Luce de Notte -- the orginal sales thread

[JohnTz]

Re: Now Taking Payments: Luce de Notte (unless you have an H3 sphere already)

For those of you that got yours already can you make some comments on how much light they provide at night? I am dying to get mine as well.

 

[future_prius]

Re: Now Taking Payments: Luce de Notte (unless you have an H3 sphere already)

I can't wait for mine! I'm no.# 16

And I'm the invisible #17 oo:

 

[moeman]

Re: Now Taking Payments: Luce de Notte (unless you have an H3 sphere already)

For those of you that got yours already can you make some comments on how much light they provide at night? I am dying to get mine as well.

Well, i looked into the business end of mine last night and i still can't see!



Really it is bright enough to read a clock, stuff like that.
I have not used it with true dark adapted eyes yet.

 

[moeman]

Re: Now Taking Payments: Luce de Notte (unless you have an H3 sphere already)

Oh Yeah, HoopleHead yours is awesome!!!

 

[paulr]

Re: Now Taking Payments: Luce de Notte (unless you have an H3 sphere already)

Well I tried mine when fully dark adapted and 1) the glow dome is quite visible from sitting on the shelf (this needs dark adaptation); and 2) the reflector end puts out enough light to see one's immediate surroundings (up to a few feet) dimly. Probably enough to find your way to the can with some care (this is with the 11mm blue sphere, the 18mm green should be several times brighter). Definitely not enough to describe in conventional terms of lumens or throw.

This is a work of precision machining and creativity and much beauty. But, one must remember that it is a GITD device and not a flashlight. It is dimmer than any flashlight ever made, at least 10x dimmer than the backlight of my Casio illuminator watch. If you are thinking of buying one, and do so with the expectation of getting a work of art to savor, admire, and use with a certain sense of imagination and thrill that overcomes its limitations, you will love it. If what you want is a no-nonsense utilitarian illumination tool to light stuff up with, you're better off with a conventional flashlight with an h3 locator vial or a clipped-on glowring.

 

[olrac]

Re: Now Taking Payments: Luce de Notte (unless you have an H3 sphere already)

Wow, that doesn't sound to like a postive vote to me. I know it is a work of art and craftsmanship, but one hopes that it will have reasonable functionality as well. I guess when I get mine I will find out.

 

[paulr]

Re: Now Taking Payments: Luce de Notte (unless you have an H3 sphere already)

Wow, that doesn't sound to like a postive vote to me. I know it is a work of art and craftsmanship, but one hopes that it will have reasonable functionality as well. I guess when I get mine I will find out.

It is intended as a positive vote as long as you understand what you are getting. I would say that my expectations are basically met in terms of output, and exceeded in terms of machining and construction. The functionality is there, it makes the difference between pitch dark and something like moonlight in your immediate vicinity, that you can see your way by, read the clock with, etc. It is not a flashlight. If you want a flashlight, buy a flashlight. There are lots of flashlights to choose from. The Luce is unique and wonderful and the only thing anything like it is the Betalight, which is nowhere near as nice.

A long time ago I posted a CPF thread looking for the absolute dimmest flashlight anyone could find, e.g. dimmer than the Photon Freedom at its dimmest setting, and there was a fairly lively discussion. This is just about the level I was looking for.

 

[HoopleHead]

Re: Now Taking Payments: Luce de Notte (unless you have an H3 sphere already)

its the best thing i could possibly use to look for my tritium-less flashlight nearby :thumbsup: my orders in for a 2nd!

 

[paulr]

Re: Now Taking Payments: Luce de Notte (unless you have an H3 sphere already)

If I were doing it over , I'd

1) possibly go for brass knurled rather than grooved, for a more old-fashioned look. I originally chose grooved to look less industrial. However this is totally a matter of aesthetics, the grooved brass looks really flawless and precise, so it's a question of whether you want modern or traditional styling. Somehow the knurled version looks like it's been sitting there glowing since the 1800's and escaped from Alexander Graham Bell's lab or something like that, a cool effect in its own right. That was part of my reason for choosing brass over ss or ti as well. Anyway, hard to decide.

2) I'd probably try for an 18mm sphere for higher output.

3) Might go for the flat top rather than the hemisphere, for tail standing.

4) I'm not sure whether I'd try for a different color. I do like the blue despite the loss of output. Yellow might be interesting. Green is the most efficient but it seems sort of pedestrian at this point.

 

[JohnTz]

Re: Now Taking Payments: Luce de Notte (unless you have an H3 sphere already)

Thanks for the feedback paulr.

