Interest collect for a new Sofirn design: tube style18650, magnetic ring control, USB-C charging, 500 lm max (AKA grandma light)

I think there’s a lot to like here, but a small number of fixed modes really seems to be squandering the potential of a magnetic control ring. I’d also be disappointed by a 10 lumen low if it’s technically possible to get it lower. Muggles have dark adaptation too, and the biggest concern is probably leaving it on by accident.

USB-C is a great choice, but a lot of USB-C lighting stuff has implemented USB incorrectly and will not charge using C-to-C. If my aunt plugs it in to her Macbook charger because that is the right plug and it doesn’t work, she’s going to expect it to be charged when she gets back in the evening and potentially have a pretty negative experience if it was important for her to have a working flashlight.

LH351D 5000K is a great choice too. 5000K isn’t everyone’s favorite, but nobody hates it.

I know what can be done with a magnetic control ring, I love my RRT01 for its smooth ramp and ultra-low. But that is not the reason a magnetic ring is used in this light, it is used because it is extremely intuitive and therefore suitable for everybody, without explanation. My Sofirn SD03 has a magnetic ring with 3 discrete modes, just off-low-med-high-off (repeat) and that is superbly useful and needs no explanation.

I think that an infinite ramp ring would not hurt the simplicity of this light, in fact it seems just as simple and intuitive to me, so I will ask Sofirn what they think of it. But if that complicates and hinders the development of this light (or alters the price), I will be just as happy with the discrete low-med-high that already fits the usability requirement of this light perfectly.

With engraved markings ( L - M - H or Lo Med Hi) it is not only intuitive that is a simple easy to comprhend legend

Interested but I would prefer 1000lm max with a 5000K XHP50.2 for it’s higher efficiency. Also would like 21700 or 26650.

You are added :slight_smile:

500 lumen max was specifically chosen because that is a pretty good output that still can be sustained well in a tube-style 18650 light without thermal control and stepdowns. I think that fits this type of light and I like to stick to that. In fact the new version of the SC31 that Sofirn sells now is 1000 lumen and I was disappointed by that because it has made the SC31 a bit less muggle-friendly.

A XHP50.2 will at these output levels hardly be more efficient than a LH351D of the same tint and CRI, and will produce a hugely worse beam (that is provided that a TIR can be found that fits it.)

A different battery type can always be a wish, but I do not see the need in this type of light, and I like the the compactness of the 18650 size that it is now, I see that as a quality.

An XHP50.2 would also have less perceived brightness because it would have substantially less throw. Minmaxing for any single attribute (in this case, efficiency) usually doesn’t produce as good an all-around light. (And no, an LH351D is most certainly not minmaxing for CRI)

I agree a few fixed modes would be fine for the core goal of this light, but stepless would be better for about 90% of use cases if it’s possible to do.

I probably don’t want one of these for myself, but I maintain the buyer’s guide at reddit/r/flashlight, and it would be a strong candidate to go on that list.

Before a team of 100 horses pulls in 100 different directions, it should be determined exactly what the goal is.

Is it a gramma light, suitable for the elderly>

Is it for the muggle?

Does it need to “appeal to flashoholics”?

Must it have a magnetic ring? High CRI? Other?

Blah blah blah.

Eg, #3 seems contradictory vs #1 and #2, so right there that needs to be sorted out first.

While we look at this light through a loupe
And chime in with our wants as a group
We know some things for sure
There’s no all-purpose cure
And too many chefs spoil the soup

Definitely interested. Probably in with 3 pcs.

In for at least 2 lights :wink:
Thanks for the move djozz!

Merry Xmas to all :blush:

Interested in several, what ever you come up with.

For elderly mom, grandma, or clueless muggle, a wireless charge station like the Orcatorch WR10 might be cool. I leave my WR10 up at the lake cottage all summer for anyone to use. Pretty intuitive to set it back in it’s cradle when finished using it. No cable to connect, no nothing. It has the added bonus of when the power goes out (which it does too often), the light turns on in low mode, so nobody is wondering around in a pitch dark log cabin looking for a flashlight. Especially my 87yr old mother.

It would certainly add to the cost though.

It’s a grandma light. Or grandfather…. grandperson? Therefore it is likely a muggle light; hence the 500 lumens, no step-down needed. A flashaholic may appreciate the light as one he/she can give to any other person with little fear they will mess up. At least that is how I look at it.

I have loaned as simple a light as an S2 with only 4 x 7135’s and the “gramma” was confused by the type of click to turn on-off vs the momentary press needed to change brightness. This person had better luck with a two button/switch setup (Wuben TO10R) except they felt the light was too small.

Sometimes it’s hard to win at all.

We are going in a lot of directions. In good with muggle friendly and safe.

Hey, I carried a 1-mode ’502 for years, and it suited me fine. Only changed the drop-in once to try an XP-L.

1.4A. I think.

I’m in. As small as practical and as simple as possible, yes. Magnetic ring does the trick.

If a safety blinky for pedestrians is desired (and I’m not saying it’s so) then DEFINITELY make it accessed by twisting the opposite direction from normal ramping modes.

Anything else should be well hidden so that people can’t accidentally activate. Honestly we have enough lights with all the bells and whistles, this one should be for muggles.

Interested - depending on what you come up with

Interested.

Definitely interested. Put me down for 2. Seems like a really handy light. I prefer 4000k for the emitter, but agree with previous posts that it’s a good compromise.

I am also interested

Put me in. Thanks.