What you’re asking for is something different from a D18.
The actual D18 is already over powered for it’s size, so more lumens would just be unpractical and useless - unless you want to have a portable heater…
I’d love to see a D18V2 with aux leds and usb charging though.
So I decided to buy the D18 with custom XPL HI emitter settup:
3 X 2850K
6 x 4000K
6 x 5000K
3 x 6500K
This should give ne better tint than sst20 5000K and better/higher lumen output than sst20 4000K.
If Hank comes out with a D18v2 I’m gonna be so pissed (just kidding).
But seriously, D18v2 could have a bit beafier head with more heat dissipation options and either 3X21700 or 4X18650. That alone should make higher output possible.
Also D18v2 should have more emitter options. Like XHP 70.2 high CRI
XHP70.2 is meaningless even at the highest offered CRI due to huge tint-shift in beam. That emitter is anything but quality light source, unless someone skilled enough dedome each one installed.
Speaking of high CRI, if someone could make a flashlight with 12, 18 (or even more, e.g. 36) pieces of E21A, that could be really something.
It doesn’t seem true for the whole XHP70.2 series. zieloczek100 made a review of the EAGTAC TX3G Pro using a Cree XHP-70.2 in a small SMO reflector and the beam doesn’t look as bad as expected. It looks pretty good.
A few of his pictures :
Field shots, camera settings ISO-200, f / 2, 1s, white balance – Fluorescent H
EAGTAC TX3G Pro – TURBO
My FW21 Pro actually looks decent. Greenish yellow corona but apart from that it’s not too bad. I think I don’t notice it much due to the floody beam. With the EC01 and SP33 it was more annoying.
I love my D18 vn 18 x W2. I would love to have the next bigger thing in this department. I do not have anything against the lights that other people like that I am not excited about. It seems that some people are against the lights that I am excited about, for all of the same old reasons that have been repeated 47 trillion times. I like maximum thrust to weight ratio. Added plus is ability to access normal modes in both pocket rockets and shoulder fired rockets.
Please count me in as petitioning Hank Wang to make a larger version of the beloved D18.
2 years ago Matt Smith modded a BLF GT with a COB LED.
I wonder if we will see more flashlights with a COB LED in the near future. If a decent driver was available, maybe it could be used to get more (floody) lumens and much better efficiency from a D18-sized host. Better efficiency would mean less heat and longer battery life, which could make a bigger difference than upgrading from a 14k lumen turbo to (for example) 25k lumen turbo.
I don’t actually know much about COB, maybe the technology isn’t there yet.
I’ll take a d18, but filled with 18 SBT90.2 emitters. Make it as large as it needs to be,
to support as many 21700 batteries that is needed. Heck, I want it full copper too.
But wouldn’t it throw almost twice as far? even though it may ONLY be 75,000 lumens, couldn’t it potentially throw 2200 meters? reflector dependent of course. I mean come one… you wouldn’t pay $2,000 for a 18 x sbt90.2 , 6 x 21700, full copper, 26lb thrower? I would, if Hank made it! And if my wife never found out though it’d be hard to hide.
ps- I got my ridiculous theoretical math from comparing the gt4 to the gt94, and the ms18 to this new Noctigon Coppertron (thats a trademark name i just made up).
You can have good flood and good throw by including 10 or 15 and 45 deg TIR, but the throw will never be super amazing. Likewise, you could have an aspheric lens option, granted the lens would extrude.
I would be interested in a crazy light if it uses SUNLIKE-tier emitters and buck/boost, or at worst, E21A emitters. I don’t like the green halo from E21A and a TIR won’t correct that, so 219b would technically be a step up
I miss the lights with handles lol, I used to use one in the offhand while shooting coons with my rifle, despite the weight the handle actually easier to hold than a light