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

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 doesnā€™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 itā€™s possible to do.

I probably donā€™t want one of these for myself, but I maintain the buyerā€™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 ā€œappeal to flashoholicsā€?

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
Thereā€™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 itā€™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.

Itā€™s a grandma light. Or grandfatherā€¦. 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 7135ā€™s and the ā€œgrammaā€ 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 itā€™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 ā€™502 for years, and it suited me fine. Only changed the drop-in once to try an XP-L.

1.4A. I think.

Iā€™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 Iā€™m not saying itā€™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 canā€™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 itā€™s a good compromise.

I am also interested

Put me in. Thanks.

Quick thoughts:

  • Love the idea. Weā€™ve needed this for a LONG time. Letā€™s stick to a concept and get something to market sooner than later.
  • A soft press, forward tailswitch in conjuction with a 3 or 4 position dimmer ring would be my only strong/controversial suggestion. One handed switching is crucial for a ā€œsimpleā€ light IMO. I think this goes for snobs, muggles, or elderly. Additionally, I think this enables using a sub-lumen mode by separating the functions. 0.5-10-100-500 seems pretty darn good. And getting to pre-select brightness before turning it on is a huge plus.
  • +1 for the knurling and color contrast dial. Maybe black ano on the body and clear ano on the dial? Dimensionally, make sure the ring is long/tall enough to get a good purchase on, and maybe ~1mm larger OD
  • LED and optic choice can be debated forever. Besides, by the time this light is ready, who knows what emitters will be available. 5000K and 3000K choice is a simple answer. 3535 footprint and mod friendly optic dimensions covers all the bases I think. A frosted or pebbled spot seems like a good match here IMO
  • Charging port cover is the point Iā€™m currently hung up onā€¦ I personally donā€™t have a winning idea yet. USB-C sounds right opposed to some proprietary magnetic setup, but port covers are a pain, and even a threaded ring isnā€™t elegant enough in my mind right now to choose it above the rest. So the default is to go with the simplest one to implement.

You can put me down for at least 4 though at that price point.

You know, after looking at that feature list again, Iā€™m thinking a light like this could honestly be my EDC. Maybe Iā€™m getting oldā€¦

Interested!

Iā€™m in for two