Interested in the next BLF/Manafont custom light?

Yup, this one, to be more specific. It's a flood-to-throw light and it's not bad if you're using it as intended. It really does shine on a freshly charged 14500 though. You can read a bit more about it here, here and over at the DX forums (which are a bit of a mess). Just try to avoid the Osram version that FP had on sale a while ago. The latter is the version most eBay sellers are (re-)selling, by the way as it's cheaper.

I used to call South FL home so I know precisely what you mean. :D

I keep one of my 8-mode P7 lights in my truck for the very same reason (two regular modes, SOS, the rest are strobe modes).

im just curious, whats with the members fascination with 14500 anyways? lol

or really tiny lights?

I'm with you xP. Gimme something with 5,000 - 10,000 lumens and I'm good. Damn it, when I want light at night, I want some light. LOL

Not just size, but also being able to use an AA if you get caught short somewhere. Both the J4 custom and the Xeno/Farka that are being discussed have that ability.

Besides, having a lithium-ion only light necessarily excludes a lot of people unwilling to make that extra investment. At the price we're talking about for the light alone, a decent charger and a pair of protected 18650s doubles the outlay. Even something that supports CR123As is a stretch for me - I would be paying something like $4-$5 per cell local.

  1. Price - $30-40 if perfect (like said before)
  2. LED type - XP-G (XM-L isnt necessary)
  3. Mode arrangement (quantity, order, and approximate lumen output for each mode) - 1 mode, ramping with shortcuts, Think of D10 (hahhaa)
  4. Mode memory? remember brightness level, yes
  5. NiMH and 14500 support, Primarily NiMH, but 14500 would be nice
  6. LED tint Neutral all the way Anything between Cree tint 3-5

  1. Price - $30 if perfect (like said before)
  2. LED type - XP-G (XM-L isnt necessary)
  3. Mode arrangement (quantity, order, and approximate lumen output for each mode) - 2 mode, High 140 and Low 10, Head Tight/Lose respectively, Forward Clicky.
  4. Mode memory? remember brightness level by Mechanical mode selection
  5. NiMH and 14500 support, Primarily NiMH, but 14500 would be nice
  6. LED tint Neutral all the way Anything between Cree tint 3-5
  1. Maximum reasonable price - I'd go $20-25
  2. LED type - XPE R3
  3. Mode arrangement (quantity, order, and approximate lumen output for each mode) - 4 modes, Moonlight, low, med, high
  4. Mode memory? yes, but not critical if it isn't there
  5. NiMH and 14500 support - if ~150 lumens on NiMH, then I don't need 14500 support
  6. LED tint - not picky here

Good luck

Sam

1. I'd spend up to $50 if the light was somethin' awesome

2. I'd prefer XM-L, it'd be amazing to see in aa/14500 form. I'd be happy with an XPG though.

3. I like low-med-high arrangement.

4. mode memory is not critical if the arrangement is good.

5. I would need 14500 support if the light was AA size

6. I would like a neutral tint

7. I would like HA-III and darn near IPX-8 waterproofing as well! I take my lights camping/fishing/canoeing in all sorts of conditions, so I want my lights to withstand the elements :)

8. A pocket clip is nice, but not 100% necessary as I know its not likely to get a light meeting everyones specs lol.

Thanks for getting this going! I am excited to see what kind of light we end up with for the BLF V2 :D

  1. Price - under $40 delivered. I'm not buying as many lights this year but will pay for the one i want - can't afford to buy so many especially as I am now consulting lawyer about an 18% pay cut coming in April 2012.
  2. XM-L for preference - XP-G fine
  3. I like the arrangement from the last BLF light - XL,L,M,H but would really like ramping if that's doable at a sensible price
  4. Mode memory. Don't care but probably none for preference. UF-H3 arrangement would be very good.
  5. Don't care if it is 14500 only. NiMH for me a bonus - will mostly get used on 14500. IMR if necessary. This is something I'm happy to compromise on. NiMH only would not be good for me unless it is very bright (>200lumens). Don't care about current draw below 6A on NiMH on high.
  6. Don't care. At the same level of output I'd prefer warmer to cooler - but not at the expense of output unless it is horribly blue or green.
  7. Hard anodising would be nice but is far from essential.
  1. Price: $18 - $25
  2. LED type: XP-G R5 with smooth reflector optimized for throw
  3. Mode arrangement:
    • NIMH: 0.5 lumens, 20 lumens, 80 lumens, 140 lumens
    • 14500: 0.5 lumens, 20 lumens, 80 lumens, 300 lumens
  4. Mode memory: Yes, memorize mode after OFF for half a second
  5. NiMH and 14500 support: Both
  6. LED tint: neutral

Woah, sorry to hear that, Don. That sucks. Let us know if there's anything we can do. There are always plenty of people lurking (I know I was lurking for months before I started posting) and someone might know someone who knows someone. Well, you know how these things go.

