Are we reaching the peak in flashlight innovation?

[mega_lumens]

I have not posted in a while, but I have been reading all along.

I'm so confused and frustrated because I can't keep up with the bombardment of dozens of new lights packed with Cree/Seul LEDs and not to mention so many new companies. What I notice is that most of the lights offer same features and for the most part good quality products.

I'm also confused about constantly evolving LEDs. When should we expect the newer brighter LED's to start coming out? How different will the new ones be from the current p4/ XRE? If I followed correctly something newer from Cree- Qs and Rs and then Luxeon?...

Finally, what will be so different about lights if every company will pack the same brighter LEDS into same anodized aluminum tubes with good run times?

I'm hoping more companies will come out with unique lights like Kroma, Gladius, and Sidewinder: bright, multi colored, multi level lights.

 

[flash_bang]

wait, what's this Sidewinder you speak of?

 

[paulr]

Better leds are coming out all the time. Also better batteries, better heat sinks, better everything. A modern led is a high tech semiconductor part just like a microprocessor, so we should be used to the concept of continuous led technology improvements, just like we see with microprocessors. Why would anyone expect it to stop?

 

[Illum]

wait, what's this Sidewinder you speak of?

most likely Streamlight sidewinder...this boxy looking light "intended for professionals"
theres a fresh thread on it around here

 

[cave dave]

It's always easier and faster to copy then to come up with something orginal.

There is still plenty of room for originality out there (or copying the modders at least). Things like better UI's, side by side lights, headlamps with reflectors, 1AA headlamps, etc

 

[KingGlamis]

I don't think we are even close to the peak of flashlight innovation. That will only happen when sales dramatically slump, which I don't see happening anytime soon.

 

[NA8]

I'm also confused about constantly evolving LEDs. When should we expect the newer brighter LED's to start coming out? How different will the new ones be from the current p4/ XRE? If I followed correctly something newer from Cree- Qs and Rs and then Luxeon?...

Finally, what will be so different about lights if every company will pack the same brighter LEDS into same anodized aluminum tubes with good run times?

Lots of new LEDs available now at the Fenix Store. Q2, Q5, Rebels. Bring your checkbook or wait three months

I think it'll be interesting to see if high quality flashlight companies can economically stay in business when you can build a cheap uber flashlight and sell it for $15 in a year or two.

Even today, it's easier for joe sixpack to buy a Brinkmann Maxfire on sale at Target for $12.99 than to find the replacement xenon bulb or even a pair of blisterpak C123A batteries. Depending where you bought the bulb and batteries, it may be cheaper too. His old one won't go to waste either as he can find LED drop ins or DIY parts if he's adventurous.

In a few years, they'll be making a sealed glass lens, metal reflector, heat sunk, head module that they'll mold an uber plastic resin Surefire clone over. Multiple tailswitch modules will be available for the flashaholics in addition to the standard model. Maybe as Heinlein predicted you'll be able to drop it from low orbit, pick it up and turn it on

 

[iamerror]

I also think there will be much improvement in the future. I see the efficiency of LEDs getting higher and higher, also they could start having a more natural color spectrum. And like cave dave said, better user interfaces. Headlamps especially seem to be lagging as far as technology and quality go.

 

[NA8]

Headlamps especially seem to be lagging as far as technology and quality go.

Headlamps are a market that has Fenix written all over it. I wonder why they don't jump in.

 

[Burgess]

Interesting points here.


In a similar electronic vein --


Look at "Slim" Pocket Calculators.

Bought a dandy little Canon LC-61T

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO !

For those who don't know, it is the length and width of a Credit Card,
and has a thickness of perhaps 2 credit cards stacked together.
Powered by a Lithium CR-2032 cell.

Incredibly useful, i've EDC'd mine every single day.


So WHY don't they make 'em anymore ?


And why, in a Quarter of a Century, haven't they been improved upon ?


The similar-size ones today are GARBAGE. Cheap Junk !


Imagine (if you will), when i purchased mine 25 years ago . . . .

If we (all of us here at CPF, fer' instance) would've held a discussion:

-- What will "Slim" Pocket Calculators be like in 25 years ?


We would've had many answers and responses, indeed !


But NObody would've dreamed that they'd be "essentially" gone !


Today, if they can't sell a "Slim" one for under 5 bucks, it doesn't exist.

Quality has been replaced by Low Price.
When (not IF) it fails, just buy a new one.


Don't mean to hijack this thread.
Just felt that it was kinda' relevant.

And Sorry for my semi-rant.


Hope that i've managed to get my point across.


-

 

[NA8]

So WHY don't they make 'em anymore ?
...

Try finding the HP RPN calculators these days. Not many left.

I've was looking at various cheap scientific calculators, but found I could download a heavy duty Texas Instruments clone for my PDA.

 

[paulr]

There's another thread about calculators, but basically not many folks use 'em any more, because there are computers everywhere. I have a really cheap crummy keychain calculator in my daypack that I occasionally use to figure out gas mileage or the like, but only rarely. I haven't used my HP's in years. It's easier to open a computer window and calculate in it. So I think calculators are passe, like slide rules. I think my cell phone may have a calculator function but I'm not even sure, because I haven't had occasion to try to access it.

As for flashlights, we're living in interesting times and I think we'll keep seeing fast improvement over the next few years. After that though, maybe LED lights will have matured the way incandescents already have.

 

[LED Cool]

i would say LiteFlux is a innovative new company. its LF2 has the features of any AAA/AA LED light currently in the market. but none has its unique features.

khoo

 

[mega_lumens]

Do we know when to expect the next new LEDs or lights?I know SF has come out with Cree upgrades to some of their lights, but I'm waiting for the newer than current Crees..

 

[BlackDecker]

I think we're nowhere near the ultimate in light output and power efficiency. What is interesting is what just 2 years ago us CPF'ers thought was the ultimate in light output is now available to any Joe Schmoo at Wal-Mart for less than $10.

 

[souptree]

WTB: 1 calculator, approx. size, shape and thickness of 2 credit cards. Must run OS X.

To OP: No!

 

[MorpheusT1]

When did technology stop advancing..
Sky is the limit..
And istead of using old crappy calculators try the one on your cell phone which probably is on your person most of the time.
Atleast my last 10 cell phones have had one.





Welcome to the future
:nana:

Benny

 

[Martin]

The near future might well satisfy the light requirements of the average joe with the integrated flashlight feature of cell phones. They might even become pretty good in a few years.
It would take a few more years until these things are able to project a cinema-sized picture on a white wall in daylight and it would take some more to have a safety circuit approved, that prevents unlawful use of these powerful lights.

Today, our flashlights don't even have programmable beam shapes and tint, we're just getting into multi-level. Clearly, no peak in flashlight innovation is in sight.

 

[mega_lumens]

Today, our flashlights don't even have programmable beam shapes and tint, we're just getting into multi-level. Clearly, no peak in flashlight innovation is in sight.

I never imagined about the possibility of programmable beamshapes and tints. If a light with such capabilities can be realistically achieved, I wish we don't have to wait for decades for such tech to appear. ( Now I'm excited about the future of lights!!)

 

[Tritium]

Possibly the reason that virtually no new features are coming out is because of the new trend world wide to imitate rather than innovate.

Thurmond