Not sure, but probably pretty soon I think.
I got two of the color samples today — purple and white. Both are just like they appear in the pictures. Purple looks really good, especially with a black clip installed. White is nice also, and has sort of a grainy texture. So I assume it uses a different process than regular anodizing. Like most white things, it may be difficult to keep clean.
Hopefully I can get some decent pictures tomorrow.
Lumintop change the optics to this , The beam is pretty though. smooth, and it has good color consistency.from Selene’s sample.
They already assembly to the FW3A, so if some one not accept this,let me know.
I also have 10507 optics and sapphire lens in sell.
so the new optic has a plastic lens on top? would reduce money and weight and might improve lumen output?
I like it.
the downside would be users can no longer replace the optic unless they buy a glass lens.
A sample of the new optic showed up today and I measured it. It seems to have no effect on total lumens, but the candelas are reduced to about 79% of the original 10511+glass design. It is more floody than 10511, but not quite as floody as 10508.
The new optic significantly reduces tint changes in different parts of the beam, so it looks like it’s a single color.
A first-batch FW3A weighs 51.9 g, while the new sample weighs 51.3 g. Not sure how much variance there is, but the new optic seems to eliminate about half a gram.
I haven’t tested waterproofing or heat tolerance or scratch resistance.
The MCPCB hasn’t changed, so Carclo optics should still fit. But the new optic replaces both the old optic and the glass, so people would need to buy a glass lens to install a standard Carclo optic. I’m not sure where to get a plain glass lens of the right size, or where the best places are to buy a 10511 optic, so links would probably help.
I just bought an FW3C and a 10507 optic from Neal the other day, but was unaware of these changes until now. Is the FW3C still using the glass lens, or will I need to order one of those sapphire ones too?
If so, is there any chance I can add one to my order before it ships? I really don’t want to pay shipping for one tiny item when I already have a bigger order waiting to go.
Darn it. That complicates plans to put trit drilled optics in a couple. Now I have to get new lenses, too.
Well this is disappointing. Didn’t think the cheapening would start so soon
Can we change our orders to just an MCPCB with the FA3 emitters then?
Yeah I’d rather the standard glass one, but if the FW3C I ordered will be coming without a separate lense, then I will need to get one to use my new Carclo optic in it.
23mm x 1.5mm seems to be an uncommon size, Fasttech at first glance has nothing in stock.
none of my other lights have this size lens either.
Kinda feel like it should have been a “all lights ordered after 1 week from now will have this in it” kinda thing as opposed to “hey everyone order the SST20 LOLJK new optic”
Exposing the bare lens seems a bad idea for an edc light. Acrylic is really soft, and would scratch easily. If it has a polished surface, it can be buffed with something like Polywatch, but the “matte” surface would be ruined.
At least it still allows enthusiasts to put the carclo + glass lens, but in a flashlight that costs 30$, it rises the price by a significant ammount
Bad change.
They changed to a floodier optic that also removes the ability to easily switch the optics? Not happy with that change. Hopefully the light that I have on the way is still with the old optics.
Lumintop seems to have a track record of random undocumented changes. I was really planning on buying another FW3A with FA3 emitters, but if Lumintop is starting their shit already I won’t bother. I’m getting 10 SST20 FD2s from Bluesword anyway, I can just swap them in myself.
Not happy about this. I hope my copper edition that I already PAID for will come with a CARCLO optic.
Carclo optic and glass, the second equal or more important than the first.
Not gonna say bait and switch, buuuuut…
Considering the page even still says “Optic: Standard TIR Carclo 10511 (matte)”.
Changing out an advertised part of the product without telling people after orders have been placed is literally a bait and switch…
I don’t know how much bargaining power Neal has with Lumintop, but maybe he can convince them to stop screwing up a good design with their usual “chabuduo” crap.