H>M>L vs L>M>H

The review of the Thorfire TG06S by cellguy got me thinking about this.

I have one, and didn't think I'd like the H>M>L sequence at first, but it's really grown on me.

I don't use 14500's in any of my 1/AA lights, only Ni-Mh. 14500's in 1/AA lights are overkill to me, and if I need more brilliance I really need a different lighting tool, like a C8F or S2.

The TG06S is my EDC day pocket light. WhenI need it, it doesn't matter that it starts on H, because that's what I likely need anyway. It's a utility light that makes enough light right now. If I need a little more runtime I just step it down, no biggie.

If I'm out for the evening, I'll carry my 1/AA Acebaem M10. Always starts on moonlight, perfect for reading a menu in a darkened restaurant, or otherwise used in an environment where starting on L or moonlight is appropriate, just out of courtesy or comfort. In that use, I'll call the M10 a Gentleman's Pocket Light.

Different lights, different tools for different uses.

Low, medium, high user interfaces are not negotiable.

Starting on high is just blinding during the night.

I prefer L => => => H no matter how many levels there are. But, if there are more than 3 levels, I hope for quick access to BOTH the lowest level AND the highest level from off. The Ramping UI used in many of our latest BLF firmwares, with press-and-hold from Off to Moonlight and/or double-click from Off to Turbo is about perfect.

I always want to be able to start from the lowest value; it takes a long time to unblind yourself.

Depends on where I’m going. If it’s a night out to dinner, movies, other situations where I may use the light inside I carry an Olight S15R and use moonlight or low a lot so that’s where I leave the memory set. However, my current EDC is a TG06S with 14500 because I want high first time every time. I live in a rural area and when I come home at night there is a possibility of skunks or coyotes being around so I want plenty of light if I see movement while walking to the front door.

Just buy a light that has mode memory, then then it doesn’t matter too much if it’s H>M>L or L>M>H.

For me, H→L is a dealbreaker.

Once you’re blinded by H, stepping down doesn’t help much when you’re just seeing big green blobs in front of you.

At least going L→H, you progressively go higher if you need it.

Having a shortcut to lowest and/or highest is a bonus, but at this point where a lot of things just bug me, H→L completely queers the deal.

And besides, H→L reminds me of cheap lights with not even LB emitters, but clones of LB emitters.

what happened to the interface where it starts M→L→H

I always loved that especially for inspection purposes.
But like some say, memory would be much ideal if it is an AA light.

Nighttime use, camping: low to high.

Inspection, law enforcement: high to low.

I prefer the interfaces that let you get to either quickly with just a few one-handed button presses. HDS and Surefire really nailed that over 20 years ago.

I really do not like memory because I may be using the light intermittently and I never know what it may be starting on.

L>M>H for my bedside lights. H>M>L for my perimeter security lights.

IMHO: Worst. Interface. Ever! :rage:

But, ya know. You can like it if you want to! :innocent:

Definitely no!
Mode memory means that every time I turn off the light I have to go through the sequence of modes all the way to where I want it (which is, in general, L).
I frequently fail to do the sequence and end up blasting myself with H (which is what I actually use the most).

My only use for mode memory is when I put the light in my pocket for a while and resume later. In all other cases it’s just a problem.
I strongly prefer lights w/out mode memory at all, though I guess a time-limited memory would serve me best.

As to direction….I agree with what has been said already, having a shortcuts to moonlight and turbo is great for me.

Actually Emisar UI also starts M (unless memory messes it up). And I like it a lot.

I like both , depending on the situation . Where I get in trouble , is having many different UIs , some not so intuitive . The Q8 with the ramping is easy to figure out . Double , triple , short , long , gets to be a pain sometimes. Life is hard enough without my light giving me stress .

What? Mode memory means that if you last had it on L and turned it off, the next time you turn it on it will be on L again. You don’t have to go through any sequence.

I nearly always want to start L. Or ML, when L is very low.
But in actual use I tend to go to H most of the time. Or MH when H is very high.
So yes, I do need to perform elaborate shutdown sequences on all my lights with memory.
And also elaborate startup sequences on all lights that don’t have good shortcuts.

With ramping lights, you can ramp up from off to whatever level you want without blinding yourself, or resume at the last used value. Turbo is a doubleclick. Makes it easy to get to lowest and highest.

What? I never knew that! :open_mouth:

I always use the shortcuts to get to either Moonlight or Turbo. If I need a low amount of light, I use the shortcut to Moonlight, then ramp up from there to my desired output. In this case, Mode Memory wouldn’t be useful to me at all.

If you physically lock Emisar out, it starts on LM. 350 mA. Which is a great default for me.

I prefer High, Low, ultra-low, no memory.

I always know what the torch is going to do, and starting on High is my preference. That’s what it is for (a bright torch).

If wanting to be subtle, I hold my hand in front, click it down to the desired lower level, then expose.

Ramping UIs are all very well, and I like the Q8 because I can set ultra-low, preset level, or turbo, with a few different clicks of the button, but I couldn’t hand it to an uneducated user and expect them to get it.

Sometimes less is more. And torches should be simple and intuitive, except for techies.

Flashy modes, by all means, but keep them hidden behind a double or triple fast click.

Likewise “Turbo”, a rather useless mode except for short-lived headline figures.

This has been discussed time and time again. But, for some people, Turbo is anything but useless. Just because you don’t use it does not mean it’s useless.