Those 3 days were probably the peak of their sales anyway.
What X6 and X7 are you talking about? The olight X6 and X7? Because neither of those are TIR.
The reflector is definitely going to be better for throw than a TIR.
However, if you look back a few pages, you will see that Jason said “I don’t care about throw.” And in that case a TIR is objectively better.
Later on he started talking about throw and changing his argument because it seems like he can’t decide on what he wants.
Anyway, for the people reading this thread that actually want to learn something, the best optics for short range use are in this order:
zoomie style light like a led lenser, gives almost perfectly uniform flood with no hotspot
tir of non-led-lenser style, for example olight or carclo, which gives a brighter spill and softer hotspot
reflector light which has dim spill and a bright sharp hotspot
For long range use the order is like this:
aspheric or led lenser zoomie which is 100% hotspot and 0 spill
reflector light which has dim spill but a sharp hotspot
tir which has a soft hotspot
.
.
.
No offense, but deciding you want to make a flashlight with “X head diameter and Y number of reflectors” just because no other flashlight has “X diameter and Y number of reflectors” is not very smart.
The correct way to go about building a good light is to decide on a performance target (eg for short range use, long range, what lux and lumens, etc) then try to fit that in a portable size.
OR
Decide on a size limit (eg 26650 tube light, so head is no bigger than the body) and then try to get the highest performance out of that size.
The reason the Q8 and A6 were so successful is not because they were unique in terms of head size and number of reflectors. Because they were not. They were successful because they were affordable and outperformed the competition in the same class.
I prefer the C8F reflector but I want a bit more throw than a TIR can offer.
I just got some Ledil cute optics in that no one has offered. They are kinda wierd and I haven’t tried them. But the Cute SS can also be sanded and polished out to a clear surface. But for now thats the 26650 option for the time being. Others have asked so I do think Sofirn will go for it.
I like that idea, the A8 was a great little light. A really nice size to EDC in a jacket during colder months.
I have to say though that Endermans suggestion of TIR does appeal. I often carry a S41 and a C8 walking the dog. The S41 is superb for short range, beautiful flood and high CRI, it gets 99% of the use, the C8 gets used occasionally for distance spotting, that’s it.
Can you get a mixed angle TIR for a quad setup? Ie two at 60degree, two at 90degree (or whatever angles they come in) to give a nice comprise?
mixed angle TIR for a quad setup does not exist. Kinda where the discussion went off about.
If you can stand the C8 size, you will only need one light like the C8F. It is more versatile than the Fixed TIR. The C8F triple reflector will offer more throw on High yet have usable spill. Bigger than the S41 but you will only need the one light.
C8F also has great mod potential to use a driver with Narsil or the D4 ramping_IOS since it uses an E-SW. Want even more throw install some XP-L HI emitters. No TIR to hold them back.
My C8F has the Fet+1 and ramping_IOS. Kinda like a Q8 in a practical, usable size and better beam profile.
I like the idea of using a TIR myself since there are so many existing lights to use as hosts. It just needs the right type of tir optic. I’m not sure it exists. Maybe a narrow beam triple with 2 of the optic lenses clear and one frosted? Or maybe have the whole optic covered in a very light frosting so as to give a bit more spill light intensity? I might do some experimenting on my DQG 7x. Adding any type of frosting does seem like it would rob you of lumens, though.
A build like this is not one BLF would need to be involved in.
Using a reflector, on the other hand, would require a manufacturer to actually build a unique body for it.
Just keep in mind you need the corresponding MCPCB to the TIR if you go multiple emitters. That limits the TIR options to only a few. Now those few options need to fit into a light.
Careful taking that DQG Tiny apart, if you do. I have seen several strip domes.
Yeah I have the Dc fix over my S41, not a great difference but I have left it on.
A BLF project used to be a nicer tint and a current boost, now it seems to be a complete ground up project pushing boundaries. I hope there remains room for both, I don’t have the time or inclination to do even minor mods unfortunately.
