Emisar DW4 vs Fenix HM50R V2.0
Quick take: The Emisar DW4 costs $5 less; the Emisar DW4 is brighter (4,500 vs 700 lm); the Emisar DW4 throws farther (144m vs 115m); the Fenix HM50R V2.0 runs longer on high (3 vs 1 hrs).
| Spec | Emisar DW4 | Fenix HM50R V2.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $55 | $60 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Headlamp | Headlamp |
| Lumens | 4,500 lm | 700 lm |
| Candela | 5,200 cd | 3,300 cd |
| Beam distance | 144m | 115m |
| Runtime | 1 hr (turbo) | 3 hrs (high) |
| Battery | 18650 | CR123A |
| LED | Nichia 519A 4500K | XP-G3 S4 6500K |
| Beam type | Flood | Flood |
| Modes | Ramping + Stepped | 4 Stepped |
| UI | Anduril 2 | Simple |
| IP rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| CRI | 95 | 70 |
| Weight | 2.8 oz | 1.5 oz |
| Dimensions | 3.9 x 1.3 in | 1.8 x 1.0 in |
| Warranty | Manufacturer Limited | Lifetime |
What owners report
Emisar DW4
- ✓Owners in caving, mine exploration and search and rescue call it flawless
- ✓Light enough to wear on a helmet for hours
- ✓Boost driver gives good efficiency and regulated runtime
- ✓Choice of optics and emitters, as with every Emisar
- ✓CNC-machined aluminium with trapezoid threads and factory lubrication
- ✗No USB-C charging or reverse charging — the cell comes out
- ✗Takes unprotected flat-top 21700s only
- ✗Protected and button-top cells won't fit at all
- ✗Ordering goes through a small-batch supplier with long lead times
- ✗Anduril's configuration menus are steep for a first enthusiast light
Fenix HM50R V2.0
- ✓Very light and stable — stays put through sudden movement
- ✓Single-button interface that works through medium to heavy gloves
- ✓Reflective strap makes it findable in a dark tent
- ✓Lockout prevents battery drain in storage
- ✓Spare cells available from Fenix, useful for backcountry trips
- ✗The rubber grip strip inside the strap gets sweaty during hard effort
- ✗The body gets hot on higher settings
- ✗The tilt mechanism needs more force than most and isn't easy to adjust on the move
- ✗16340 capacity limits runtime at high output
- ✗Minimal feature set — no red mode or secondary emitter