Well, now I don’t know where to put this one
I think I will put it on the emitter suggestions, unless you prefer to put on the Questions ! What do you say AlexGT?!
I’ve got the same request from Sofirn official store, and my answer was that I am not sure that there is a place on the market for same type of light like Q8, with similar or same UI like Narsil.
Personally I like the idea of having more lumens but 6 led reflector usually have much floodier beam then with 4 led, so my vote goes to 3 XHP70.2 something like Utorch UT03 prototype …
Also If K6 went to production,I would love to be on the list for testing.
I have one suggestion for the UI. The non-ramping mode group should have “press&hold” to change modes and “fast click” to turn off. I find this preferable to the other way around, as you are less likely to accidentally register a double click; I also find a short click to turn off to be more intuitive than a long press. It would also be more consistent with the ramping mode - in either group, press&hold would change brightness while a click would turn the light off. With the current setup, the interface changes depending on which group you are in, which is less intuitive.
Delta_V, just one question: when you mean “press&hold” you mean it like the Emisar D4? Or did you mean “click + press & hold”? Meaning one click for ON, then press & hold to change modes, like the Olight lights?
Sorry, I was just manipulating some of my lights and got that doubt!
Hmm, that’s a bit tough. Given that we, the BLF community, recently created the Q8 to meet our desires… creating a similar light and asking for our input might take us dangerously close back to the Q8.
I like three idea of having fewer emitters (say 3) and make them XHP50.2’s. Or better yet, 3x XHP35 HI! That way we have lumens and some throw. I mean, what does a 10,000 lumen pure-flood do for you? Blind you up close it seems to me. Don’t get me wrong, give me those lumens! Just allow me to cast them a bit farther.
And I do really like how Sofirn is accepting of feedback. Very nice. And I’m always up for testing a light
Hum, I got the point, completely! I don’t have the Q8, and I only one “big light” (Amutorch AM30), but I see all the points about that possible comparison! I guess it will be hard to beat the Q8 :partying_face:
The advantage of multiple XP-L emitters is you can get away without using a boost driver like you would most likely have to with XHP emitters. Lets you save on driver cost.
That said, if XP-L emitters are chosen, would be nice to have XP-L HI emitters for at least a bit of throw. The additional lumens of HD emitters would be unnecessary in this application.
XP-L HI emitters added
Not having information about the driver, I will not post about it being boost or not, but if necessary, that suggestion will be added later as a complement!!
EDIT: Just added one question myself, about the Moonlight mode.
- I would choose 3 XHP50 over 6 XPLs, because the reflectors with 6 have a relative small reflective area due to the neighbor cutouts
- Option to get 3 CRI90 XHP50
MCPCB designed dual footprint with XHP50 thermal pad non conductive (1206 Resistor pad bridge for example)
DRIVER
2S/2P Boost for 3 XHP35/50 12V
USER INTERFACE
- from Off short click last memorized mode or first mode of mode order if disabled
- long click from Off Moonlight, remove c) hold 1 second to get a memorized mode
- 4 clicks from on as well lock out
- Option to Moonlight with down to 0.1 lumens in ramping
- option to enable disable memory
- in modes an option to enable/disable moonlight and change mode order
3 short presses for strobe advance with long click to beacon and battery blink out, normal click to last mode
THERMAL STEPDOWN
- if this is not calibrated and based on MCUs spread this will be not good, some will be too high others too low,
I calibrated a hundred Narsil drivers and the spread is +10°C/-15°C sometimes even 20°C
- get this with a external NTC on the MCPCB and raise temp to 80°C
the thermal step-down should use a slow dimming down instead hard step-down’s
OTHER ASPECTS
Put me down for testing and review
I will even prefer a early pre production sample
Lexel and Jackie, suggestions added above! Thank you both
BTW 1: If anyone feels I left something out of the given suggestions, please let me know! I may fail on this :person_facepalming:
BTW 2: the links for the general thread and the posts #2 and #3 where already sent to Cissy! I will send it to Tracy as well, being the Sofirn rep on BLF
Is there any pre-requisites for being in the reviewer interest list? My experience with Sofirn lights is based on older models (but I have 2 newer AA/14500 lights in the mail) and would like to contribute do making a better product, bering in mind that the recent Q8 is kind of it’s kind and a new light would benefit from not aiming at the exact same spot