3 in 1 review. At the end there will be a summary for those who like only particulars, in each topic I will color the key sentences for those who read a little more, and a long waffling for everyone else. Enjoy!
For VERY large photos: click -> on the photo page right click -> "Open image in new tab"
This flashlight was provided by Simon from his Convoy store free of charge, thank you! :-)
Table of Contents:
- General parameters
- Package content
- Appearance, parameters
- UI, runtime
- PWM
- Waterproof
- Light pattern, tint
- Beamshots
- Usage and my experiences
- Nitpicking
- Gallery
- Summary
LED: 3x Nichia 219C 4000K (available SST20 and Nichia 219C 5700K as well)
Max ~ 1600lm
Battery: Li-Ion 21700
Modes: 0,1% - 3% - 30% - 100%
Switch: reverse
Tail stand: Yeees
Optics: 3x SMO reflector
AR coated lens
IP standard: No (it's waterproof though)
Reverse polarity protection: Yes
Temperature protection: Yes
Weight with battery: 193g
The flashlight came in a small simple cardboard box and bubble wrap.
And attached lanyard. That's it. Convoy doesn't add any extras, basically it's probably always one gift - here we have a lanyard.
Size: 135mm x 35mm head
Weight with battery: 193g
From left to right:
- Steel bezel with four cutouts from the inside - nice design. O-ring
- Head with AR coated lens,
3 LED's in SMO reflectors,
fins that helps with heat dissipation,
and bypassed driver's spring(and other spring too ;) ).
- Battery tube with o-rings (one in the tailcap side is very thick - good!) and square cut threads, well lubricated.
Anodization on the thread from the side of the switch means you can mechanically lock out the flashlight by slightly unscrewing the tailcap.
- Reverse switch
Two lanyard holes
WOW! Even securer grip! You won't drop your flashlight anymore
Ahem...two holes to attach lanyard the way it won't bother with tail standing
UI
Very simple, 4 modes
0,1%
3%
30%
100%
Mode memory. Without strobe, without all other things. Just 4 modes.
Runtime
Tested with LG M50T 5000mAh (my measurements ~ 4750mAh) from Convoy's store
3% mode
Good stabilization and shines at full brightness for 26.5 hours. At 3% there is enough light for hiking or walking in the forest, as I tested.
30% mode
Approx. 2 hours. 40 min The decrease in brightness at the beginning caused by the flashlight getting hot - it was in a cardboard box and despite that it did well. In practice, when walking, it heats up only slightly. Remember that 30% is about 500lm, so the flashlight deals well with heat dissipation. Wuben E10 from my other review in the same cardboard box during tests kept warming up and reducing the brightness at only 100lm.
I haven't tested the 100% mode, but it will shine for 3-5 minutes at full brightness, then it slowly reduces the brightness due to too high temperature.
Edit: Now I've tested :D
100%, not cooled, in a cardboard box, so...pretty bad cooling, to say at least
And ~ 2 min to stepping down.
Now, 100% standing on a table, and cooled with a fan
As you can see, much better this time, about 4 min to stepping down, so twice as good. And it goes to about 70% instead of 40%. And imagine how long it'd sustain 100% in cold windy (rainy) night - yes, it was raining tonight during my beamshots...
It is worth mentioning that the Turbo mode works with full brightness up to 3.7V on the battery, then its power is proportional to the voltage on the battery. Better done than in Convoy M3, where below 3.8V turbo did not turn on at all. More about it in "My Experiences"
NOPE
Convoy has not declared any IP standard, but we will check during the 2 hours of immersion in the aquarium.
I clicked the switch underwater several times. No moisture inside. No IP standard, but the test showed that you can rely on the flashlight even in a heavy downpour.
The dot in the center is the center of the beam (approx.), each line at an interval of 15cm. The distance from the wall is 70cm, and the beam diameter is about 90cm.
Beam is so jagged, but wide and fairly even. Not that rosy as on the picture. The Nichia version has a light throw, but SST20 will definitely be more throwy. Slightly yellowish tint, it was too much yellow for me, especially in the forest where it is more visible. If I had to choose again, I would choose SST20 5000K. Low CRI, but neutral color instead of yellowish. But it is only my opinion ;)
Maybe I'm a bit allergic to yellow and it bothers me too much. At home S12 looks neutral, but in forest the amount of yellow bothers me, if I could get that Nichia but 4700K, it would be perfect.
ISO200, t2s, f/3,5 WB: sunlight
For better view, let's light up the forest!
You can enlarge these smaller photos to see the details (those poles) :GLASSES:
On the side note, you can watch moving clouds and the moon. Oh and this star on the left. Or maybe it's Jupiter...
Comparison with Lumintop IYP07 Nichia 219C (left). S12 is more rosy, when compared as you can see. But for me S12 looks like IYP07, no that rosy as in this picture.
