You can see the archived poll results on the Wayback Machine:
https://web.archive.org/web/20221220093741/https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/72480
Key:
| Moonlight | 0.2 lumen |
| Very Low | 1 lumen |
| Low | 6 lumens |
| Medium | 65 lumens |
| Maximum | 150+ lumens, varies per emitter |
Well, we finally have at least one manufacturer (Mrlite) who is willing to offer custom modes the way we like them. I'd like to see what is the most popular around here. My vote goes for BLF #1.
I strongly favor a mode arrangement that starts off on the lowest mode for the simple reason that I like to know that I can power on the light in an emergency situation with an almost dead battery. If it starts off on high it could waste that initial charge of recuperated energy that a dead battery acquires after sitting, which is usually enough to fire up the low mode and keep it running for a while. But I understand that some of you almost always use the highest mode, in which case you might not want to click through 5 modes to get to it. A possible compromise would be BLF #3, which starts on the lowest mode and then alternates back and forth betwen lower and higher modes.
When (good) memory is available, then this is very relative...
9 -> the modes of horror .... 
Well hey, they call it a flashlight don't they? And now you want a flashlight that doesn't flash??
OK, I think I know why they call it a "torch" in Europe.
In Germany it is called "Taschenlampe" - meaning "pocket light" ... well my Solarfarce Extreme (sig) seems to differ.
Is ramping totally unrealistic, BTW? There once was one dropin on DX. Or still is.
BTW where is my SIG... oh no, terrorists 
I could also go for Med - v. low - low - max if I had to as most of the time I'm likely to be using medium most of the time. I do prefer my modes to follow in order though so that each mode is more than the last, or less than the last. M L H can be annoying when you don't know which mode you are in. I would say stick to 3 modes if they are non-sequential, more than that will become confusing. MrLite's stock 9 settings are IMO a good example of how not to do it.
Or Option 5
But I would like it to start on a low level in case I don't want more - if I do, it is no big deal, if i don't I'm not blinded by the glare.
Moonlight is unlikely to be much use to me here - waaaay too much light pollution.
Just noticed, our siglines don't appear here.
Sorry for my terror-inducing forum. First seisure modes on a flashlight, then missing signatures! Looks like they don't show up on polls, apparently.
The really terror-inducing thing is that there is probably someone out there who really, really wants option DX9 - a new option appeared - this one used to be 8
I will have nightmares... what a cruel admin... CPF was nothing compared to this ...
I'm with Don, by the way, I strongly prefer a programmable, ramping driver. But this poll is just for fixed modes, since a ramping driver requires too much additional engineering to make it feasible for a quick, inexpensive BLF custom mod.
What's with all these complaints about missing signatures? 
Good grief, Drupal is truly comprehensive, but mind-bogglingly modular sometimes. I seem to find some new configuration option every time I crack open the admin control panel.
I want BLF #4 with low voltage detection... which already some of the cheapest lights have(was it the Skyray S-A1 ?)... we are talking about 'with mode memory' - right?
Yep, in worst case there will be no mode memory.
What is this low voltage detection? It would only switch on in low mode in case of low voltage?
Some lights will flash, or drop modes when the battery is low. My personal choice would be some sort of flickering that told you it wanted more power. HDS (Now Ra) lights used to do something like that, but I am very, very rarely in the $100+ light market - like twice in 7 years.
I think 3 modes is about the most I want, so I picked #5 (might have picked Low-Med-High if it was offered). But usually 2 modes would work fine because on my 3-mode lights I am always skipping over medium and just using High for distance and Low for close up. But with 2 modes, if you need to run the light for a while then maybe Max isn't what you want and Low is too low. So I think the perfect thing is programmable modes, at the very least a programmable Low. Ramping is okay, but I'd be pretty happy just picking from one of the 5 modes you provided and it would be easier to get what I want that way. Plus I would want memory (or some kind of dual switch that would let me pick Low or High when I am turning it on). I rarely see a light get the Low right and people seem all over the map on what is a good low. Even you couldn't seem to make up your mind between 3 different Lows.
And I want to have a high PWM frequency (>1kHz) ... I'm getting more and more annoyed at my Maratac AAA and Solarforce 3-mode Medium/Low-modes. Or better current regulated. I am starting to use high modes, even if I don't need it, just to avoid those pseudo strobes.
@brted:
I'm sort of basing the mode options on the Fenix modes. I can definitely see myself using all 3 of those low modes. Moonlight for an emergency, Very Low for a dark house at night, or Low for a typical night outdoors.
I would like to vote for Low - Medium - Maximum bur did not get the option.
But Im satisfied that I and others are in the lead so far.
I agree, which is the problem with Lows: you need (okay, want) different levels for different things. That's why I'd just rather be able to set it (fairly easily). I think 4Sevens has the right idea with their tactical Quarks. I've come really, really close to getting one of their 2xCR123A neutral tint Quarks before deciding it wasn't worth $65 just for the UI when I'm pretty happy with my neutral 504B with a 3-mode NANJG driver. I still might do it. Wish they had an 18650 version (without buying the body tube separately), but could always buy a 17670 (or whatever they are).