Interested in the next BLF/Manafont custom light?

TIR's basically work the same way prisms work, I'm sure you've all seen lasers being shot into them and it being completley (more or less) diflected.

So what you have with a TIR is an LED surounded by a circular prism, so it should give a very high transmitance percentage.

...but the TIR's we generally have cost almost nothing, so quality is presumably questionable.

I mostly don't like the TIR idea due to them almost always being plastic.

Plastic lenses are far easier to make accurately, in those complex shapes, than it is to make one out of glass. Slightly higher losses from lower transmittance, but gains from better quality finish and shape for the same effort/money.

Quoting earlier, the fact that the optic is transparent, does not mean it cant reflect light. The theory behind TIR is that most of the light is reflected, with some loss as explained before. The difference maybe compounded by perception - losses in a TIR are visible as light escaping, however in a reflector, light is just absorbed and converted to heat directly, we never see the lost light. Again, I don't have numbers, but subjectively speaking, it surely does feel that TIRs are less efficient...

  1. Maximum reasonable price - 25USD
  2. LED type : XPG-R4 neutral or XM-L (prefered)
  3. Mode arrangement : Hi / Med (30%) / Lo (3%) or even better. ramping like the UF-h2 (very low low)
  4. Mode memory? : yes
  5. NiMH and 14500 support : both, with +1A on 14500 (high) and 2A on Nimh
  6. neutral
    very fast pwm!!!

I'd like the design and the Vaio tint of the Farka E09

well either way, i took two flashlights, same emitter (q5) and compared their outputs.

same drivers, same 18650 batteries (trustfires that both tested capable of producing over 3 amps) but different optics

one with a TIR and one with a reflector (had both OP and SMO)

the TIR had the BEST quality beam, but it wasnt as wide, and clearly not as bright

the OP had close to the quality, and much more light

the SMO had the MOST light, but as its a q5, was VERY ringy.

so now your saying, how do you know its the same? i swapped out the TIR and reflectors to the opposite flashlights to get the SAME results.

now i dont have a measuring tool, but when you have 2 side by side, you can tell which one has more usuable light.

the TIR i had (which was designed for a cree XR-E) just did not cut it. so i ended up selling that flashlight to a friend who was in love with it lol

i have only two TIR flashlights at the moment, the BLF Mr. Lite and an LED lenser awaiting me to upgrade it.

the BLF Mr.lite is a great flashlight, but again, compared to my Aurora V6 Q5, has a bit less light overall.

however tough to compare those as they are COMPLETELY different power sources and drivers (14500 vs 18650, multimode vs single mode)

and the BLF is an XR-E R2, not an XR-E Q5 (which is all heresay due to poor quality control from china)

we already have a TIR optic flashlight that uses a 14500/AA

time to either go bigger, or smaller

go AAA or go 18650, or even cr123!

if you go AAA or single CR123 - XPG-R5

if you go 18650 or dual Cr123 - XM-L T6 (neutral color would be awesome)

and as far as multimode, MAKE IT HAVE MEMORY! the last one is so annoying to click through uber low, low and med just to get to HIGH!

since this is the BLF, we should be making the CPF guys cry.

maybe a triple XM-L flashlight for under 40 bux?

that would be mint :-D

esp if it could accept 18650 OR C/D size cells lol

even better, 5x XM-L :-D

Another vote to keep the 5x XM-L model alive. Good call xP.1337. That is until someone suggests 7 or 10 at which point I'll need to jump on that bandwagon. LOL

lol thats just overkill,no battery will sustain that draw lol

Damn xP, got my hopes up then shot it down. If one XM-L uses two 18650s, then it's possible with 10 batteries. What's wrong with that?

lol just go with my semi-DIY on the HID spot light from big lots

Another vote for XML

Unless it was coated in a metal film to reflect the light back inside the optic .. [ not let it out ] .. Now that would be a trick ! or treat !

What kind of a question is that ..feel free to come to me anytime for guidance my son ..Now go and buy a light .

