Yeh, the EC4GT has some killer throw for a compact light, and handles heat very well.
But it’s a one-piece cast body, not milled, so good luck getting a mfr to make ’em.
Yes, I agree, in addition to reflectors, TIR optics with many emitters and even a mule option will be interesting.
+1
Just something small and practical, with lots of attention paid to the little details for quality-of-life purposes.
Also +1
Things happen because someone cares enough to make it happen.
Why not have the UI totally expressed with hardware? For instance, why not have a physical mode switch with either discretely marked modes (L, M, H, etc.) or a variable dial? Have the on/off tail switch separate for the ultimate in “memory”. No confusing software, pushing a single button ten times, remembering how you left it, etc. No worry about parasitic drain from electronic switches. Just put the switch on the mode you want and that’s where it’ll be!
I know it’s so “last century” but I’d love to see something like that implemented with modern technology, a really pretty emitter (with a warm option), and no visible PWM. Make it nice enough that the tech-savvy kids will love it but their grandpas can still use it.
Speaking of last century, I have always wanted a tin Eveready flashlight with all the modern trimmings. My grandfather had one that used 2 D batteries and I think they had the 3 or 4 cell one’s too. Lol I remember always replacing the bulb every time someone dropped it on the ground and you could hardly see past 30 feet. Remaking some of the old timer lights from the past would be cool.
check out the nitecore p36 which i have. it has a rotary switch with a separate on/off switch. i have ten lumen levels (2-2000) with the rotary switch.it also a push switch for more functions. sized like a 2 d cell flashlight, it's the best light i have.
Interesting thread on the matter.
The fact is lights did evolve quite a bit over the last years - compared to the SRK, S2, SK68 era. Most everything desirable through modification is now available stock. High power, high CRI, ramping, lighted switch, aux leds, usb charging… all available in different sizes (and colors for some). And i tend to believe the BLF community played an active role in this evolution. So what’s left to do?
I’d vote for a general purpose light that anybody can understand, safely use and recharge.
I’m not comfortable gifting complicated lights where one switch can do too many things and where it can go south with a wrong click. No e-switch + tail switch please. Those are really confusing to use in my experience.
How about revisiting the A6 with USB charging and a control ring or slider that just goes off/ramping to high for instance?
PS: now for funny ideas… i’d like to see a microwave rechargeable light. When dead put it one minute in the MW oven and it’s ready to go again…? 
I didn’t figure that idea would get any traction. I would be stuck building it myself I think. 
I like Narsil for ramping though. TomE are you listening? We need Narsil 2.0. 
Sunwayman V11R.
There’s also the Jetbeam RRT01, which I like more. It has only a control ring, no tail switch. So, no need to flip it around during use to access two different controls.
The Nitecore SRT series may be of interest too. Or the HDS Rotary.
Lights with a single e-switch are popular because they’re relatively easy to make, facilitate full-featured interfaces, and can run existing firmware.
Having a more-physical interface is nice, but significantly harder and more expensive to make, and usually have fewer features.
There’s a similar dichotomy for musical synthesizers. The most powerful ones also tend to have the lowest price, because they are basically just fancy software running on a computer. However, these are not very playable as an instrument, because half the point of an instrument is that it has a physical form. So people buy synthesizers which are more expensive and less powerful, because they have the benefit of being hands-on. The most popular (and most expensive) ones tend to be “knob per function” designs where every parameter has its own physical control. These often have only a small fraction as many features, but every feature is fully exposed in hardware… which is a huge benefit for anyone actually performing music on it. No menus, no modes, just grab a knob or slider and adjust it.
Neither style is bad… it’s just a matter of tradeoffs.
Would a BLF rotary be possible?
Of course it’s possible. Depending on what exactly you mean, it could even be easy. CRX made a rotary flashlight by hand from scratch.
Something with an interface like the Jetbeam RRT-01 (and other related flashlights) would be pretty difficult. Do I think it’s beyond the collective ability of BLF’s members? Absolutely not. Would it happen? It’s unlikely. It’s a pretty challenging task, especially to do well. And to be worth doing, it would have to be better than RRT-01. More power? Smaller? Better heat handling? Something. And we’d have to try to maintain water resistance and hope there’s no patents we’re unaware of.
Yes, smaller. We have currently a lot of votes for a small light and a head lamp. I know the CRX magic, have one of his lights. Not sure this can be done in mass-production. The V11R head is already very small, so this is a proof it can be done.
Yes, an updated A6, with USB charging, decent heat sinking (unlike the FW series), range of tints, and user interface with momentary, last mode memory (and preferably variable strobe frequency) would make me happy.
I keep thinking about the headlamp thing.
- Right angle or T-shaped?
- Reflector, TIR, aspheric (maybe even fixed aspheric)?
- Single-emitter or multi?
- Almost certainly e-switch, but what UI? (I love Anduril on a headlamp but not everyone does)
- But is the switch on the top or on an end?
- I’d say emitter choice but Simon and Hank offer just about anything in just about anything these days.
If you want to get even crazier, we could talk about remote battery packs. 2x18650 on the back of the head! One 18650 on the neck to keep it warm!
Maybe the best thing we could do is get something close to the D25S, but designed to fit the really common TIR optics for singles and triples, and sell a spacer for the triple builds (or make it fit the S2+ spacers out there already), and a 17mm driver so everyone can pick their favorite driver for it.
Copying the RRT-01 design and slimming down the body would be the easy part.
To make it better it would need to have at least thermal regulation and LVP. I think the driver design and software would be the hard part.
Also the manufacturer has to have better QC than the earlier blf projects to make this a succes.
What about something the size of the Ft03 with interchangeable heads……one with a dedicated thrower led and the other with multiple leds for flood purposes.
If it is a headlamp there should be UI to fit most. Say one multi-click, multi everything mode for guys who like to play with their flashlights and a simple click-on/off, hold to cycle mode for the rest of us. Call it advanced/simple or nerd/muggle
For a headlamp, I’d love to see something almost tube-shaped. Battery inside, driver and e-switch on one end, tailcap on the other end… and 2 to 8 small LEDs in a straight line along the side in very shallow reflectors. Perhaps E17A or E21A emitters. Floody, high-CRI, and a driver regulated to a moderate power level.
It’d probably be 18650, though 14500 might be feasible if the parts can fit on a smaller driver. Ideally it’d be designed to be pretty lightweight, and would come with a head strap which uses loops to fit two grooves near the ends of the light.
If there’s room for 4 / 6 / 8 LEDs, it could use two color temperatures and do tint ramping between.
Possibly also a T-shaped model with a throwy LED and larger reflector in the center, between two floody LEDs in shallow reflectors. Ramp between flood and throw in a manner similar to tint ramping.
That’s what I’d make, if it was up to me.
What do you think about right-angle flashlights as headlamps?
I’d love to see something like this with a super high CRI COB at a good warmish tint.
This thing has no throw at all, but the super flood is wonderful to work with.
It could up the PWM from 1.2K to above 5K (or 15K) to keep me happy.
I did a review here.
Also something like the Streamlight HL-5X, but with 2x 21700 instead of 18650s. But with a better tint.
And a pocket semi floody, with a high (whatever that may be) that is sustained over a long period without step down. Good CRI and Tint. 21700 flavor.
For 2020, I swore I’d only buy 21700 lights with great tint.
I’m not doing so well so far….
All the Best,
Jeff