Sean's Flashlight Site

Surefire LX2 Lumamax

See the older version of this light: Surefire L2

Produced by Surefire

FEATURES:

• Virtually indestructible LED regulated to maximize output and runtime

• Two-stage tailcap switch provides instant access to one of two levels of light output: 15 lumens or 200 lumens

• Press for low, press harder for high. Twist for constant on

• TIR lens produces tight beam with enough surround light for peripheral vision

• Corrosion-proof, scratch-resistant aluminum body is hard anodized

• O-ring and gasket sealed so it's waterproof to one meter for up to 30 minutes

• 4.2 oz and 5.4" long and uses 2 CR123A batteries

Pros: Comes in a box with a lanyard and instruction sheet. This is a nice upgrade from their other packaging because now you can actually get it out of the package. Fit and finish are good. Size is nice and small for easy use and pocket carry. The fluting instead of knurling works well and makes it easier to slide in and out of your pocket. It's much shorter than it's predocessor (the L2). Bezel up/down clip is very nice, finally making pocket carry of a two cell Surefire practical. It looks as if the clip can be placed on an E2e body & vice versa but I couldn't easily remove the clip so I gave up. TIR lens gives a great amount of punch without being too tight. The TIR does what other lights need a larger reflector to do. Standard 1" bezel accepts E series filters and the F04 beam diffuser. Two stage tailcap UI is easy to use and even pressing all the way for high is not as hard as my L1 was. Electronics are in the head, there is nothing in the body at all so the LX2 head works on an E2e body (though only in high mode). Removable lanyard attachment ring. The nice thing about his light is that is actually comes with a lanyard!

Cons:
A bit pricey. Slight anodizing mismatch, although this is normal sometimes it actually matches. Some may not like the TIR or it's lack of Li-ion support. Run-time (2 hours on high) is average for this brightness level, but I would like it to be even longer. I'm sure it's more like 90 minutes on high. When you twist for constant on the tailcap is rubbing against the clip. It's not real bad because there is no knurling but it could wear the HA down over time.

Overall:
This light is a very good balance of long running low output and very bright output with great throw when you need it. The beam is like the E2DL and other new style TIR optic equipped Surefires. I personally like the 15 lumen low. I would even like it a bit brighter. Tint is great on my LX2, much better than most of the other Surefires I have had recently. Not harsh blue or green. My tests show the LX2 is brighter than my E2DL and Fenix T1. I estimate low to be right on 15 lumens and high to be right at 200 lumens (give or take ~10 lumens). I have a very hard time estimating lumens in excess of 115 with the "equipment" I have. The best I can do is give an estimate based on range. The range of my LX2 on high is between 190 & 228 lumens. By comparison, the range of my Fenix TK40 on high (not turbo) is between 227 and 273. So it looks like my LX2 is slightly over 200 lumens.

Run time test @ ~200 lumens. Light held to keep cool. 2 hours & 2 minutes to 50% (Panasonic CR123A exp: 2018):
(hours) : (minutes)-(light output)
00:00-135
01:00-135
01:20-135
01:23-135
01:24-134
01:25-133 (light drops out of regulation)
01:30-127
01:35-122
01:40-118
01:45-112
01:50-100
01:55-87
02:00-72
02:01-69
02:02-66 (~50% output @ 2 hours & 2 minutes)
02:03-63
02:04-60
02:05-57 (ended test)

Pics:
















The LX2 head fits on the E2e body and can power the LX2 head on high only:



E series filters fit on the LX2 head:

This is how much contact the clip makes with the tailcap:

LX2 beam profile on high:



LX2 on low and a Surefire E2L (45 lumen version) on the right:



LX2 on high and a Surefire E2L (45 lumen version) on the right:



LX2 on high and a Fenix TK40 on the right set to medium (distance ~10 feet):




LX2 on high and a Fenix TK40 on the right set to high (note that the TK40 has more spill than the LX2 that you can't see in the pic):



LX2 on high and a Fenix TK40 on the right set to Turbo:

Shots across the room. LX2 on high:



LX2 on high with F04 (beam diffuser):



LX2 on low:



LX2 on low with F04:



TK40 on high:



Titan T1A on high:



Fenix P1D CE on max:



Outdoor shots. Distance 45 feet. (all shots on manual exp):

LX2 on high:


TK40 on high:


LX2 on low:


Other shots taken previously on a different day from the same position with the same camera settings:
Fenix T1 on high:


Surefire E2DL on high: