Convoy M21D
At the end there will be a summary for those who like only particulars. In each topic I will bold the key sentences, so it will be easier to notice what's the most important. Enjoy!
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I got this flashlight from Simon (Convoy owner) from his official Aliexpress store: https://convoy.aliexpress.com/store/330416?spm=a2g0o.store_pc_allProduct.pcShopHead_12391894.0
Link to this flashlight: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002858966871.html?spm=a2g0o.store_pc_allProduct.8148356.5.7ddd3ac6uSzDEx&pdp_npi=2%40dis%21PLN%21235%2C47%20z%C5%82%21235%2C47%20z%C5%82%21%21%21%21%21%402100bb4c16579276714466431e022d%2112000022908284513%21sh
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Table of Contents:
- General parameters
- Package content
- Appearance, parameters
- UI, runtime and charging
- PWM
- Waterproofness
- Light pattern, tint
- Beamshots
- Usage and my experiences
- Gallery and Summary
General Parameters
LED: XHP70.2 4000K, available different tints
Brightness: max 4300lm
Glass: AR coated
Reverse polarisation protection: yes
Reflector: SMO, available OP reflector
Low voltage indicator: yes
Mode memory: yes
Switch position: side e-switch
Tailstand: yes
Charging current: 2A, build-in USB type C
Size: head/body diameter: 55mm/28mm, length: 161.5mm
Weight: 286g
Package size: 185*85*59mm
Package content
In the package there was only M21D flashlight, but it is ok. Convoy is always selling flashlight for cheap price compared to its capability. Of course everything was well secured.
Appearance, parameters
Overview
It's medium size flashlight, and that's what the M in the name stands for.
At the front we have a SS bezel for more protection. It sits tight, without any gaps
Glass AR coated lens with o-ring:
OP reflector, smooth transition between spot and spill. Less throw
Copper MCPCB
XHP70.2 4000K LED, centered in reflector by plastic gasket
E-switch, 2 modes group (smooth ramping and standard modes)
USB type C charging port with tight sitting rubber cover. Charging indicating LED is also present
Springs are thick, probably thick enough for the job. On the driver side there is a metal pill
Driver itself:
Battery tube also has thick walls, very sturdy.
Smooth and greased threads
And it's a one finger long
Tailcap with lanyard holes
UI, runtime, heat dissipation and charging
UI
2 groups:
- Smooth ramping
- 4 modes: 1% - 10% - 40% - 100%
Mode memory on, quick access to turbo (2 click from on or off) and moonlight 0.2%brightness (long press form off, will not be remembered)
Smooth ramping is not great, and it needs to be polished to work properly. I mean, brightness changing is not linear, and you can notice it changing brightness from 10% to 30% and from 50% to 70% or 50% to 100%. In the first case, brightness rise is easily noticable, in the second case not so much. In the third case, it probably feels as brightness rised the same amount as in the first case.
And ramping in this flashlight is linear, so it changes brightness from 0% to 50% as fast as from 51% to 100%, while it should ramp slower at the beginning and faster as it approaches 100%.
As a result, we have quick brightness gain from 0% to 50% and slow from 50% to 100%
Runtime
Heat dissipation
Tested at home temperature of 23°C. 10 min at max brightness, heat measured at the head surface on the hottest place. With cooling fins I expect it to perfor well.
It continues to lower the brightness over 10 min test and will probably stabilise at 50%.
Charging
USB type C port, covered with rubber cover, well sealed and waterproof. 2A charging current. LED indicator near the USB
The flashlight can be used while charging, it even can be used without battery at all
PWM
Did not observe any at the lowest brightness.
Waterproofness
Convoy don’t give any standards for their flashlights, but usually makes waterproof products. Let’s test this bad boy and see.
Light pattern, tint
XHP70.2 4000K, OP reflector, max output 4300lm. OP reflector gives quite even light, and pairing it with big size LED such as XHP70.2, spill is nicely lit.. Of course this is not a TIR lens, or frosted glass, so don't expect the spill and spot to blend together.
Picture taken with sunlight white balance, at 70cm distance from the wall, each line is 15cm apart.
It gives about 70cm diameter circle from 70cm distance, which then gives 90° light spread.
Beamshots
ISO200, t2s, f/3.5 sunlight white balance
General picture of what the forest looks like:
Beamshots of M21D:
I like 4000K especially for general EDC use. This flashlight is too big to be EDC, but can be used while hiking. Reproducing colors is nice, and the tint is very pleasant.
Gallery
Summary
M21D is a middle size Convoy flashlight. It’s powered by 21700mAh cell, giving 4300lm at max brightness. Combining XHP70.2 4000K with OP reflector gives a nice warm light with decent throw and bright light sides. M21D can be used in smooth ramping or standard 4 mode group. Quick access to turbo and moonlight, as a mode memory is present. Flashlights body is sturdy and quite heavy, but also very durable.
If you run out of power, USB type C port is there for you, ready to charge your cell at 2A current.
Pros:
+ SS bezel
+ USB type C port
Cons:
- smooth ramping UI need to be better programmed for smoother ramping (for more details, see the ”UI”
If you have any questions, put them below, thanks for sticking for a while :)