Yes, as far as I am informed it still uses the 2-mode driver/UI. I don't know if they can put the new dual-modegroup 3-mode UI of C01R onto the MCU of C01S. The driver of C01R cannot be used "as is" for C01S as it is developed for LEDs with a very low forward voltage, e.g. XP-E2 photo red or maybe Osram Whiteflat 1mmĀ². I wish they were able to source some Nichia E21A with 1.800K - 2.200K 98CRI to test a mule version of C01S but the odds look rather bad.
I think in a mid-term perspective the odds look good to see the 3-mode UI in C01S, too. Most probably Sofirn still has quite some 2-mode UI drivers left on stock and retrofitting these with the 3-mode UI will not be reasonable in terms of costs. I talked to Barry about Nichia in general some months ago when discussing UV LEDs and he mentioned that it's very difficult for them to get Nichia LEDs. However, I'm confident that with enough demand there would be some way to get these. Hank Wang also got them for his KR4 lights. The question is: What demand would be necessary to achieve at least a breakeven with these special emitters. Maybe I should create a new "interest check"? ;-)
Seems these colors are on the Sofirnlight website! Green and no-ano donāt seem to have images up yet, unless my browsers are both acting up.
These colors (desert tan, orange) just got put up on amazon, as well as a āno-anodizationā version. The no-ano one shows the BLF-C01S style polished/machined no-ano finish. I wonder if this version of the no-ano is making a comeback, or if this is just misrepresented bead blasted stock?
UPDATE: Sofirn has messaged me on amazon to state the no-ano is out of stock
Edit: Maybe Lux-Perpetua or Barry can confirm, but I talked to Zoe from Sofirn and was told that āthe warehouseā doesnāt have the no-ano version. It has been taken of amazon so Iām pretty sure the correspondence Iāve had has been solely in reference to what is available via amazon, despite my more general request for information about getting these colors elsewhere. Iāve ordered off Sofirnlight instead since itās cheaper anyway.
I also noticed the sofirnlight website has been updated with new product images for all colors. including a raw, no-ano version which quite noticeably doesnāt show āBLF C01Sā but the standard āSofirn C01Sā. They also updated the missing green ano image.
It seems 2.000K and 3.500K are highly requested by BLF members. You are right about the TIR optic. It will probably require to use a frosted wide angle lens to reduce tint shift. I donāt know if the new C01R boost driver (approx. 1.2A at max with XP-E2 PR using a Vf of 2.4V) would work best with E21A but it looks very promising.
Good to hear, thanks for getting us a final word! I already ordered 2 off the Sofirnlight web store, so Iām glad to hear the product images shown were accurate.
I ordered the orange one, in addition to C01R. Maybe gonna one more colour soon. If only it got a true (usually 4 hour) middle mode like some other AAA light. Then itās easy choice for me to order a couple more.
I ordered a green-bodied version a few days ago. A package showed up today. I said: āno way they got it here this quicklyā. Nope, it was the C01R I had ordered and since forgotten about!
Well, the C01R is pretty amazing. The three modes of pure red are incredible. Iāll play with it more when night comes but just looking into closets, Iām impressed. The low is perfect for preserving night vision. The medium Iāll have to explore more. The high is surprisingly bright. Anyone know what the run times are like for the different modes here?
Will these colors, or at least some of them eventually be available for the LT1? I think thatās a great shade of green in particular for the lantern.