[Available again! - BLF special edition light] new Sofirn AAA twisty high CRI 5mm LED

The survey is usefull but why is the Djozz tail/Sofirn Render not in it?

It has received a little bit of discussion because a user who has modded an E01, I think it was ma tumba, said in his experience it made the beam profile less smooth. It didn't sound drastic, but still like there was room for improvement.

So hopefully Sofirn does cut a few test pieces to try with these emitters to make sure the resulting beam is nice and smooth. I suspect parabolic isn't actually ideal in this case like it is for a thrower, so maybe conical or spherical is better. I know the Maglite Mini I stuck a Yuji in shows a slight dark spot in the middle of the beam at certain focus settings. The larger, deeper reflector creates enough of a hotspot for this to be more noticeable than I'd expect from a 14mm OD light.

The Noir/Djozz tail was created after and the renders only arrived last night.

With the number of responses already received it would have skewed the data already collected for Question 4.

I’d really like more data on opinions of that tail, but all I can do at this point is extrapolate from the data on the currently listed tails and other questions, including question 5 where people can put their opinions of it. (Obligatory link to the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DGQ8LL3)

I could also set up a new survey where we decide between the frontrunners from the current survey and the Noir/Djozz tail, plus some questions for detail and opinions.

Same here - it would have changed how I voted

I have asked Barry and the engineers how they like the new designed Noir/djozz tailcap themselves (because earlier Barry was in favor of a Sofirn SP10-like tail). If they like it too, or if they say that they will make what we want regardless of their opinion, perhaps we can already decide on going for this design (I think that I hear a majority liking it or being ok with it). Then maybe a new poll would be good (keeps us nice and busy :party: ) deciding on no holes, trit hole, magnet hole, both holes.

+1 for a new poll

I would like the djozz tail, and I already voted before as well.

I think this is a great idea. :wink:

I honestly like the rendering of this light - especially the tail. On paper, it didn’t really strike me as something I would like, but seeing it with the light has changed my thinking. In my mind, I’m ready for Sofirn to start producing them as they’ve been rendered!

Also, I’d like to up my interest to 4 x 3200 instead of just 2. :+1:

I went ahead and voted, but that new render looks sweet. I had my doubts about the drawing, but the render sold me.

Pros:

  • Tailstands
  • Option for magnet
  • Option for trit
  • Center swing split-ring attachable

Cons:

  • Perhaps a bit busy looking

It sure seems to check almost all the boxes that people have asked for, no?

I like the rendered tailcap a lot (though I don’t care about the trit slot), but I am curious how would be best to install a magnet in the hole with other’s comments that most glues dont work too well on anno since it sounds like we would not have a factory installed magnet.

A quick scan of the www came up with superglue and Araldite. But I have no experience with glueing to ano myself.

Something considering if you want to do a thorough and careful job is applying a drop of concentrated caustic soda in the hole and wait for the surface to be deanodised. Could be a way to make the trit slot a bit more reflective too (some sanding afterwards to finish the surface, then glue in the trit)

I believe such tail magnets are often simply press fit, no glue needed.

I never heard about glue not sticking to ano. My concern is/was the glue not sticking to the nickel plating on the magnet.

I did glue some neodymium magnets on the tail of some lights (Sofirn SF32 and Manker E11). Both have similar shapes on the tailcaps, so putting a bit of super glue and the magnet above did the job!

Of course, strong impacts or falls may endanger that as the glue (dry) can crack.

One thing I have a concern with in the proposed design (BTW, thanks djozz and Barry for the work on that, and to other members giving support on this thread!!!) is that the magnet is not in the middle. So, I don’t know if there is the possibility of that putting at “risk” the way it will stick “evenly” on a metal surface without falling due to a lack of equilibrium (toward the central “axis”).

But I believe you have thought about this too :wink:
Thanks again for all the efforts!!

In the proposed design with the off-center magnet, you can increase the holding power of the magnet based on how you place the light on the metal surface. If you rotate the flashlight so the magnet is positioned higher on the axis (closer to the 12 o’clock position) before placing it on the metal surface, it will have a better hold than if the magnet is lower on the axis (closer to the 6 o’clock position).

Yup, sure, I know that :wink: I was just wondering if due to that wouldn’t it be better to put in the center! But I won’t bother much with that! Actually, due to the type of light, I’d prefer not to have a magnet or to have the option to put/not to put it !

+1 here!

I also asked about the diffuser before. Here’s my suggestion and djozz’s reply! Maybe having the diffuser as a extra can be doable, so that the “normal” pack keeps the lower price :money_mouth_face:

Of course, a magnet in the center is, in theory, better than an off center one, but in practice it won't make any difference because the tail is designed to hold a 5 x 3 mm magnet which has a retention force of at least 500 g (better ones up to 900 g), that is more than strong enough.

Just for comparison (I think I mentioned this already a few pages back) a DQG Tiny AAA uses a 5 x 2 mm magnet on the inside of the light, which means that there is always a layer of steel between the magnet and the surface it is attached to reducing its effectiveness, yet it is still strong enough to hold the light in any position.

I believe it is actually the sealing coat that anodized surfaces are usually covered with after the die is applied. It is usually very smooth, and is presumably some sort of polymer, so it’s basically gluing to a plastic coating.

Bare anodizing should actually bond very well, because it is usually a rough surface.

I would definitely try one of the warm versions to pit it against the E01. The mock-up looks good to me. Like a cross between an E01 and the Peak Eiger. Not a huge fan of the tail design because I won’t use a trit and don’t need a magnet. Impressed that this is happening. Very cool.
Edit: let me rephrase that, I don’t dislike the style of the tail, looks functional but I just don’t need ge extras of trits and magnets.

Any chance these make it to retail somewhere?