I’m still preferring the TIR option if I’m honest, I carry the S41 over the Q8 for walking.
If I go to the Q8 it replaces the C8, if I want more throw I take the Maxtoch (soon a GT hopefully). The constant always remains the little TIR for its great close range beam.
The TIR isn’t all to credit, the Nichia’s certainly help. The beam profile, tint and CRI all combine to make it useful close range.
Yes! I want a 10180 thrower! It should be fully optimized for throw by using a tiny emitter with good brightness and a very well machined smooth reflector. Let’s build it! :partying_face:
Edit: I just realized that I missed what you were saying almost entirely. I guess I turned off reading comprehension after “10180 thrower… ” I don’t really want any flashlight that doesn’t use a driver. I’m not familiar with that emitter or that optic. Can you tell me a little about why you chose those?
It puts out small but useful enough 450 lm (peak, probably not possible with 10180).
The optic is a very throwy one and has the right size. A reflector should work well too, but I found precisely 0 intensity measurements coming from manufacturers, so I use TIRs in my drawings. I may use Endermann’s calculator though…
Frankly, I don’t know whether driverless is a good idea.
This LED had a very low Vf. It’s totally unsuitable for direct drive with moderately sized batteries, but 10180 may not blow it. It will be hard on battery and hard thermally. A regulated driver might be a good option, but it will take a lot of space, 2-sided for sure. A FET driver will be smaller, but when doing FET why don’t go all the way and make it driverless?
EDIT: I see very roughly 40 kcd with the calculator, again at peak intensity.
For me, the driver is desirable in order to get a nice UI. I wouldn’t necessarily want max output at all times either. It’s not so much about “regulation” as it is about “control”. I’m a little bit of a control freak, and I like having choices. It would also be insanely cool to have the NarsilM smooth ramping on such a minuscule light. That, coupled with it being classed a “thrower” would make it truly over-the-top!
I would also love a 26650 D4 or mini Q8.
With four XPLs it should do 4k+ lumen.
Onboard USB charging would be nice too.
Which optic/reflector remains a good question. The D4 TIR is too floody IMO. The Q8 beam is just right to my taste. Can it be shrunk and maintain some throw?
I would think the C8F triple reflector would be pretty close to the Q8. My guess would be a little bigger hotspot, so not as good throw, but still good and much brighter spill than a TIR. Here is a video of the C8F xpl to see the beam. Video by DB Custom.
How was the spill brightness? I was really hoping to find a TIR setup that could come close to a reflector as far as beam proportions, hot spot size to spill brightness.
EDIT, I changed post 487 to better reflect what I was trying to say.
TIR’s give you a larger hotspot then a reflector but that doesn’t mean less throw, they are simply better at collimating the beam.
I have dozens of TIR’s laying around here and I have tried all sorts of combos. The spill is usually better then you would expect unless the optic you got is specifically designed to not have any spill.
Unlike reflectors TIR’s are designed for a bunch of use cases and a whole lot more then size factors into what they give you.
In my case I did a lot of testing for my EDC tube light.
As a rule, the TIR gave more spill close to the hotspot, then there was a small area near the edge of the reflector beam where the reflector spill was slightly brighter. After the reflector spill cutoff though, the TIR spill kept going, just getting dimmer.
I prefer TIR optics in most cases, the beam is more pleasing.
I’d like a small, elegant, titanium light. BLF style.
Seeing how Astrolux sells their TI3A for $16 I can’t help but think that a much better BLF light has to be doable for $25 (preorder price). And I want one.
So:
10440 powered
e-switch, BLF UI
FET driver (FET+1 would be better, but if it complicates the build it’s not worth it)
CRI90 219c
clip
locator light
I think that LED locator would be cheaper than tritium. And if connected to the driver it could act as an indicator as well. Or with RGB led the colour could be configurable to best suit the garment.
I’d like it the most with the switch in the tail, but I’m not sure if doing the FW3A thing is feasible in a titanium light (I guess with Al internal tubing - yes). It would make the light thicker though.
