Looking for the ideal flashlight

I learned a lot in the last few weeks. Now’s the trick to combine all that knowledge in one flashlight.

The beam of this flashlight is quite ok.

Below a list of what my flashligt ideally should have. Assuming I understood all the little bit of info I found in the threads.

TIR
My flashlight must have a TIR lens because I hate uneven beams. No bright spots and spill for me.

Frosted lens
A frosted lens because that smooths out the beam.

High CRI
I like good color rendering. (mostly because that makes details stand out more.

Multi LED
This also seems to lessen uneven beams.

Long lasting
I really like lights that can run for at least an hour @1200 lumen.

Output
1200, 650, 250, 30, 3 would be great. I have a use for all of them but the lower ones become progressively less needed if the beam is smooth and doesn’t wash out whatever I’m shining on.
Stepless or many steps dimming would be a great bonus. A slide switch/dimmer makes me drool :slight_smile:
A mode only counts for me if it stays at that level for at least 90 mins without stepping down.

Dimensions
Pocket size.
No batteries in series. (too long)
Max diameter head and body, 50mm
1x 26650
3x 18650/206700/216700
4x 18650/206700/216700
Anything that gives me at least 90 mins on high (1200-1800 lm)
If 1x21700 does that, great.

Angle
A nice wide angle.
Throw is nice but everything beyond 100m is of very little use for me.

Modding
I’ve never done modding besides changing a battery… :slight_smile:
But if needed I’m willing to mod to reach my goal. I already orders ATtiny programmer, so I can reprogram wrongly space modes. (I hope) if the light has an ATtiny and isn’t glued together.

I have well over 100 lights now, STILL looking for the ideal one……

I’m new to all of this but I can fully understand that :slight_smile:
But be honest with me do you really want the ideal flashlight? It would mean the end of your hobby :slight_smile:

I needed the END of this hobby a loooong time ago! Not like I didn’t try to end it :slight_smile: Everywhere I go in my apt. there are boxes, manuals, batteries, lights … no room on desk or credenza . Buy one, play with it for 5 or 10 minutes, toss it aside, and look for the next deal. Huh? Imalent DX80? 32,000 lumens? Se ya! Gotta run now!

When I first got heavier into the hobby I was looking for an ideal set of around 4 lights (like small flood, heavy more powerful flood, small thrower, larger more powerful thrower). I wanted the minimum number of lights that would fulfill pretty much all needs. Now although I have a lot more lights than 4 I still put a lot of thought into not making excessively duplicate lights.

As for your perfect light, check out the DQG tiny 26650. DQG Tiny 26650 III Review - 7x XP-G2 2,500lm Pocket rocket!

That’s a start! :slight_smile:
Multi LED, good size. Good runtime except Turbo but that’s just a gimmic on most lights this size.

Is it possible to reconfigure/reprogram Turbo to the highest possible output without stepdown? Looking at the graph in that review that level may be 800lm which is High. I would like a Turbo of 1200lm.

Are there frosted lenses for sale for this pocket monster?

Good luck with that… i started that way and still havnt stopped. I have a bedside light that comes on moonlight so i dont wake anyone or loose nightvision. than i have a retina burner next to front door in case someone attempts to come in the yard at night. Thats only two lights, i have many more for different applications. Different tints Different patterns, different sizes they all have a function… or maybe thats what I keep telling myself :person_facepalming:

The problem is every month or so some one comes out with another ideal flashlight that’s better than the one I have.

Zoomie, continuing from the TC20 thread, you indicated you’re after a beam profile that doesn’t have a hot spot, because a bright hot spot can “wash out” the details in the center of the subject.

In addition to the Jaxman I wanted to let you know about the “diffuser” type TIR optics. These are found on many of the angle lights (or head lamps)
here’s a photo of some popular ones that were in a comparison for a review of the Armytek Wizard Pro v3

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……………………………………………….Olight H2R……….Armytek Wizard Pro v3…….Skilhunt H03

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The angle lights can be used as a flashlight not only a headlight, I actually use an angle light myself on a daily basis and pretty much have it with me at all times, It’s the light I use the most and I’ve very rarely ever used it as a head light (maybe once)

For me a great feature is I clip it on the front of my pants/belt or jacket for hands free use. I do that a lot. With the diffuser type optic the hotspot is pretty much eliminated. They use these on the head lights for close up use and the same even beam profile you’re after.

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Here’s some beamshots also from the wizard Pro review:

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Not sure if there are any straight flashlights with the diffuser type lens but maybe someone else knows? However a diffuser type wide angle optic can be purchased readily to fit tube lights such as Convoy S2+ etc. LED-lens-for-CREE-XML-XML2-LED-60degree

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For the TIR optics in general I think some are designed for throw and can have somewhat of a hotspot. Others are designed for flood and have no visible hot spot, I’m not a TIR expert though and hopefully someone who knows more will chime in.

My Jaxman Triple Nichia E2L has no hot spot at all, and it’s not even the frosted version, the entire beam is uniform and I cannot see any separate sections such as hot spot/corona/spill it’s just the same all the way through, so I can only imagine what the the frosted version would be like being even more smooth and diffused.

