Do you really use 0.2 lumen?

[WadeF]

I thought I'd add that I also use the ultra low settings on my flashlights to check on my sleeping kids. I remember when I had my Fenix P2D the low was so bright that it would disturb my kids if I shined it on their face. You could see their eyes twitch and squint, even though they were asleep. Now with lights like my Quark, Liteflux LF3XT, etc, that have lows in the sub 1 lumen range, I can now shine the beam on their face and they aren't disturbed by it.

I wish more of my lights had lows that were under 1 lumen, and even under 0.1 lumen.

I believe my Photon Rex has the lowest low of any of my flashlights. Anyone know how many lumens it is rated for on low?

 

[brucec]

You could see their eyes twitch and squint, even though they were asleep. Now with lights like my Quark, Liteflux LF3XT, etc, that have lows in the sub 1 lumen range, I can now shine the beam on their face

:laughing: Sorry, I couldn't help but feel a little sorry for your kids and their flashaholic dad. I can't deny I haven't done it myself though... These days, I find the Sundrop 3S on low or medium ceiling bounced to be just right. The Sundrop or mules are really great indoor lights, but none of them are capable of sub 1 lumen. Not necessary in my book if you use ceiling bounce, which I think is a more, um, humane way of checking on your kids.

 

[bcwang]

To give more experience that 0.2 lumen mode is enough, last night I turned on the light a few times as I was laying in bed to help my wife find her way around. I kept thinking to myself, "is this really moon mode, it seems too bright" I had to turn it off wait, and turn it on again to make sure it is moon mode. It was lighting up a nice big circle on the ceiling and you could see quite well in the room. When I pointed it at stuff on the side it seemed too bright and not how I remember moon mode being. I proceeded to tap through the next 3 modes to verify. Yup, that first one was moon mode, and it is plenty bright for it's purpose. In fact it could even be dimmer and still be useful.

Normally in moon mode, just afer turning off main lights, you only notice a little hotspot on the ground, and it's hard to follow. But once your eyes are adapted the entire spill is very usable light that is plenty bright. This being my dimmest flashlight ever as well as being very bright when needed is just totally awesome.

 

[DHart]

It seems that some may scoff at lights that offer very low lows... as if having a low low somehow is silly or somehow reduces a light's overall value. I couldn't disagree more.

Simply because .2 lumens isn't sufficient for a some applications doesn't mean it isn't perfectly suited to a number of alternate applications. I would never scoff at a light having the option for such a low output. In fact, I consider such a low output to be an essential part of a well rounded general use light. Many lights offering lows of around .2 lumen are also capable of instantly providing anywhere from 120 to 180 lumens... and numerous levels in between. I consider that flashlight genius... extremely useful and versatile.

Among my lights, I have a number of them with very low lumen output options: three Quarks, an LF3XT, LF2XT, D10 and H501W. These lights are my most used and useful lights... in part because of the loooow lows they are able to produce for those times when about .2 lumens or so is exactly perfect for the application at hand!

 

[kaichu dento]

It seems that some may scoff at lights that offer very low lows... as if having a low low somehow is silly or somehow reduces a light's overall value. I couldn't disagree more.

Simply because .2 lumens isn't sufficient for a some applications doesn't mean it isn't perfectly suited to a number of alternate applications. I would never scoff at a light having the option for such a low output. In fact, I consider such a low output to be an essential part of a well rounded general use light. Many lights offering lows of around .2 lumen are also capable of instantly providing anywhere from 120 to 180 lumens... and numerous levels in between. I consider that flashlight genius... extremely useful and versatile.

Among my lights, I have a number of them with very low lumen output options: three Quarks, an LF3XT, LF2XT, and D10. These lights are my most used and useful lights... in part because of the loooow lows they are able to produce for those times when about .2 lumens or so is exactly perfect for the application at hand!

Live and let live should be the standard, but unfortunately it has been exchanged for, if I like it, it's the best, if I don't like it, it's stupid.

I like my flashlights like my cars; plenty of horsepower, but the ability to go very slowly too when in the parking lot. I also prefer to have 4-speeds, whether it's lights or cars. Cars without first gear suck!

 

[guiri]

I find the .02lm setting on my Quark AA to be perfect for picking up dog crap that my dog loves to deposit in my neighbors yards during our nightly walks.
Now that is TACTICAL.

