I dont know if this has been asked before. What is the advantage of using a mirror reflector over a glass reflector or vice versa in home modded lights?
Well, let me pipe in and say it wrong, LOL. The "glass" reflector you have a photo of, is actually plastic. It's purpose is to direct the light into the center of the optic. It's called an optic. It is made so that it sits over the led and basically encapsulates it, so that all of the light is directed out, at whatever angle the optic is made. (8 degree, 15 degree, 45 degree, etc).
Regular reflectors are usually made of aluminum (or plastic) and plated to achieve a "mirror finish". Some are coated afterwards, to give the "OP - Orange Peel" finish. Shiny reflectors sometimes produce artifacts, such as unwanted rings in the beam. "OP" coatings tend to remove those artifacts and produce a smooth beam, but usually they cut down on the overall light output.
It all boils down to what you are trying to achieve, within the parameters of the light you have. Each type of reflector and optic produces different results. I believe that the "optics" were designed for other lighting uses, than flashlights.
Thanks Old-Lumens. The reason I ask is that I'm bluffing my way through a build on a aa light and it would probably be easier to use the optic lens rather than a mirror reflector of which I have on order anyway. So would the optic lens give less spill?
The second picture is a TIR optic.
The advantage is accuracy and efficiency. It doesn’t always come with a certain optic being used. It has to be matched correctly and it has to be a well designed and manufactured optic.
The reflective layer on any type of optic material is probably there from an aluminum deposition process. A previous layer may be put down to provide a smoother surface for the aluminum to sit on.
The TIR Optic should give less spill, depending on the degree of the optic. That small reflector would probably be mostly flood.