QUOTE:

  1. Maximum reasonable price - 25USD
  2. LED type : XPG-R4 neutral or XM-L (prefered)
  3. Mode arrangement : Hi / Med (30%) / Lo (3%) or even better. ramping like the UF-h2 (very low low)
  4. Mode memory? : yes
  5. NiMH and 14500 support : both, with +1A on 14500 (high) and 2A on Nimh
  6. neutral
    very fast pwm!!!

I'd like the design and the Vaio tint of the Farka E09

I like the EO15 as well..

I agree with the above comments ^ 3 mode with 3 lumens /35/150 is perfect ..most lows ,, not bathroom crawling low enough .. most mediums are too high and don't save battery or show enough change between med and high.. the law of inverse square says you have to multiply times x4 to actually think you see the light double in strength ..i have 2 lights already that have an extra stupid low for no reason in the sequence ..almost as much of a pain in the ass as a strobe ..ok not that bad .. but honestly both are failed attempts and BLF creations blf mr lite and eastward 4 mode . they serve absolutely no useful purpose ,instead they only annoy..I agree that a light that actually pisses off cpf members is a good thing .that may mean it's not a half hearted light but a stone cold killer ..a gathered rescource that stops the hearts of every forum out there and turns heads ..One that drives people here just to be a part of it ..One that manufacturers seek to copy .. cost be damned .. as long as it beats the compatition on multiple levels .@ under 40$ works for me .

I wonder why we need a vendor in the first place ..the subject of manafont came up and i wonder why a vendor is needed ..a manufacturer yeah .. a vendor ?? no ..Why ?

Is this in case the light is screwed up that it can be dumped on them ? .. Is it so there is no risk to anyone but them .. so they get the risk / reward ??.I'm just curious what the thinking is here ?

[quote= Boaz]

I wonder why we need a vendor in the first place ..the subject of manafont came up and i wonder why a vendor is needed ..a manufacturer yeah .. a vendor ?? no ..Why ?

Is this in case the light is screwed up that it can be dumped on them ? .. Is it so there is no risk to anyone but them .. so they get the risk / reward ??.I'm just curious what the thinking is here ?

[/quote]

While the above reasons may be true, I believe it has mostly to do with purchasing logistics: For example, the manufacturer will make the custom light, but only at a minimum quantity of 500 (just a guess). If the light cost $20 to create, then that means it will take $10,000 to get this project rolling. I'm not aware of too many people other than vendors willing to take risk.

LOL :bigsmile: As you wish, my master, will buy one right now. :bigsmile:

BTW, EO15? Farka EO15, you mean? Can't find it

Hi everyone,

Jim @ Manafont sent me a quick update to this project. They are still working on it, but the manufacturer is a bit slow. So no real news, but we're still trying to move the project along. :)

Sounds good thanks for the update! Waiting is the hardest part about this budget light hobby :( lol.

While you're speaking with him, perhaps hint at a new manafont BLF campaign version 3 ;) hehehe

Ah, and he did mention the next Cashback Campaign. It is in planning he said, but still a little way down the road.

I would like a small 18650 flashlight with a ramping xm-l

price: l2i is available at 7.99, ultrafire xm-l at 16.40, lets say $25-30

modes: press - on, hold - ramp (0->100), double-click - high or strobe

memory at first mode (2-mode-memory would be fine)

preferably side-switch, but tailcap is no dealbreaker

color: anything but black or silver

MULE! or a very floody TIR XML. 30-40 bucks, perhaps? Neutral XML's are availble on cutter this month. Something with a mega low, like <.5 lumens, then 4, then 30, then like 160 lumens on NIMH, a good direct drive on 14500?

http://www.shenzhen-wholesale.com/ultrafire-mcuc88-3mode-cree-q5-led-aluminum-flashlight_sku1753.html

3 AA XML neutral tint 3 modes 5lumen // 55// 500

The light exists the emitters exist the driverexists .. where's the light ???

at 23 $ with emitter and driver for 1 piece

.. this light comes in at 28$ for 50 pieces modified with the whole enchilada just the way you want it

3 double A's .. everybody wants one of them.. a poor mans fenix..a blfx

Nice, why didn't they put an XM-L in that thing to start with?