Fenix just released the FD30, with an unique dual reflector design. I find the shelf design very interesting, the small reflector actually screws on top of it. I wonder if there are any serious artifacts in the beam.
Here shows the difference between flood and spot, but I doubt the throw beamshot is close to real world results, it’s rated only 10kcd
The range is kinda sad, I much prefer the Led Lenser lights over this.
Although I think that’s patented technology, so good on Fenix for trying something new.
I dont think so, this light has the typical tube shape size like a Convoy S2, in the “throw” setting it is like a convoy S2 with a deeper reflector and XP-L HI. That means you get a similar throw like a Rofis TR20 for example. Both have similar reflector dimensions. In the “flood” setting its like a flashlight with a super shallow reflector. This is not the cheap zoom flashlight with a laser like beam and no spill.
The nitecore P12 GT has over 300m distance and a smaller size, no need for zoom, while the F30 only reaches 200m with zoom.
My P5r.2 can do 240m with 0 spill with less than 300lm, which means the battery lasts over 4 hours on max. The F30 can only do 2 hours on max and still has a ton of spill when “zoomed” and not reaching as far.
Either way, whether you want spots of spill or not, there are plenty of lights better than the F30…
I think “zoom” is a misnomer here. It seems more comparable to a Maglite’s adjustable beam, but without all of the ugly beam characteristics. You have “normal” mode and “floody almost-mule” mode. There’s no “throw” mode because you can’t beat physics, the diameter of the head/reflector ultimately limits the throw.
I like it. If they were lower in price I’d probably buy one to play with.
The point of “zoom” is to refocus light so that it is either used for long distance or used for spill, not both.
If you want both then get a non-adjustable light like the P12 GT which can do plenty of 1000lm spill along with a 300m throw.
If you want adjustable, then get a lens flashlight which can do a beam just as wide as the F30 or focused for 200m+ without spill.
There is no “ugly beam characteristics” of an aspheric flashlight if you’re talking about good quality ones.
It looks perfectly fine.
The F30 is just a zoom flashlight which can’t zoom as far as lens flashlights or even regular non-zoom flashlights as the P12GT, and has too much spill when fully zoomed in.
I said a maglite has “ugly beam characteristics”. For the record though, I think the aspheric beam profile in itself is an ugly characteristic. I just don’t like it. Beam shapes are just like tint, very much dependent on preference.
I don’t consider this to be a “zooming” flashlight at all, because it’s designed to have an adjustable beam, but not a long-range beam.
This seems it would give a beam profile I like better than anything with an optic, and still have some adjustability for more flood. (as long as there aren’t too many artifacts)
The aspheric beam profile images I posted look exactly like a regular reflector flashlight just without the spill.
There is nothing ugly about a round circle of well focused light. That’s what you want from a zoomie.
Also, my point is that the F30 is not a long range or “zoom” flashlight, so yeah we agree on that, it’s just an adjustable beam.
Maybe ugly isn’t the right word, how about I say that a aspheric or “zooming optic” (like a lenser) does not give a beam that I find “desirable”. I like reflectors better.
But hey, I still want to see some beamshots from this thing
[quote=pilotdog68Maybe ugly isn’t the right word, how about I say that a aspheric or “zooming optic” (like a lenser) does not give a beam that I find “desirable”. I like reflectors better.
But hey, I still want to see some beamshots from this thing[/quote]
So by “desirable” you mean you like spill.
Because a good aspheric is literally the exact same beam profile as a reflector flashlight just minus the spill.
Well yes, I generally like spill. Most smooth reflectors also give cleaner/sharper cut-off between hotspot and corona/spill which I like (ex Convoy C8, S2 smo, EE X6). One optic that’s pretty good in this regard is the S15R, but most optics I have used are a bit more “smoothed out.”
The nitecore P12Gt is probably the best thrower in the one inch class if you exclude the Astrolux S1 (not exactly one inch) with its 1400+ Lumen. The Fenix has only 900 Lumen and its a hybrid, it has 10K Lux which is similar to the Rofis TR20 angle light. 10K Lux with 900 Lumen in the 25.4mm class is not bad. With the Fenix you have two lights in one, thats the whole point of the light. In the throw setting it is comparable with a Rofis TR20 XPL HI, similar beam. The Nitecore P12GT cant do the flood trick, you have to put a diffusor on it and that means it will loose brightness and the beam is never as wide and floody as the Fenix. So yeah, the Nitecore is the much better thrower but the Fenix is much more versatile.
The spill + spot in the “throw” setting is the whole point of the light, thats actually the great thing. Many other zoom lights only offer laser like beams without spill when zoomed. Of course the Fenix cant throw like a flashlight with a “fixed” reflector or like one of those aspherical glas lenses, its always a compromise. If you need a laser tight beam without any spill then this light is definately not for you, you will be more satisfied with a Sunwayman T25C or something like that.
Yes, i would see the “throw” setting as the “normal” setting comparable to many other one inch lights with XPL-HI emitter with some exceptions, so you get a tight spot and still a good amount of spill. In the flood setting you get a super wide beam if you so wish.