Yes several well focussed lenses would make a very interesting light for sure.
This is about reflector based throw.
A wide reflector to get the throw.
Also a zoomie with two lenses and now even three, wow, this needs a real good manufacturer that is very actively working with us and can deliver extreme build precision
Let’s see how the Q8, possible future Q4 and this giga thrower (maybe a manufacturer feels compelled to step in seeing this thread) pan out first to see how far we can come with projects relatively easy (yet challenging in itself ) compared to three or double lensed zoomies.
I’m with mdeni. I’d gladly sacrifice some CRI towards longer throw on a light like this. It’s not like you can actually see the color of things very well a kilometer away anyways.
Just sourcing some D4 4A/4D (XHP35A-H0-0000-0D0BD445E) emitters should be enough. Too bad Cree doesn’t offer 3 or 2 step ellipse bins on these, so we could get less tint variation between samples.
In our quest for more throw, I think beam angle needs to be considered. When increasing reflector size and keeping the emitter the same size, at some point the beam will become just too narrow to be useful. The point at which this happens will be different for different people and for different uses.
If a 120mm reflector and XHP35 HI is used, the beam will be a bit smaller than that of the TN42 with its ~92mm reflector. I don’t have the TN42, but based on the sizes of the emitter and reflector, I think its beam size should be similar to (or a bit smaller than) a UF1504 with XPL HI. In my experience, this is a usable beam, especially at greater distances (300-400m) where it illuminates a larger area. But much smaller than this I think is bordering on too small.
So, I think XHP35 HI should be used rather than dedomed XPL or XPG2. Or multiple emitters, but this increases complexity and cost.
djozz, take a look at the Encyclopædia Britannica picture I posted before:
0K. Imagine the “eye” corresponds to the TIR mounted emitter in our setup. Now, after the short focal distance convex lens (or 2 in series lens team), a sliding concave lens finishes the job:
Well, hope you can see it. Not an expert in optics, you may guess.
Should allow zooming, and should allow to tune the “track” width somehow, while caring little to none about the emitter setup as long as the focusing is well done (TIR + convex selection).
By the way, any known good TIRs for XHP70s? All those old XR-E ones by any chance?
There’s really no point in a very cool white high CRI emitter on a thrower. The blue light will wash out colors (and the blue beam in the air disguises what ever you wanted to look at anyway). Also the output is a third lower than with a lower CRI neutral one, that will look much better regardless of CRI.
Well, time to figure out how to make my proposed setup with an XHP70. ^:)
A short, threaded tube above the TIR would allow us to finely adjust the convex lens position (with a threaded lens, of course). This should allow us to adjust the beam width… shouldn't it? Of course this middle lens would need to be of a short focal distance, as I said before. Correct me if this sounds wrong.
nice! yeah this was what I had in mind too (and I do remember Old Lumens say this would be the kind of light he would want to see produced, so I am thinking about adding some $ on each to give to Justin and Valerie)
I know this will add a lot more complications, but I much prefer if this light will have a side switch. It just makes it so much easier to turn the light on/off with these bulky lights. Changing grip position is not too big of a deal with the smaller lights, but cigar or a tactical grip on these bulky lights then changing grip to your standard grip, may lead to a drop on the floor potentially or eventually. Haha
Djozz wrote: “The debate is lumen vs throw. It will be a big light so will we be happy with a 1400 lumen XP-L HI and try to hit 1Mcd?, or will we settle for 700kcd with a 2000+ lumen XHP35?, or go 4000 lumen / 300kcd with a XHP70? (numbers are a very fast guess)”
Throw please, and lots of it!!
700Kcd with a 2000+ lumen XHP35? - no thanks, I already got the TN42 (680Kcd & 2500 lumen)
300Kcd with a 4000+ lumen XHP70? - no thanks, there’s already lights that to exactly that
NOT because a thrower with that much output would blind you to an extend that the throw would be useless.
Throwers that need to light something up, FAR AWAY should have minimum spill and max throw.
This would not be an EDC or even an allround light but a dedicated thrower, outhrowing the TN42.
) compared to three or double lensed zoomies.
