Which type of Reflector do you prefer?

LED Flashlights – General Info
1

You can see the archived poll results on the Wayback Machine:

https://web.archive.org/web/20221220093741/https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/72560

2

I prefer OP, I don't necessarily need throw for any of my applications and OP just gives a bigger, albeit dimmer, hot spot, more corona and better spill/flood IMO.

3

I used to think OP was more all purpose/useful until I got my Solarforce L2P. The SMO in it has a perfect beam.

For the most part, I use both for biking. OP flood for the immediate area in front of the bike, the SMO throw for down the road or trail.

4

I would say OP for flood and SMO for a thrower.

5

I was figuring I would get this response a lot to be honest, just curious to see what peoples opinions are though.

6

+1

7

I have a SMO with my MF UF drop in, I actually like that it can still throw about 150 meters and be floody at the same time.

8

And I neglected to say that is the exact drop-in in my L2P. Seems to be a perfect balance of flood & throw.

9

SMO - throw

OP - flood + less artifacts

10

I like them both for their strengths:

Small and OP for close range flood

Smooth and big for throw

11

I generally prefer SMO but it depends on the reflector and/or its fit with the emitter. I have some SMOs that are not the least bit ringy and others that are horrible. Conversely, I have a couple or OP reflectors that seem to mimic an SMO.

cannotleaveasimplequestionsimpleFoy

12

After owning an Olight SR51 I voted depends. Just a perfect good thrower and smooth hotspot beam. But some of my best throwers are smooth reflectors. Hard to beat the Crelant 7G5, Olight M3X, Sunwayman T40CS and Fenix TK41. Then there's the Catapult V3. But all of these light would still throw just about as good in my opinion with an op reflector.

13

It depends for me. OP in most of my P60's and SMO in all of my C8 and large reflector units. I really like an R2 in any size with a SMO reflector.

14

smooth all the way..

15

smooth all the way,most orange peel reflectors I have encountered are rubbish.

16

SMO is great. I like to see the perfect ring beam :X

17

LOP- Light Orange Peel for me.

18

Here's a few from my Olight SR51 OP reflector. Like I said had I not owned it, I would swear by the smooth reflector.

70yds

200yds

19

Normally, I'd say smooth if truly bright and clean if the other components are up to producing a clean beam. I'd rather have that and the option of swapping in a different lens.

But I guess if the other components are too much, then the OP makes sense as a budget alternative.

20

200 yards . . . holy heaven and hell, that is a lot of light thrown one hell of a long ways. Seriously; does anybody here have the thrower collection ILF does?

ithinknotFoy