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Surefire - Fenix Review/comparison
- Thread starter MORIMOTOM
- Start date
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2005
- Messages
- 19,834
all had fresh batteries. the beams are at a distance of about two yards.
size: the fenix is MUCH smaller than the other two. the surefires are comfortable in a front pocket, but the fenix just disappears.
egronomics: i found the fenix to be a bit "slippery" as a result of the smooth round shape and small size.
the surefires are very comfortable and have a no slip grip. the surefire "no roll" shape also ensures a positive grip. be careful setting the fenix down, it will easily roll away under a car or off a table.
function: i dont care for the multi settings on the fenix. i would prefer just bright and dim settings. i found it frustrating to have to "toggle" through each setting. i also dont like the lack of a momentary on position.
the surefires, of course, have only momentary and constant on. very simple to use.
price: at half the price, the fenix has the surefires beat.
brightness: may not be evident in the pics, but the fenix is easily twice as bright as the e1l, and the e1e is not even worth mentioning here. the e1e incandescent bulb produces far less usable light.
size: the fenix is MUCH smaller than the other two. the surefires are comfortable in a front pocket, but the fenix just disappears.
egronomics: i found the fenix to be a bit "slippery" as a result of the smooth round shape and small size.
the surefires are very comfortable and have a no slip grip. the surefire "no roll" shape also ensures a positive grip. be careful setting the fenix down, it will easily roll away under a car or off a table.
function: i dont care for the multi settings on the fenix. i would prefer just bright and dim settings. i found it frustrating to have to "toggle" through each setting. i also dont like the lack of a momentary on position.
the surefires, of course, have only momentary and constant on. very simple to use.
price: at half the price, the fenix has the surefires beat.
brightness: may not be evident in the pics, but the fenix is easily twice as bright as the e1l, and the e1e is not even worth mentioning here. the e1e incandescent bulb produces far less usable light.
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2005
- Messages
- 19,834
overall:
both companies produce unquestionable quality products. as far as durabilty, time will tell. i have only had the fenix for a few days, and the e1l for a few weeks.
i plan on keeping and using both, though i will likely carry the e1l more often. its simplicity and momentary on function being the reasons.
the fenix will find time when dressed up or when weight/size is an issue, though all three are easily and comfortably carried.
i have ordered another fenix, the p1, which has only one brightness setting. i dont have much use for all the settings on the p2d, and the lack of a momentary on will relegate this one to second string.
i would recommend either flashilight, both are well made and bright. if size and price are important, the fenix wins hands down. for ergonomics, customer service, and time tested durabilty and function, surefire (as a company) gets the nod.
both companies produce unquestionable quality products. as far as durabilty, time will tell. i have only had the fenix for a few days, and the e1l for a few weeks.
i plan on keeping and using both, though i will likely carry the e1l more often. its simplicity and momentary on function being the reasons.
the fenix will find time when dressed up or when weight/size is an issue, though all three are easily and comfortably carried.
i have ordered another fenix, the p1, which has only one brightness setting. i dont have much use for all the settings on the p2d, and the lack of a momentary on will relegate this one to second string.
i would recommend either flashilight, both are well made and bright. if size and price are important, the fenix wins hands down. for ergonomics, customer service, and time tested durabilty and function, surefire (as a company) gets the nod.
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2007
- Messages
- 313
Salute Morimotom! outstanding! I dont have that model but your review makes easy sense! I knew you would like it. I will be buying a couple more Fenix lights here in the near future, I want a AAA they put out. I would be happy owning any of those lights for sure.
MVF
Gold Member
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2005
- Messages
- 2,811
Different Fenix lights have different tyes of handles- I don't remember the model I have, but it uses 2 AAs and the handle looks more like the Surefires (sculpted & textured). It also has a "clickie" switch in the tailcap. Hope this helps you get the best of both.
