I’ve been thinking about the benefits of EDC’ing a single emitter version of the FW3A long before they made a sample, as there wasn’t much of a difference between it and the D4 (performance wise). More throw is always useful for anything further than 10 meters away.
But a reflector version would also remain a shelf queen for the same reason I didn’t ever EDC any of the many S2+, X1R, A6 or similar tube lights I’ve owned or modded, that beam gets boring and unexciting over time no matter the emitter choice. There simply isn’t going to be any magic with a 20mm reflector. The best tube light reflector I’ve ever seen was in a eagletac D3C, it was clean very throwy but even then I still sold it.
Now optics is a whole new unexplored world, after having the FW3A as EDC for a few months, I think the perfect setup would be either a XPL HI V4 or a 1mm2 in a very tight optic, stonewashed titanium body, which paired with the current FW from TK will deliver amazing thermal regulation,
I set up one of my FW3A’s this weekend with LH351D 3500k’s and I found the beam to be way to wide. I had a Carlco narrow spot optic sitting in the drawer, that was the key! It is much better, would like it to be a little tighter, but Carclo does not make an ultra-narrow optic.
I have recently played with various 20mm 3535 Yajiamei Optics, and various LED’s. SST-20, 219C, XP-L HI, XP-L HD, LH351D. So many different beams from just one optic, and add another 8 different optics on top of that and you’re having a great time. Going out in the field for a night? Easy, just pop in a 10 degree optic. Want a smooth beam at your house? Easy, just pop in a 30 degree beaded optic.
I don’t have a problem with the light being released with a 20mm reflector, because that would give us the option to install 20mm optics.
Mine has 5D XP-L HIs with a 10507 and it’s pretty much perfect; it gives it a pretty focused beam (for a multi emitter light). The SST-20 is even more focused with the narrow spot, noticeably so compared to the HIs
Before the FW3A thing went live I built an LH351D triple. The other day I swapped that LH351D board into one of my FW3As and I feel the same way. The XPL-HI and SST-20 beam works way better with the 10511 optic. I have the LH351D behind a 10507 in my S2+ triple now and it’s better suited to it. I’ve thought of desoldering all those LH351Ds from that board to use for something else and picking a different LED for the triple.
Can’t wait for this one. The FW3A has the best form and UI of any light I’ve used or seen, but you just can’t beat a traditional single emitter with reflector. Even with the narrowest Carclo option, beyond a few meters the result is a big wall of light. That can be nice at times, but I’d gladly sacrifice two-thirds of the lumens for a little more beam distance. Just makes a more useful, all-purpose light, in my opinion.
