Lumintop FW1A discussion and review

Since this flashlight is more for the mass marked and non flashaholics it would be wise to somehow lock the retention ring in place with a simple lock solution, and at the same time it should be possible to lock it up using proper tools.

Anyway, I want a similar tail switch flashlight with tail magnet.

I’d consider buying this, but honestly the QC of FW3A is not impressive. My first light came with 1 led DOA, my second light behaves quite differently in a few aspects. Very different feel of the button, plus the need to tighten the heck out of it in order to work. Not to mention the optics fiasco.
On top of that the heat it produces is mindblowing. If they make a single LED with slightly longer head, would that mean there’s gonna be less heat?
I have a Sofirn SP32A V2 which I use to walk the dog recently and it feels way better than the FW3A. Certainly less flood, but enough for the task, plus it heats up way less, even on turbo.
Also a dedicated battery level indicator would be nice.

If this comes in the raw aluminium finish I will definitely buy it.

They should just make the reflector the same size as regularly available Yajiamei Optics. You get plenty of 3535 and 5050 types. It could make this light very customizable…. I would definitely run a Luxeon V 4000K or SST-40 5000K (from Simon) in the FW1A.

Does the existence of this mean a future single emitter EDC18 is possible?
I.e. an 18650 version of the EDC05?

It’s not a mystery. It’s documented right there in the public thread.

In 2017 he defended the sharp angles, primarily as a way to make it clear that it’s not a HDS clone.

After more discussion and testing, he changed his mind and decided the tapered edges were a better idea. Pics were posted and it was clarified that what people were signing up for had smoother angles. This information was available in the first post during most of the project’s development and sign-up period.

~3000 posts later, the matter had gotten so out of hand that he tried to put an end to it by confirming that it was his design and not a downgrade or compromise.

~12,000 posts later, we’re apparently still debating it even though it was decided in 2017 and the final authoritative answer was given more than a year ago.

In any case, I’m looking forward to the FW1A. It’ll be nice to have a throwier version which goes a lot farther at the same power levels. Also looking forward to the bare aluminum FW3A, which is what I had been hoping for all along. :slight_smile:

I have the bare aluminum on order. Supposed to be in this week.
I bought the TK special.
It is very nice.

I’m definitely more excited for this than the 3A. My main reason for using my Zebra SC64w hi over the FW3A is that I like the beam profile of single emitter + reflector better.

so my reasons are moot?
You’re much nicer about it than Greta.

To put it simply: yes.

Longer version: This light is apparently not made for you. But some will like it. Feel free to not buy it. I probably won’t buy it either. But I don’t feel the need to trash other people’s projects. If you have some constructive input, fire away. Otherwise, we don’t need to hear from you. Thank you for understanding. :innocent:

Well, I thought I was done buying FWxx lights after I ordered the Ti and Cu but I guess I’ll be adding a couple more once these drop.

:beer: :+1: Nicely put David!

Yeap, Ti/Cu reflector is my next one on the list

I will gladly buy this one as a gift, preferably with the pink-rosy andozinig, Toykeeper Editiob. But absolutely without FET.

I’ve been thinking about the benefits of EDC’ing a single emitter version of the FW3A long before they made a sample, as there wasn’t much of a difference between it and the D4 (performance wise). More throw is always useful for anything further than 10 meters away.

But a reflector version would also remain a shelf queen for the same reason I didn’t ever EDC any of the many S2+, X1R, A6 or similar tube lights I’ve owned or modded, that beam gets boring and unexciting over time no matter the emitter choice. There simply isn’t going to be any magic with a 20mm reflector. The best tube light reflector I’ve ever seen was in a eagletac D3C, it was clean very throwy but even then I still sold it.

Now optics is a whole new unexplored world, after having the FW3A as EDC for a few months, I think the perfect setup would be either a XPL HI V4 or a 1mm2 in a very tight optic, stonewashed titanium body, which paired with the current FW from TK will deliver amazing thermal regulation,

I was also thinking about White1^
But i’d say option of SMO or OP reflector should available also

I set up one of my FW3A’s this weekend with LH351D 3500k’s and I found the beam to be way to wide. I had a Carlco narrow spot optic sitting in the drawer, that was the key! It is much better, would like it to be a little tighter, but Carclo does not make an ultra-narrow optic.

I have recently played with various 20mm 3535 Yajiamei Optics, and various LED’s. SST-20, 219C, XP-L HI, XP-L HD, LH351D. So many different beams from just one optic, and add another 8 different optics on top of that and you’re having a great time. Going out in the field for a night? Easy, just pop in a 10 degree optic. Want a smooth beam at your house? Easy, just pop in a 30 degree beaded optic.

I don’t have a problem with the light being released with a 20mm reflector, because that would give us the option to install 20mm optics.

Mine has 5D XP-L HIs with a 10507 and it’s pretty much perfect; it gives it a pretty focused beam (for a multi emitter light). The SST-20 is even more focused with the narrow spot, noticeably so compared to the HIs

Before the FW3A thing went live I built an LH351D triple. The other day I swapped that LH351D board into one of my FW3As and I feel the same way. The XPL-HI and SST-20 beam works way better with the 10511 optic. I have the LH351D behind a 10507 in my S2+ triple now and it’s better suited to it. I’ve thought of desoldering all those LH351Ds from that board to use for something else and picking a different LED for the triple.