Fenix Flashlights L Series, Natural color Aluminum Body, Uses 1 x AAA

by FENIX

Product Description

Fenix LD Series L0D Black CE Flashlight.

Features:

• Made of aircraft grade aluminum
• Color: Black
• Durable Type III hard anodized finish
• Water-resistant (dunkable)
• Reliable twist switch

Technical Specification:

• Dimension: 7.35cm (L) x 1.4cm (D)
• Battery: 1*AAA
• Utilizes a Cree 7090 XR-E LED with a life of 50,000 hours
• Five output types: 20 Lumens (3.5hrs) -> 7.5 Lumens (8.5hrs) -> 50 Lumens (1hrs) -> Strobe -> SOS
• Uses one 1.5V AAA battery, inexpensive and widely available
• 7.35cm (L) x 1.4cm (D)
• Input voltage: 0.8V~3.3V
• 14.5-gram weight (excluding batteries)
• Toughened ultra clear glass lens with AR coating
• Capable of standing up securely on a flat surface to serve as a candle
• Patented

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 2.9 x 0.6 x 0.6 inches ; 0.5 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 ounces
• ASIN: B000N2J9MA
• Item model number: LOD-CE Q4
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #162,653 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This amazing tiny flashlight will transform your life!, November 16, 2007

By 

Joshua G. Feldman "Technophile" (New York) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fenix Flashlights L Series, Natural color Aluminum Body, Uses 1 x AAA

OK - mabye "transform your life" is a little much - but since I started carrying the Fenix L0D-CE I've found myself with new found capabilities in a wide range of situations. I've carried a Maglight Solitaire for years - but the Fenix L0D-CE, while basically the same size (it's a bit shorter and wider, but a trivial difference) is a totally different animal. The Fenix is amazingly bright, with fantastic throw and reach. As a network administrator I frequently need to illuminate jack labels in dark wiring closets, or see inside server cases in inadequately illuminated racks. The Fenix L0D-CE can do all that, but it can also illuminate across my yard, and light up the tops of my neighbors trees. On the lake it hits distant boats as well as any big normal flashlight (actually better than most). It's astounding. I find I pull it out when grilling steaks at night, and when hiking, and when doing house work. It's so tiny it lives on my keychain and is taken anywhere - so I have it all the time. It's so powerful I never missing having a big flashlight. It's pretty much the complete package.

Yet, I do have few quibbles and comments on the issues that come up with this amazing tiny product:

1) The on/off switch is the screw down opening of the case itself (the same you use to change batteries). When screwed down tight the light is on. To turn the light off you must unscrew it a bit. There are no detents, so it's up to you how much you unscrew it. If you unscrew it just the minimum, then pressure on the front of the unit turns it on. To make sure it doesn't go own accidentally you must unscrew it a tiny bit more. Turning it on and off within 30 seconds is how you select among the 5 different operating modes, medium, low, bright, flashing slow, and flashing fast. The whole business of using the screw closure as the on/off switch isn't the easiest or most ergonomic (it takes two hands unless you learn the trick of doing it single handed). That being said, this design means the screw closure is the only moving part - for better durability. If you unscrew it too much, however, you risk having it come apart in your pocket or having the O-ring not seal all the way. This isn't a big deal, but it's an issue you come to live with (that isn't perfection).

2) The battery choices: AAA alkalines work great and you get plenty of life out them (unless you use the high beam a lot - in which case you'll get about an hour). You can choose to get a rechargeable lithium (LC 10440) and charger, which I chose to do. There's a bit of controversy about the 10440 - it makes the Fenix L0D-CE even brighter - but in high-beam mode it can conceivably overdrive the Cree chip beyond its rated specs. I can attest that with a freshly charged 10440 running the L0D in high beam mode it scary bright and the front of the flashlight gets HOT. I choose to use the 10440 and just use medium and low mostly and enjoy extra brightness on those settings and the economy of a rechargeable battery. I haven't bothered with NiMH rechargeables (which I own) since the lithium works so well.

3) I got the black, and living on the keychain it gets a few scratches (I've had it over 6 months and it's just a few). There are some signs of wear along the bottom edge where the the ring lives. This is fine, I'm quite impressed with the longevity of the paint. Some folks have issues with this, but I'm not one of them.

4)You might argue that it can be too bright for task work. I find that in low mode it's just dandy for task work. Also, how can you complain when you gain all the flexibility of having amazing brightness when you need it for distance work.

5) The "donut" effect. The shape of the Cree LED's front lens makes a little dark dot in the exact center, but only at certain focal distances (1-3 inches, and 1-5 feet). The effect is so subtle as to be completely trivial. Enough said.

6) LED lights are cold in color - true. But, the Cree LED in this unit is very white - lacking the cold blue tint in most LEDs. There is a bit of blue in the very center. This is just a small price to pay for a pocket miracle.

Obviously spending this much on a pocket flashlight isn't for everyone. But for anyone who views a pocket flashlight as a necessary life tool, this one is the best and is WELL worth the money. Highest recommendation.

27 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As close to perfect as perfect can get for now., February 1, 2007

By 

tron3 "-TRON3 (Serving the Users since 1982.)" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fenix Flashlights L Series, Natural color Aluminum Body, Uses 1 x AAA

For reference, keep in mind a 2 D-Cell flashlight is about 16 lumens of light, and a 3 D-cell is about 24 lumens.

