Interested in the next BLF/Manafont custom light?

Hi everyone,

Now that China is back full force from their holiday, I hope that now would be a good time to design the next BLF custom light in collaboration with Manafont.com. We had a good time with the BLF AA-Y4E, and both we and Manafont learned a few things from the experience. Overall it was a success, and we got a unique light out of the deal. Now, let's see if we can do better with this next one!

Preliminarily, I would like to use the Farka E09 as the base.

Here's a quick review. The size is pretty nice, 95.8x19.8mm according to the review. In other words, it is marginally smaller than lights such as the Akoray K-106. The design is extremely simple and therefore extremely attractive. I think we would probably want the black color. It should tailstand. And here's what really sold me on the design:

http://www.youtube.com/v/2IC769uq--c?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0

Manafont says that suppliers for the Farka E09 should be no problem. We do need to find the price still. On Alibaba, the price looks fairly reasonable, some of the quotes are as low as $15 but others as high as $45. I don't know if they would have to commit to a quantity of half a million to get that price, but we'll see.

Another question is the mode arrangement. This light is normally a single-mode light, but Farka/Xenoled has multi-mode modules too. Hopefully they can do a swap.

So, please help decide the future of this model. What would you prefer for the following variables?

  1. Maximum reasonable price
  2. LED type
  3. Mode arrangement (quantity, order, and approximate lumen output for each mode)
  4. Mode memory?
  5. NiMH and 14500 support
  6. LED tint

Let us know your thoughts! Hopefully we can get this off the ground quickly. Have fun, cheers.

What will be that light?

An akoray k-106 based xpg-r5/xm-l t6 with 3 usable modes or even better ramp mode and AA/14500 support?

My preference for that one is a bit weird. I would like:

- AA only, tailored for AA's (i understand making it for 14500 AA performance would suffer)

- Infinititely variable mode like on the UF-H3D so one mode with memory.

- "Secret mode" after 2 or 3 quick presses beacon mode 1 short blink every 3-4 seconds.

- maybe implementing a good 2 second pause (maybe also a blink) when the light "ramps" while the flashlight reaches it's peak hi and low.

Emitter preference would be neutral white XP-G with SMO reflector.

Would pay 20usd easily for such a light. Even more if HA coated.

If markings are an option i would suggest the name BLF Variluxe.

On a second tought i would really like one like that! Instant buy for me!

Black matte finish not glossy just like in the picture. Perhaps SS tailcap button.

This one should really stand out from others. We all have a bunch of hi-med-lo lights don't we?

+1 on almost everything you said except: beacon 1 flash every 10 sec and tint neutral white.

Oh yes! Neutral white i wanted not warm... i was thinking of a warmer led (not cold) and isntantly typed that...

I would also love to have a variable output like the UF-H2, together with most of Budgeteer's great suggestions. However, I'm not sure if infinitely variable output would be available for a reasonable price. The good news is that the coating and the build quality of this light should be quite good.

Here are my preferences:

  1. Price: $18 - $25
  2. LED type: XP-G R5
  3. Mode arrangement: 0.5 lumens, 20 lumens, 80 lumens, 140 lumens (on NiMH)
  4. Mode memory: No preference
  5. NiMH and 14500 support: Both
  6. LED tint: No strong preference. Would prefer warm.
  1. Maximum reasonable price - 20USD
  2. LED type : XPG-R5
  3. Mode arrangement : Hi / Med (50%) / Lo (less than 15lm)
  4. Mode memory? : Absolutely! Hi/med/lo kicking after 1 second on (or less)
  5. NiMH and 14500 support : 14500
  6. LED tint : neutral white

or

  1. Maximum reasonable price : 30USD
  2. LED type : XML
  3. Mode arrangement : Hi / Med (50%) / Lo (less than 20lm)
  4. Mode memory? : Absolutely! Hi/med/lo kicking after 1 second on (or less)
  5. NiMH and 14500 support : 14500
  6. LED tint : neutral white

@sb56637 -> can you surprise us? can you give us a "clue" of what will be the next BLF custom light?. Can you mention, at least, the body style?

I also agree with your preferences, except the maximun cost

  1. Price: $15 - $20
  2. LED type: XP-G R5
  3. Mode arrangement: 0.5 lumens, 20 lumens, 80 lumens, 140 lumens (on NiMH)
  4. Mode memory: No preference, however I prefer to have mode memory
  5. NiMH and 14500 support: Both
  6. LED tint: No strong preference. Would prefer warm or neutral

Hi Fran, sorry, I was still updating the first post when you replied. Here are all the details I have so far:

http://budgetlightforum.cz.cc/node/1359#comment-20866

Let's keep in mind that we might alienate a lot of potential buyers if we offer a light that only runs on 14500. I also suspect that we might alienate a lot of buyers and create an RMA headache for Manafont if it can't handle 14500. I would strongly recommend a hybrid AA/14500 driver. The BLF AA-Y4E supported both, and it was extremely bright with both AA and 14500. But nevertheless, this is your light. Keep the requests coming please!