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2006
- Messages
- 736
Thanks for your review and the brightness comparisons. Really shows a dramatic contrast between the cree lights and the regular bulbs. I have been thinking about getting a Fenix light, and now I think i'm sold! 
- Joined
- May 4, 2007
- Messages
- 413
You shouldn't have to. From what I read, a hard press will turn it directly on or off. Only soft presses will toggle between the levels.
Also, I believe it can both "start on bright" and "start on dim". To start on bright, you hard press the switch (from off). To start on dim, you hold the switch down (from off) until a dim light appears.
Note: this is unconfirmed, just gleaned from what I read.
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yes, you are correct. but, for example, it cannot be set to "medium" light output. if you prefer this beam, you must toggle through the dim to get there. there are two basic settings which are acquired by slightly rotating the bezel:
1. has three output levels and a flashing distress light. it is set to the lowest setting and must be toggled to get to any of the others.
2. turbo mode. set to high beam, and toggle to get to the strobe. but if you turn the light on, and slightly depress the tailcap to get a "momentary off", and release too quickly it will go automatically to the strobe.
your last statement is not quite correct, as the modes are set through bezel rotation. but i found it annoying that two bezel settings produce five light settings. a "quick tap" on the tailcap will change the output, but you may still get a setting you did not intend, or tap too many times, then have to toggle through all the settings to get to the output level you desire.
to some degree, yes. my initial thoughts are that the surefire has superior fit, finish, and reliability. time will determine if the fenix is as durable.
i would not say either light is superior to the other overall. each has good qualities, and each is better for some applications than the other.
from a purely output level point of view, yes, other companies make "better" lights than surefire, at least brighter lights.
- Joined
- May 4, 2007
- Messages
- 413
I would say that that's incorrect. Surefire and Fenix have completely different customers to answer to. Surefire have to answer to people in mission critical areas, such as military, police, and emergency services, for whom not even 1% factory failure rate is acceptable.
Fenix doesn't have that obligation, and can develop very fast to meet the demands of the lighting enthusiasts. Note that the Cree LEDs are a very recent development, only several months old. And right now the LED industry is doing entire sprints and skips in their development. Already, the Lumiled Rebel LEDs are out, which can beat Crees in their performance (but it sucks at heat dispersion compared to the Cree, and so whoever makes it has to design a very effective heatsink).
And as expected, Fenix already made new versions to accommodate for this, the P3D RB100. It can output 200 lumens on its highest setting. (Don't get excited, they're still on preorder. They ship in September I think.)
This kind of pace is something Surefire cannot, and has no obligation to, catch up to. They have a steady stream of contracts that calls for bombproof lights with minimal failure rates. And that's what they deliver.
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- Oct 29, 2005
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agreed. i would bet my life on a surefire. and i have used them in critical situations where i needed a simple, very bright light, that could withstand a beating, ie attached to a firearm.
as far as led technology, surefire is a little behind, right now. but consider they have set the standard for years, and companies like fenix, streamlight, and inova only have a market base because surefire has created it.
I bought a P2D a couple of weeks ago.
Was so impressed that I bought another one - along with a P3D.
The P3D was defective out of the box; I'm shipping it back to the dealer tomorrow.
They're great lights, but the build quality is nowhere near that of my Inova X03 or X5.
The XO3 is about a year and a half old and build like a tank. I trust it to operate.
So while the Inova may not be on the level (of build quality) of a Surefire, it is a level above the Fenix from what I've seen. I would not group the Inova and Fenix together in that aspect.
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i only mention them together to illustrate that surefire has created the market the other companies now sell to.
how true how true. over at CPF, the failure rate on clickie tailcaps on the Surefire are running at 24%.
also....the LAPD uses Pelican lights and 95% of GI's returning from the sandbox never used Surefire lights.
the myth that Surefires are military or LEO are just that. Marketing!:barf:
also....the LAPD uses Pelican lights and 95% of GI's returning from the sandbox never used Surefire lights.
the myth that Surefires are military or LEO are just that. Marketing!:barf: