Convoy S2+ Brass Flashlight Review
The Convoy S2+ Brass flashlight – finally brass! It offers high CRI in an extraordinarily photogenic brass host. It’s the same S2+ as usual, but so great!
Official Specs and Features
Here’s a link to the Convoy S2+ Brass flashlight product page.
Versions
An “old version” of the Convoy S2+ exists. It has different threads from this current revision. Of the current revision (with better threads!) there are a ton of colors and emitters. There are even metal variants, including this Convoy S2+ Brass flashlight and copper. Most are aluminum, of course. All sorts of emitter options exist, too!
There are a few driver options, too! This test covers specifically the “5A buck” driver.
Price
I paid around $25 for the Convoy S2+ Brass flashlight but the price can fluctuate a bit. Since my purchase, Convoy has added an 18350 tube, which you should definitely buy too (separately).
What’s Included
- Convoy S2+ Brass flashlight
- 18650
- Lanyard
- EVE 18650 (additional purchase)
Package and Manual
There is no manual.
Build Quality and Disassembly
Convoy is very highly regarded by flashlight enthusiasts for having great build quality and low prices. This Convoy S2+ Brass flashlight is no exception. I have wanted brass for ages. Copper was available long ago and is fine (it’s fine.) But it’s not brass. Finally we have brass!
It’s great! As stated above, I’ve tested the Convoy S2+ before (a few times, actually) and even once in an orange color. I’ve tested and posted the Convoy S2+ many time (because I’m a huge fan) but this post is to celebrate brass!
In the photo below (the first “seam” really) you can see just a bit of a knurling error – that’s the only issue with this light. Maybe surprisingly, this one doesn’t have the more common Convoy diamond pattern of knurling. Either is fine – and maybe diamond is better. Could be that Simon of Convoy decided the flat square option is better for showing off the brass!
Both head and tail come off the light. The tail parts are held in place by a brass retaining ring.
The driver is visible (left side, below) – note how the driver is not soldered to the retaining ring on this version. I’m not sure if that’s a special feature to the 519a version or if it’s the way Convoy ships them all now.
The cell tube is reversible. On this “special metal” version, both ends of the tube are unanodized. This does mean that loosening the head or tail will not lock the light out mechanically. Of course, the switch is mechanical, so you don’t really have to loosen this light for lockout, anyway.
Both head and tail have big ol’ beefy springs.
Here’s one thing I wish that’s “way too much to ask” of a $25 light. It’d be very neat if the logo lined up with the tailcap. Probably best is if the logo was aligned with the non-lanyard side. But still, alignment there would put this light over the edge!
Size and Comps
Length: 118.9mm
Width: 24.1mm
If the flashlight will headstand, I’ll show it here (usually the third photo). If the flashlight will tailstand, I’ll also show that (usually in the fourth photo).
Here’s the test light with the venerable Convoy S2+. The version below is a custom laser-engraved Convoy S2+ host by GadgetConnections.com. I did a full post on an engraved orange host right here! Or just go straight to GadgetConnections.com to buy your Convoy S2+ now!
Also above is the light beside a TorchLAB BOSS 35, an 18350 light. I reviewed the aluminum version of that light in both 35 and 70 formats. I also reviewed that specific edition, the “Oveready BOSS FT Collector Vintage Brass” 35. I love it!
Retention and Carry
There are three main ways to carry the S2+. The first is a pocket clip, which is a separate purchase. I happened to have a few on hand. You should be sure to buy one (or a few) with the light! Unlike me, because I failed to do so with this purchase.
In fact, two types of clip are available. There’s a friction fit clip, as seen here. This can fit in a few places on the tail end of the light. All provide “fairly deep” carry. There’s also a screw-in pocket clip, which I do not prefer. That clip attaches through the lanyard holes.
Included with this purchase is a lanyard. The lanyard fits through two holes on the tailcap. Note that the holes are only on one side of the tail, so the lanyard and screw clip can’t be used together unless actually attaching the lanyard to the clip. I don’t know if the clip will withstand that type of use, though (it’s fairly thin).
This lanyard is the “simple” variety, and that’s fine. I never use lanyards anyway!
Power and Runtime
The Convoy S2+ is powered by a single lithium-ion cell. The default tube supports a single 18650 cell. The accessory tube (available now!) supports a single 18350 cell.
The cell goes into the light in the normal direction – positive end toward the head.
Here are a couple of runtimes for the 18650 setup. The light does have low voltage protection. This performance is very typical of the Convoy S2+ 12-mode driver. It does look like the low voltage warning has changed here – now it’s after the final stepdown. In previous (or “different”) iterations, the light will blink in the main mode (for example at 150 lumens) instead of only blinking after that stepdown to 20 lumens.
Modes and Currents
| Mode | Mode Claimed Output (lm) | Claimed Runtime | Measured Lumens | Tailcap Amps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100% | – | – | 961 (0s) 895 (30s) |
4.62 |
| 35% | – | – | 431 | 1.32 |
| 10% | – | – | 141 | 0.32 |
| 1% | – | – | 14.5 | 0.02 |
| 0.1% | – | – | 2.66 | [low] |
That max current of 4.62A supports the “5A Buck” driver label on the box, too.