Sweet! Stealthy dog pickeruper night mission :candle:


As for me, I PREFER a light that is as bright as possible but I ALSO want that super low, JUST in case. Also, a light with some insane output only lasts so long so a good intermediate level is good too,

 

[guiri]

.2 lumens can only do so much. For the rest you need a real light source.

Ok, so what's wrong in HAVING that option? You don't want to use it, cool but what IF?

 

[xenonk]

This discussion reminds me of why I like programmable lights. You can have lots of options and none of them have to get in the way when unneeded.
My neu-tac Quark should arrive soon. :twothumbs

 

[oldpal]

Of my limited collection of lights, the ones that I use the most are the ones that have a very low output. They are my Ra 120E, Liteflux LF3XT and Quark AA. My Nitecores aren't low enough for me.

Hugh

 

[WadeF]

Not necessary in my book if you use ceiling bounce, which I think is a more, um, humane way of checking on your kids.

When I had my P2D I would normally tail stand it on my kids' dresser and ceiling bounce it. I would do this because I realized if I shined it at them it would disturb them. Once I got a dimmer light I no longer had to ceiling bounce as I could shine the light at them and have roughly the same amount of light hitting them as was hitting them from a brighter light that was ceiling bounced.

Sometimes I'll turn my light up to a brighter setting and ceiling bounce to get a better look around.

 

[Turbo DV8]

I havent seen .2 lumens, is it even visible lol. I cant wait to hear more on what this is used for. 😗

It's the setting fireflies use to read maps by.

 

[guiri]

It's the setting fireflies use to read maps by.

That's right 'cause it's hard to read when your *** is on fire and not your forehead 🙂

I'm amazed at how many people responded that they like a low output.

 

[Badbeams3]

That's right 'cause it's hard to read when your *** is on fire and not your forehead 🙂

😱 So very true :thumbsup:

 

[fnj]

If one can't walk around the house with 0.2 lumens when, and this is a big when, dark adapted, then there is something wrong with their vision. My eyes are in their seventh decade of use, and once dark adapted, 0.2 lumens is more than enough to navigate, and I have some wicked obstacle courses to navigate (as a guy living alone).

 

[guiri]

The true test is when you have a black, 120LB Rottweiler that loves to lay in every door opening there is..

That'll put hair on your nuts when the fu*ker yelps in the middle of the night when you step on his big ***..

 

[pertinax]

I'm just piling on, but yeah-- 0.2 is dynamite. In fact, there's only one thing non-optimum about the best outdoorsman's light there is (the TK20). The low is WAY too bright. Fenix needs to add a lower mode, or just make "low" ten lumens. That would be OK. The High, and as of now, the Low, are too bright to change a tire for instance. Both modes are blinding for up-close work in the dark.

If that light had a third mode, at one lumen or less, it would be the perfect indestructible light.

(As an aside, I dropped my TK20 in Africa on safari while night hunting, and the trackers went back and found it the next day. Gotta love the trackers, they're amazing... The PH's have a hard time getting the latest gear, so there's now one carrying a TK20 with Eneloops, thanks to the flashaholics here at CPF. I strongly suspect that light is the envy of his peers; they have nothing like that available to them.)

 

[kz1000s1]

I use the lowest level on my Novatac all the time going to bed at night and sometimes wish it could be a little lower. My Quark tactical low is set on the second level, but it's nice to have the option to go dimmer if I need it.

 

[brucec]

The true test is when you have a black, 120LB Rottweiler that loves to lay in every door opening there is..

That'll put hair on your nuts when the fu*ker yelps in the middle of the night when you step on his big ***..

Sounds like he needs a good GITD job.

 

[defloyd77]

The true test is when you have a black, 120LB Rottweiler that loves to lay in every door opening there is..

That'll put hair on your nuts when the fu*ker yelps in the middle of the night when you step on his big ***..

I have a 90+ LB black lab, rottweiler, pitbull and golden retriever mutt, who is black and a leftophobic 15ish pound cat (she only turns right), her roadblock 18 pound mom and 3 other cats, I can relate.

 

[guiri]

It gets worse, I then have four other dogs than tend to NEVER get out of the way, ESPECIALLY when I'm in a hurry or I'm carrying some bulky poop and need the room. TWO of them are Great Danes 🙂

What's GITD?