Does "Flashlight University" exist?

[burpee]

I've read and reread much of Battery University's web pages and happy to report that I now know the difference between battery chemistry and animal attraction.

Now I am wondering if there exists any favorite "must read" threads that cover the definitions and meanings of flashlight terminology and operation. Do you have a favorite manufacturer's read me page?

What I am most interested in is understanding the terms such as: "beam, flood, spill, corona, hot spot, throw" and so on and so on.

I would also like to know how to learn about light "temperatures" or other factors that contribute to flashlight satisfaction or failure.

Thanks.

 

[menoceros]

As a "newbie" I agree. I would like to see a forum for newcomers where some of the best threads could be "stickied" such as about batteries, lubricants, different emmitters. We could go there to obtain the basic knowledge to make better posts and good purchase decisions.

 

[StarHalo]

Our Welcome Mat thread with lots of introductory info is here. And we can answer any questions you have, feel free to ask..

 

[UberLumens]

The welcome mat has some terms, there isn't one list that has everything.
some also at ledmuseum

Beam= what the light coming out of your device looks like
flood=describes a beam that fills a wide area with light
spill= the light you see around the hot spot of your beam
corona= Mexican beer...
hot spot= the brightest part of your beam
throw= how far your beam will go. (tight hotspot=better throw)

color temperature is the part of the spectrum the light emits.
warm lights are lower number cool lights are higher number with neutral in the middle. In general warm looks yellow cool looks blue, neutral looks white.

and of course you can search any specific term.

 

[StarHalo]

Corona is the area just outside of the hotspot in the beam :p

And temperature is how warm or cool the light is, which is measured in Kelvin:

 

[richpalm]

Thanks Starhalo... that pic is a handy reference.

Rich

 

[kelmo]

Yes it does but there is no "surefire" way to get in.

Currently they only offer one degree (Kelvin).

Only the brightest are admitted!

 

[Flying Turtle]

CPF is THE "Flashlight University". Course work is pass/fail and attendance optional. There's no better place for light learning.

Geoff

 

[njet212]

Maybe you could refer cpfwiki as well as " flashlight university "

 

[Flint&Steel]

Carrot has some good stuff as well: http://www.gearcarrot.com/guides/lights/

 

[menoceros]

When I found this thread I realized it was very usefull. However even when I knew where it was, It's still not very intuitive to find. I still feel it should be listed as a sub-forum as "welcome mat". This would be easier to see and find for newbies.

 

[cistallus]

The Terminology page on the CPF Wiki should have most terms of interest (this page is easy to miss, it's at the very bottom of the front page): http://www.cpfwiki.com/Wiki/index.php/Terminology

 

[beerwax]

awsome - light output from the latest torch.

dull - last years torch

intensity - the look you get from the missus when another package turns up in the mailbox.

warm tint - what everybody wants
nuetral tint - what everybody really wants
cool tint - see definition of intensity above

cheers

 

[kelmo]

...intensity - the look you get from the missus when another package turns up in the mailbox...

Now that is funny!

My wife now gives me the "nuetral tint" look when I get a light. She realizes that collecting lights brings me much joy.

I am truely a lucky man.

Welcome to CPF menoceros

 

[Cataract]

Find me a woman that will give me a Warm look when I receive a package or give her a flashlight and you're all invited to the wedding!

You can find a lot of information using the search feature, but when in doubt ask and you'll get plenty of answers. It is always easier to learn when you come up with the question yourself than just cramming your head with information that just seems out of nowhere, but I agree, we need a more comprehensive list of all the good information and informative threads available. Anyone up to the task?

 

[carrot]

Check out the guide to high end lights, over here: http://gearcarrot.com/guides/lights

 

[StarHalo]

to my eyes overcast sunlight is warmer than direct sun. can anyone put me straight please ?. cheers

Imagine you're photographing an object outdoors at high noon on a cloudless day; the resulting picture will look like it was taken in nearly perfect pure while light. Then shooting the same object on a completely cloudy/overcast day results in a picture that looks like it was lit by bluish-gray light - that would be cool light.

 

[Cataract]

Can we print F U T-shirts? I want one!

 

[beerwax]

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[beerwax]

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