Pulse Width Modulation
This version of the S2+, unlike some previous versions, does not use PWM!
Here you can see a “baseline” – a chart with almost no light hitting the sensor. Then there’s the Ultrafire WF-602C flashlight, which has some of the worst PWM I’ve seen. It’s so bad that I used a post about it to explain PWM! Here are multiple timescales (10ms, 5ms, 2ms, 1ms, 0.5ms, 0.2ms) to make comparing this “worst” PWM light to the test light easier. That post also explains why I didn’t test the WF-602C at the usual 50us scale.
User Interface and Operation
There’s a single switch on the Convoy S2+ Brass flashlight. This is a reverse mechanical clicky. A reverse clicky has the benefit of allowing mode changes while the light is on. But this also means that the switch does nothing until it is on – no momentary action whatsoever. This is the 12-mode group user interface, but a four-mode group is also available.
You may recall that I prefer metal switches on my S2+ lights. That’s still true! This one is fine and a nice implementation, but metal switches do suit me better. I’ll add that despite this cover being translucent, this is not the lighted switch that Convoy offers. You could add that, though!
The action on these metal switches is fantastic. It’s like clicking a good Bic Clic Stic pen – just a rewarding action.
This driver is known as “Biscotti” and has a bunch of mode groups. Actually, this is reportedly not true Biscotti – that’s why I called it “Fauxcotti.” It’s nearly the same though. Mode memory can be turned on or off (yay!), and programming is easy! But there are simply too many possibilities for me to list the UI in a table as I usually do. Here is Simon’s flow chart for the UI.
Here’s the official guide for the Biscotti firmware:
From the mode group selection above, the light ships in mode group 1. You’ll want to switch it to mode group 2 quickly of course. And I always turn off memory if possible (and it’s possible here!). I made a first pass at my flow chart, which you can see below.
It really seems like time for me to update this chart. Still functional, though!
LED and Beam
This copy of the Convoy S2+ has a Nichia 519a emitter. I’ve tested this emitter before (in 4000K) in an engraved S2+. Just the CCT is different here, just the brass host! The Nichia 519a is still all the rage, and if you continue reading I think you’ll see why. But the summary is that it has great output with great CCT and great CRI – it’s just a great emitter.
This Convoy S2+ Brass flashlight has an orange peel reflector and a glow gasket, too.
LED Color Report (CRI and CCT)
Without even zooming in or clicking those images below you should be able to get a good idea – look at the circles, to start with. See how nearly the red circle matches the black circle? The black circle is essentially “perfect.” That means that the Nichia 519a is “nearly perfect” – in fact, it’s practically as perfect as we can get in a flashlight. Now translate that into CRI – the CRI is above 94 in every output level. At the lower levels (when not being driven very hard) the CRI is hitting 98!
I will say that despite this emitter being labeled 5000K, it comes in a bit cool for that rating. Duv is either right at BBL (or below, which I prefer), but on 100%, the CCT is all the way up in the 5600K range.
Beamshots
These beamshots are always with the following settings: f8, ISO100, 0.3s shutter, and manual 5000K exposure. These photos are taken at floor level and the beam hits the ceiling around 9 feet away.
Tint vs BLF-348 (KillzoneFlashlights.com 219b version) (affiliate link)
I keep the test flashlight on the left, and the BLF-348 reference flashlight on the right. These photos are taken around 18 inches from the door.
I compare everything to the KillzoneFlashlights.com 219b BLF-348 because it’s inexpensive and has the best tint!
Summary and Conclusion
Sure we had to wait to get a brass S2+ but it was worth it. This host is fantastic! I love it, just like I love the Convoy S2+ in general. I would probably recommend getting this light in a “warmer than 5000K” emitter option – brass should be paired with a warm emitter! But that’s all very easy to change, even if you don’t want to solder – just screw in an engine from another S2+.
Go buy this Convoy S2+ Brass flashlight! Buy the 18350 tube too!
The Big Table
| Convoy S2+ Brass Flashlight | |
|---|---|
| Emitter: | Nichia 519a |
| Price in USD at publication time: | $24.82 |
| Cell: | 1×18650 |
| Runtime Graphs | |
| LVP? | Yes |
| Switch Type: | Mechanical |
| On-Board Charging? | No |
| Claimed Lumens (lm) | – |
| Measured Lumens (at 30s) | 895 |
| Candela per Lumen | 7.1 |
| Claimed Throw (m) | – |
| Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s) | 244lux @ 5.361m = 7013cd |
| Throw (Calculated) (m) | 167.5 |
| Claimed CCT | 5000 |
| Measured CCT Range (K) | |
| Item provided for review by: | Me |
| All my Convoy reviews! | |
^ Measurement disclaimer: Testing flashlights is my hobby. I use hobbyist-level equipment for testing, including some I made myself. Try not to get buried in the details of manufacturer specifications versus measurements recorded here; A certain amount of difference (say, 10 or 15%) is perfectly reasonable.
What I like
- This brass body is soooooo smooth
- VERY high CRI
- Familiar user interface
- Great build quality, and certainly at the price
- 18350 cell tube option (now there is!)
What I don’t like
- Pocket clip isn’t included (or at least pushed – I always need a reminder to grab one!)
Notes
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