…on a budget. You know, something that throws ridiculously well, preferably without any “ringyness”. I don’t want to do an aspheric build, mostly because I’m not a big fan painting images of LEDs on everything I point it at. So the general idea is to get the tightest beam possible using a traditional style reflector.
The only throwy lights I have in my collection thus far are the UF 980L and the Cyclone C88. The 980L in particular is a lot of fun, but still underwhelms me a little in that respect.
I’ve sort of been hovering around the idea of purchasing a C8 host kit with an XP-G reflector, throwing an XPG-2 in it, and driving it at around 2A. But I’m not sure how effectively such a host would dissipate the heat, or how well it would even throw. So what I’m looking for is suggestions that would result in something clearly superior to such a setup.
How would an XP-G2 go, behind a HD2010 reflector though, being that it’s designed for an XM-L? I’m thinking not so good. The A60 looks like an option for consideration though. But even then, how would an XP-G2 go, behind a reflector designed for an XR-E? I mean, they make XP-G specific reflectors for the C8, so there must be some differences.
I’m definitely going to keep the A60 in mind though. It’s cheap, and looks pretty decent. Thanks
This flashlight https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/9515 surprised me for what it was. It wont set any distance records but bang for bucks I reckon it would be hard to beat for throw. There is a couple of night shots on post 127. If I get around to it today I have an XP-G2 to go in a P60 pill and reflector ready to assemble. Its 1.30 am at the moment. Been a big day. Edit. Sorry cainn, you know what time it is here as you could be my neighbour.
Okay, so here’s the best bs answer I can think of. Lasers are monochromatic(all one wavelength) so to make a “white” laser you need a prism to split the light into component wavelengths and then focus each one and recombine them into a white light laser.
For the narrowest beam, maybe a HD2010 with a high bin Cree XP-C at ~700 mA. Or maybe the same HD2010, but with this Cree XM-L (Direct solder to copper star) with direct drive on a single Li-ion battery.
For the benefit of everyone else, the term “white laser”, when it is used in flashlight enthusiast circles, is a sort of humorous caricature of a flashlight that puts out such a tight beam that it would seem impractical to most other people.