And something like this
And that as well
I consider the L2P to be the best tint here for me, it is a bit greenish, yes, I know, but in the forest you can't see it at all and the tint is slightly warm. Then there is the M3 with a more white tint, and then the M21B which is not yellow at all but only neutral and in the highest mode a bit purple.
And here's the interesting part: I also have a LH351D 5000K 90CRI and XP-L HI U6-3A version. Shall we test them?
The LH351D one is my personal favorite! Just look at this tint! Stupidly neutral, no greenish color! If you compare them side by side as above you can even consider XP-L as a greenish light! And it throws out nearly 2000lm! And I probably should stop shouting! But I can't! AAA!
Of course XP-L throws farther, but LH351D is a bit wider and WHAT A TINT.
Oh and you might wonder: Why I don't see this XP-L option in Convoy shop (which is btw here: https://convoy.aliexpress.com/store/330416 )? If you need that configuration, you can contact Simon directly here on BLF and ask for it. :)
Btw, if you are wondering what it looks like sitting in the forest and eating a croissant with cocoa, mixing them with a knife because you forgot the spoon, it looks something like this:
The darkness was lit up by the Wizard Pro XHP50 NW, photoshopped (I darkened the brightest spot - normally, Wizard doesn't have that even light) but the tint stays unchanged.
My experiences are very positive. I used it twice in the forest, a total of several hours of walking and comparing with other flashlights. Personally, I prefer a colder color temperature than 4000K, but apart from that, the S12 has an ideal light pattern for me with Nichia diodes, for hiking in the forest. Wide diffused light with good range. Not as close-range and diffused as Wizard Pro with TIR honeycomb optics, so very good, because in the forest you need to look more farther than wider (to see those two shining dots far away }D ). Perfect balance. However, if I chose again, I would choose SST20 5000K because of the neutral color.
Modes were also selected very well, 0.1% for close distances around you, 3% for walking, 30% is very comfortable in the forest because you can see a lot everywhere, and probably optimal brightness on the bike, 100% more for a momentary glow, but it gives so much light.
I was in the forest last night with several flashlights, incl. Convoy M3. Before I came to this photo spot (about 15 minutes walking) I was shining M3 on Turbo from time to time. Total time on Turbo was approx. 5 min and 5 min on 40%. After reaching the photo spot, the flashlight no longer allowed me to turn on Turbo (that happens when the battery voltage is too low). It was indeed cold, but after returning home, I checked and a 4.09V on the cell. C'mon... Why am I complaining about this? The way it works in S12 is much better, Turbo works at full power to about 3.7V on the battery, but then there is no "can not be turned on" only Turbo output is proportional to the input voltage.
Ps. I recommend Convoy's holster, it fits nicely. ^:)
Nitpicking
So everything about all the flaws. Every cons, to sum up.
S12 has few disadvantages. The V-shaped knurling on the tailcap has sharp edges and will peel off first. The holes for the lanyard also have sharp edges and will probably cut the lanyard after some time. There is also no given IP water and dustproof standard - but it doesn't matter since it passed the submersion test in the aquarium for 2 hours. And that's it..? As for me, I am bothered by this yellowish 4000K tint, especially in the forest, because it doesn't get along well with the leaves.
Convoy S12 is a great flashlight. Powered by 21700, small and polished - bypassed springs, the possibility of mechanical lock out by slightly unscrewing the tailcap, AR coated lens, and a steel bezel. What more could you want? I can't find significant flaws in this flashlight. Nchia 219C gives a cool, diffused light with a slight throw. I haven't tested SST20, but it definitely throws more. Depends on what you prefer, I like the combination of the SMO reflector with the Nichia diode.
Nichia 219C 4000K is too warm for me for trips in the forest. Everything was a bit yellowish. If I had to choose again, I would take the SST20 5000K version. More throw at the cost of less distraction (so bad for me - I think the spot-spill ratio in the Nichia version is perfect in the forest), but the tint is more pleasant for me in the outdoors. Again, it is only my opinion, I'm allergic to too warm light.
S12 powered by 21700 cell with 3 diodes, the dimensions and weight match some 18650 flashlights, I fully recommend.
Pros:
- good spill/spot proportion
- full brightness stabilization
- lightweight, small
- steel bezel
Cons:
- sharp edges on tailcap's V knurling and on lanyard's holes
About host - threads, knurling o-rings and so on
Rating: 9/10
About light - UI, tint and so on
My Nichia 219C 4000K version doesn't suits me, but there is plenty of choice, so
Rating: 9/10
1 - very bad flashlight hurts to look at, terrible quality, not worth any (even very low) price
5 - average flashlight, at a reasonable price and for occasional (in its category) use - for the average person "great"
10 - flashlight meets all my expectations in a given category (e.g EDC, headlamp, thrower), it's durable and neatly made, perfect light tint, worth its (even slightly inflated) price
so I’ll try and check if it’s as bad as you’re saying. HI is too much throwy, but maybe I’ll get HD, 3C or 3D. Will see.