 

[olrac]

Re: Now Taking Payments: Luce de Notte (unless you have an H3 sphere already)

Thanks for the additional input paulr, I understand what you were trying to get across, so if I am clear now you're saying it won't be quite as bright as my Mag P7, right? just kidding you paulr. Seriously, thanks for your comments. I opted for a green trit so it should be a bit brighter than the blue, I sure whatever the case I'm going to love it if only for the curious/oddity factor.

 

[PhotonFanatic]

Re: Now Taking Payments: Luce de Notte (unless you have an H3 sphere already)

Hopefully I'll have time to get these all out today--well, at least for those who have paid. :devil:

The Line-Up:

L to R, the new owners: JohnTz, ScottH, future_prius, luminata, Rudi, olrac, and william lafferty.

Some close-ups:

Some over-heads:

I think I need a vacation.

 

[HoopleHead]

Re: Now Taking Payments: Luce de Notte (unless you have an H3 sphere already)

beautiful, i think mines a bigger versions of olracs?!

 

[Kiessling]

Re: Now Taking Payments: Luce de Notte (unless you have an H3 sphere already)

Just got mine ... beautiful. A real work of art. I am impressed.
Everything I wanted and then some.

Unfortunately I am really short of time right now in my life, so no pics, sorry guys.

:wave:

bernie

 

[olrac]

Re: Now Taking Payments: Luce de Notte (unless you have an H3 sphere already)

beautiful, i think mines a bigger versions of olracs?!

It's not how big the light is but how you use it.

 

[PhotonFanatic]

Re: Now Taking Payments: Luce de Notte (unless you have an H3 sphere already)

It's not how big the light is but how you use it.

In that case, you'll need one with a domed tailcap, no? :shakehead

 

[HoopleHead]

Re: Now Taking Payments: Luce de Notte (unless you have an H3 sphere already)

random thought/question

how far up is the tritium sphere seated, is more than half up inside the reflector? was kinda thinking that a double sided, dual reflectored version would be cool, but only if they could share the 1 trit sphere...

 

[BugOutGear_USA]

Re: Now Taking Payments: Luce de Notte (unless you have an H3 sphere already)

Well I tried mine when fully dark adapted and 1) the glow dome is quite visible from sitting on the shelf (this needs dark adaptation); and 2) the reflector end puts out enough light to see one's immediate surroundings (up to a few feet) dimly. Probably enough to find your way to the can with some care (this is with the 11mm blue sphere, the 18mm green should be several times brighter). Definitely not enough to describe in conventional terms of lumens or throw.

This is a work of precision machining and creativity and much beauty. But, one must remember that it is a GITD device and not a flashlight. It is dimmer than any flashlight ever made, at least 10x dimmer than the backlight of my Casio illuminator watch. If you are thinking of buying one, and do so with the expectation of getting a work of art to savor, admire, and use with a certain sense of imagination and thrill that overcomes its limitations, you will love it. If what you want is a no-nonsense utilitarian illumination tool to light stuff up with, you're better off with a conventional flashlight with an h3 locator vial or a clipped-on glowring.

So this won't be replacing my SF M6? I just want something to guide me and prevent me from slamming my shin into the foot of my bed at night! This aught to do it...with a lil style!

Regards,
Flavio

 

[PhotonFanatic]

Re: Now Taking Payments: Luce de Notte (unless you have an H3 sphere already)

random thought/question

how far up is the tritium sphere seated, is more than half up inside the reflector? was kinda thinking that a double sided, dual reflectored version would be cool, but only if they could share the 1 trit sphere...

I was thinking the same thing myself today.

But I couldn't see why one would need the same brightness from both ends of the Luce; but it is doable. Basically just put a reflector on each side of a sphere, with a cut-out to accommodate the teat, and two lens. A bit more machining work though as there would have to be either two pieces that screw together, or a bezel on one end.

Taking commissions, if you've got the sphere. :devil:

 

[olrac]

Re: Now Taking Payments: Luce de Notte (unless you have an H3 sphere already)

I was thinking the same thing myself today.

But I couldn't see why one would need the same brightness from both ends of the Luce; but it is doable. Basically just put a reflector on each side of a sphere, with a cut-out to accommodate the teat, and two lens. A bit more machining work though as there would have to be either two pieces that screw together, or a bezel on one one.

Taking commissions, if you've got the sphere. :devil:

One end with a red filter...so you can retain night vision :nana: