Interested in the next BLF/Manafont custom light?

  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

I think if you make a D-10 light with the original u.i. you steal every hard core nitecore lover from nitecore ,sunwayman ,jetbeam and everyone else who's trying to push the selector ring idea .

I think the answer is side button like the klarus ..and then lego the tail & heads ,and put the driver and switch together ..3 piece lego . then ask the user what he wants . Mix a D-10 with a solarforce drop the drop-in idea for a new head built right... Next .. colors .

What do u want xml aa ramping ? fine 48$..what in pink ?? easy 59.95$

BLF light

3 mode...5/40/200 should drop the 4 mode idea unless it's an xml 5/40/175/450

a decent 50/50 mix of flood and throw

the original BLF light was way too slick ,and too big if it's a AA I prefer like the eastward ,smaller with great knurling .keep the same tint as the original blf light it is super sweet, but kill the rings ..

I'm not a huge 14500 fan i'd take a light that was brighter but had no 14500 capability ..want bright grab another light , we are designing a light for us not the general public .

ramping of course or 3 mode memory

removable clip , no flat spots on the body ,Small tastful logo not tacky like" him and her " on the mr.lites.

eastward Grey ,Olive drab ,nitecore brown or grey , something better than black or silver ..

Got 2 of those myself , [ the ramping drop in ] , there so nice I decided it was time for a 2nd before they vanish from DX , just waiting on the new host , so I can do a review of the Drop in + host .

I would prefer something a little out of the ordinary, a AA/14500 powered XM-L fits that quite nicely.

  1. Price: $40 is about my limit.
  2. LED type: XM-L driven to be very bright...in a none melty kind of way.
  3. Mode arrangement: Idealy ramping 1-100% or like the previous light with a nice range starting from very, very low.
  4. Mode memory: It would be nice if it rememebered the % on the ramping driver, but I'm not bothered too much.
  5. NiMH and 14500 support: Either is fine.
  6. LED tint: White...really as long as it's not overtly off coloured then I'm not bothered about the tint.
  7. Colour: Are you sure you want black? All other lights are black...They do a nice red <hint hint> although I would kill for a nice dark purple :)

Mmm... XM-L with super deep reflector... [drolling]

And what about a good zoom to throw XM-L light?

There are very few AA XML lights out. I can't think of any. I would love a 1xAA light with a XML.

  1. Maybe $35
  2. XML
  3. No flashy
  4. Yes
  5. NiMH for sure
  6. don't care much

Newbie here. Been lurking for a while but have to chime in on this one.

If it's to be a AA light then I think an XM-L is wasted on it. AA can't support the current to properly exploit an XM-L.

No strong preferences on the actual light. But as some others have said, it would be nice if the light had some unusual if not unique characteristics. Ramping sort of qualifies. I like the idea of a compact 18650 light, and I hope that what ever it turns out to be it will be well built.