What I'd Like To See: Aspheric Thrower with Diffuser!

I’d like to see a P60 sized flashlight using an aspheric with two brightness levels (220 and 30) with no strobes and where you can sit the light on its head. Side switch with momentary would be preferred.



The key for me however would be a built-in diffuser. It seems no matter the design they make the light bulky. I can imagine a translucent iris diaphragm where you push inwardly on the bezel and the iris closes thus diffusing the beam. An outward pull opens it and allows the aspheric to do its thing.



Having something build-in is a big advantage but I suppose the simplest thing would be a good fitting cap if it was designed to be diffusive without blocking so much light so plastic bottle caps are out. A frosted lens set in a plastic bottle cap would be more the idea.



You would just have to keep it in your pocket when the light is being used in throw mode. That might not be too bad since you are usually probably using the light predominately in one mode or the other.



It seems to me this is better than zoom lights in that it does the same thing better. No rings to deal with (much easier to eliminate rings in a fixed aspheric) and the flood beam (IMO) would be better as diffused light.



It’s still somewhat of a specialty light (as are zoom lights) since an aspheric isn’t efficient for anything other than throw. That’s why I think only two brightness levels are needed. If you need an ultra low mode then you will probably be using one of your other lights anyway.



I have a one mode version of what I’m describing. I’d like to be able to sit it on its head and can’t due to the lens protruding and I’d like to figure out an efficient and easy to use diffuser. I like the cap idea but it needs to be 35mm in diameter and about 15mm deep and diffusive :slight_smile:



There are other solutions I suppose. I think I read somewhere where someone pulled a condom over the flashlight as a diffuser :slight_smile: It’s original but I think I’m looking for something other than that!



It seems like such an ideal combination…aspheric thrower with diffuser. Have any of you found any good removable diffusers that were actually something other than a film stuck onto the lens or a bottle cap with poor light transmission?

CNQG sells two sizes of silicone rubber diffuser - one "AA-torch" sized, good for AA and CR123 lights.

The larger diffuser fits the 30-35mm sized heads of typical 18650 lights.

While the look can be a bit 'anatomical,' they are BY FAR my favorite diffusers to date.

Not sure if this helps at all but I acquired a couple of these Rosco Gel sample filter packs...The Rosclolux and the Cinegel pack each contain a good assortment of different diffusion materials, not just colored.. material, cotton, prism,... fun "stuff" too… very neat for “experiments”… just remember… they distort if they get too hot… I got one too close to an LED once and they went saggy on me. If I remember right I found a place in Ontario here that sells the Rosco filters and they were kind enough to send me the sample packs… they really are neat!

If you do a search for “rosco filter sample pack” and then click images –you will see some of the assortment…

http://www.rosco.com/sbreqs/index.cfm

Do you have a link to what you’re talking about? Are these cone type of diffusers?

I have the Rosco sample pack and well as the Lee Filters sample pack. I’ve love them for changing tints as well as for diffusion for my regular lights where I can get behind the lens to place the diffuser.



That would help here that much however unless I found a bottle cap that fit my aspheric lens and if I was able to modify that cap with one of the filters. It’s a possibility however.

So these kinds of things just cut out too much light?

Use just the cut off end?

http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/portable-beam-soft-diffuser-for-flashlights-318mm-inner-diameter-p-4439

http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/fenix-diffuser-lens-ad401-p-5791

Probably not what you are looking for... just an idea

Another...

http://www.priceangels.com/Fenix-Camping-Lampshade-Adapter--Transparent--s90831.html

I actually have one like the top link above. The idea is OK but they are pretty cheaply made and too small for what I’m talking about.



Some of the other ones are for turning a light into a lamp. I’d just like to turn a thrower into a flooder.



Thanks for the links. It’s good to see what’s out there. The Fenix difusser I have is flimsy enough it’s likely to fall off without you noticing or come off in your pocket.



Even though the flip back diffuser sounds like a good idea unless it’s more massive like the Surefire models a simpler tight fitting cap is likely to be better. Most diffuse too much however and are useful only within a tent like setting.

I actually have one like the top link above. The idea is OK but they are pretty cheaply made and too small for what I’m talking about.



Some of the other ones are for turning a light into a lamp. I’d just like to turn a thrower into a flooder.



Thanks for the links. It’s good to see what’s out there.

so if you had something like this:... only bigger you could adapt the flip lens to suit...or is this mechanism just a bad idea...

http://www.aliexpress.com/fm-store/908974/211263286-506886337/Fenix-AD03-Headlight-Headlamp-Diffuser-Lens-for-HP20-Pan-light-microscopy.html

http://www.aegisgear.com/olight-accessories/62-m30-diffuser-filter.html

Here is an interesting concept:

http://www.opticsplanet.net/sealife-digital-pro-flash-diffuser-for-digital-universal-pro-flash.html

We had a camper that had a light similar to this in it...if you could find one to fit?

http://best-b2b.com/Products/867/884-1/bathroom-lighting_409910.html

Ok..Ok.. i'm done

Here you go:

http://www.cnqualitygoods.com/goods.php?id=1148

http://www.cnqualitygoods.com/goods.php?id=1149

I like the last concept. The Fenix idea just doesn’t work well enough for me.

It seems a lot of the new AC led bulbs have some sort of a diffuser... and there are hundreds of different ones...

sort of like this...

http://www.priceangels.com/RZD80-E27-5W-Warm-White-Human-Sensor-LED-Lamp-Bulb--110-240V--s141269.html

Maybe something could be adapted

The problem with that is that there would be no throw. It’s not a problem to diffuse a flashlight if you don’t care about throw.