When I showed two flashlights to someone who is very naive about flashlight technology, I demonstrated 6000k and 4000k. They definitely appreciated the tint of the 4000k. But prior to this, they hadn’t even thought about it. I imagine subconsciously the average person might not be keen about the cool tint, but would just overlook it… not even thinking that it could be a warmer tint. (Of course, this ignores that small segment of people who go for the bluest, iciest headlamp bulbs for their cars).
Peak? Well, the curve has begun to level off, rather prominently. I’d say about 5 years ago. Prior to that, the technological progression curve for LED flashlights was pretty steady, on an upward incline as new emitters, better drivers, and a multitude of power solutions became available.
True peak would be something like being able to throw about 5000 lumens, constantly for 30+ minutes, without suffering overheating. Will we get there? Maybe. There might be a phosphor-like compound waiting to be discovered with far less heat generation for LED applications. As for metal alloys, I don’t think we can really go anywhere with that. Nothing else beats aluminum and copper for heat dissipation. The last consideration is runtime… and that’s really up to battery technology, which is a whole separate domain.
I picked up the 4AA version at a bargain price using one of the BLF deals. Great grip, but I hated the battery door lock, fiddly and too short threads.
Whtever happened to those great deals? The ones I see are no better than usual prices. I picked up Manker, Nitecore and Jetbeam lights at half price.
I am aware the phosphor tax is inevitable and have voted with my wallet! Two Wurkkos SBT90.2’s, one T9R FFL909MX. And this coming 909MX 4500k, essentially a given. The only question is which host, E90 or T9R.
The human brain quickly adapts and corrects for colour casts. I notice it when comparing two lights side by side, but not when using either. Of course I’m only giving my own personal experience.
Hey, I got a bunch of red/green throwers, and green is definitely way more “visible” than red. Not sure if it’s because things like trees/grass are also green, or red is monochrome but green is generally PC-green so “wider band” than mono-green.
But yeah, blasting green looks pretty much like the inset.
Excellent point–violet pumped emitters still have a long way ahead of them. It puzzles me that we don’t see high output versions of these emitters: we already have 420nm emitters that can output on the order of 2W+ of radiometric power, which should translate to over 700 lumens of white light. Just slap some SunLike/Optisolis phosphor on them and you’re done! But for some reason we never see single-die violet-pumped emitters with decent output.
These violet-pumped emitters are in a completely different class from 519A, B35AM, etc., in color rendering. I’ve got some SunLikes, and the color rendering difference going from blue-pumped R9080 to violet-pumped feels as noticeable as the difference going from 80CRI to R9080.
Quite an unfortunate reality. Most modern new flashlight releases are just old lights with superficial exterior differences, while important problems with older designs (e.g., bad reflectors and centering gaskets, poor waterproofing, etc.) go unfixed. Back in the old days companies like Olight and Thrunite cranked out definitive top performers of their class like SR90 and TN32; nowadays they are reduced to releasing just vanity editions of existing lights, or new lights that are neither here nor there.
And some really nice form factors have simply disappeared for no reason. It’s been a while since there was a decent multi-mode, high CRI, AAA keychain light on the market. Sofirn has stopped making the C01S, and got busy cranking out inefficient, unregulated lights featuring the ugly SST40.
There are still a few Sunwayman M40A available from Eastern European shops, but they are bulky and heavy. Sunwayman Europe has a few multi AA lights still available. It’s a shame there aren’t any 4AA lights with modern emitters. I had a Sunwayman D80A which is 8AA, that is a lot of cells and it was a monster.
I do think a 3AA light could sell and be reasonably compact and light.
I agree. Even when my WM3 had the stock emitter which was quite green on lower levels, after a day or so of using it as my only light I stopped noticing it. I had the same experience the other way with my D4K that I de-domed and then regretted, after using it a while I didn’t notice the pink cast.
It has excellent regulation but it’s quite bulky and rather expensive especially when you add 20 Euro shipping. And I suspect a modern Olight i5T Plus 2AA light will outdo it.
Its performance is on same level like good 2xAA flashlight.
Convoy T4, Wurkkos WK05 has better performance for lower price.
Even old Zanflare F2 has better high and medium mode than Sunwayman.
Most 2AA lights have poor regulation. The Acebeam TAC 2AA is awful with NiMH. Sunwayman are known for good regulation, or were since they have pretty much exited the torch market. Then again 2AA lights are unfashionable.
I am aware the phosphor tax is inevitable and have voted with my wallet! Two Wurkkos SBT90.2’s, one T9R FFL909MX. And this coming 909MX 4500k, essentially a given. The only question is which host, E90 or T9R.