• 115 lumen flashlight with side mode switch powered by one AA battery
• It offers 4 levels of brightness, strobe and SOS. A single AA battery, it delivers a maximum 115-lumen output and a maximum 97 hours long runtime! Equipped with the exquisite and compact design, user-friendly interface and seal to IPX-8 standard, Fenix LD12 ideal for hiking, camping and EDC.
• Cree XP-G (R5) LED with a lifespan of 50,000 hours
• Uses one 1.5V AA (Ni-MH, Alkaline ) battery
• 105mm (Length) x 21.5mm (Diameter)
• 54-gram weight (excluding battery and holster)
• Digitally regulated output - maintains constant brightness
• Reverse polarity protection, to protect from improper battery installation
• Anti-roll, slip-resistant body design
• Tactical tail cap switch with momentary-on function
• Side mode switch in the front
• Made of durable aircraft-grade aluminum
• Premium Type III hard-anodized anti-abrasive finish
• Toughened ultra-clear glass lens with anti-reflective coating
Differences:
LD12 - LD10
115lm - 110lm
97hr - 70hr
80m - 87m
1612cd peak - 1902cd peak
1m impact - 1.5 impact
Left side LD15 the other side LD12
There's a bit of a spot on the crossfade directly to the right of the LD15 shot.
These are both high and low (est) modes. Color is actually pretty accurate. NOTE: Sand is my wall, it easily.
The LD15 has a larger and brighter than the spill stain LD12.
Fenix LD12 Price about $54.95
The more Comparison will be here soon
New Details:
Fenix has just updated one of its best-selling lights with a complete redesign of its user interface, and have the new LD12.
Not intended as a comparison of contribution, the successor to such a popular light (LD10), I will show some of the differences with the LD12 implemented.
First Impressions:
As with all Fenix lights up when you pick up the LD12 it feels just built and solid. Very familiar, if the LD10, but with a second switch near the front.
For a single AA powered light, the LD12 or too small to feel comfortable in your hand, too big to be practical for EDC.
The new interface allows you, the mode, it comes in, and select the change to a forward clicky, making current and quieter operation.
Switch seems to be a rapid soft-start to have all power levels. That's fast enough that you can use the light for signaling, but makes the switch appears softer and finer.
What's in the box:
The LD12's box is just like the older model and is generally well presented Fenix style.
The LD12 comes with the clip fitted. This photo also shows with the new mode switch.
Looking straight into the lens showing the Cree XP-G R5 emitter.
Looking inside:
With the tail-cap removed, the circlip holding the switch parts in place is visible. The circlip itself acts as the contact with the battery tube, protecting the circuit board from wear.
The battery tube threads are trapezoid and fully anodised both features giving a longer life.
Removing the battery tube from the head reveals the contacts. Reverse polarity protection contacts and the circular battery tube contact. In the LD12, this battery tube contact is not used for switching modes, as there is no head tightened or loosened mode selection.
Looking straight into the lens showing the Cree XP-G R5 emitter.
Looking inside:
With the tail-cap removed, the circlip holding the switch parts in place is visible. The circlip itself acts as the contact with the battery tube, protecting the circuit board from wear.
The battery tube threads are trapezoid and fully anodised both features giving a longer life.
Removing the battery tube from the head reveals the contacts. Reverse polarity protection contacts and the circular battery tube contact. In the LD12, this battery tube contact is not used for switching modes, as there is no head tightened or loosened mode selection.
Modes and user interface:
Here comes the LD12 really shines.
There are four modes constant (low - 3LM, Mid - 27lm, high - 60lm, turbo - 115lm) and two flashing modes (Strobe - 115lm constantly rotating between slow and fast flash, SOS - 60lm).
The user interface of the LD12 is now, as the TK21, TK15, etc with a Forward Clicky tail-cap switch and a mode selection button.
The LD12 remembers the last constant output voltage mode you select and play in this mode, when the tail-cap switch is pressed. On with the tail-cap, press the mode selection switch toggles between the levels going from low -> turbo and back to low.
The flashing modes are hidden, requiring you to press and hold the Mode button for 2s and 3s access to the strobe access to SOS. Sets turn out the lights, or simply by pressing the mode switch it back to constant output mode.
Obtaining the excellent interface of its bigger brothers, TK LD12 is altered in comparison to its predecessor.
Batteries and output:
Supports all standard AA battery types (not including 14500 Li-ion), but optimized for Ni-Mh, the LD12 is easy to feed.
Output modes are controlled, battery choice is not critical and the LD12 is the only power in different periods. There is no trace of PMW in either mode constant.
I've noticed a discrepancy in the description of the LD12 LD10 compared to. The LD10 is listed with 100 ANSI lumens maximum power and the LD12 than with 115 ANSI lumens. However, the peak intensity of the LD10 (1902cd) is higher than the LD12 (1612cd), and the LD12 has a longer duration than the LD10 on turbo. All this is set apart from the higher output of the ANSI LD12 LD12 than with a slightly lower peak intensity and longer duration quoted is logical.
The laboratory test results suggest the ANSI character are not shown as.
In The Lab
In an attempt to quantify the actual beam profile I developed the following test. There are probably many errors in my method, but it is simple and easy to perform and seems to offer good enough match.
The method used was to put the light on the edge of a table 1m from a wall with a tape measure on the wall. The zero of the scale is in the middle of the hotspot placed and a lux meter is then placed at points along the circumference, wherein the recorded measurements. Receptacles for the width with the light that recorded on a flat white wall, so that this method is a simple measurement of the actual intensity across the beam on a flat surface, not the spherical light emission.