The rated lumens on the instructions is 20 / 7.5 / 50 / (strobe) / (SOS)
The literature states a bulb life of 50,000 hours, and not the usual 100,000. Little discerning to me, but that means it will run for 5.7 years instead of the 11.4. Still a lifetime light considering. It does tolerate a voltage of 3.3v so 3v Lithium cells could be used for even BRIGHTER light. In any case, it will safely accept a standard Lithium AAA.

The only nit picky thing I can think of is the donut hole in the beam. But for some of us the beam is everything, so I'm not sure what to think. My biggest beef is that donut hole. But I didn't even notice it until I remembered someone talking about it and saw it.

The nice part, at least for me, is it definately seems to have a little more throw. The Cree LED bulb is further recessed, and you can see the reflector is angled a bit different. The knurling on the head is a tad heavier making the texture better for gripping, but not cutting. The notch in the base allows the ring to go in so it will stand in candlemode. But now it only has one hole for the key ring, instead of 2.

Instead of a key ring and lobster claw, it comes with a key ring and "penlight" clip with the Fenix name inscribed. It is a psaltry 0.25 mm taller than the other LOx lights and thus still not a giant.

I started my shootout with my LOP, LO-Ti, and LOD-CE with batteries that are considered weak. Even so, the LOD-CE outshone them all. I noticed it started to wane so I swapped the battery with the leading LO-Ti. The problem followed the battery and not the light. I finally gave up trying to drain the battery after 60+ minutes because it was still going strong. Not like a new fresh battery, but bright.

On a fresh battery the LOD-CE shines like a mother Fenix! Definately seemed to be holding its own at 50 lumens where as the CR123 using Fenix P1 is 55 lumens. But this lightweight can't stand up to the P1D-CE at either 70 or 135 lumens.

Next came the "white paper" test. This is where you hold the light up close to the whitest paper you can find. I used Kodak 24lb 110+ brightess. (Standard paper is about 85 brightness). Outside the main beam and corona, is a secondary corona you will never notice under normal use. Most LED's I have tested have one and this is where you really notice any color. That close to a paper and most lights will look absolutely white in the main beam.

My LOP is a real keeper because it was white as white could be. Perhaps dull in this dimmest of corona's, but still white. The LO-Ti still has that peachy color. I could definately see yellow on the LOD-CE. But I like that better than peach. After all, yellow is closer to sunlight and car headlights. Ever notice how blue headlights hurts your eyes?

In the fan test, I shone the light on a low powered fan to see if I can see blades. Noticing blades in the light means the light is pulsed, and this is a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) light. On normal, I saw shadows of blades on a USB notebook fan. On low, it looked like a rotating pedaled flower. On high it appeared as a disc. By putting my finger to the soft blades I can slow it down and make better notice of the blades spinning. On low, I could make it appear like it was standing still! On high still could not tell.

I have to make a decision but suffer from some "analysis paralysis". I once rated my LOP 5 stars. But in comparison, it isn't any more. It doesn't maintain a steady light level on normal cells, and only has one level - BRIGHT @ 30 lumens. But that is why I love it.

Same could be said of the LO-Ti, but again, it doesn't have a cree bulb. 40 lumens is no slouch, and it will survive any abuse you throw at it short of deliberately trying to destroy it. In this case, Titanium has a LOT of pull.

As for the LOD-CE, that slight yellow tint is nit picky and only shows under the white paper test. That holds no bearing in the rating. It is 0.25 mm taller, but still a great pocket pal. Again, no impact on the rating. But that donut hole. It really just seems to fade into the main corona. If I wasn't so focused on seeing it, I may never have noticed it. I am so enamored with the light that I am hesitant to ding it. But this is a noteworthy ding, even if ever so slight.

Does it retire my other EDC (Every Day Carry) lights? My beloved LOP will always be near and dear to my heart. It might be pulled for dirty jobs, or situations where I don't want to carry my "nice" lights. Plus it drains batteries better where after a multi-level light quits. My rare LO-Ti goes into semi-retirement after about a month of use. Hey, it's Titanium and only 250 of them were made! The LOD-CE has convinced me to give up my belted EDC, the P1D-CE. At least for a while to see how much I miss it. The LOD-CE is adequately bright, and has better throw, thus giving less incentive for a larger light. I will still carry the P1D-CE at night, or for shopping in large stores in case of blackouts.

The build is excellent. Aircraft grade aluminum and HA3 hard anodized in black. Maglites use the cheaper and softer HA2. A polished metal reflector and anti-reflective glass lens help emit light.

It easily stands at 4.75 out of 5 stars. It is too good for 4.5, but not perfect enough for perfect. I will reserve that for the Seoul version, if we ever see one. In short, an outstanding light for the money and worth every penny.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Keychain Flashlight !, March 26, 2007

By 

jr_Tech (Portland OR. area) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fenix Flashlights L Series, Natural color Aluminum Body, Uses 1 x AAA

Unlike many keychain flashlights which are adequate for locating a keyhole at night, this little wonder provides enough light to make it a good general purpose flashlight! This light shines a brighter beam than my 3 D cell Maglite did before I converted it to a 3 watt led bulb. Of course, battery run time of the D cells in the Maglight is longer, but this tiny Cree-led Fenix will run for about an hour on "high" and can be adjusted to lower levels if longer runtime is desired. This is an amazing little flashlight. Since it is slightly shorter in length and only slightly larger diameter than the Mag "Solitaire" that I carried on a keychain for years, it is a easy to carry upgrade. The type III finish on this light is much more durable than that on the Mag.