I'm thinking of getting the 4Sevens Preon 2

BenLong1018

BenLong1018

Joined
Apr 12, 2012
Messages
1,668
I would like to know what you guys on the forum think of this light. I have a Fenix E11 and it's fantastic, but it's a bit bulky and I wanted something slimmer and easier to carry. So just let me know if maybe there's something you think is better than the Preon 2 or if you really like the Preon 2 let me know why you like it. Thanks guys.
 
I like my preon 2 lights. I have two and they get used more than any other flashlights I own.
Slim in a pocket or in a bag. I love having multiple light levels with just a click. For a small light they throw a lot of light. Using aaa batteries means for an edc light batteries are easy to come by. I have several other lights which are brighter, bigger, better at one thing or another but my preon 2 is the one I use the most.
 
It's as easy to carry as a pen, and yet it's amazingly bright. I prefer a much lower low, but other than that, the Preon 2 is a great light.
 
I just ordered the Fenix E11 as it's a lot more powerful than the current key chain models I have.

Checking the specs of both preon and fenix. Fenix will run 1/2 hour longer on one battery compared to 2 at full power (although preon is 160 vs. 105 lumen).

Fenix will run for 8 hrs 23 minutes at 32 lumen vs. 6 hrs at 22 lumen for the preon

Fenix is 6 mm wider, but 1.25" shorter and 1 AA vs. 2

Is 2.2 lumen even useful?

Weight is close to the same - few grams difference

Should have mine by the end of the week

DON
 
I just got a Preon 2 about a week ago and I like it, only complaint is it sometimes clicks on accidentally in my pants pocket.
 
piece of garbage in my opinion.

I mean, its a powerful light and the different settings are a nice feature on a penlight. but the thing felt like a toy. a lot of its pieces fit together looser than I would have liked. also, the button is like a hair trigger. it engaged all the time in my pocket just over the course of my day to day activities so I went through batteries like crazy and there were plenty of times it was out of juice when I really needed it. also, the pocket clip is garbage, mine bent outward without much resistance. like, it bent REALLY easily, I don't think they even heat treat the clip. I bent it back as best I could but after that it was never the same, it bent outward even more easily and it had zero pocket retention. It kept getting pulled out by the bottom of my jacket as a result and I finally lost it a couple days ago.

Save you're money and get a streamlight stylus pro. its built to actually be EDC'd. its pretty dependable for a penlight. and even though its only 48 lumens to the preons 160 you honestly couldn't even tell. I only detected a slight difference at extreme distances in the dark
 
oh, one other thing is that the preon is a lot better looking. its a pretty sexy looking flashlight compared to the stylus pro which is pretty utilitarian looking.

I'd still give my recommendation to the stylus though
 
I have a preon 1 that I have had on my key ring for about a year and a half and I love it. I got my dad a preon 2 for fathers day and he loves it. I don't think you can beat it for the price
 
ThirdTooth said:
Save you're money and get a streamlight stylus pro. its built to actually be EDC'd. its pretty dependable for a penlight. and even though its only 48 lumens to the preons 160 you honestly couldn't even tell. I only detected a slight difference at extreme distances in the dark
Click to expand...

Streamlight Stylus Pro is nowhere near as bright.
Not even close.
Not in the same category...at all.
I have the Streamlight, and recently got the Preon for my dad. Surprise suprise, but more lumens is brighter; alot brighter.
 
I love my Preons, I pave had 3 total, still have 2, I lost one camping, & I've had none of the problems that Third Tooth mentions (maybe he just got a lemon?). Just my 2 cents.
 
I've carried a preon 2 in my shirt pocket on duty for the last three months and I feel it was worth every penny. I has turned on a few times while cliped to the pocket but its a great light.
 
I actually intend on carrying it in the way it was intended to be carried which is in the breast pocket so I think it turning on accidentally will be more unlikely. Thanks guys for all of your opinions.
 
Hauling said:
I just got a Preon 2 about a week ago and I like it, only complaint is it sometimes clicks on accidentally in my pants pocket.
Click to expand...