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Here you go. Just contact them and tell them you want a frosted lense. They just now started making lights with the option.

https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/JAXMAN-E2L-3LED-TIR-LENS-flashlight-18650-flashlight-torch-CREE-XPG2-camping-cycling-outdoors/1812094_32812945810.html?spm=2114.12010608.0.0.4ea42b21SoyuGi

I do not have a frosted or high CRI version of this light but I do own the XP-G2 version and I love it. It’s high quality, it’s amazing for the price for what you get. It’s my favorite , practical decent run time single 18650 EDC.

EasyB, now you’ve made me sorry I came to this thread because now I have to buy another flashlight! :smiling_imp:

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Kidding aside I’ve been looking at this DQG for a long time but I don’t recall reading that review before, but re-visiting it now the photos in the review have got me really wanting it more now, much more! (Thanks again EasyB!)

I bought one of the first DQG lights many years ago (DQG 18650 Tiny) it has served me very well and is still working fine (although the newer side-switch versions have issues) it’s the smallest 18650 light I’ve ever had, I currently keep it in my car. So I’m pretty much already a DQG fan.

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For ZoomieFan’s purpose I’m not sure about it though, if you look at the “3 meters measured throw” beam shot photo in the review you can clearly see it has a discernible hot spot, so I think the TIR’s in it are designed to combine into a hot spot for some throw too.

In contrast, my Jaxman triple when shined on a white wall you cannot see a hot spot of any kind at all.

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I keep hearing everyone talk about wanting a smooth beam and wonder why they just don’t run a piece of Dc-fix on the lens instead of trying to chase or put in the perfect optic .in 11 seconds i can make a beam perfectly smooth and light loss is 3%…in a half a second i can peel it off and be right back where i started .
I took a U-torch UT-02 with 100,000+cd and on piece of diffuser film makes a great thrower a tamed floody buttery smooth pussycat of a living room light.
The ut-02 has the same size bezel as the BLF Q8 So i made a lens cap /type pop on /off diffuser filter for them both .i agree sometimes diffusing the beam mixes up any tint shifts and makes for a better beam tint too .
First thing I do when I get a light is run around looking for something that fits perfectly on the end of the light to make a diffuser out of .

ZoomieFan already linked the E2L XP-G2 frosted version in the OP

The beam of this flashlight is quite ok

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The Nichia version you linked is the one I have and described in my post above. (219C - 5700K version) It has no hot spot at all, not sure why you’d even need the frosted lens.

Also Jaxman doesn’t appear to offer the frosted with the Nichia and they really don’t like to change anything on their lights, I’ve tried unsuccessfully myself to get them to add/change things.

It looks like they don’t offer the optic separately, I think it’s a Carclo 10509 (not sure though) but from what I’ve read it’s a major PITA to get it seated into the Jax MCPCB, and if I’m not mistaken on their lights they glue down the feet on them. So changing it yourself may be an issue too.

It’s an awesome flashlight as is though. I’m probably going to get another one to mod with an upgraded driver and TK’s Crescendo ramping firmware.
Too bad they don’t sell the hosts anymore, and on their complete lights they glue down the MCPCB’s too. It least they already have DTP copper boards.

They do sell the TIR lens on the site:

https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Optic-Lens-for-E2L-flashlights-triple-TIR-LED-lamps/1812094_32809754725.html?spm=2114.12010615.0.0.5906ee92rn3wcj

You can buy the host to make your own here:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/JAXMAN-E2L-HOST-for-BLF-DIYers-without-driver-not-a-compeleted-flashlight-Only-Parts/32798763548.html?spm=2114.search0204.3.1.452ced9cOsnCI0&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_1_10065_10344_10130_10068_10324_10342_10547_10325_10546_10343_10340_10548_10341_10545_10084_10617_10083_10616_10615_10307_5920011_10313_10059_10534_100031_10604_10103_441_442_10142,searchweb201603_40,ppcSwitch_5_ppcChannel&algo_expid=0a6bfb3e-78b9-4c5c-a63e-ca8a1dcc78d1-0&algo_pvid=0a6bfb3e-78b9-4c5c-a63e-ca8a1dcc78d1&transAbTest=ae803_5&priceBeautifyAB=5

Here is the PCB if you know how to flow Nichia’s on it. I can only find the PCB with XP-G2’s already affixed, no Nichia offering that I see.

https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/MCPCB-for-E2L-flashlights-3-LED-lamps-corpper-DTP-MCPCB/1812094_32809261411.html?spm=2114.12010615.0.0.13c97cd8JvU949

Totally forgot about DC fix, sounds like a great option too, where is a good place to get some?

Changing the optic on a Jaxman triple could be an issue though. I’ve read people having to “hammer” them in to the Jax MCPCB, and I’m pretty sure they glue down the feet too so might be a problem just getting the old one out, but I haven’t tried myself yet so I could be wrong.

But it’s not the frosted one, or is there an option for frosted I’m not seeing?

Awesome! thanks!!! I couldn’t find this (now I see its at the very bottom I must have missed it) and the last thing I remember about it in the host thread was they said “sorry, we no longer sell the host”

I think with some work a noctigon can be fitted into the E2L host, or hopefully this :smiling_imp: :

NP! I remember seeing the offering for this when I was going through the Aliexpress site. It’s still there.

LOL

ZoomieFan, so sorry to derail/hijack, I learned something good here!

Hopefully you will get more suggestions for what you’re looking for. I’ll be interested to see what might be available that suits your specifics as well.