Preface
The Olight Seeker 2 is the second iteration of the Olight R50 model.
This is also Olight’s second flashlight that uses the 21700 battery (same battery type used in current Tesla Model 3 electric vehicle). The first flashlight that utilized the 21700 battery was their “Pro” version – Olight Seeker 2 Pro.
Let’s check out the merits and demerits of this new generation Olight Seeker 2 model.
Packaging & First Impressions
This is what the light will come with as shown below.
- The shrink wrapped packaging with its magnetic opening flap looks premium – something not commonly found with flashlights’ boxes.
- The threads and o-rings were lightly lubricated. Threads were smooth and clean (no gritty feeling).
- The side electronic switch requires a fairly firm and deliberate press to activate and helps in preventing any unwanted activation of the light.
- Magnetic tail cap is able to bear the light’s weight when attached vertically (upside down) to a flat ferrous metallic surface only. The heft of the flashlight prevents it from being attached horizontally stably.
- Anodizing of the light is uniform without any missing specs, as expected from Olight.
- The provided lanyard is able to support the full weight of the light and should hold up to the test of time.
- No holster and/or clip is provided.
- The provided proprietary Olight 21700 battery (ORB-217C50) will not work in other flashlights.
- Battery compartment should be able to take other 21700 batteries that have a slightly thicker battery width.
- Scanning the QR code with your phone/tablet on the box’s bottom would bring up the Olight Seeker 2 Pro’s product page.
Note:
- Although the review sample came with a 4000mAh 21700 battery, the actual production run will have 5000mAh 21700 battery (like the Olight Seeker 2 Pro) and the back of the box will mention the correct battery capacity (5000mAh) as well. **EDIT (03 September 2019): Updated photo for the flashlight’s box back – provided by the folks at Olight, with the correct specifications displayed.**
- Before using the flashlight for the first time, remove the Insulation Film from the battery tube.
- Only Button Top Batteries can be used, Flat Top batteries will not work in this flashlight.
Front:
Back:
Sides:
Top:
Bottom:
Box Contents:
Removing Insulating Film:
Quick Overview (Manufacturer Specifications)
- Body Material: Aluminium
- Body Color Option:
- Black
- Blue (Limited run edition)
- LEDs: 3 * OSRAM (OSRAM P9?)
- Battery Format: 1 x 21700 ONLY
- Output & Runtime (with included Olight 21700 3.6V/5000mAh battery):
- Moonlight (5 lumens / 15days)
- Low (50 lumens / 72h)
- Mid (300 lumens / 13h)
- High (1200 lumens / 1h 50min) -> (600 lumens / 50min)
- Turbo (3000 lumens / 3min) -> (600 lumens / 2h 35min)
- Max Beam Distance: 220m
- Beam intensity: 12,100cd
- Waterproofness: IPX-8 Standard (2m)
- Impact Resistance: 1.5m
- Dimension: 126mm (length) x 35mm (diameter)
- Weight: 185g (including batteries)
- Battery reverse polarity protection
- Accessories Included:
- 1*Olight 21700 3.6V/5000mAh battery (Olight ORB-217C50)
- 1*Magnetic Charging Cable (MCC)
- 1*Lanyard
- MSRP: ~$120
UI (User Interface)
UI for this light is suitable for both Every Day Carry (EDC) or walking/hiking light as it is straightforward to use after the initial learning curve.
Switching ON and OFF is done by the side electronic switch on the light, so momentary activation is not possible.
Normal Operation
From OFF:
- 1 Click – Last brightness level (all modes except TURBO & STROBE are memorized only) is activated.
- 2 Clicks – Direct access to TURBO; 1 Click to switch OFF, 2 Clicks to return to previous mode or HOLD down to switch modes.
- 3 (or more) Clicks – Direct access to STROBE; 1 Click to switch OFF or HOLD down to switch modes.
- HOLD (~1 sec) – Direct access to MOONLIGHT.
From ON:
- 1 Click – Light will switch OFF.
- 2 Clicks – Direct access to TURBO; 1 Click to switch OFF, 2 Clicks to return to previous mode or HOLD down to switch modes.
- 3 (or more) Click – Direct access to STROBE; 1 Click to switch OFF or HOLD down to switch modes.
- HOLD – Mode change (light cycles through LOW, MID & HIGH only; MOONLIGHT & TURBO are not part of the sequence), release switch to select Mode.
Note:
- TURBO mode is memorized as HIGH mode.
