Fenix LD12, anyone?

[N_N_R]

Hi, guys,

Using hte search function I figured this flashlight was mentioned here and there, so I guess many of you have it. Can you please share your impressions?

I've been considering buying the latest version with the XP-G2 LED, which is supposed to shoot out like 125 lumens and have longer run times than the previous version.

Still, I guess it's more of a thrower, but does it have a good amount of spill? I don't need a really tight useless hotspot in the centre...  My Fenix E25 turned out totally useless and inconvenient because it has too much of a throw, while my Fenix E11 is just great.

Also, do you have any pictures, comparing the LD12 to another Fenix, preferably E01, E05, E11, E25 (those I have ) so that I get a "real" impression about its size.

Is the side button convenient to use?

I'd very much appreciate any info on the flashlight, be it the newer or the older version 

[ducttapetech]

Well that depends, my first point I would like to make is that I have no idea.

Someone will come along shortly and help you the same way I didn't.


sent from my mobile

[Cupboard]

Well that depends, my first point I would like to make is that I have no idea.

Someone will come along shortly and help you the same way I didn't.


sent from my mobile

 

I have the LD10, and that is definitely a thrower. It has some flood which isn't completely useless so it's perfectly practical to use it for walking but it does lean more towards the throw.

[ltriant]

I have the older LD12. I don't EDC it, but I've taken it camping a couple of times and it works great. It's definitely more throwy, but I found the spill to be useful enough for walking around and finding things in the dark.

Personally, I don't like the side button. I mean, it works great, but because I have larger hands, I can't easily click it with my pinky while holding the light in my hand. Small issue, but an issue for me none-the-less.

Here's a couple of side-by-side shots with my E05. Sorry the quality isn't so great; they're just iphone shots. You can see the E05 has seen greater use than the LD12

Hope it helps.

[N_N_R]

LOL, thank you guys a lot for helping (and not )! Yeah, I expect it to be throwy and I need it for the yard as well and bigger distance... I mean, wtf, I don't know what I mean myself. I use the E11, which is supposed to throw to 80m, the LD12 is about the same, so I assume it will be okay as well. The E25 I'm dissatisfied with is 150m, which is already too much for me.

As for the side button... hm. One guy on YT conveniently switched modes with... yeah, either a pinky or another finger. Now you're making me think I wont be able to do it one-handed either....  but well. I use one of the higher modes mostly, anyway. I've been hesitating between the LD12 and the Nitecore MT1A ... and I think twisting hte head to change the modes is more inconvenient than this side button. And also I've had plenty of Fenixes that never disappointed me.. so I don't want to risk givng more money for a brand I dont know.

[nate j]

Is the side button convenient to use?

I have the LD22 (same as LD12 but 2 AAs instead of one), and I find the side button reasonably convenient.  I like the two-button UI better than the single-button UIs that look cleaner but are more complicated to actually use.

What I do is pull the light out of my pocket in a reverse grip and activate the tail switch with my thumb, then transition to a forward grip to use my thumb to push the mode button if I need to change modes, then back to a reverse grip to shut the light off.  This may seem like a lot of work, but it is really very quick and easy (even easier and faster than transitioning between forward and reverse grips with a knife, since you don't have to worry about cutting yourself).

The mode memory should help keep mode switching to a minimum, especially if you can remember to return the light to your most-used mode before switching it off.  Finally, a useful tip (which I read on another forum and promptly employed) is to rotate the pocket clip so that it is pointing directly at the mode button; this helps your fingers locate the mode button quickly and reliably, without having to look at the flashlight or search by feel around the circumference of the head.

[N_N_R]

Thanks for sharing : ) You're reading my mind I also chose the side button option to the cleaner design which I'd normally prefer. I get what you mean by the grip changes, though I'm wondering if I'd need to change the grip with the LD12, which is shorter...

Yeah, I also heard/read the tip with the clip - very useful indeed. I had trouble finding the switch of my E25 in the dark and as it has no clip, it annoyed me a lot.

[N_N_R]

Okay.... I got my LD12 a few days ago .. ok, 5 days ago. And I think it somehow "skips" the high mode. In the beginning I thought I was seeing things, but I'm already sure it does. It doesn't do it always, however, I can't get when it does it. I use freshly charged Eneloops with it.

So, basically, I turn it on on low (3lm). Click the side switch and it goes to medium (30lm). Click again and then it is supposed to go on high (65lm), however, judging by the brightness, it jumps directly to turbo -125lm. Then, as it's supposed to be on high, but it isn't, I click again (under normal circumstances this click would lead it to turbo) and the brightness doesn't change simply because it has already reached the Turbo mode. So, with the same number of clicks, I get low, medium, turbo, turbo, instead of low, medium, high, turbo.

This doesn't happen always, though I can't get when and why. Seems to happen more often when I cycle throw the modes twice or three times for fun. But sometimes it does it... immediately, without me having cycled once before that. I use it mainly on med/30lm, so when I turn it on on 30, click the side switch and instead of 65, I get 125 ...

Any ideas? I asked on CPF, one guy suggested that this would happen when the battery's still too "strong", but I've been playing with the same battery for 5 days already, so it's neither too strong, nor too depleted (since it gets to 125lm).

[nate j]

I just checked my LD22, and I do indeed see a similar issue sometimes.  I'm running a set of Lithiums (non-rechargeable) that have seen some use, although I don't think they are run down.  I definitely noticed more of a problem when switching modes rapidly; waiting 2-3 seconds between button presses seemed to result in good, clean changes in light output level.

I also found the following note in the user manual for the LD22:
"Notice: When use 2 fresh alkaline batteries, maybe due to the high voltage, the brightness of the Low level will be close to that of the Mid in the early stage. However, after working some time, the brightness of the Low will perform normally."

However, the above notice does not appear in the LD12 manual, so I'm not sure it is applicable.

[N_N_R]

Hey, thanks for sharing this. Yeah, you're right that it's more common when I cycle rapidly, but... still. Given the amount of money I spent on this (it's a lot for me)... I had the Fenix E25 before which had the same side switch for on/off and three modes. No problems with it.

I again re-read one topic on CPF and there's a guy who reports the very same "issue". So maybe it's something "typical" or possible with the new LD12...... Still, I like the flashlight a lot and this woudn't be a deal breaker for me. I use high the least, I guess. I prefer either Mid or Turbo, anyway. And so far with me "torturing it" and playing with it all the time, it lasted for 5 days on one Eneloop, which is awesome.

[Millhouse]

I have a Fenix PD32 and I can cycle rapidly through all 4 modes.

[N_N_R]

Yeah.......... the speed doesn't seem to be the reason, actually. It does it when after it being off for a whole day, I turn it on, it comes on low as it's supposed to and then when I want to go to high, it goes immediately to turbo. It doesn't matter if the battery's freshly charged or slightly depleted. ... I guess i'll have to put up with it.