that means the red, blue, and green S2+s match the tan, and the black and gray match. I wish the red/blue/green (or 1 of them) were also available with a rubber switch.

U welcome :+1:
Well, I don’t have any of the coloured ones (except the Desert Tan), but I guess they will all be slightly “taller” than the black and grey versions.

About the rubber switch on those…I just say that it is probably easier to put a rubber switch on the blue/red/green/desert tan than putting a metal switch on the blacks and greys… :zipper_mouth_face:

I like the DT metal switch, it is silent :slight_smile: I wish I could easily put a metal switch on the “regular” Convoys, I would trade them for a black metal one \m/

I guess I should’ve explained that my desire for a rubber switch on a blue/red/green S2+ was to put a matching lighted switch in them. It appears the metal switch is better than the rubber switch functionally, but does not allow much light for a lighted switch.

With a bit of skill and tools the metal center button could be copied in transparent PMMA or polycarbonate. I just have not found anybody who can do that for me.

Agreed. I made 7135x3 S2+ as gift for my father. I prefer to gift him a light that physically cannot overheat, rather than give one and have to say ‘oh be careful only to use max for a few minutes or you’ll burn your fingers’ etc.

I understand/accept these are enthusiast lights not intended for general population. In most of the western world it's illegal to sell a flashlight that gets too hot to touch.