Rovy Von E5 Angel Eyes: First Impressions and who this light is for.
The Rovy Von Angel Eyes E5 (and E7) is a small EDC flashlight with an interesting design and several interesting features. The latter is somewhat customisable since there are 4 different auxiliary LED possibilities: White UV White; Red White Red; White UV White and White Red White. ie E5U, E5R, E7U and E7R models respectively. However, the operation of the E5* and E7* are identical.
Fig. 1 Note the small bit of yellow cord seen in the above image was supplied by the author.
***For the remainder of this article I will only be talking about my model, the E5U (which is shown in all images here).***
What is the Power Source?
The Rovy Von E5 features a dual power source, ie it has an internal high drain Lipo battery (the type that look like little "silver bag/s") and the capacity to take an AAA battery of the following specifications:
1.2V, 1.5V or 3.6V (rechargeable or otherwise).
Fig. 2 Above images shows battery compartment open for insertion of AAA type battery.
Fig. 3 The above image shows a "generic AAA rechargeable 1.2V NiMh battery inside the E5 unit.
Ok so how does one access the battery compartment?
Fig. 4 On one side of the E5 there is a small stainless steel latch. To open the light, firstly orientate the light so that the E5 lettering is facing you, simply press slightly downwards on the orange anodized Aluminium flashlight head and then stick a "strong" fingernail under that latch, lift upwards (with light pointing up); swing head away from you, so it will look like Fig. 2.
Provided the the internal battery has not been fully drained the AAA battery is hot swappable and thus allows for continuous lighting whilst changing the battery.
Some Cool Features
This E5 model of mine features a non- radioactive (and we tested it too with our Geiger counter LOL) "Glow in the Dark" (GITD) polycarbonate housing of which the GITD capacity can be enhanced via activating the internal 365nm medium UV wave LED, as seen in the Figs. 5-7.
Fig. 5
A double click of the lower button activates the 365nm UV LED -hold same button to turn off!
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
The above image shows how it is easy to locate the GITD flashlight inside of a rucksack, even in broad daylight.
A note about medium wave 365nm UV. This IS harmful for the human eye and one should definitely not stare directly into the beam/light emanating from the E5 as this polycarbonate is NOT blocking all UV emissions (we tested it and when the UV LED is activated, one can still excite external fluorescent materials which are within a 12" (30cm) distance away. Please follow all included safety instructions!
What's Inside of the (Plastic) Box?
Fig. 8
Speaking of Instructions how are the ones that are included with this light?
Fig. 9
The English instructions are all perfectly understandable. As for the German, French, Spanish, Italian and Japanese, I'm afraid we can not comment (yes I'm a non multilingual peasant who is learning Japanese). The instructions for the non-English do not include any of the diagrams which are present for the English instructions, although those diagrams of are of excellent nature and easy to understand with little effort (IMHO).
Fig. 10
There are several other accessories included; Some very strong looking split rings and a nicely polished pocket clip, of which there are 3 positions it can be mounted upon the lamp body.
Fig. 11 a
Fig. 11b (user installed pocket clip)
Also included is a small spare synthetic rubber USB C blanking plug for the USBC port, should you loose or destroy the factory installed one.
Fig. 12
Who is the RovyVon Angel Eyes light for?
ALL gadget freaks pay attention, you will love this small EDC light (I'm not a gadget freak and I love it anyway LOL!).
Fig. 13
You should note everything I've circled in red. I think for such a small unit these specifications aren't bad at all. Plenty of light for general EDC purposes.
Fig. 14
Note: You can not have only one of the primary LEDs on, both are activated for ALL settings of the primary LED's. It's all or nothing!
What LEDs?
The RovyVon Angel Eyes E5 I own has X2 6500K cool white (70 CRI) primary LEDs; X2 4000K warm white auxiliary LEDs and one 365nm UV LED. RovyVon state that the 365nm UV LED is ONLY for "charging the GITD case". Ok, make of this what you want. It could be used for other purposes, use common sense!
There is no mention of the brand of any of the LEDs in use.
There is a 4000K main (X2) LED option as well.
Fig. 15
The second button activates and toggles between the 2 auxiliary (they call it "side light") 4000K LEDs, first click 0.3 Lumens (although it appears brighter to the naked eye?), second click both LEDs are activated and supposedly 30 lumens of warm 4000K light; note it is very bright -see Fig. 16 below. Hold button to switch off.
Fig. 16
Run times for the above 4000K LEDs are 62 hours and 3.5 hours respectively.
