I have the Fenix CL25R and the Fenix CL30R lanterns. They are the best in class as far as I’m concerned, and have a nice neutral white tint to the light. I picked up a two CL25R clones several months back, both under $10. The most notable problem with the clones is the ugly cool blue tint. As far as I’m concerned, there is nothing worse in a campground then seeing people with their cheap blue LED lanterns everywhere. A 3000k light is so much more soothing and relaxing, which is what camping is supposed to be, right?
Anyway, I picked up some Lee filter material. 205 Half C.T. Orange Gel sheet from Knight Sound and Lighting This gel is supposed to correct 6500k light to 3800k tungsten light. I cut the gel wrap with a paper cutter in a strip to 2 5/16” wide, and scotch taped it to the clone lantern.
The gel sheet is rather large, and could wrap several of these lanterns.
Here are the three lanterns. Fenix CL25R on the left, clone in the middle, clone on the right with filter gel.
This picture is with “Auto white balance” set on the camera. Notice the reflections on the table.
This picture is with white balance set to 5700K
Clone vs filtered Clone. WB set to 5700K
Overall, the Lee filter does an exceptional job correcting the cool blue light. I will wrap the other clone and have them at our campsite in a week. Will update this with some camp photos.
Fenix CL25R
Comes with protected 18650 2600mAh quality battery
Price I paid was around $48.00us
Clones cost around $10.00us
Included batteries are complete crap. Both were left sitting for a couple months and bled down to 2v. Threw them both away.
Panasonic/Sanyo protected NCR18650GA 3500mAh $8.50us
Lee filter gel worked out to $5.50 each to wrap two clones. (could wrap more clones with same sheet)
Total $24.00
The Fenix is actually water resistant with o-ring in the tail cap, and better build quality. Clones have no o-rings. Would not want the clones to get wet in the rain. Since there are no o-rings, I wouldn’t trust they water protected the buttons on the top either.