Fenix PD30 Premium R5 Review

[hedgepig]

Hello folks,

I've got a Fenix PD30 Premium R5 torch and a few accessories in for review. The accessories are the Fenix red filter and camping lampshade, plus an Ortec headstrap. The plan is to test out the torch as a headlamp (with the red filter for night nav), and as a general camp light (with the camping lampshade).

I've only just got my hands on it and had a quick look yesterday afternoon (see the video). With a 257 lumen turbo mode it can be amazingly bright, but the lower power general settings seem to be quite sufficient for normal use. I'll be testing it out more thoroughly over the next three weeks or so and then I'll come back with a full review - if there is anything anyone wants to see in particular let me know and I'll see what I can do.

[video=youtube;jrlP4pG34o4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrlP4pG34o4[/video]

 

[cbr6fs]

Nice unboxing vid, nice light.

Bit of a Fenix fan meself, i've got 2 x LD01's a TK21 U2 and a TK35, really really impressed with both the quality and the VFM.

Was really tempted to get a PD30 for every day use, ended up pre-ordering the Zebralight SC600 instead though, fingers crossed it's a worthy risk.


Be interested to read/hear what you think after you've had a chance to put it through it's paces.

 

[nunzionuk]

Tis a lovely torch, had one for about 3/4 months now, puts my old maglites to shame on everything but the battery life

 

[hedgepig]

Nice unboxing vid, nice light.

Bit of a Fenix fan meself, i've got 2 x LD01's a TK21 U2 and a TK35, really really impressed with both the quality and the VFM.

Was really tempted to get a PD30 for every day use, ended up pre-ordering the Zebralight SC600 instead though, fingers crossed it's a worthy risk.


Be interested to read/hear what you think after you've had a chance to put it through it's paces.

It's the first time I've had my hands on a Fenix and I'm looking forward to getting out on the hills with it. The brighter settings are amazing, but I want to see just how good the lower settings are for extended use while night walking. The initial impressions are all good.

Tis a lovely torch, had one for about 3/4 months now, puts my old maglites to shame on everything but the battery life

Do you find the battery life a problem? What about the batteries themselves, have you tried rechargeables?

 

[cbr6fs]

Tis a lovely torch, had one for about 3/4 months now, puts my old maglites to shame on everything but the battery life

Guess it really depends on which Maglite you mean.

Compared to my Mini-Maglite with an incandescent bulb, well to be honest even the little LD01 is THAT much better there's no real comparison.

On my Minimag if i drained every last mV out of the battery i could get around 7 hours use, in real world terms though as far as "useful" light goes i'd only really have around 4 hours.
Obviously the newer LED versions of the Maglites are better, but even then they cannot compare even slightly with the outputs of the PD30.

If you cycle down the modes and find a brightness comparable with the Maglite then like for like (battery wise) there should be very little difference.