Fenix P3D RB100 Black Premium 100, Q5

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cutter17

Joined
May 16, 2006
Messages
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Just placed an order for this light. The one I ordered has a Lumiled Rebel LED instead of the Cree LED. I have been reading where a lot of people suggest the Cree LED, but what is the real difference between the two? The Cree, in the same light has a Turbo mode of 165 lumens, while the Rebel has a Turbo mode of 215 lumens. Wouldn't this mean the Rebel is the more powerful of the two? I have not studied flashlights like I have knives so I'm sure I'm missing something about these LED's. If someone can explain it , or give me a link where I can read about them I would appreciate it! Thanks:D
 
cutter17 said:
Just placed an order for this light. The one I ordered has a Lumiled Rebel LED instead of the Cree LED.
while the Rebel has a Turbo mode of 215 lumens. Wouldn't this mean the Rebel is the more powerful of the two?
or give me a link where I can read about them I would appreciate it!
Click to expand...

The Q5 Cree would be brighter by measurement - but in all practical usage one would not be able to tell the much if any difference.

Although both light will be bright (very) on their Turbo/max setting - I would suggest you don't use this mode for extended periods - as the light(s) will heat up and may shorten the overall life of the LED - use the general mode's low-->medium-->high levels - surprisingly I use the low level the most.

I have a preference for the Rebel LEDs - as the ones I tested have much smoother beams (the Crees have a notorious dark halo surrounding the central hot spot which Fenix have not been able to eliminate upto now) also from the limited sample the Rebels seem to have nicer (warmer) tints - but this is still somewhat of a "lottery" - to me either light would be good - but I have a slight preference for the Rebel100.

Fenix P3Dce-Q5 Premium Comparison Review
this has direct side-by-side comparison of the Q5 with the RB100.

Fenix P3D-RB100 Rebel Comparison Review

--
Vincent
http://picasaweb.com/UnknownVincent
http://UnknownVincent.Shutterfly.com
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CREE's claim to fame is significantly better energy efficiency.
Means longer battery life at a given brightness (or higher brightness at same battery life).
 
Max time for me is about 2 hours tops on an Energizer Lithium, I have the Rebel as well and the higher lumens means bigger center spot without much of the flooding on the outer circumference when light is focused on a wall.
 
White wall comparison -
P3DceQ5_P3Drb100.jpg
P3DceQ5_P3Drb100U2.jpg

the Q5 seems brighter in comparison - but the Rebel 100 has a smoother beam and nicer tint - also the overall coverage by the Rebel 100 is wider/larger - so it's spreading its light more.

More practical comparison -

Fenix P3Dce-Q5 ............................................... Fenix P3D-RB100
StairP3DceQ5.jpg
StairP3Drb100.jpg

These stairs shots confirm the central hotspot of the Cree Q5 is more intense - but the Rebel 100 spreads its light out more and has wider coverage - the RB100 hotspot is also wider than the Cree Q5.

--
Vincent
http://picasaweb.com/UnknownVincent
http://UnknownVincent.Shutterfly.com
http://UnknownVT.Shutterfly.com
http://clik.to/UnknownVincent
 
Wow, thanks for the shots. I have the 200 lumen Rebel, the one on the right, and was lamenting not getting the 7 percent brighter cree. Now I know the rebel is smoother in the middle, and I'm not sorry now.

BTW, don't tell anyone, but I put the P3D on my Christmas list, hoping to get another one!
 
I initially purchased the P3D Premium 100 with the Rebel LED and love it. Subsequently, I decided that also having a light with the smaller form factor of the P1D would be useful in certain situations as well. At that point I went with the Q5 emitter as its output almost equals the P3D P100's in turbo mode (albeit with a shorter runtime). The former is on its way as we speak and I look forward to getting it in hand and playing with it. Hopefully the beam quality won't be too much of a disappointment as the P3D's with the Rebel emitter is really excellent.
 
