High-mid-low or low-mid-high for flashlight lighting mode?

There are generally two types of lighting mode for the flashlights, from high to low or from low to high. I found many people have disputes on the lighting mode. Should the flashlight enter the high lighting mode or the low lighting mode when turn it on? When you are in emergency or need high brightness, it’s more convenient to enter high lighting mode directly once you switch on. While, if you are in camping and getting up in the night, turn on the flashlight, low lighting or even moonlight mode will make your eyes more comfortable. Some flashlights provide memory mode to enter into the last lighting mode, but some doesn’t have memory function with simpler design. It seems difficult to choose. So high-mid-low or low-mid-high, what do you think of it?

Either Moon oder a programmed “start-mode”. In any case, the next mode must be one that is expected (i.e.: Moon > Low).

Who remembers in what mode the flashlight was in one hour ago? Mode memory is nice, but should be lost after a couple of minutes.

But it isn’t. Nearly everyone loves the Olight (recent EDC models) UI.

I prefer low-mid-high, and I always like flashlights with proper memory.

Starting off with a lower setting saves me the surprise of ruining my night vision. If the light can start with a long press to begin with moon mode, I’m even happier.

That said, I’ve got two Convoy lights that I’ve set up for High at turn-on which I keep by the door in case any skunks or bumps in the night need scaring off.

My preferred UI has the benefit of either starting on the last memorized mode or starting on Moon.
For rear clickers: ‘Press’ = full click of the switch. ‘Click’ = momentary break in switch contact
For E switches: ‘Press’ = ~10 to 20 ms. ‘Click’ = tap < 10 ms.
Long ‘Press’ = 40 to 50 ms (no longer)

Low -> Med -> High;
long press from Off -> Moon (long click Off or click to Low),
double click Turbo (or High) and single click to return the last mode.
Mode Memory 3 main settings - other modes hidden. Strobe or beacon triple-click.
Single press On or Off.

In an emergency, can access high immediately. To not be blinded in a dark setting, direct access to Moon. Don’t remember the last setting? Start at Moon and single click for Low / Med / High.

In summary; from low to high. Works well for ramping implementation.

prefer HIGH to start.
i can hold my fingers
over the lens to dim
and then step down.

do not like different types of clicks
to access different modes. one click
click-throughs work best for me.

in the two flashlight emergencies
i have had, immediate (first) brightest
light possible was the best option.

start on low - you don;t get blinded that way

but also you need mode-switch to be very fast, like say BLF-A6
it;s a half press of the button.

It depends.

For my service light, I want it to start on H. I want the best illumination available from the get go to examine equipment or evaluate the larger environment. If I need or can use less brilliance I can always step down. No memory necessary or desired.

For my 'gentleman's pocket light', I want it to start on Moon or L. Examples of use for this light would be examinating a menu in a dimly lit restaurant, reading a program in a darkened performance venue, making sure I don't stumble over the dog in the middle of the night, stuff like that. If I desire more brilliance I can always step up. No memory necessary or desired.

Ther are all sorts of fancy UI's. A useful UI that I'd like to see is the ability to set L>M>H when desired, then set to H>M>L when desired, both on the same light. No memory necessary or desired aside from retaining the set mode order.

slmjim

If I had to choose between L-M-H and H-M-L, I would pick L-M-H. I don’t like it when I turn on a flashlight in the middle of the night and it unexpectedly blasts lots of lumens.

And if I had to choose between memory and no memory, I would pick no memory for the same reason.

Ideally I prefer to have a driver with firmware that allows me to program these parameters, including the number of steps between low and high. AND, I really like to have the ability to go to a lower mode with a medium press.

Starting on Low is probably my preference as well.

I’d rather cycle through the modes until I have just the right amount of light I need, instead of starting from the top with an uncomfortably bright mode.
The BLF A6 has a great UI, in that it can always start from Low, but also gives you a shortcut to High for those cases when you really do need the brightest mode ASAP.

Anduril…

Moon on click-hold, or double-click to turbo. Memory in between is great in a single session (i.e. weekend camp trip) where I tend to find a level on any given night and stick with it. LOVE ramping!

On older UIs, I prefer low-to-high as long as double click gets me to turbo. Indoor or outdoor- doesn’t matter; I am NOW “programmed” to double click for turbo (“on”) wherever I need full brightness. I am also very happy indoors with a click-hold moon start that ramps up quickly if I continue to hold.

Anduril is sheer genius (as is TK who gave it to us) and after I’ve used it about 6 months now I won’t buy a light without it (OR a very similar UI with the above core settings).

It’s a great time to be into these lights, and I have given many away with Anduril this year to friends and family who love it after a very short lesson. It’s a most intuitive UI indeed. :+1:

Vote low-mid-high. Maybe sometimes your flashlight will be used by damn kids. Low started means more safe.

The easy answer is BOTH. theres no reason to be making a light these days with either only . we're not living in the stone age anymore and you can give your customers what they really want . This survey proves it .if you make a light l/m/h you'll displease some of your potential customers .if you make it H/M/L you will too.

Don't make your potential customer look for a different manufacturer.

This, by all means.