FW3A, a TLF/BLF EDC flashlight - SST-20 available, coupon codes public

Can I be put down for 2?

We pause this program to bring you the newest development in rad from PyeongChang…

during the women’s figure skating short programs, amdist the rather mundane music associated with figure skating, one young lady from Hungary by the name of Ivett Toth came out in a studded black pant uniform and did her short program to AC-DC!

The crowd ate it up, she did remarkably well but not at the level of the worlds best, sadly. Loved the music change for sure! :smiley: Rock On Ivett! :slight_smile:

And now back, to your regularly scheduled program…

Proud to be Hungarian right now :smiley:
I really like that music too!

I know the debate and the decision about the emitters is on “stand-by”, but I wanted to “re-launch” it, if possible/desirable.
These days I received a flashlight (Wuben TO10R), a triple with XP-G3 (supposedly High CRI), that have a Cool White tint, and a huge green shift.

Today I tried to compare it with other triple lights (and the Emisar D4), all with XP-G2 Leds, all different tints, and also a light with Luxeon V (and Pebbled TIR lens). I took a photo of the Wuben side by side with the Emisar D4 (XP-G2 S4 3D, on the right).
Despite some lack on image quality, please look at the shift that it has.

Also, side by side with the other triples (with XP-G2, from the coolest to the warmest) I have. The TO10R is the always the left one.

And side by side with the Luxeon V.

Please note that there are shifts due to the cellphone and uploading in lower quality than the original. Still, it can be seen that the XP-G3, at least on this CW version may be a not so good choice.

HOWEVER, and I know this has been said a lot, this will be a user friendly flashlight so maybe the users can change the emitters.
HOWEVER, wouldn’t it be preferable to offer from the start a light that could be more “pleasant” to the eyes regarding to the tint output?

Sorry if this is messing too much with the production and initial idea, but this will probably be (again) a matter of discussion, sooner or later. Better sooner than later , in my opinion :wink:

The plan is to make a poll for it.

I wanted to do a Condorcet-style poll for emitter family and another one for color temperature, but people thought that was too complicated. They might be right. Besides, BLF doesn’t have a way to do that kind of poll, unless it has a very small number of options.

Me, I’m hoping for XP-L HI in 3D or maybe 4A. That would cost an extra $10-$12 though, significantly raising the price of the light. All the other options are cheaper but have some sort of technical downside… like poor beam quality on XP-G3, extreme heat on 219c, or significantly reduced output on XP-G2.

If it doesn’t have that as an option, I’ll probably just mod one how I like… assuming I can find the emitters. Nobody has 3D or 4A in stock lately. Maybe I could get close enough with two 3A and one 5D, or two 5D and one 1A.

The poll would be nice, but maybe it would get complicated to manage, no? I’m not familiarized with that, hence my doubt.

Hum, the XPL-HI in that tint would be a good option. The XPL-HI 4C, at least with SMO (and sometimes with OP) reflector creates a yellow dot in the middle of the hotspot.
The XPL-HI 3A is great as well, a nice (Neutral) White beam, no apparent shifts.

XPL-HI would give a good balance between flood and throw, and would provoke less heat on this light, what could be great due to its size and mass to absorb the heat. But it would increase the cost of the light.

It could work it the sale of the FW3A was like the Emisars, where one can chose the emitters and lenses. But I guess that would also create a lot of trouble dealing with so many different requests…

How about the Luxeon V? I don’t know how it works on triples, but could it provoke much heat and sag?

In terms of tint, it has one of the best I’ve found so far. It tends more to WW, but has a good balance, not being too yellow/orange. It renders colours beautifully.

I know that it wouldn’t be everyones favourite, but its is just a suggestion, that could /can be checked meanwhile!

My vote is for A D, but I’m Ok with C. People (muggles) already complain about the flickers in the GT and Q8. We don’t need extra indicators to really confuse the muggles…

What flickers? The blink at each end of the ramp? I maybe could understand a muggle asking what it is, but not complaining about it. I’ve heard zero complaints personally.

People who don’t know what it is often assume there something wrong with their light.

Hum…I know that it will happen (later, when the groupbuy ends and LT starts selling the lights by their own): “muggles” will buy this flashlight. But I’m not sure it will be designed “for them”!
This will not be a “simple” light, as the GT and the Q8 were not “simple lights” as well!
They were made by flashlight enthusiasts “primarily” to flashlight enthusiasts! The concern about “muggles” must be present, of course, but I’m not sure that must be the first thing to think off.
Maybe I’m being a bit “snob” on this (sorry :zipper_mouth_face: ), but this will be a hot rod, a nut roaster, not a cheappo 100lm light that everyone can use without major consequence (for the light and the user).

Also, a manual for this must be included so that people (enthusiasts or not) know what they are getting (UI; blinks; heat; precautions; outputs…) and there must be explained how the light operates!

I guess this is also one thing that the Team will/must think off, a user manual! :wink:

For what it’s worth, I don’t love my light flickering at all. Letting me know it’s at the end of a ramp or max regulated is ok, but more than that seems excessive to me.

Another note about emitter choice… Generally, emitters have to be purchased in rolls of about 3000. So each emitter choice involves Lumintop making a commitment to sell at least a thousand lights.

The latest interest list update shows about a thousand units, which probably means only one emitter choice unless the project gets more popular or Lumintop decides to buy in deeper and trust that it’ll work out.

But they manufacturing other lights so If they purchase Nichia and XP-G2 too they can use the rest for Tool AAA-s and other products.

Yes, there should be zero risk for Lumintop if any emitter chosen is one from their current lineup, in fact that would lower their financial commitment. If one they don’t use is chosen, it could also be added as an option on other lights if they end up with a bunch left over.

I mean, Lumintop has other lights they can use their emitters for as well, no?

How about some Host’s to purchase now, while this goes on and on and on…. please! :innocent:

I’ve read about examples of the Tool and IYP365 that used to come with the 219B showing up with the 219C instead. It is likely Lumintop already has a supply of 219Cs.

I’m wondering what options there might be pulling from Lumintop’s existing parts bin rather than having them order emitters. That might even make it possible to offer a choice. I’d be content with any roughly neutral 90 CRI Nichias myself.

I’d probably end up with 5 or more if they had XP-L Hi 4000k 5D. Cool white I’d be doing one and maybe paying to have it modded with funds going to the person modding it which would be even more expensive than having it come with the XP-L initially. Nichia is not an option for the heat they produce. I like their tint, but not a good choice for the range of this light.

Concerning blink option, I vote for B,C.

I vote for XPL HI 5D. Great tint and impressive output in a small light.