- If memorized mode is HIGH mode, after 2 Clicks to enter TURBO mode – an additional 2 Clicks will return light to MID mode instead of previous mode (HIGH).
- There is 1 blinky mode for this light (STROBE only) and no SOS modes.
Timer Configuration
There are 2 types of Timers – Short (3 min) and Long (9 min). Light will switch OFF once the timer ends.
From ON:
- 2 Clicks & HOLD – 1 Blink indicates Short (3 min) timer is activated. Repeat 2 Click & HOLD to activate Long (9 min) timer – 2 Blinks.
Battery Indicator
There is only 1 type of Battery Indicator for this flashlight.
From OFF, 1 Press (SIDE) and the SIDE Switch LED will glow one of the following colors as long as the flashlight is ON:
- GREEN – Power is >60%.
- ORANGE – Power is between 10% – 60%.
- RED – Power is between 5% – 10%.
- FLASHING RED – Power is <5%, do recharge the batteries.
Note:
- In MOONLIGHT Mode, the battery indicator will not switch ON when the power is more than 10%. When the power is less than 10%, it will light up as mentioned above.
- Due to the wide range of the ORANGE battery indicator (10% to 60%), we do recommend charging the flashlight once it shows ORANGE.
Electronic Lockout
From OFF:
- HOLD (till MOONLIGHT is activated & deactivated) – LOCKOUT mode is enabled; HOLD (till MOONLIGHT is activated) – LOCKOUT is disabled.
When Electronic LOCKOUT mode is activated, any button presses will cause the RED LED on the switch button to activate for about 3 sec.
Note: Changing out the battery will disable the Electronic LOCKOUT.
Form Factor
For flashlights that are intended to use on a daily basis (EDC) or walking/hiking usages and for possibly a long period of time, form factor is extremely important.
This light feels surprisingly well balanced in a medium sized hand (not head/tail-heavy). Switching between overhand and underhand holding method is easy with its form factor. Even with the lack of knurling, the grooves on the flashlight enables it to be rather “grippy”, even with wet hands/gloves.
Due to the flat tailcap, the flashlight is able to tail-stand perfectly without the slightest wobble, even with the lanyard attached.
Charging Process
With the provided Magnetic Charging Cable (MCC), the battery was charging at ~0.84A.
The light is capable of operating on all modes when charging (at the expense of a slower charging rate). However, it is recommended to use “MOONLIGHT” or “LOW” only, to ensure that the battery does get charged.
Solid RED indicator on the TAIL portion of the MCC Charger depicts charging in progress.
Solid GREEN indicator on the TAIL portion of the MCC Charger depicts charging has completed.
Beam Style/Beamshots
For this light, the spill, corona and hotspot is somewhat predictable due to the TIR optic. The LEDs are partially covered under the TIR (Total Internal Reflection) optic. With the LEDs used, the beam is still relatively “throwy” for recognising items in the near to mid-range distance.
The above beam profile is a rough interpretation of what is seen when white wall hunting.
The beam has a somewhat distinct hotspot with some slight corona and a fairly narrow (circular style) spill, with most of the lumens output focused into the hotspot. It also helps that the LEDs are perfectly centred in this sample. There are some beam artifacts when white wall hunting but not visible in real world usage.
All of the beamshots taken below are done so with the following camera settings (MOONLIGHT: 1sec, F3.5, ISO100, 5000K WB, LOW: 1/2sec, F3.5, ISO100, 5000K WB, MID: 1/8sec, F3.5, ISO100, 5000K WB, HIGH: 1/10sec, F3.5, ISO100, 5000K WB and TURBO: 1/15sec, F3.5, ISO100, 5000K WB).
Some pictures have been adjusted slightly to depict as close as to what is seen in real life. The distance of the light from the door is 4.6m.
Control shot:
MOONLIGHT (5 lumens):
LOW (50 lumens):
MID (300 lumens):
HIGH (1200 lumens):
TURBO (3000 lumens):
Mode (Output) Spacing
Mode spacing appears to be progressively brighter to the eye and the modes are well spaced enough to be able to know which mode one is currently in. With that in mind, TLR tend to view mode spacing as battery life indicators (amount of runtime left) rather than the specific output (lumens).
There is no moonlight level (sub-lumen or 1 lumen) option available as the “MOONLIGHT” mode comes in at 5 lumens. However, since this light is primarily targeted for those looking for a “Search & Rescue / Hiking or Walking” style flashlight, it is understandable why Olight may have thought otherwise.
