If my calculations are correct, the new XinTD C8 V4 doesn’t have a moonlight mode. It works out to about 1.7lm, which is just a regular low mode. A tad bit low for a “low” mode, but it’s focused tight enough it should look brighter. I’d consider a moon mode on this light to be more like 0.2lm or less… but that’s a bit hard to do with PWM.
I’m using the RRT01 with Nitecore NL166 650mAh 16340 cells, but I hear AW 18350 cells are better if you can find them. I’m not sure if trustfire would work; I don’t have any *fire batteries.
If it could be implemented alongside the current UI, or as a replacement for the double click, either option would be great.
I think though, and given your own posts above (I wasn't as familiar with the jetbeam or the sunwayman) we are headed toward ramping of some form becoming a reality on most lights, instead of a large series of preset modes.
It should be relatively easy to add to the existing UI without removing or interfering with any of the older UI concepts. So, you could double-click as usual or click then click-hold to get the sublevel-cycling behavior.
I’d really like it if short-click then press-and-hold from off would start at the very lowest level and cycle up through all available levels instead of just going through one mode group. Then again, if it simply cycled through the high mode group, it’d be a lot easier to access strobe when desired. Either way works for me.
As for true ramping though, button-based smooth ramping is a bit slow and sloppy and inconvenient… and control rings come with a cost — major loss in efficiency, reduced water/dust resistance, and it’s more expensive to build. These stepless ring lights usually retail at $100 or more, and it really raises the minimum current draw so low modes don’t last anywhere near as long with a control ring as they do with a button. Maybe that will change though.
At the very least, it does seem to be getting a bit more common. The new stepless multicolor Nitecore SRT7 looks particularly tasty…
I know what you mean about *fire cells, they came with the tlf mini 02, up until that I’d not seen the point of sub 18650 cells as I edc two 18650 lights, but now I have them, I’d like to use them, even if it means building a host tailored for them, cnqg has a nice little cheap 16340 host so I’ll probably do something with that and get some 16340 imr cells for the higher draw small lights.
That they do. And I hear you on the downsides to a control ring, but personally, given my own use habits, I think it's worth it.
I'm expecting an SRT7 hopefully before the end of the month (on the pre-order so just waiting now), and will be ordering the SRT3 when it comes out. According to what I've been able to find, it will also feature control ring, have red & blue LEDs, and be compatible with AA/14500/16340 (extender used for 14500).