The RovyVon Angel Eyes E5 is easy to carry and very much an EDC item
Fig. 17a
Here in Fig. 17, I used the supplied pocket clip to locate the flashlight to my EDC tactical Helikon Tex pack.
Fig. 17b.
But wait there's more! I use a small 2mm static cord (Figs. 17 b &c) to loop a larks head knot around a plastic D ring in order to totally secure my E5 in the busy urban environment/prevent easy thieving fingers from "lifting" it from my pack whilst travelling in crowded underground metros and railways stations around the globe.
Fig. 17c
Fig. 17 d.
4000K X2 "Sidelight" activation 30 lumens 3.5 hr runtime (internal battery)
Pros and Cons of the RovyVon Angle Eyes E5
Let's start with the CONS** of sorts;
1/ It is NOT IP68 rated but only IP6 rated. That is it is dust proof ONLY. It might survive some light rain but certainly NOT a dunking in heavy rain.
Ok fair enough, to ask for such a flashlight of this size and rated at IP68 is going to be too much and also increase the price unnecessarily IMHO.
2/ You need a strong finger nail to open the locking lever (ok this is actually a good thing as you wouldn't want the thing to come undone every time it rubs against something!).
3/ Comes in an unnecessary plastic box-very ungreen if we have to be serious here; although the box could be used to transport the flashlight, it's not necessary as the E5 can be locked out, so little to zero chance of accidental activation.
4/ The charging circuitry can not charge an external rechargeable battery, only the internal built in battery.
5/ The GITD capacity of the polycarbonate body is not super long lasting but OK and is excited just fine by other light sources than the internal UL LED. Although the internal UV LED will definitely excite it very well.
That's about it for the CONs
The Pros:
1/ Appears strongly built (1.5m drop rated) EDC flashlight for pocket or keychain or even around the neck.
Rugged casing made from Polycarbonate resin.
2/ Uses a quality stainless steel pocket clip-not flimsy at all.
3/ Hot swappable AAA battery, with a range of AAA types, ie 1.2 Ni-MH 1.5 Alkaline, 3.6V Lithium (and RovyVon just told me that as long as it's the AAA format then 3.7 V will also work just fine!)
4/ The light could be used as a small table top photo/video light as it can be charged whilst using up to the low setting (10lm), I've found for certain photographic applications this is a real bonus! It's not a feature which RovyVon mention but one I have discovered for many such type of small USB lights.
Here the E5 is being powered externally via USB at the same time charging (green light, telling me the Lipo internal is fully charged) the internal battery. Note only the "moonlight" and the "low" settings are the only available settings during charging.
Note: The actual exposure using the "low setting"- perfect (the mineral sample I mean!)
RovyVon Angel Eyes E5 being used (see above images) to illuminate a mineral sample. eg the unit is perfect for the mineralogist working in the field, having to take pictures of mineral samples. The color rendition is very very good.
5/ The light itself looks very cool,
plus is easy to use. It's not clunky, ugly or obtrusive in appearance. Could be carried upon a keychain, seen on an office desk, without senior management asking you to remove it as it doesn't "look the part"-yes this type of BS I've encountered many times in the corporate world.
6/ There is a generous 2 way lanyard hole/s for cordage (up to paracord thickness) to be used
and or the supplied steel split rings, to throw some keys into the deal.
7/ A USB C plug is used for the charging port for long life durability. USB type A is the stuff which manufacturers wants to fail on you, trust me! So when I see a USB Type C being used i know this is not going to be an issue. Talking of durability because there are NO O-rings in service then there are also NO O-rings to fail.
8/ The RovyVon Angel Eyes E5 easy to find/locate in the dark due to the GITD polycarbonate case/body.
Summary
** These are NOT really "CONs" as there are limitations to all equipment as as supplied this E5 worked perfectly and I had zero trouble operating it. I noted some reviewers stating they found it difficult to unlock the head to access the external battery compartment, I had no such "finger trouble" I found the light durable enough to take with me on an all day hike to our "local uranium mine" LOL and back with the only thing glowing was the light and NOT me LOL.
Seriously, in summary, it's a functional and versatile mini EDC flashlight, yes, it hasn't got SOS, or a strobe but if you're in the big smoke you shouldn't need an SOS function and since this is NOT marketed as a flashlight for the out of doors then that's perfectly OK. Time will tell (like everything) and let's come back and visit this page in a months time after carrying it EDC for another month around the globe.
PS if you want to get this light and help me out
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