Review: Convoy S21D

Disclamair: This flashlight was provided by www.flashlightbrand.com for free. I’ll keep my review unbiased as always.

Introduction.
I never heard www.flashlightbrand.com before so I was curious I cannot say anything good or bad about them since I never bought anything from them but the light came in perfect condition 21 days later. I had 5 months delay during the pandemic for other orders. I hope that this is an indication of shipping is going back to normal.
As for Convoy and the owner Simon this brand needs no introduction, they mostly delivers flashlight with good value, reasonable quality and DIY friendly and also provides more exotic LEDs.

Data from Manufacturer:
Material: Aluminum Alloy
LED: nichia 219B 519A R9080 / CREE XPL HD R70
Driver: Biscotti?
Low voltage warning: Yes
Reverse polarity protection: Yes
Lens type: ar-coated glass and 60 degree bead TIR lens
Mode memory: Yes
Tailstand: Yes
Required battery type: 21700 lithium battery(unprotected and length not more than 71mm)
Required battery quantity: 1pcs
Flux: max 2000LM (219B) / 2600LM (519A) / 4000LM (XPL HD)
CRI (519A): Ra>90,R9>90,R12>70
CRI (XPL HD): Ra>70
Diameter(Head/Body): 32.1 / 27.2 mm
Length: 126.5 mm
Weight: 106g

Pro:
Available in Variety of CCT from 3000k up to 6500k
Nichia 219 or 519 is awesome XPL version is also available for less heat.
Good machining, no blemish, nicks, no sharp edges.
Nice color rendering thanks to Nichia 519a.
Nicer to hold due to larger diameter.
Anodized thread(smooth) mechanical lock out is possible.
Square thread.
Relatively cheap for quad emitters light.

Cons:
Gets really hot really fast on High just like Nichia 219. You should get the XPL isntead as it is much cooler but not as nice tint wise. Choose your poison.
Heavy, though not as heavy as 26650, but still weigh down your pocket. You-always-knows-it-is-in-your pocket that kind of feeling
No build it charging.

Neutral:
I wish that it came with 4 different types of optics in the box lol as I found the 60 degree bead optics is to floody.
No clip is provided, probably a good idea?

Gallery
Your typical convoy flashlight white box.

How it handle in my hand, 21700 flashlight is my opinion a nicer one to hold for longer time.

60 Degree optic with bead. I found this bead optic version cleans up the beam really nicely (sacrificing throw) there is no visible artifacts from 4 emitters but 60 degree just feels like a wall of light no hotspot probably a flat 60 degree or 30 degree flat is more useful.

Head is not glued. the bezel is easy to unscrew without tools.

Lens assembly, notice the fingerprint? it is not mine. The glass is AR coated.

The driver side. There is a 3 pin contact presumably for programming. Notice the rainbow colored spring? the spring was subjected to high heat and not longer able to maintain its shape I am not sure it is like this from the factory or it was mainly my fault? most likely the former since heat like that can only being produced by short circuit. The spring stays crushed and wont return to its uncompressed form. I had problems turning the light on and only to find out that the battery was moving back and forth inside the tube.

the optics

The tail spring also subjected to high heat and cant restored to its uncompressed form so I had to change to a new spring. Since this is the only one I have lying around and it is really long I had to add spring bypass to keep the resistance to minimum. Yeah i know it is too long i will probably get a better and shorter spring later.

The spring bypass with 26AWG silicon wire.

Tail assembly.

Square anodized thread at the tail, smooth and well oiled from factory. Also mechanical lockout is possible.

Tail Stand yay.

Beamshots.
Notes:
Convoy S21D 5000K Nichia 519a vs Astrolux S41 Nichia 219b 5000K
The Astrolux S41D is more focus as you can see in the Beamshots. The comparison is meant to compare tint not brightness.
I found the 519a to be more yellowish compared to the pure white in 219b. I think i still prefers 219b.

4x Nichia 219b 5000k (Astrolux s41)

4x Nichia 519b 5000k

Nichia 219b


Nichia 519a

Nichia 219b
Well you can probably see the trend by now.

