FlashCrazy
Flashlight Enthusiast
Coast recently released a couple of lights that have the ability to be dimmed. They have a rotary tail switch...you twist it to turn it on, and continue twisting to reduce the output. A neat feature is that if, from off, you turn it clockwise (viewed from the rear), the light comes on at full brightness. If you (from off again) turn it counter-clockwise, it comes on in dim mode. It's neat because you can turn the switch any direction...you can go directly to high or directly to low....ramp up in brightness, ramp down in brightness...anything you want. The bad thing is that the typical Coast momentary feature is lost, as there's no on/off button. For me this hasn't really been a problem...the way it's setup is still better than a reverse clicky. With a reverse clicky, you have to press once to click on, then press again to click off. With this switch, you just slightly rotate it for on, then quickly rotate back the other way for off. It only takes about 1/8" of movement, and it can be done very quickly.
The brightness control follows a logarithmic pattern, so the level of brightness quickly transitions as the switch is turned. You can dial up any level with a quick twist. Total rotation is about 7/8 turn. Low is pretty low, about 7 lumens or so. By the way, only the rear portion of the tailcap rotates, not the whole thing. It's action is very easy, almost too easy. I'd almost be afraid that it would inadvertently rotate while in a back pack or holster.
The main point of my review is not to review the lights themselves, but to show that the tailcap will work on the 7438 Focusing Lenser (Hocus Focus in Europe). This is the light that I mod and sell, and can be seen at the link in my signature line below. This light simply kicks butt, for lack of a better phrase. With the addition of this tailcap, it makes a fantastic all around light.
Well, on to some pictures...
Dimming Lenser, top. Focus Dimm, bottom. The top light happens to be the "Frogman" version, and is waterproof.
Optic view. Notice the difference in optics. Both have a similar beam, however.
Top: Focusing Lenser (Hocus Focus) tailcap.
Bottom: Dimming tailcap.
Dimming tailcap is shorter by about 1/2", and is flat on the end, giving the light the ability to tailstand
The Focus Dimm and Dimming Lenser use the same high quality battery carrier as the Hocus Focus/Focusing Lenser
Top: 7438 Focusing Lenser with standard tailcap
Middle: Same light with dimming tailcap
Bottom: Model 7736 Tac Torch V2 for reference
Slight counter-clockwise turn to go straight to dim mode
Slight clockwise turn to go straight to high. Notice how the flashlight can be held in a tactical position, and the switch can be rotated easily with one hand.
Off position
The following photos show examples of different brightness levels, from high to low.
These beamshots are from my modded 7438 Focusing Lenser (Hocus Focus), with the dimming switch installed.
I only posted these four pics, but keep in mind you can stop at any level from high to low.
With the dimming switch, total lux on high dropped slightly, from 5650 @ one meter, to 5300 lux... not noticeable to
the naked eye.
High 5300 lux @ one meter (Note: Lux readings were taken at 1 meter, but beamshots were taken at 18 inches)
Low: 110 Lux @ one meter
The brightness control follows a logarithmic pattern, so the level of brightness quickly transitions as the switch is turned. You can dial up any level with a quick twist. Total rotation is about 7/8 turn. Low is pretty low, about 7 lumens or so. By the way, only the rear portion of the tailcap rotates, not the whole thing. It's action is very easy, almost too easy. I'd almost be afraid that it would inadvertently rotate while in a back pack or holster.
The main point of my review is not to review the lights themselves, but to show that the tailcap will work on the 7438 Focusing Lenser (Hocus Focus in Europe). This is the light that I mod and sell, and can be seen at the link in my signature line below. This light simply kicks butt, for lack of a better phrase. With the addition of this tailcap, it makes a fantastic all around light.
Well, on to some pictures...
Dimming Lenser, top. Focus Dimm, bottom. The top light happens to be the "Frogman" version, and is waterproof.
Optic view. Notice the difference in optics. Both have a similar beam, however.
Top: Focusing Lenser (Hocus Focus) tailcap.
Bottom: Dimming tailcap.
Dimming tailcap is shorter by about 1/2", and is flat on the end, giving the light the ability to tailstand
The Focus Dimm and Dimming Lenser use the same high quality battery carrier as the Hocus Focus/Focusing Lenser
Top: 7438 Focusing Lenser with standard tailcap
Middle: Same light with dimming tailcap
Bottom: Model 7736 Tac Torch V2 for reference
Slight counter-clockwise turn to go straight to dim mode
Slight clockwise turn to go straight to high. Notice how the flashlight can be held in a tactical position, and the switch can be rotated easily with one hand.
Off position
The following photos show examples of different brightness levels, from high to low.
These beamshots are from my modded 7438 Focusing Lenser (Hocus Focus), with the dimming switch installed.
I only posted these four pics, but keep in mind you can stop at any level from high to low.
With the dimming switch, total lux on high dropped slightly, from 5650 @ one meter, to 5300 lux... not noticeable to
the naked eye.
High 5300 lux @ one meter (Note: Lux readings were taken at 1 meter, but beamshots were taken at 18 inches)
Low: 110 Lux @ one meter
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