Why don't enthusiast light makers make lanterns?

[PayBack]

And by enthusiast I mean the likes of 4Sevens, Fenix, Olight, Zebralight etc.

Sure I have 10 torches (flashlights) for every lantern, but I still have 3 lanterns and the only thing stopping me buying a new one to replace the rather old ones I have, is the technology moves so slow for lanterns I don't see anything considered an upgrade.

Surely there's a market?

[deadrx7conv]

I wonder if there is a demand. The lanterns at the local wallyworld have an inch of dust on them.

And, can you imagine the cost of a 'quality' lantern. If the cheap ones, that work pretty well already, don't sell too quickly, what do you do with quality higher priced ones?

[russelle]

Do you mean http://www.fenixtorch.co.uk/lanterns...g-lantern.html ??

I'm tempted for camping use.

[Obijuan Kenobe]

Welcome to CPF Russellle.

I have been thinking about a reflect attachment for tail standing lights with this effect in mind. Maybe some type of alternate head with a reversed reflector, or an attachment you simply need to set on top to create the diffusing/lamp shade effect.

Of course, for now, I just hang a mule by a length of cord, and you have a very nice lantern anywhere. Only on a table is this lantern configuration really useful.

Otherwise, just hang a mule, as I like to say.

obi

[deadrx7conv]

That fenixtorch kinda looks like:
http://www.batteryjunction.com/se3dln.html
http://www.litexpress.com/en/lanterns/camp/camp-203-rc/
http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/45...g_Lantern.html

Relabeling a similar available product doesn't make it an enthusiast lantern.

[carrot]

I think Black Diamond has the market cornered right now on small, decent lanterns...

[StarHalo]

I'd like to see someone mod a Rayovac Extreme with warm emitters and a smooth, slightly diffuse lens. That'd be just about perfect..

[LEDAdd1ct]

A few years back I called Rayovac and begged them to sell the warm white version in the States. I got nowhere. Favourlight does make a warm white version with the "Gentos" branding, but for some stupid reason (I am guessing certain brands contracted to only sell in certain countries) we are not able to purchase the warm white version domestically, which is nuts.

[PayBack]

Relabeling a similar available product doesn't make it an enthusiast lantern.

I agree.. no expert here, but 1W Nichia LED's are not state of the art?

[deadrx7conv]

Just tossing in a Nichia, into a cheap plastic import lantern, doesn't make a lantern state of the art.

[afdk]

It depends on what you define as a lantern! Pelican makes a lantern 9410 at 710 lumen on high mode! I have this light as my household emergency light. Its rechargable and always ready to go because its on a Maintenance charge, that will not destroy the 4 NiMh D cell battery pack due to over charging!

[ASheep]

I'd like to see someone mod a Rayovac Extreme with warm emitters and a smooth, slightly diffuse lens. That'd be just about perfect..

Funny you should say that, I did exactly that to my rayovac extreme mini AA lantern. I got sick of the blue tint, so I swapped the emitter for a neutral XP-G.
Here's a quick pic I took of the star before I fitted the diffusor dome back on. (I hope this works)



The mod was super easy, anyone with a soldering iron and some thermal paste could do it.

I use the lantern almost every night before bed, the batteries last for ages!

As for an "enthusiast" light company making lanterns, I think there just isn't enough demand for quality lanterns. As carrot said, Black diamond seem to have the market cornered in that respect.

Cheers,
Alex