Nichia 519a

Conclusion:
I think I have been spoiled by Anduril flashlights and its ramping UI. Going back to a simpler biscotti driver seems to be inconvenient. I found this to be the main problem after using it for 1 week. You can program it to memorized last mode or start at low but not both. The flashlight itself have no problem, it probably wont be become my EDC, that title is still belong to my FW3A with SST-20 mainly because of the size, the weight and especially the UI.

For anyone who wants to buy the flashlight here is the link (not affiliate link). I received no commission from this link.
Convoy S21D 519A: https://www.flashlightbrand.com/convoy-s21d-219b-519a-xpl-hd-led-12groups-21700-flashlight-p4272376.html
Conovy Series: Best Convoy Flashlight on sale - Flashlightbrand.com
Home: https://www.flashlightbrand.com/

I just got the 30 and 10 degree optics in yesterday, and I tried them last night. They noticeably change the beam, but they’re not for me, at least the way I use the S21D. I love the 60 degree optic. It makes for a kick ass ‘walking around the farm’ light when I’m trying not to step on any toads or groundhog holes every night. With the 60, I don’t have to sweep the light left and right over the path as I walk to keep checking for stuff. It’s wide enough that I just carry it along with a reverse grip at shoulder height and it covers everything in light.

As far as the UI goes, I have all three of my S21Ds in group 10, and they just run forever at 35%, basically. That setting is bright enough to see well, and cool enough to keep holding the light indefinitely. I have several Anduril 2 lights, and I know it well by now, but I actually like the 12-group UI as well. It’s very simple and once you find a group that works best for a given light, you just leave it there.

Thanks for the review. The S21D with 519A emitters is currently one of my favourite flashlights lights.
I would maybe disagree with the comment “XPL version is also available for less heat.” As the S21D uses thermal limiting at (I think) 55C, then I would expect all versions will run at the same temperature, however the XPL version may take slightly longer to reach that temperature and will provide more (low CRI) lumens at the same temperature. Convoys generally run hot, great for sustained brightness, but not so great for giving the light to granny.

I would be interested to see if anyone has tested the XPL version (I’m particularly interested in the sustained brightness), but it doesn’t seem to be available on Convoy’s website?

I purchased the light with 10 degree TIR and the beam is wide as hell.
Love the light but specifcations on the optics are a bit misleading.

The degrees refer to the hotspot. A TIR lens and “floody” LED will have a very wide and bright spill beam irrespective of the hotspot angle.
I have the 4 optic party bag in the mail, so interested to compare the 4 options.

The soldering of the wires to the LED MCPCB looks very poor. Almost looks like the negative wire will fall off. Strange.

Thanks to rizky_p for the great review for us.

Excellent review, thank you.

Nice review. :+1:

I would be interested to read what you think. I have two S21Ds one each with the 60 degree and 30 degree optics (one with the 12 A and one with the 8A CC drivers respectively).
I go back and forth. In general I like the 60 degree optic (12A) for around the house. Outside in the yard the 30 degree optic is a bit better. Neither throw much at all…
I would like both to be a bit more dim on the lowest setting (supposedly 0.1%). More like the Sofirn IF25A, for instance. But of course it runs Andruil…
Anyway,
I have the 4 optic pack in my cart. It is cheap enough, but I would like to see what you think before pulling the trigger.

I’ve reached same conclusion - goes to show we both experiment A LOT with the light. :+1: :slight_smile: For outdoor, longer distance, for example during a night walk, I prefer the throwy lens 10 Degree Clear. It is brighter where I want to see a little distance away.
For indoor, close up work, for example repaint the brake caliper of my car, I prefer the floody lens 60 Bead. The hotspot of a throwy lens is blinding in this situation and the field of vision is limited.

Neither is throwy. For that I have to move to M21F Getian GT-FC40 for medium and Wurkkos TS30S for super throw. Pics below taken in RAW format with DSLR, identical expo and WB setting.

The tree and area in center of picture is brighter with 10 Clear, whereas garage door is brighter with 30 Bead. When I did this series of pics I forgot about the 60 Bead, but it’s basically a further extension of 30 Bead. More flood, dimmer hotspot.