Holy crap. I’ve been gone for almost 2 years. Finished up my masters and passed my certification. I am officially a nurse practitioner. I need to build some lights for some friends and for myself. Looking through my stuff, and dang I have some supplies I forgot about. I have about 100 LED’s on hand and a ton of drivers and pills. Not everything is pictured. So what’s new? What have I missed? What’s changed in the BLF community?
You have missed spending for this craziness like the rest of us!
Welcome back. 
Welcome back, n10sivern!
Congratulations & welcome back.
From my perspective, the most significant developments are with emitters. In particular the high CRI Luminus SST-20, and the efficient and high CRI Samsung LD351D & C.
Congrats and well done on your new qualifications n10sivern.
I can honestly say you have not missed a thing. 
Welcome back.
Nice to see you back!
You missed spending a couple of thousand dollars basically, and can step right in with a full wallet
But from what I see in your picture: most hardware is is still very relevant, but you will have to look for the latest drivers and leds. There are nice BLF-developed drivers now for e-switch leds (Lexel and Texas_Ace are two sources for ready-built ones) and the leds have become brighter and some have better tints and CRI if you like that.
The choice of flashlight hosts have become much better too.
Enjoy the fun! 
Hi Kevin. Nice having you back. I see you kept your spare items. It obviously was a planned absence.
Overall you have not missed much, except that everything got a little better.
Sometimes maybe more in words than in quality. Mr. Admin had to lock up some threads for a short while.
Technically is has been more of an evolution than a revolution (more leds, more lumen, more candela).
Only really new phenomenon is the LEP flashlight. Laser Excited Phosphor.
That’s so new that half of us (including myself) hardly understand what’s is all about.
BTW, in connection with your other activities: are you planning to offer some Cerakote services again?
Henk, I may do some Cerakoting but it’ll have to be in the springtime when it starts to warm up some. Right now is colder and deer season.
Djozz, what new hosts are the best throwers? What’s the best LED now to throw the furthest?
For the best current throw leds look here: OSRAM CSLNM1.TG & CULNM1.TG 1mm², CSLPM1.TG & CULPM1.TG 2mm²
The most extreme host is the BLF-GT (12cm reflector), and there is an Astrolux version too. But those are pretty expensive and not available as host-only. Watch this thread for a new budget thrower that holds some promise when it comes out: Sofirn SP70 Alone $50, PM for AMZ US CODE(LIMITED) . Here’s a pic, it will be #4
A popular new light, a bit smaller, is the Astrolux FT02 : ENDED.
And there’s probably many more.
Not djozz, but the latest and greatest LED for throw is the Osram KW CSLNM1.TG. It has a 1mm^2 die, and it’s compatible with XP footprint MCPCBs.
LEP (laser excited phosphor) is the latest and greatest technology for throw. There aren’t any modules available to consumers (that I know of), but a couple manufacturers have put out extremely compact throwers. The Acebeam W10 is only 31mm wide at the head, but it can throw 1000m.