Unpopular Flashlight Opinion Thread

I agree the faster UI is nicer. I don’t like dumbing things down by making them slow or replacing interesting modes with boring ones. That’s what the client wanted though, so that’s what I made. I did try to convince him not to bother with SOS though. I mean, has anyone here ever actually used SOS mode for something where another mode wouldn’t work?

It really shouldn’t have much hype. It’s not an exciting flashlight. It doesn’t have fancy aux LEDs or dramatic body styling or massive turbo lumens or throw. It’s not going to win any beauty shelf contests. It’s meant to be utilitarian and somewhat boring. And that’s why I use it so much.

It really shouldn’t be taking so long to produce though. It’s honestly pretty ridiculous.

So do short ones. I don’t like having my computer forcefully shut off. It’s seriously disruptive, and carries a high risk of permanent damage. That’s how my last one died.

OTOH, pro tip: While power outages can be a fun excuse to use flashlights, no excuse is necessary. Enjoying torches only during power outages is like showering only when it rains.

I’m not really familiar with that, but it may be possible. It looks like there are three different HDS clicky UIs. All three sound like they would be simple to implement in FSM. Which one are you referring to?

Aye, I remember you mentioning that in the Biscotti launch thread. Them’s the breaks. [shrug]

Honestly, if I ever needed SOS, I’d put my torch on strobe and wave it around maniacally - guaranteed to call the eye of a passerby very quickly.

Yeah, I can see that happening if you work out of a computer, especially at home. Me, I don’t use my PC much anymore aside from a few short hours of video games to stave off sleep, and I’m so detached from my workplace I really couldn’t care less if my workstation fries up forever. Ain’t like I’m doing more than “face, badge, face, badge” anyway.

When you live with family that gets miffed that you only use your lights instead of the ceiling lamps and complain that it’s too dark, you tend to need excuses :stuck_out_tongue:

EDC lights should not be sold if they don’t have a trit slot.

Now THAT is an unpopular opinion (at least for this forum :smiley: )

I know, so please don’t agree with me :smiley:

You just need some brighter lights. One of my latest projects is BRIGHTER than all the lights in the living room combined by a large margin.

Warm white leds, 3000k, give me the most satisfaction to use, look the brightest outdoors, and are in my go to lights including D4S and GT70. But even knowing this and having tons of CW fingerprint erasers I’m often still tempted by mfg specs on the CW versions, even though after having them they don’t get used. It just shows me that even though I know better, the marketing of more better is still hard to ignore. Yes, I know there are genuine people believe CW is ackchyually much brighter and more efficient. I joke, but to each his own, get whatever you like.

Black bodied lights are ugly.

Patina is code switch for "too lazy to polish".

Surefire is overpriced.

Black is the least practical colour for something that, almost by definition, you need to find in the dark.

My opinion is that black is popular merely because it makes a device appear more serious.

There is a really good reason that an Aircraft “Black box” is NOT black, and that should be applied to flashlights.

Can’t get around market forces though, things are made to market, so popular opinion rules.

Really? Did I do it again? Is this another one of those things that everybody else understands on such a deep level that it is a given? So much so that it is not worth commenting about? Even in a bitch thread?

It's actually not an unpopular opinion?

I'm with you Zulumoose. All of this tactikewl nonsense has gone too far. but, on the other hand, I may be under dressed after the apocalypse. Ya think?

I agree that colored flashlights are better than black even if black is said to radiate the heat better. It is much more likely for me to buy a light if it is golden, silver, blue, brown, copper, . . . :heart_eyes:

That’s actually a very good point in concept, but I think some quantifying is in order to confirm or debunk its validity. 3tronics’s powder coating, for example, barely interfered with his lights’ heat dissipation.

This is so true. Why not use a cell with more capacity? 18650, 20700, and 21700 are still smaller than a GT micro head. That would be amazing.

26650 would be the most comfortable sized/capacity battery.
Grey, Red, and Copper are MY fav Body colours.
5000/5500 my tint. 3 click side sw recessed.
With small torches being twisty, 2 or 3 levels.

NO strobe.Flash or any multiple settings on ANY torch.
With ALL heads made to use P60 drop ins and reflector sizes to suit on top
From C8/D4 up.

Lots of UN popular ones there methink’s. But I think a few of us would like such.
and I can’t Personally see the point of 21000 cells when we have the 26650
18650 to 21000 not much.
With 26650 tube being a lot more comfy in hand.

===

“” but, on the other hand, I may be under dressed after the apocalypse. Ya think?“”

===

If there ever WAS an Apocalypse…
I think I’d rather be one of those that DIDN’t Make it.
thank you.

:+1:

And to add one for other 26650 fans -

The D4S is a little too stubby. The Sofirn SP33 hit the sweet spot in terms of size and ’holdability” for this cell format.

UPSs are my friend. My computer, printer, router, modem, monitor, etc. are all backed up. I've finished downloads with the power off before shutting down. The surge protection is nice, too.

It’s not just a matter of surge protection or gentle shutdowns… it’s that old hardware, when allowed to stop, sometimes never starts again. Even a planned power cycle is a risk for computers which are otherwise running all the time.

Even without risk though, it’s still disruptive to reboot when one has several hundred programs running. So I don’t like power outages. A UPS would at least help with short outages though, much like how a notebook doesn’t need to shut down unless power is out for quite a while.

I like fireflies PL47 and E07 :zipper_mouth_face: Dont roast me pls.