Tir Lens beam is a cone of light, my preferred beam when using a camera
Surefire Weapons lights use TiR beams:
reflector beam has a hotspot and spill that create an overeposed hotspot, or two
A Clear TiR, designed for narrow forward focus, is by far better at producing an even field of lighting, for the way a camera sees illumination.
For camera lighting I choose this sort of beam with no hotspot (as in the Surefire above):
over this reflector beam
a few more images to show the difference between a Clear Focusing Tir, and a reflector:
Tir on left, reflector on right
Although the reflector lights being tested are working suprisingly well, despite the hotspot overexposure, and dim spill on camera. I want to mention that another advantage of an even field of illumination, is that the light can remain static longer, as the subject traverses the lighted area. With a hotspot light, there is considerably more active movement of the flashlight, to optimize the position of the hotspot and spill, as the subject moves.
Tir lenses are also more battery efficient, as they dont waste lumens on sidelighting.
Which other 18650 lights, besides the Surefire Weapons lights, offer a nice cone of light, without a hotspot? Is there an option from Fenix? (the brand has decent street cred among LEOs, outside of the more expensive, Made in USA brands such as Surefire, Malkoff and Elzetta)