Review: Ultrafire M2 Cree XP-G R5 AA-14500

Ultrafire M2 Cree R5 5-Mode 280-Lumen Memory LED Flashlight (AA)

Ok its 6 mode really . This sample came from Manafont , and took some 2 Weeks after receiving the shipment notice to get to my letterbox .

http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/ultrafire-m2-cree-r5-5mode-280lumen-memory-led-flashlight-aa-p-6139

Ok , I have wanted one for a while , and now I have at last the M2 Ultrafire in my hand , and I have to say what a nice light it is , I dont think the pictures do it justice , but it has to be one of the best sub $20 AA lights available [ havent tried a 14500 yet ] . Now the only issue I have with is the 5 mode description , its 6 mode ! Hi-Med-Lo-Strobe-2 flash beacon-SOS .

So far I have found nothing to fault [ havent tried 14500 yet ] , the light has just been a nice solid performer , the XP-G emitter throws a very nice beam , there is no battery slop , the clicky is as close to just right as can be , the threads are ever so well machined and smooth . The anodizing is nice and even , and the only thing I can complain about is the Clip , it needs to be made of a little thiker wire to stiffen it up , it just feels ............ weak ! [ still better than no clip at all ]

If you look at the pictures you may pick up on the fact that the body is just a little thicker than your usual host built on this platform , and with a AA there is little if any heat issues , and I expect this may have been done to better handle a 14500 .

Lets check out some AA performance :

Nimh @ 1.43v High = 118L - 1.99A , Med = 61L - 0.97A , Low = 25L - 0.39A

Coles Alkaline , High 123L - 1.99A , Med 65L - 0.98A , Low 28L - 0.41A

Varta High Energy , High 113L , Med 60L , Low 26L

Dry Cell 1 , High 39L , Med 17L , Low 11L

Dry Cell 2 , High 65L , Med 37L , Low 20L

Dry Cell 3 , High 43L , Med 27L , Low 15L

The performance on Nimh and Alkaline is rather good , but as expected you take quite a hit with dry cells which simply cant provide the current needed for higher output . Now I quite like the low mode , around 25L it is just right for me , but I can think of a lot of people that want less than that . 5 or so hours run time in low mode is just right for me , it offers just the right amount of light for around the back yard , and helping to avoid walking on creepy crawly things that go squish when you step on them .

AA Conclusion :

I have to say , I like this one , two things I would like to see changed , one is the clip , thicker wire to stiffen it up , and a 3 mode version , Hi-Med-Low would be the bees knees ! I am very impressed with this light , it really is one of the better AA lights that you can buy .

Well Made [ It really is , right up there with my Akoray ]

Glass Lens

OP reflector

XP-G R5

6 Mode

Nice even anodizing

Well machined

Well cut threads - smooth

O rings where there needed

Tailstands

Clip - [ bit weak ]

PWM - Medium and low [ low is quite slow ]

If I may suggest , this one costs a few dollars more , but you also get more , so far there has been no need to adjust or tweak anything , it has performed very well for the last 3 days or so [ used it as often as I could ] , nothing was lose [ often the case ] , and I if this sample is the norm , you may want one in your collection [ lets see what happens with the 14500 ] , but with the AA , its been 100% so far . I will update with 14500 results soon .

AA beams = Low - Medium - High [ was a low cloud rainy evening so lots of light bounce from city lights ]

14500 , Low - Medium - High

14500 Performance :


14500 @ 4.05v


High = 265L - 0.94A

Medium = 134L - 0.44A

Low = 53L - 0.17A


With so many problems with cheaper lights I thought I would see how the M2 went on a not fully charged 14500 and I have to say Im impressed , I could see no issues , so it looks like the driver can handle the 14500 just fine [ So far ] . I will run it with the 14500 some more to get some time under its belt , but so far looking good .

I have to say I like the current draw on this one , 265L @ 0.94A is very nice , seems the more I use this light the more I like it , well the M2 certainly makes for a nice change from the usual run of So So .