The results are then plotted on a graph.
For the best way to throw a sharp tip to distract less from the spill to see. For the best floodlit track should be pretty flat.
Comparing the sample to the LD12 LD10 I have, does the LD10 higher peak intensity and overall higher performance at all points on the beam profile have.
Here comes the LD12 really shines.
There are four modes constant (low - 3LM, Mid - 27lm, high - 60lm, turbo - 115lm) and two flashing modes (Strobe - 115lm constantly rotating between slow and fast flash, SOS - 60lm).
The user interface of the LD12 is now, as the TK21, TK15, etc with a Forward Clicky tail-cap switch and a mode selection button.
The LD12 remembers the last constant output voltage mode you select and play in this mode, when the tail-cap switch is pressed. On with the tail-cap, press the mode selection switch toggles between the levels going from low -> turbo and back to low.
The flashing modes are hidden, requiring you to press and hold the Mode button for 2s and 3s access to the strobe access to SOS. Sets turn out the lights, or simply by pressing the mode switch it back to constant output mode.
Obtaining the excellent interface of its bigger brothers, TK LD12 is altered in comparison to its predecessor.
Batteries and output:
Supports all standard AA battery types (not including 14500 Li-ion), but optimized for Ni-Mh, the LD12 is easy to feed.
Output modes are controlled, battery choice is not critical and the LD12 is the only power in different periods. There is no trace of PMW in either mode constant.
I've noticed a discrepancy in the description of the LD12 LD10 compared to. The LD10 is listed with 100 ANSI lumens maximum power and the LD12 than with 115 ANSI lumens. However, the peak intensity of the LD10 (1902cd) is higher than the LD12 (1612cd), and the LD12 has a longer duration than the LD10 on turbo. All this is set apart from the higher output of the ANSI LD12 LD12 than with a slightly lower peak intensity and longer duration quoted is logical.
The laboratory test results suggest the ANSI character are not shown as.
In The Lab
In an attempt to quantify the actual beam profile I developed the following test. There are probably many errors in my method, but it is simple and easy to perform and seems to offer good enough match.
The method used was to put the light on the edge of a table 1m from a wall with a tape measure on the wall. The zero of the scale is in the middle of the hotspot placed and a lux meter is then placed at points along the circumference, wherein the recorded measurements. Receptacles for the width with the light that recorded on a flat white wall, so that this method is a simple measurement of the actual intensity across the beam on a flat surface, not the spherical light emission.
The results are then plotted on a graph.
For the best way to throw a sharp tip to distract less from the spill to see. For the best floodlit track should be pretty flat.
Comparing the sample to the LD12 LD10 I have, does the LD10 higher peak intensity and overall higher performance at all points on the beam profile have.
Taking this a little further, I calculated an approximate factor to apply to the lux measurements, as each measurement gets further from the centre of the beam, it corresponds to a larger area onto which the light is falling. It seems to me that this should also be taken into consideration, so I applied these area corrections and came up with this odd looking graph.
The key quantity here is the area under the graph line. This should correspond to the total light output.
Confirming the results of the standard beam profile, the area adjusted graph shows the LD12 is outputting less light across the entire beam than the LD10.
The beam
The previous graphs show how that the LD12 appears to have a slightly lower output than the LD10. This is only noticeable when using them side by side. Used on its own the LD12 does not seem lacking at all. The slightly flatter beam profile also makes for a more usable beam. The LD10’s bright hotspot makes it less suitable for use at closer distances, but the LD12’s beam works well at all distances, still having some throw, but a softer beam for closer range.
Further comparisons to the LD10
The LD12 is slightly longer than the LD10, courtesy of the new forward clicky tail-cap switch and mode switch. The difference is only about 5mm, so not much, and the length makes it comfortable to hold.
Another difference is the new style of holster. Personally I prefer the LD10 version, but the LD12 holster is well made and functional.
In the following photos the LD12 holster is at the top.
The new holster no longer has the Velcro belt loop, requiring you to undo your belt to slide the holster onto it.
Using the LD12
The most striking feature of theLD12 is its user interface. Compared to the LD10, the LD12 is so much more intuitive to use. The tail-cap switch’s forward clicky action makes it more immediate and allows easy momentary use without having to click on and off.
Despite the slightly lower output when compared to an LD10, the LD12 has plenty of power. I’ve been using the LD12 mounted to my cycling helmet to add extra light near the front tyre and onto the cycle computer. Turbo was too bright, and even High was too much in the darkest parts of the trail.
For all other indoor uses the output levels provide useful variation. The Low of 3lm is good for general use, bit not low enough for middle of the night use. If I could make one change to the LD12 it would be to add a moonlight mode of 0.2lm as then it would be a true all-rounder.
The pocket clip (though I am not a fan of clips myself) fits firmly, but it also easy to remove without marring the finish of the LD12. The clip is very well finished being particularly pocket friendly as there is not a sharp edge to be found.
With the LD12 having the separate mode switch, using a forward clicky tail-cap switch makes it far more practical. Access to the light is immediate and more controllable. If you have no need for the easily accessible flashing modes, then you can completely avoid them.
Don’t think the slightly lower maximum output compared to the LD10 makes the LD12 inferior as the LD12 has plenty of output and is a far more usable light than the LD10 it replaces. A worthwhile upgrade in usability and a great single AA EDC light, the LD12 should be very popular.
