The lights with mechanical switches should only have 2 modes, hi and low.
But the switch should only switch between 1 mode and off when using it normally.
The 2nd mode can be activated quickly by pushing forward the button like on the Fenix. Then the light remembers the selected mode for normal switching
Just because people think they need something doesn’t mean they do. Most people believe they need a 4K TV or phone but in reality anything over 720p is an overkill. Just wasted energy for no benefit.
Why would you need 1000s of levels when you just need 3.
Why would you need 820 lumens when 800 makes no differences ?
N.B.: Actually, there is no ramping UI with 1000s of levels.
I wouldn’t go that way!! I guess that even if ramping can give us those “levels” or more, having preset established levels is a way to be sure of what we will have when we do the next press on the switch! For people that don’t use ramping, that is a major thing. You will have level X and then Y and that’s what you expect (or need)
Also, and again, we will all have different UI preferences. So I believe we won’t need to get too rational or too emotional :innocent:
EDIT: There is no “One Ring to Rule them ALL” in what concerns to flashlights! :face_with_monocle:
How do you know that nobody uses it? Just because you don’t, it doesn’t mean nobody does.
I use lock-out on my Nitecore Tip every time I travel with it to prevent accidental turn-on in the bag.
I think you are barking up a wrong tree. The whole beauty of BLF community and the manufacturers that tailor to it is the variety that it offers. We all like different things, and having different UIs and flashlights gives us options.
I guess even with a control ring people would still need/want different things as UI, either it was preset levels, rampings, stepless dimming or anything else
But, for sure, a control ring is a good way to please many people. (While another amount would still dislike )
Finding a particular output quickly is a pain. EVERY ramping UI I have used is either too fast to get exactly the ouput I want, or too slow to do so with.
I just want to point out this is absolutely untrue, at the average distance from a monitor or TV, with their average size the human eye can see WAY more detail than is even offerred by 4K. And what about photo/video editing? Surely those professionals have no idea what improves their product.
That is a impossible to answer. What is rational to you may not be to me and vise versa. Sounds like you want to make a UI that you like and then everyone who doesn’t will just have to live with it. Then when you make changes to it we will have to adjust to that as well.
Sounds exactly what we already have.
Grab a driver. Program it to your liking and be happy. A standardized UI probably goes against what most flashlight enthusiast want. We like to modify and make things our own. To have one standard UI would be a insult to those of us who appreciate lights for what they are.
Don’t be upset that lights don’t have exactly the UI you want. Find a way to make it yours. Get dirty, do some research, make it yours. Just don’t try to make it ours.
Multiple UIs are a serious safety issue. Currently i have 4 recent lights with 4 different UIs and two more from from legacy lights. To my wife and any muggle, in a life and death situation, it may very well be death.
That is why i am collecting what i like, but plan to buy a larger EDC and then make it standard in all the cars and house. About 6 lights.
Currently, I’m buying the SP33 which may be it or the Convoy S2.
My better half will then get the same training she got for using firearms. Blindfolded, rinse and repeat. Muscle memory.
Maybe it sounds funny to some, but to me, it borders on lunacy to have an emergency tool that one needs to “figure out”.
EDIT…we’re talking about it and her go-to is the Coast SP14. Back button, click on or off. Zero choices. Zero confusion. Zero panic.