30mm optic

[InitialImage]

I've got a couple of questions regarding the 30mm optic compared to some others. I haven't done any testing on the 30mm optic other than dropping it in a mod or two. I like the beam it produces and has pretty good throw for an optic. How does it compare to the larger(size) narrow beam Fraen? I plan on testing them against each other, but thought someone out there may have already done some comparisons.

I don't want to step on Elektrolumen with the following question, but does anyone know who makes the 30mm optic? I know Wayne has a confidentiality with the manufacturer, but wondered if someone else might know who the maker is.

I have a project I'm developing and think the 30mm optic might be a perfect fit. I don't want to have to go through Wayne to get the optic(nothing against him) though. I'll use a different optic if required, but thought I'd ask who the maker is?

I'm in the process of getting some different Fraen optics in and I may find one that fits the bill.

What optics do any of you prefer and for what reasons? Thanks for input.

 

[CM]

Fraen also makes 30mm optics. Don't know if Elektrolumens uses the same ones but the 30mm optics I got from Elektrolumens focuses the beam pretty tightly with virtually no sidespill. Sort of like the Low profile Fraens but this produces a narrow beam vs. a cone of light from the LP fraens.

CM

 

[Ocelot]

One thing you have to watch out for is that if you use the narrow beam optics with a 5W Luxeon, the resultant beam has a hole in the middle due to the 4 substrates in the 5W Luxeon. The narrow optics would work better with a single substrate Luxeon like the 3W or 1W versions.

Scott

 

[ResQTech]

How does the 30mm optic compare to a Mag reflector?

 

[sidespill]

Judging by naked eye the mag reflector and 30mm have a fairly similar hotspot. I used one each for my TWOK 3W. The mag reflector has a nice corono as do most reflectors vs. optics. The 30mm optics shows artifacts if shot against a white wall. It does have the advantage of being put in smaller applications. Some people here have turned down the outer diameter and put them in SF Kl3 heads. I'm not sure how much outer diameter could be taken off before the 30mm starts to look funny. if only the same 30mm beam came out of an optic that was NXO5 size /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[CM]

The artifacts are not that noticeable in real use. It's the typical square beam with a round hotspot typical of using optics with a high dome. The outer diameter trimming does not degrade the beam in any way at all since the excess material has absolutely no function related to photon management. For me, I'm torn between sidespill and no sidespill. Sometimes it's essential, sometimes it really gets in the way. Really depends on the application. We can dial down output, but so far no one has been able to dial in beam settings. It's probably a very expensive proposition to be able to do so for a flashlight. Kinda like a camera lens that requires mechanically adjustable optics.

 

[sidespill]

CM said

"We can dial down output, but so far no one has been able to dial in beam settings. It's probably a very expensive proposition to be able to do so for a flashlight."

yeah what if a flashlight head was like a CD changer but instead of CD's it had different optics and reflectors. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif that would be ideal exept you would have a big ugly bezel /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon3.gif