At 2.8A you’d probably get close to 800 Lumens, before heat kicks in and the battery depletes. The F12 will perform better than the S3 for 2 reasons, it has an AR coated lense and it has in integrated pill for superior heat transfer. I’d recommend 2.8A as a manual turbo, unless you’re cycling I wouldn’t keep it on high for more than 5 minutes. 50% medium is still a good high mode for this form factor, so it works out well.
I might suggest getting the F12 in black as I understand it is HA3 whereas the brown isn’t. The black version may also be an updated version, from other posts the original F12’s didn’t have AR lenses and had battery fitting issues, I’m wondering if the brown colored ones are the originals, just a guess. Mine (in black) fits a panasonic protected 3400, which is a large battery. Tint wise neutral white isn’t so harsh on the eyes, I prefer 3C over 5C as 5C is perhaps a little too warm, but everyone’s different.
The S3 is still a nice host and has a nicer beam profile without the SS artifacts, and is floodier.
thanks guys….but i’m very undecided :~
I have 18650 Eagletac battery 2400 and 3100mah, they can fit on F12?
I like design of F12, but now i’m curious about this nice beam profile of the S3!…i want also a good spill without rings, but it is too flood? it throws to how many meters?….i would like to about 30 meters at least
But both gets close to 800 lumens or only the F12?
Thank you again and sorry for my many questions
The Roche F12 comes with the same driver options as the S3 such as the 2.8A driver, and also comes in a 4C tint which is nice. My version from fasttech(Black) doesn’t seem to have battery fitting issues as it’s being used with a panasonic 3400 protected cell
Update: length of the panasonic 3400 protected battery is a problem after all as I’ve noticed the positive button has slightly caved in on one side, although this battery is supposed to be longer than your average protected battery. Inner tube diameter appears to my eye to be the same as the S3, although I don’t have digital calipers to confirm.
Have an S3 & F12 currently. Would tend to agree with comments here. Both are pretty well built, but the Roche a tad nicer overall. But length of protected cells can be an issue. Haven’t had any issue fitting cells in my S3.
IMO both/either the S3 and F12 are nicer than the S6 you posted. I am a sucker for stainless bezels and colored finishes though… Also, pretty sure the S6 can NOT tailstand, if that matters to you.
Hard for me to compare beams between my S3 and F12 because mine have different emitters & power levels. Apples / oranges….
My S3 is a cool XP-G2. It’s pretty throwy [for its size] because of the emitter, but floody at the same time because of reflector size/shape. Kind of a strange mixture, but I like it. By the way, it is for sale HERE.
The F12, on the other hand, is a warm XM-L running 3*AMC7135 —- low current for XM-L. F12 beam is quite floody because of the emitter, and power is low for an XM-L, so it doesn’t throw like some others running 2.8A reported here. (This was intentional.)
If battery fitment is a concern, go with the S3. That said, the Roche is very VERY nice. I recommend you try one too. Fun spending others money.
Works pretty good IMHO. (Have to admit I have used this light very little though. Nothing wrong with it, but have been buying too much other stuff.) I don’t see much reason to try to drive an XPG2 harder in this sort of host.
The reflector is made for XM-L. Centering a XP-G ist possible, but it is a pain in mine. Another thing i noticed is that is is NOT waterproof. I use mine as a bikelight and after a rainy ride the glass was foggy. Further testing in the bathroom revealed similar results. Has anyone ideas to make the front more resistant against water? i really like mine, but it has to work in rainy conditions.
I noted the seal issue when assembling mine. 2 O-rings are required; one between glass and bezel, and the other between bezel and body. Only one is provided.
Edit: oops, just remembered mine is the EDC from Intl-outdoor. Same body, but may have both O-rings provided in yours……
I have all three of those, and the best for heat management would be the M2. It’s physically the largest, though not by much, and is built superbly. It also has the best beam pattern, with a good balance of throw and flood.
The S3 is the most portable, and very floody. The S2 falls in between. If I could have only one, it would be the M2 - an all around excellent light and tremendous value for the asking price. (And yes, I buy my own, so I’m not shilling for anybody… )
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