  1. Price - up to 35-40 dollars if perfect.
  2. LED - XP-G R5 or TIR XM-L. Preferably good throw and some spill.
  3. Mode arrangement - I like very much the UI and electronic driver/switch that zebralight is currently using. For example output 2,5/0,2 ; 8/30 and 140/max Lm.
  4. Mode memory - no
  5. NiMH and 14500 support - primarly alkaline/NiMH AA but should support 14500 also.
  6. LED tint - neutral, cool

What about pocket clip or non-black colour like olive?

I would like:

  1. Price: Less than 40$, including shipment
  2. LED type: XPG / XML, the higher the bin the better
  3. Mode arrangement: Not sure about exact lumens, but should be 4-mode, moonlight->low->med->high, with high in the vicinity of 200 lumens and moonlight under 3.
  4. Mode memory: Yes, after 1-3 seconds of on time
  5. NiMH and 14500 support: Both, with good support for NiMH
  6. LED tint: Neutral white
  7. Runtime: More than 24 hours on moonlight, more than 1 hour on high
  8. Special features: tailstand, not rolling easily (pocket clip?), flood-to-throw (it's just too useful, especially when batteries are low), maybe also extension tubes for 2 or 3 AA batteries (and an appropriate driver, of course...)?

I would also love to see a 1xAAA version with similar specifications (smaller LED, shorter runtime, of course).

+1

I understand that some people don't want to bother with Li-Ion batteries but for me, personally, AA-only is a dealbreaker. I own way too many AA lights and I've already phased out most of my AA NiMHs. I do on the other hand have plenty of 14500s lying around and in terms of bang-for-the-buck, they just beat NiMH for what I'm using them for.

Any chances to have pocket clip?.. For me, an EDC light without clip is not desirable

The baser Farka is a nice light - my vote would be for a ramping driver - the UF-H2 driver would be fine though it would be nice if it ramped more slowly and flashed at both ends. I'd like an XM-L - drawing a maximum of 1.5-1.8A on high from a 14500 - decent NiMHs should be good to 8-9A though obviously this means a short runtime on high (10-15 minutes for an Eneloop)

I'm not fond of 2AA or 3AA designs, so extension tubes are not an issue for me.

Those farkas seems pretty sturdy:

http://www.zhongwin.com/Factor43/html/?27.html

And a mini review of the stock form:

http://edcforums.com/showthread.php/77781-FARKA-E09-V3-casual-mini-review-

Is it me or the review light looks bigger?

I would also like a pocket clip, but I'm not sure how much that would raise the price. I imagine that modifying the basic structure of the flashlight would be the most costly. Unless it was a sort of slide-over sleeve clip, or an Akoray K-106 style clip that is anchored between the tailcap and the midsection.


So the answer is YES, I wanna new BLF flashlight

1. Maximum reasonable price

$20-30 for a XP-G R5. $35 in case the body is very good made (true HAIII) + good coated lens.


2. LED type

R5 with SMO reflector. R5 is floody, so if you put OP reflector, it will be more floodier. I think SMO will conserve throw a little better. But SMO only if the beam pattern is without rings (I remember Don's review of UF U20, with R5 and SMO. As far I remember, he reported very ringy beam profile)


3. Mode arrangement (quantity, order, and approximate lumen output for each mode)
L-M-H or M-L-H. or only one with variable output. No party modes. Will be great to have turbo mode also, at 1,3 or 1,4 A (for a brief use only)

With memory function arrangement isn't important.

4. Mode memory?

Preferable yes


5. NiMH and 14500 support

Both


6. LED tint

Whitest possible with good color reproduction.

Other thoughts:

- some drivers that works with both AA and 14500, modes can be differently spaced when use AA or 14500. Xeno E03 for example: with AA, modes are well spaced, but with 14500 M and H are almost the same, and no L. In this case, one mode with infinite adjustment will be the solution (ITP C7 and other for example), so tactical version is a must for me in this case, I mean momentary on.

- size: no preference, but will not mind a bigger one if the beam will have better patter or better throw

- would be great if it can tailstands

- really want a good coated body. Would not mind paying a few bucks more.

- good regulation is a good thing for me

Heck, count me in. I wanna be in the custom light club. LOL

Honestly, I don't know enough about the specs to voice an opinion. I have faith in what others suggest. If it's going to be 14500, I'd like to know so I can combine that with my order that I'm about to place. I have 0 batteries in stock and 5 new lights on the way.

On second thought, can I vote yes AND get one of Match's XM-L?

1. $20-$25

2. XP-G or XP-E

3. 1, 8, 40, 100

4. Always start at lowest. I definitely, definitely, definitely do NOT want the light to ever start on high first.

5. 14500/AA - both

6. No real preference, prefer neutral white.