- Joined
- May 19, 2007
- Messages
- 7,745
Due to a couple of people needing flashlights, and a couple kits being built and the E05 and an eneloop being a great kit-light, I needed a new one for pocket carry. So I decided to try the 2014 version to see how it is. since the E05 gets a lot of love here, I figured I'd let you guys know, just in case you all opt to go stock up on the old ones.
I've had it for a couple hours and here are my thoughts.
Size, same as before
shape, mostly the same, the tail is now the tri-lobe from the E01, so I suspect that may be what it is (since it looks like the 01, and doesn't have the model number on the body) No flats on it like the old one either
Brightness and modes.
Very easy to hop to the mode you want, I like the bottom up pattern, and I'm fine with no memory, since most memory lights are a bit vampirey. The low is great, and I think the high is pretty decent for the size, I'll see what its like tonight. I can see myself using the first two modes most, mostly the first one, but having the bright mode is nice, I'm glad they didn't bother calling it a turbo mode, which I think is dumb. They say it will only run for a couple minutes on bright and has a temp cutoff. thats fine, 15hours of runtime from a 750mah nimh is going to be sweet. I guess they've pulled a bunch of efficiency out of somewhere, because it lists the mid mode (same as the old one) at 4 hours instead of 2. So for guys that used to get month out of a battery can now probably get a year.
Beam. They have gone with a smooth lens, so its a bit tighter than the old one. I wish they had left it, I thought that one was great for the style. Its still fairly wide, but more of a hot-spot and flood. not a huge deal, but one of the things I liked most about the E05.
Some ups some downs. I have no reason to expect it to be any less than any of the other lights I've had from them. Right now Fenix lights are my go to just because they work, and they match my value estimation of them. I'm sure the other brands are great, but they are harder for me to get, and I would have trouble doubling my per-light budget. right now just over 20$ is a great value point for this size of light.
I've had it for a couple hours and here are my thoughts.
Size, same as before
shape, mostly the same, the tail is now the tri-lobe from the E01, so I suspect that may be what it is (since it looks like the 01, and doesn't have the model number on the body) No flats on it like the old one either
Brightness and modes.
Very easy to hop to the mode you want, I like the bottom up pattern, and I'm fine with no memory, since most memory lights are a bit vampirey. The low is great, and I think the high is pretty decent for the size, I'll see what its like tonight. I can see myself using the first two modes most, mostly the first one, but having the bright mode is nice, I'm glad they didn't bother calling it a turbo mode, which I think is dumb. They say it will only run for a couple minutes on bright and has a temp cutoff. thats fine, 15hours of runtime from a 750mah nimh is going to be sweet. I guess they've pulled a bunch of efficiency out of somewhere, because it lists the mid mode (same as the old one) at 4 hours instead of 2. So for guys that used to get month out of a battery can now probably get a year.
Beam. They have gone with a smooth lens, so its a bit tighter than the old one. I wish they had left it, I thought that one was great for the style. Its still fairly wide, but more of a hot-spot and flood. not a huge deal, but one of the things I liked most about the E05.
Some ups some downs. I have no reason to expect it to be any less than any of the other lights I've had from them. Right now Fenix lights are my go to just because they work, and they match my value estimation of them. I'm sure the other brands are great, but they are harder for me to get, and I would have trouble doubling my per-light budget. right now just over 20$ is a great value point for this size of light.