On a side note, the HIGH mode (1200 lumens) could use a slightly lower output of say 1000 lumens to ensure a cooler & longer runtime – as the difference in output is almost imperceptible to most human eyes.
Tint & CRI
Olight did not disclose the tint (color temperature) and/or the CRI (Color Rendering Index) for the LEDs used in their light. For this light, a guesstimate would be in the 6500K and 70CRI ballpark.
However, there is slight tint shift in the beam profile. The hotspot is a cool white tint whilst the corona possess a slight yellowish tint; and the spill having a cool white tint.
This is not noticeable in real life usage.
The OSRAM LED that Olight selected has a rather consistent tint throughout the beam profile, especially with the TIR optic used.
Waterproofness
The light was subjected to warm water submersion, followed by cold water submersion and left under room temperature running water tap whilst running on TURBO.
No sign of water intrusion in the head, switch or tail was seen.
Lockout Capability
Both electronic lockout and mechanical lockout are possible when needed, like during transportation in a bag.
See UI (User Interface) – Electronic Lockout, on how to activate and deactivate Electronic LOCKOUT.
A quarter turn (clockwise) of the head section of the flashlight will enable Mechanical LOCKOUT.
Quick Comparison to Previous Generation
| Description | Olight Seeker 2 | Olight R50 Seeker |
|---|---|---|
| LED(s) Used | 3 * OSRAM | Cree XHP50 |
| Max Output | 3,000 Lumens | 2,500 Lumens |
| Max Beam Intensity | 12,100cd | 22,000cd |
| Max Beam Distance | 220m | 297m |
| No. of Mode Levels | 5 Modes | 4 Modes (No "MOONLIGHT" Mode) |
| Battery Level Indicator | Yes | No |
| Holster Included | No | Yes |
| Lanyard Included | Yes | No |
| Charging Type | Magnetic Charging Cable (MCC) | Micro-USB |
| Battery Included | Included (21700 Proprietary Battery) | Included (26650 Proprietary Battery) |
| Battery Capacity | 5,000mAh | 4,500mAh |
| Weight (with Battery) | 185g | 255g |
| Length | 126mm | 133mm |
| Head Diameter | 35mm | 42mm |
Quick Comparison to Olight Seeker 2 Pro
| Description | Olight Seeker 2 | Olight Seeker 2 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| LED(s) Used | 3 * OSRAM | 3 * Cree XP-L HD |
| LED Efficiency (Longer Runtime) | More efficient on MOONLIGHT, LOW & MID Modes | More efficient on HIGH & TURBO Modes |
| Max Output | 3000 Lumens | 3200 Lumens |
| Max Beam Intensity | 12,100cd | 15,600cd |
| Max Beam Distance | 220m | 250m |
| Battery Level Indicator | Yes (3 Colors) | Yes (4 LEDs for more precise battery level indication) |
| Brightness Level Indicator | No | Yes |
| LE Kit (e.g. Charging Dock) | No | Yes |
| Lanyard Included | Yes | No |
| Holster Included | No | Yes |
| Microfiber Cleaning Cloth Included | No | Yes |
| Weight (including Battery) | 185g | 198g |
| Length | 126mm | 128mm |
| "Knurling" | Grooves only | Grooves with rubbery-style (Dermatoglyph Silicone) grip |
Scale Comparison (Ruler)
Summary
To sum up, we believe that the most important part of any review is if given the chance to purchase the same light for our own EDC usage or to gift to our loved ones out from one’s pocket (wallet), would we still do it?
For this light, it is a YES, if the lack of a true MOONLIGHT mode is not an issue for your usage.
The straightforward UI with Direct Access to “MOONLIGHT”, TURBO or STROBE from OFF, Magnetic Charging Cable (MCC) capability, matt finish anodization, sustainable high output to size ratio and high capacity battery are all plus points for this flashlight.
However, it would be nice if Olight includes a holster and/or pocket clip with the Seeker 2. That said, the Seeker 2 Pro‘s holster fits the Seeker 2 perfectly.
Here is a bonus size comparison with some of the other similar-sized flashlights we reviewed previously.
From Left to Right: Nitecore TM10K, Nitecore P18, ReyLight Krystal, Olight Seeker 2, Olight Seeker 2 Pro and Olight Warrior X.
As with all gears, two is one and one is none.
Stay safe,
The Lite Review
Disclaimer: Light was provided for by Olight (manufacturer) for this review. No other compensation was provided.
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Olight Seeker 2
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