Here's a REAL challenge for those Fenix P3D "Premium" lights -
1Mcp_SpotBox.jpg


Yes, a 1,000,000 candle power spotlight!!!! -

At one time this would have been considered a silly/crazy comparison -
but look and judge for yourself -

StairP3DceQ5.jpg
Stair1McpSpot.jpg

StairP3Drb100.jpg
StairFenixL0Drb80Li.jpg


Color removed/DeSaturated -
StairP3DceQ5deSat.jpg
Stair1McpSpotDeSat.jpg

StairP3Drb100deSat.jpg
StairFenixL0Drb80LiDesat.jpg


Just for fun - thought I'd include the Fenix L0D-RB80 (L0Dce is similar) -
this is a single AAA light -
but on an AAA sized 3.7V Li-Ion rechargeable 10440 battery.....
the thought is pretty "frightening" that so much light can come from a single AAA light.

Fenix L0D-RB80 Comparison Review

Fenix L0D-CE Comparison Review

--
Vincent
http://picasaweb.com/UnknownVincent
http://UnknownVincent.Shutterfly.com
http://UnknownVT.Shutterfly.com
http://clik.to/UnknownVincent
progress.gif
 
This is a cool thread. I just recently purchased 2 of the P3D CE Q5 flashlights with the orange peel reflector. Correct me if I am wrong but I believe the OP reflector can felp smooth out the beam and reduce the "halo" effect. It may cost a tiny little bit of throw but I believe that the difference wouldn't really be dectectable by the human eye. I can't wait till they arrive so I can use them.
 
Murdok72605 said:
This is a cool thread. I just recently purchased 2 of the P3D CE Q5 flashlights with the orange peel reflector. Correct me if I am wrong but I believe the OP reflector can felp smooth out the beam and reduce the "halo" effect. It may cost a tiny little bit of throw but I believe that the difference wouldn't really be dectectable by the human eye. I can't wait till they arrive so I can use them.
Click to expand...

You're certainly correct about the purpose of the orange peel reflector. I would imagine, though, that Vincent's Q5 light probably has this feature as well.
 
Bronco said:
You're certainly correct about the purpose of the orange peel reflector. I would imagine, though, that Vincent's Q5 light probably has this feature as well.
Click to expand...

Correct - the Fenix P3Dce Q5 has only and always had the orange-peel reflector.
P3DceQ5Hd.jpg

only the earlier plain P3Dce had plain smooth reflectors. I believe they now all have orange-peel reflectors

I know of no one who has been able to totally eliminate the notorious Cree dark halo -
but this is only really visible on white wall comparisons -
and really doesn't mean that much in real practical use -
remember it was not that long ago we used to use incandescent lights like the famous MagLites -
look at their beams and see all the imperfections -
but the lights worked, and worked well - as thousands of people will attest.

--
Vincent
http://picasaweb.com/UnknownVincent
http://UnknownVincent.Shutterfly.com
http://UnknownVT.Shutterfly.com
http://clik.to/UnknownVincent
 
UnknownVT said:
I know of no one who has been able to totally eliminate the notorious Cree dark halo -
but this is only really visible on white wall comparisons -
and really doesn't mean that much in real practical use -
Click to expand...

I received my P1D Q5 today and can attest to all that Vincent is saying here. Even with the medium orange peel reflector, the minor halo effect is still present. But that being said, I can't imagine any reasonable person insisting that this negatively effects the practical utility of the light one bit.
 
UnknownVT said:
Correct - the Fenix P3Dce Q5 has only and always had the orange-peel reflector.
P3DceQ5Hd.jpg

only the earlier plain P3Dce had plain smooth reflectors. I believe they now all have orange-peel reflectors

I know of no one who has been able to totally eliminate the notorious Cree dark halo -
but this is only really visible on white wall comparisons -
and really doesn't mean that much in real practical use -
remember it was not that long ago we used to use incandescent lights like the famous MagLites -
look at their beams and see all the imperfections -
but the lights worked, and worked well - as thousands of people will attest.

--
Vincent
http://picasaweb.com/UnknownVincent
http://UnknownVincent.Shutterfly.com
http://UnknownVT.Shutterfly.com
http://clik.to/UnknownVincent
Click to expand...

I love my P3D Rebel 100 to death. Having owned the P3D Cree, I can say there was a very slightly noticeable ring in the beam, but compared to the LED Mag Lite and Inova X5 I owned--well, there really wasn't any comparison :D

I do like the color of the light produced by the Rebel 100 over the old Cree P3D. It seems just a little more yellow, so it's easier to see by. Of course, that could just be because it's also a bit brighter.

My Dad's getting a P3D C5 for Christmas, so if anyone really must see a side-by-side comparison, let me know :)
 
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