BTW, I first read that as "I am now a consulting lawyer" and my first thought "I don't think I've ever seen anyone go from being a pastor to being a lawyer". :D

My father was a law professor and judge. Legal advice comes cheap for me.

It'll work out or I'll end up doing an IT job I'll hate but will pay rather better.

I have some exotic IT specialties in dental systems and prepress systems - but the printing industry is dying.

I'm not picky so I'll go along with whatever you guys decide and I'll take 2. :davie:

I'm in the non-AA/14500 wagon too.

  1. Maximum reasonable price: 25$-30$
  2. LED type: XML
  3. Mode arrangement: Hi-Med-low and a hidden fast strobe-slow stobe-Hi/low blink each 3 seconds beacon
  4. Mode memory? No.
  5. 1x18650 or 1x16340 protected.
  6. LED tint: as long as it isn't blue or green, anything will do.
  7. Clickie and tailstands.

or

  1. Maximum reasonable price: 20$
  2. LED type: XPG
  3. Mode arrangement: Hi-Med-low-ultralow-strobe
  4. Mode memory? No.
  5. AAA and 10440 protected compatible
  6. LED tint: as long as it isn't blue or green, anything will do.
  7. Clickie and tailstands.

1/ Nothing against AA only , if its bright enough with a AA

2/ No flashy modes

3/ Modes ? 3 or 4 ...

4/ Black tail cap , I have grown to dislike the green ones for some reason ..

5/A clip ? [ belt clip ]

6/ Budget light ? [ $20 or less ]

7/ Emitter ? XP-E R5 ? , XP-G S2 , XM-L T5 or T6 , but do we want to drive up the price with a swish emitter ?

But honestly , a nice 3 mode AA with a nice emitter , Lo - 5 to 10 lumen is fine - Med - 30 - 50 lumen - high 100+ [ and why not regulated for constant output , ok may cost a little more , but 100L regulated output would be nice ]

Anyways , a good solid light , does not need to be trick , just needs to be honest , and deliver on the small print .

Sorry , mode memory = Hell yes please ....

On a side note, I love 'compact'. I love very small AA's (the BLF mr.lite was too big in my eyes for a AA light). I also love very small (non p60) 18650 lights.

If it comes down to it, I would like a 'compact' light, no flashy modes, and of good, reliable, durable build and quality. Easy as that.

For example, I absolutely love this Nitecore EZAA xpg-R5, with the twisty switch, ramping modes, and simple clean design.

If there was something more budget along those lines, I'd be on it in a heartbeat!

I'd like to keep it under $20 and since I already have the AA/14500 BLF-Y4E, I'd like a CR123A or compact 18650 light (compact 18650 with a XML at 2A could work). Could go AAA if need be, but then less than $15. Something with ramping and memory would be cool. I'd like to get a XP-G as warm/neutral as a R4 will go, but not green. 3 modes is fine, 2 would be even better.

Frankly a simple XP-G with low-mid-high mode I can easy buy anywhere. A real BLF light must be somehow different than what's currently availible. It should not be to expensive. It must sell easy (otherwise the vendor will not play the game).

I suggest:

- real HA-III (grey, like the TR-801 or sand coloured, like the solarforce would be nice)

- XM-L

- SMO reflector, as throwy as it gets

- it's ok for me, if it's 14500 only

- ramping modes (because a low-mid-high light I could make myself)

- 25 $ max

Hehe... interesting voting choices. Funny thing is, I still have two more BLF Delights sitting here on my desk just itching for some love...which got me to thinking:

-Something the size of the BLF Delight

- XM-L T6 - seems to be a great tint

- Potential for 1.4 amp max (non-continous use). Should net @ 400LM

- 14500's, but could use alkaline in an emergency (due to driver constraints, output would be low only)

- Modes: 1 lumen, 60 lumen, 400 lumen. For me, those settings would cover any situation. Most lights have mode spacing too close.

- Best to use a TIR lens to allow larger heatsink, and if properly made gives a dead sexy beam pattern.

- Removeable pocket clip.

Sad thing is, other than a driver, I have the parts to assemble that light now.

I'm all for the variable output. I have a bunch of flashlight with modes already. Cannot be that expensive considering DX sells such dropin for not much of a premium compared to standard one:

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/cree-xr-e-r2-wc-5-mode-250-lumen-led-drop-in-module-for-wf-502b-and-flashlights-alike-3-6v-8-4v-13658 - classic

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/cree-r2-wc-3-mode-0-100-led-drop-in-module-for-wf-502b-and-flashlights-alike-3-6v-8-4v-17593 <- variable