AHHhhh!!! What happened to this thread? Did anyone try out (and hopefully get pictures) of the different films? Does anyone have S8 sized samples available (for sale)? ——- This thread is like “Game of Thrones”, amazingly interesting, but your left hanging right at the finish! …… Please have mercy and let us know what the results were. Thank you.
I went down this path and Luminit films are impossible to find. Other brands of commercially available and rated (specs) diffuser films (eg for photography) are crazy expensive. DC Fix is good, but doesn’t have the same level of dispersion.
Instead, the cheapest and most readily available diffuser films are from screens. Smartphone screen backlight assemblies (available as low as $2 shipped from eBay, eg iPhone 5) have a very high angle of dispersion, and are fairly opaque so not ideal. In contrast, diffusers from desktop monitors and laptops are more transparent, yet still have good dispersion. Old desktop monitors are about $20 on Craigslist. Damaged (eg cracked screen) display assemblies (eg laptops) are available on eBay shipped for $5-10, and yield massive sheets on the cheap.
Here’s my post a few months back on Reddit, linked below. One of the comments has a good video demonstrating how to harvest films from a laptop screen assembly. Takes about 5 minutes, yields a massive diffuser.
https://www.reddit.com/r/flashlight/comments/99lz45/anyone_tried_using_a_diffuser_film_on_a_thrower/
Thanks for the update Krutone. I have several sheets of diffusers out of different computer monitors, most of which have different properties.
I would love to try/compare materials that have actual specs, but I guess that is not in the cards as of now.
So far, the best (from a transparency and flood standpoint, at least for my use), I have found is from a Dell “Ultrasharp” monitor, but it would be great to be able to “engineer” a beam like lighting pros can.
Flashlights (LED’s) have advanced so much over the last few years as far as power, light color, beam width, etc; That I am quite amazed that diffusion has not been addressed!
Again, thanks for the update.
I’ll definitely have to take a look at Dell Ultrasharp monitors. Any specific years or just all of them?
In regards to the lack of diffuser development, I blame the community’s hardon for max throw, when in reality, flood (especially smooth flood) has more use cases.
Ideally flashlights would be sold as throw models with a snap on (good quality) diffuser lens for flood. Only two types of flashlights seem to co-opt flood and throw: 1) Some Zebralight models have either a standard glass lens or a diffuser, and 2) Zoomies (which enthusiasts hate).
My dream flashlight is a XHP35 with 1 or 2 18650s in a small form factor which can throw ~1000M at 2.4K lumen turbo, and comes with a nice wide diffuser lens that rivals the spill of mega flooders like the Noctigon Meteor M43.
On the flip side, in some cases a diffuser film isn’t even necessary. All the diffuser does is spread out the collimated beam due to the reflector. Standard LEDs actually have a very wide floody beam. For example if you remove the Carclo Optics on the M43, its already floody beam becomes even more floody. I think it would make sense if the reflector head was removable on a thrower. Best of both worlds, no diffuser needed.
You can’t get cheaper than scotch tape.
The “ultrasharp” sheet I have been using is from an older “CCFL” 24” monitor that would be rated at just over 2K resolution. It is better than any of the 1080P monitors diffusers I pulled out, but makes me wonder what the difference an LED monitor would have, or what an LED monitor of 4K, 5K, or even 8K diffusers would have? …. or better yet, any of the pro light diffusers that started this thread?
Though I realize that everyone’s needs are different, I believe “hotspots” can be antiquated to the dustbin of history ( as were the dark spots of incandescent bulb flashlights).
My renewed interest started when I replaced my old incandescent flood lights in my backyard, with some quality LED fixtures. The diffused LED fixtures are like going from the stone age into “Star Trek” as far as lighting goes! No hotspots and an almost horizontal beam of even light. They make my diffused flashlights look like caveman torches!
My frustration comes from the fact that PRO diffusers exist that would cover nearly everyone’s wants/needs, but we just can’t access them to even try them out!
Thanks for the answers, and putting up with my rants. Here’s hoping that things change in the near future.
Myself I don’t like the wide flood of my floodiest lights. And I don’t even have any mule. OTOH I love out-of-focus aspheric. Why?
- The sharp beam cutoff means I control where the light is not shining. F.e. people sleeping nearby. Or just looking in my direction.
- I imagine that a much-narrower (but not narrow) beam gives me the same intensity with significantly lower power consumption. But I never checked if that’s the case really.
OH, I love zoomies. I love their throw and I love their flood. Though I don’t love the intermediate modes nearly as much. 
Though I agree that sometimes a diffuser attachment would be a very useful addon.
Haha! Well, the problem is the expense of the actual film. But that’s only part of the problem. Brief background. Luminit has a patent on holographic diffusers, and they cater to large companies like defense contractors and architectural firms. When trying to deal with them in small quantities a 12” x 12” sheet is $75. But that’s only half of it. They require you to have a Fedex account, and you pay for mailing which is another $53 dollars. They flat out refuse to mail it any other way.
I recently bought a 12 x 12 sheet of 40º film to diffuse some kitchen lighting. That sheet cost me $128 to diffuse 6 ceiling can lights. Does it work?, heck yes, and works extremely well. Was it worth the money? In the whole scheme of a $40,000 kitchen remodel, I’d have to say yes. But to diffuse a few flashlights? No.
It’s really quite a shame they ignore a whole market segment. It would be awesome if the company would set up a small division to deal with marketing to flashlight manufacturers and enthusiasts since they not only make film, but holographic glass lenses too. They have all the cnc cutting machines to do any size or shape or thickness.
You’re welcome, using my thread and link to my pictures to sell your stuff
Not offended, just cheezy to latch on to someone else’s work without even asking. Also there are buy and sell threads, and commercial seller’s spot you should be posting in. You’re only “sharing” my work & research, and selling yours.