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

I agree with that.

The classic 5mm led is tough for 2 reasons: it carries its own hard plastic optic so no lens and optic are needed that can break or move, and the legs are long, bended and soldered into holes, I can not imagine a g-force that can make that fail!

This new Yuji led still has the hard plastic optic but not the legs, its solder joints could theoretically shear off on a large impact.

Barry did contemplate with me on a SMD led version of the C01 (nothing official), with ledboard and optic. That would not be a bit brighter C01 with less runtime, but a different and 100+ lumen flashlight. I think that may be a more interesting direction than using this new Yuji led.

Still, I think that this 20 lumen new Yuji led is interesting, would love some to play with but do not have the money to buy 1000 pieces.

What if you pot the whole head in clear acrylic as a mule?

(And the obvious answer for the 1000 Problem is a grop buy :wink: )

The obvious objection against a group is the amount of work involved, imagine selling 1000 leds in batches of 3 to 7 pieces :person_facepalming:

But I could decide on a group buy (minimum 40 leds/order) if I had 200 dollar to spare for a while but atm I do not have that.

If Sofirn is looking for another project in the future, higher output AAA lights, perhaps even multi-mode, also have their place, as the Olight I3 series, Thrunite Ti series, and Lumintop Tool and Worm all aptly demonstrate.

They’ve already got perhaps the best twisty body design out there. Combine that with an appropriate driver and and optic and it would be another product type I don’t think they have represented in their current lineup.

I don’t know if the Yuji 3030 would pair well with any sort of optic, or if it’s only suited for for diffuse light applications. Yuji hasn’t really focused on the form factors we normally use in flashlights, so a higher output AAA might have to settle for some other option if sticking with high CRI.

Yuji actually did ask about interest in a flashlight on CPF a while back, but they gave up on that project without ever providing much detail.

I’d be very interested in a compact AA twisty with the C01’s tail design either single mode with that 20 lumen Yuji or a 3 mode with maybe a high CRI Nichia.

Lol same with my order. Maybe the delay to the USA has something to do with Trump trade tirades?

Interesting idea to do a SMD led version of the C01. Although by taking away the 5mm LED of course it would no longer be a C01 anymore :wink:
If the SMD led would be ultra-high CRI (think Nichia E21A or Nichia Optisolis) AND coupled with a strong focus on reliability (think potted electronics), then I would be in. Also important to me personally is long runtime, so perhaps change the battery tube to accept both AA and AAA cells could be something to think about. This also has a positive outcome on runtime and would further increase cell flexibility (although the trade-off is heavier and larger).

But if we would like to continue such a discussion: I would like to invite anyone to think for a while about the following fundamental questions by doing an X-Y problem analysis:

  • For what general problem is an SMD version of the C01 the best imaginable solution?
  • Is that specific problem already addressed by competing products in the flashlight landscape? And if so, how could these solutions be further improved?
  • What would make a SMD version of the C01 truly unique compared to what is currently commercially available?

As a general pattern, I see three major trends where flashlight manufacturers could improve their products:

  • ultra high reliability
    currently all major high-reliability flashlight brands or makers or US based, think Malkoff, HDS, PFlexPRO, Elzetta, SureFire.
    Fenix tries to make its flashlights reliable, however their UI usually suck really hard, and their LED choices often as well.
    The American brands have reliable lights, however their price is a bit high.
    PFlexPro shows the way here, by building reliable lights while using Chinese flashlight hosts, and then adding improved components such as better switches and potted PCBs.
    In my view what Randy is doing is really smart on several levels, and his work results in great flashlights.
  • ultra high CRI
    think full spectrum LEDs here, such as Nichia Optisolis or E21A. I do not think there is currently a commercial flashlight available that uses these LEDs. To me the trade-off in lumen output is totally worth it. Virence shows what possible with his modded Armytek Tiara.
  • co-creation design that actually incorporates community input
    actually listening to the flashlight community and actually feeding back that input into the design of commercial products:
    this is starting to happen now, both on the firmware front with ToyKeepers firmwares, and on the hardware design as well, think of the BLF Q8, Sofirn C01, and the FW3A. However it is still rare.
    Somewhere else /u/zak wrote that usually flashlight companies screw up at least 1 thing when designing a flashlight. Sending out a few prototypes to BLF / CPF members and really listening to their opinion would prevent such glaring mistakes. However sharing ideas also makes manufacturers vulnerable by showing the competition what they are working on. Knowing that there is a large enough audience committed to buying their product, can help alleviate this, as group buys, interest lists and special edition lights illustrate.
  • (standardised) easy-access interface for simple reprogramming of firmware
    Adding a way to a flashlight that would make changing the firmware more easy, would also be a great option. This is also an emerging trend where BLF designed lights could leapfrog light years ahead of what is currently commercially available. If these programming pads would be standardized this would be even better. Think of it as the digital equivalent of the modular P60 system. Thanks to ToyKeeper there is wealth of firmware out there available for anyone to try, or perhaps even improve. However, an easy and simple way for mere mortals to get this digital goodness from the firmware godess into a flashlight is lacking.

Just my 5 cents though :innocent:

Edit: added reprogrammable firmware

I doubt it. I think it has more to do with being shipped by ‘AliExpress’. :wink:

Aliexpress says my order has been delivered.It has NOT been delivered.I will file a PayPal dispute before alie’s cute little count down timer expires.
Has anyone in the U.S. received their light yet?Being on the east coast I doubt that I would be the first one to receive mine.

Oh, please. Optionally, bundle together an easily reprogrammed flashlight with the reprogramming hardware …

Though my dream would be to have a point-click-update feature somehow, just plug something in and have the flashlight update itself to whatever TK et al. are making available. Kind of like owning a Tesla, I guess. Auto-instagram, facial recognition, search for the little gleams that indicate sneaky cameras watching you ….

Don’t know when you got that information. But mine was delivered at my doorstep one day later.
It seems that the terms AE uses don’t match 1-on-1 with what we would call it in similar circumstances.
So I say: wait one more day. :slight_smile: Nothing else rhymes.

Thanks
I’ll give it a couple of days.I don’t mind waiting but this is like giving a dog a bone then trying to take it away from him.

Two orders Nov. 10th — one still in China, one has departed country of origin.
Two orders Nov. 11th — both still in China

But I have to remember, it’s not unusual for something to reach my mailbox while tracking still has it somewhere over the Pacific.

They should offer an inexpensive GPS tracking device as an addon with orders. I’m sure I could find use for some once they arrived.

5x3 mm magnets from amazon check
Trits from mixglow check
lye to strip ano from holes check
Norland NOA61 check
uv light check
The mail should be here in about 2 hrs. :slight_smile:

I have a hunch: wait one more month.

—or—

The thing that you seek, may take one more week.
(better rhyme, and more optimistic)

I noticed this line has been on the listing page for a few days at least:

Obviously they have been getting more in stock, as there are 91 currently stated as available.

I was hoping the above meant the color versions would available today, but nothing so far. Hopefully they show up soon.

Well if we’re getting our Dr. Suess on, I’ll crack open a beer and pray it comes this year.

Ive had that happened a few times and it is the carrier’s fault. USPS here have some really irresponsible delivery guys that dont give a sh*t. Sofirn have no control over the carrier’s incompetence. You need to file a complaint to the delivery company otherwise the delivery guy will not get disciplined

I’ll check with the post office on Monday.I,m more inclined to blame Aliexpress. Nobody in the U.S. has received their flashlight to the best of my knowledge but it wouldn’t surprise me if USPS screwed up.

My last update was Nov. 26, Leaving parcel center Guangzhou (China).

What site is everyone using to track?