I started to turn the battery cap about a quarter turn on my flashlights to avoid it turning on in my pocket. Hope this helps
 
Hauling said:
I just got a Preon 2 about a week ago and I like it, only complaint is it sometimes clicks on accidentally in my pants pocket.
Click to expand...

It's a great light, I'd suggest ditching the button end and ordering a flat tail-cap when you order the light. It's just as easy to turn it on/off with the twist UI, and you dont have to worry about it turning on in your pocket.
 
I am not as enamored as I once was with 4sevens.

I have several of their lights. I actually have two models of the Preon 2, one in neutral and one in high CRI (wonderful tint) that my wife uses in her nursing school classes.

The neutral one bit the dust after very light use and is currently back at 4sevens for repair. Not sure how long that is going to take and I have read that they actually send them back overseas for repair instead of just shipping out a replacement light. I probably should have sent it back when I got it as the clicky switch would sometimes not turn the light on unless pressed hard. I used it a little, never dropped or washed, and it died about a month ago with less than a year of ownership.

The high CRI model has been a gem. Trouble free. My wife has dropped it, abused it and so far, it still runs like a champ.

I also have one of the discontinued Preon Revo SS models and that thing has a weird flat spring that is problematic, even after replacing the spring with the "new and improved" version from 4sevens. I don't consider it trustworthy enough to carry and that is a shame as it was a heck of a light with a nice tint.

4sevens offers a nice, long warranty but I don't know if that will be honored or not. I bought a CR2 titanium light from them back when they had their "batteries for life" program. That was changed to five batts/cells a year for five years and it has been like pulling teeth to get the batts shipped as promised. I have had to e-mail them twice now to get my cells and fully expect to have to do the same this December. I bought the light for myself as a Christmas present and always know when my batts are due.

I own eight 4seven lights. One is in for repair, one is not trustworthy, the other six are trouble free. One model I carry with me at my PD job (Quark) and it has been dunked in water, rained on, dropped, extreme temp changes, etc. Basically used daily. I trust it totally.

And before anyone jumps in with Surefire and Streamlight love, yes, I have owned them also and have had to return some of those as well for failures.
 
I've had a Preon 2 for about three years or so. I carry it every day and absolutely love it. The low lumen setting is perfect for reading or looking for something within 3-5 feet of the light source, and the higher settings are fantastic for use at somewhat long distances. From what I can see, it puts out a wonderful amount of light for only using 2 AAA batteries.

If you have trouble with the light accidentally clicking on in the pocket, simply twist the front of the light about 1/8 of a turn and it will disengage the battery from the light. When you're ready to use, give it a quick twist and you're good to go.
 
I like the Preon2. Arguably the best if you like the pen light form factor. The low is a little brighter than I prefer for up-close, dark-adapted use, but the high is great for its size.
Flashy/blinky modes are accessible, but well hidden.
They are only Type II anodized - expect to see visible wear and tear. That doesn't affect usability, however.
Tint can be a mixed bag - mine was good, but cooler than I prefer.
It came on a couple times in my pocket. You could go flat tailcap - but I prefer clickies.
I picked up another one - this time with the Ti head and tail, and Hi CRI emitter.
I sent the tail to Zodiac Engineering for their tailcap mod.
Now, I really like the Preon2! I keep a cool, twisty one in my bike bag, and the Hi CRI, modified-clicker version in my EDC pocket organizer.
I have others (single CR123) that I prefer to keep in my left front pocket, but I won't part with my Preons.
 
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Have a Preon2 (black/Ti) and a Streamlight Stylus Pro. Both are good lights, but Preon2 is a better light by far (much higher output). The Stylus makes a great bag light, or work light.

However, I have heard good things about the Streamlight Pro Tac 2AAA, similar to the Pro, but higher output and a hi/mid/low. Looks pretty good.

opplanet-streamlight-protac-professional-tactical-light-88039.jpg
 
Its a neat light , I agree with the above concerning the flat cap if you are going to store it in a bag.

It would be nicer if the was a hell of a lot more knurling for grip and looks though.

The bright colours make it easier to find in the bottom of a backpack or footwell .
 
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