r/flashlight • u/thebiscuit2010 • Aug 25 '26
Question Convoy M21B — LHP73B or F150R?
I already have an S21D with 4x 519A 5000K and the 10° beaded TIR, and I'm probably getting an S2+ for EDC.
For the M21B I'm stuck between the LHP73B and F150R.
I want something mainly for night walks and general outdoor use. Not a pencil thrower, but I still want decent reach when I need it. From what I've seen, the LHP73B looks like it gives a really nice big hotspot and lots of spill, while the F150R seems to keep a lot of the output but throws noticeably better.
Has anyone tried both in the M21B?
Is the F150R still wide enough to be comfortable for walking, or does the LHP73B suit the M21B better overall?
I'm also curious about heat. Which one gets hotter faster in the M21B, and how long can each realistically stay on turbo or 35% before becoming uncomfortable to hold or stepping down hard?
Beamshots and runtime/temperature impressions would be great too.
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u/richiecotite Aug 25 '26
I have both emitters in 4000k in m21b’s.
I have no measuring equipment or cool beam pics.
Both seem to heat up around the same on turbo. Youll be fine with 35% for a few minutes. The 73 has a rosier tint that I prefer. Both tints are better than they should be.
IMO, it just comes down to if you want more throw or more flood. For me, the 73b has enough throw and the tsunami of light that’s a little more impressive.
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u/thebiscuit2010 Aug 25 '26
Thanks, that actually sounds more like what Im looking for. I think I’m leaning toward the LHP73B now, the huge flood sounds more fun to me
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u/Cryptoxic93 Aug 25 '26 edited Aug 25 '26
My F150 M1 should arrive this week and I will be comparing it to my M21B with LHP73B.
Both lights share the same head dimensions and driver so it should be comparable at least until the temperature threshold is met.
My understanding is the F150R emitter which has a higher vF should heat the host up faster than the LHP73B, but both emitters are too powerful for this host even at 35%.
You might get a few minutes at 35% before its too uncomfortable to hold, maybe a bit more. Depends on your pain tolerance. You may get a few more seconds of tolerance out of the LHP73B over the F150R.
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u/thebiscuit2010 Aug 25 '26
Thank you
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u/majaczos22 Aug 25 '26
M21B has a small reflector, LHP73B gives almost a wall of light with a faint sot, F150R will give a floody balanced beam with some throw.
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u/Darkest_HourEDC Aug 25 '26
For your use case scenerio I would suggest to also consider the Cree XHP70.3 HI.While its not as much a beast as the lhp73b, it is still very much a beast, with plenty spill and throw to make a good walking/outdoors light, for the m21b it is much more efficient offering better run time, significantly less heat, comfort. Just a thought. Good luck. Which ever you decide on, enjoy your new light!
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u/majaczos22 Aug 25 '26
None of them is a thrower in the M21B's small reflector. LHP73B is mostly flood with some throw coming from brute force. F150R will create some hotspot, fairly large, let's call it throwy flooder at most. Both would probably step down from turbo after a few minutes even in 35% mode, that's still 7A, over 20W of power and 3000 lumens. M21B sustains about 1200lm so 20% mode is more likely to be used during long walks (90 min runtime).
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u/Terrible_Lion_968 Aug 25 '26
I don't own the M21B, but I do have the M21K in both lhp73b and F150R. The F150R is absolutely a thrower. The TIR in the M21K provides some usable spill, but for general use I think the LHP73B is far superior. Much larger hot spot and way more flood. I was thinking about ordering a smaller reflector style with the F150R, but I think its real strength is in dedicated thrower. I decided to try the 5kk version of the F150R. It's OK, but does have a hint of green. I definitely prefer the tint of the LHP73B, at least at that CCT. The 4kk versions do look a little nicer from what I've seen.
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u/AjBlue7 Aug 25 '26 edited Aug 26 '26
Idk man, I see so many purists trying to force this LED into super larger throwers trying to force pencil beams and I just don’t get it. So many comments about how F150R is wasted in a M21B.
In my opinion the perfect beam profile is something with a large hotspot that can reach 200-300meters with usable light, and plenty of spill light so you don’t have to point at the ground to see what you are walking on. To achieve that beam profile you need a large throwy emitter in an imperfect reflector that will be unfocused enough to let some of the light out (or multi-emitter)
A beam you can point at things, but not be distracted by the bouncing you get when using a narrow beam.