Whether you chose to run AA or 14500 , it looks like the M2 has something to offer , and I have to call this a really good buy , so far two thumbs up for the Ultrafire M2 from Manafont .

Very nice Matt! It does look like a nice one. Frontpage'd and Sticky'd.

The low mode current looks awfully high though. Looks like less than 6 hours on low with a 2000mah Eneloop, correct?

I reviewed an XR-E Q5 version of this light here:
https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/631
But it's no longer available. I liked the light, and it gives about 14 hours of runtime on low. But it has since had problems with the mode circuits. It would get stuck on high mode and only sporadically respond to a half-click to change modes. Hopefully it was just a bad one out of the batch. Anyway, it's no longer available.

Can either of you compare this two the fenix ld20 or the single AA light from fenix? if you have either of those two light. I really like this light thanks for the review.

Does it have square threads so the head would be compatible to Akorays/F20's?

Looks exactly like a Trustfire I have, maybe the F20? I had to tear the pocket clip off of it, that was messy, but otherwise a powerful AA light. Nice review!

Thanks for the great review. Its nice to see 2A on NiMH and the great results. Ive never allowed run time to influence my buying decisions. There's always the option of carrying a few extra batteries.

No threads are not square cut !

Dont own a Fenix , some one will have to send Fenix a Email telling them I need a box full of Fenix lights to compare to , [ That was in jest ]

The body is a little thicker than Trustfire F20 or other similar lights , so better handles the 14500 , I ran mine for a couple of minutes on high taking out the rubbish last night and , it barely got warm on the 14500[ Possibly the combination of better regulation and thicker body ]

I will run the 14500 for a while , and see how it goes , so far Im impressed by the solid performance .

Umm, I thought the body is supposed to get warm, to draw the heat away from the emitter/driver. The heat is going somewhere, so ideally it should be leaving through the body, at least that was my understanding.

I just checked the temp on my F20 with an IR Laser Thermometer (cheap one from Harbor Freight) After 10 minutes of run time, the body felt almost too hot to handle. Surprisingly, that was tactile deception, which makes me question some of the comments about how hot a lot of lights get. What felt like "too hot to handle" was actually 106° on the hottest part of the head, and 99° near the tailswitch. Skin temp averages about 94° so the light was only about 12° hotter than my skin. Still, when you put your hand in 106° water, it feels really hot. But the temp is not as bad as you think it is. Our bodies are not a good indicator of true temperature, at least by touch. Heck, most of us (sorry Finland) have been in 106° outside air temperature in the shade, and it does not feel like it will burn our skin.

The trustfire F20 is more lightly built and pulls higher current …
Lighter build + more current = more heat …
The M2 runs lower current [ 14500 ] and the body has a little more mass = cooler

Measuring clear liquids in reflective pots can lead to false readings due to reflected infrared light.

Read more: How to Measure Water Temperature With an Infrared Thermometer | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5879955_measure-water-temperature-infrared-thermometer.html#ixzz1QsSjN85F

Lennart

tempted to buy a few of these for friends and family...

Just got mine today from Manafont and I love this light with a14500. The tail switch is a bit persnikitive but other than that it may be my new favorite.

Will the M2 body fit both protected and unprotected 14500's?

It should , I used a protected Flame Trustfire ..

Matt, can you tell me if this light has a lens/reflector diameter of 20mm? I'm trying to find an AA host with a thick body and a 20mm lens/reflector. You are the king of AA hosts so you are the man to ask. :)

Thanks,

Johnny

Calipers say 19.13mm for reflector Dia

19.25mm for lens Dia

Body is 21.47mm Dia

Not the king of AA , quite a few AA fans here who put me to shame

Thanks! Ordering them now.

Thanks for the quick response! The search continues.

old4570 -

Just wanted to know if you had a chance to run a fully charged 14500 in your M2 yet and whether you're happy with its performance.

Thanks in advance!

And the output is very steady from 4.2 to 4v , so with a 14500 looks to be decently regulated ...

Havent checked to see where it drops out .. Too many lights and not enough time ..