[Review] Ants on a melon RGB Critter - an RGB colour mixing flashlight.

LED Flashlights – General Info 18650 Flashlights
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The Ants on a melon RGB Critter is the first “serious” RGB colour mixing/changing/fading flashlight, aimed at light painting photographers and flow arts.
It was launched on Kickstarter in late 2019, and after many delays, has finally arrived. Here is the review:

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Thanks for the extensive write-up. I learned about the RGB Critter when you mentioned it in another thread here on BLF. :+1:

I’ve done only a little bit of light painting, but I’m tempted to get one of these for fun.

I’m more likely to use ‘analog mode’ to avoid visible PWM. Are there any drawbacks to analog mode? Was PWM mode included only for intentional visible strobing?

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I was looking forward to reading this when you said you would be reviewing it. Very interesting light.

I can see how it would be a strong appeal for light painting, and the idea of programmable effects is pretty cool.

Triple click for off is very weird. I wonder if they were worried about users understanding the timing to differentiate between turning off and selecting effects.

The most interesting question to me was whether it mixes the colors effectively, so that’s great to hear that it does.

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Impressive pictures, thanks for showing (and for your other articles).

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Anyone else came in here just because of the curious title? :partying_face:

Always enjoy your reviews Stephen, so I’m off to read this to see what an ant on a melon critter actually is. And possibly learn something more about light painting along the way.

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Here's a bunch of ants...

No melons in sight, though.

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I really like that Silicone sleeve, make the light look really cool.

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The Analogue mode seems to work well for light painting. My phone camera picks up a rippling waveform, but I can’t see anything on long exposure light trails. The PWM mode is more for flow arts who like the fast strobing effect as they twirl around their light whips.

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Colour mixing is excellent. Triple click for off was probably to stop it from being accidentally turned off for flow arts, however that is totally unsuitable for light painting. I think there may eventually be two firmware types one for flow arts and one for light painting.

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I actually watched that movie when I was a kid. Too funny.

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I have recently updated my extensive review of the Ants On A Melon RGB Critter 2.0.
Changes since the original review include a much improved user interface, raised buttons that are easier to find in the dark, and an expanded selection of compatible light painting tools.

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