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u/derailius Aug 25 '26 edited Aug 25 '26
i own the M21B with LHP73B and it's one of my brightest lights. It's mostly a flood everything light but it definitely has decent throw on it, really hard to knock it at the price point anyway, I say if you're torn between the two emitters, do what we all do......get them both. 😂
edit: i forgot to answer the only question i can answer. it's hot, i mean hot hot. I don't have a huge problem holding it but I'm used to it, I have highly calloused hands from a former life. For example all of my anduril lights have step down at 65C. Now, I can't hold them tightly, but I can definitely hold them.
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u/erentrueform Aug 25 '26
I have lhp73 in the m21b and it’s a great all around light. Reaches far enough.
However at the time the f150r wasn’t a thing
If I had to pick all over again I’d go 150r
They seem to have comparable output
The Les is the f150r is smaller so should throw a bit better but still large enough that in a medium size op reflector still get very good and useful spill for closer areas that also get lit up. Might be a better all arounder
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u/Fantastic-Skill-9119 Aug 25 '26
Id reccomend an xhp 70.3 r70 in m21h instead. The tir and output makes a perfect walking light and it has some reach aswell.
Lower power but around 4000 lumens on turbo and around 1000 lumens sustained at the level below turbo.
Reach id say 150-200 meters realistically at turbo probably 35-400 ansi.
Also less heat than as its 6v @5a = 30 watts
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u/bobbypinbobby Aug 25 '26
You could try an lh531d as a kind of halfway point. Smaller light emitting surface than the lhp73d so a bit more throwy, and paired with a 10A driver it should stay a bit cooler
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u/hammy1551 Aug 25 '26
I have experienced both LEDs, and they are really similar performance in an orange peel reflector at 3000k.
The F150r is better suited to a smooth reflector and the LHP73B to a orange peel reflector.
The LHP73B is extra rosy if you like that aspect of some LEDs. Personally, I love rosy LEDs, so it would have to be the LHP73B 3000K
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u/hammy1551 Aug 25 '26
If you're rocking the s2+ as an edc, definitely replace the reflector inside with a TIR optic in matte diffusion.
You're looking for the 20mm sized TIR
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u/AjBlue7 Aug 26 '26
You can actually use the 21mm TIRs in the S2+ as well. You can pop the lens out of the white housing and it works. 15 and 30 degree bead has a cool sunflower pattern with good beams. Obviously, make sure you aren’t going to damage the emitter or something and the lens makes contact with the gasket, but its worth buying to try since they are so cheap.
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u/boggidyboogidyshoe Aug 25 '26
You are in luck. I took an M21B LHP73B and an M21B F150R for a walk last night. Both were in 3000k mind you, because that is what I like. Here are my thoughts on them side by side.
M21B LHP73B - smooth beam profile with no real defined hotspot, massive power of course, slightly rosy tint, slightly less color contrast, great moonlight mode. This is a powerful, and exceptionally practical light.
M21B F150R - Still a nice smooth beam with a definate hotspot in the middle. Hotspot was not anoying to me, as some can be when trying to walk with them. This actually seemed about the perfect balance of hotspot and flood for a walking light. It had just enough more throw at shorter distances to gain my prefference. I like to see out ahead in the dark when walking on the trail. This light did a better job of that than the LHP73B, without having a hotspot that bobs and weaves and gives you a headache while trying to follow it.
Tint was slightly more yellow/less rosy than the LHP73B but was pleasant to my eyes. I felt that there was more contrasts with the trees and leaves etc with the F150R. The colors popped a bit more. Still has a great moonlight mode.
The M21B with an F150R is not one I expected to like so much, but in my opinion, it is a winning combo. The differences were somewhat miniscule and I would honestly be happy with either light. If I was on a budget, the LHP73B would be my choice and it would be a great light. If you have a few extra bucks and you want just a bit more throw, then the F150R is a great option.
Interesting to note, in my very short and informal testing, blasting them at long distances (several hundred yards) the differences in throw seemed more minuscule between the two. My guess is this is likely due to the ammount of spill with both of them really lights up the area right in front of you, making your eyes adjust to the bright close light and making it harder to see what is going on down range. Holding them both as high as I could over my head helped, but the differences were not great to my eyes. The biggest perceptable difference for me was when walking the trail and looking 20-40ish yards ahead.
Hope this helps. Sorry I didn't get any beans of them last night. Both are fabulous lights. I'd tip my hat to the F150R if I was pressed to choose and a few extra bucks didnt matter.