Favorite User Interface
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Basically, there are two DIFFERENT primary needs. That of a tactical user, and that of a general purpose user.
The tactical user needs instant access to a known state or mode and it's most often a need for the brightest or most visually disorienting for whom the light is unleashed upon.
The casual user typically wants the lowest brightest or the last brightness that was recently used, although initial state is typically not a life or death situation for a casual user.
First, let me say that I like the two button system employed by the M30.
The forward clicky is always on or off only. The 2nd button is used to select alternate modes with the light already on. If primary button is off, pressing 2nd button gives instant access to tactical strobe mode.
Well done Olight!
Something similar could be done with one button alone..
There would be 2 selectable general modes of operation;
1. Tactical
2. General Purpose
In the tactical mode, the foreward clicky sequence would be strobe, high, medium, low.
In the GP mode, the foreward clicky sequence would be low, medium, high, sos.
Selecting between the two general modes could be accomplished by 1/2 rotation of the head, or tailcap.
__________________
The tactical user needs instant access to a known state or mode and it's most often a need for the brightest or most visually disorienting for whom the light is unleashed upon.
The casual user typically wants the lowest brightest or the last brightness that was recently used, although initial state is typically not a life or death situation for a casual user.
First, let me say that I like the two button system employed by the M30.
The forward clicky is always on or off only. The 2nd button is used to select alternate modes with the light already on. If primary button is off, pressing 2nd button gives instant access to tactical strobe mode.
Well done Olight!
Something similar could be done with one button alone..
There would be 2 selectable general modes of operation;
1. Tactical
2. General Purpose
In the tactical mode, the foreward clicky sequence would be strobe, high, medium, low.
In the GP mode, the foreward clicky sequence would be low, medium, high, sos.
Selecting between the two general modes could be accomplished by 1/2 rotation of the head, or tailcap.
__________________
Flashlight Aficionado
Enlightened
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- Jul 12, 2006
- Messages
- 834
Please describe how it works.
jimmy1970
Flashlight Enthusiast
Favourite user Interface: Ra Clicky/Novatac programmable interface - it can be what ever you want it to be.
Least liked interface: Low, medium, high, SOS with no memory & reverse clicky!:thumbsdow
Each to their own, just not for me.
James...
Least liked interface: Low, medium, high, SOS with no memory & reverse clicky!:thumbsdow
Each to their own, just not for me.
James...
Last edited:
kaichu dento
Flashaholic
Re: what mode do you like most for flashlight
Since most people are posting their favorite UI, and that seems to have been the OP's intent, as opposed to favorite mode, I wonder if one of the Mods could merge this with the currently running 'Favorite UI' thread?
If not, it would be nice to see more answers with favorite mode instead of favorite UI posted here.
Since most people are posting their favorite UI, and that seems to have been the OP's intent, as opposed to favorite mode, I wonder if one of the Mods could merge this with the currently running 'Favorite UI' thread?
If not, it would be nice to see more answers with favorite mode instead of favorite UI posted here.
Re: what mode do you like most for flashlight
If I were to have to choose a single mode, it would have to be a "TURBO" or "HIGH" one. The more light the better, no? Of course, spare batteries would have to be on hand, but there are many instances where I truely need a lot of light, and I am thankful for my brighter lights.
If I were to have to choose a single mode, it would have to be a "TURBO" or "HIGH" one. The more light the better, no? Of course, spare batteries would have to be on hand, but there are many instances where I truely need a lot of light, and I am thankful for my brighter lights.
nzgunnie
Enlightened
Re: what mode do you like most for flashlight
If it's multi mode, then L-M-H at the most. Even low - high is just fine.
No strobe, no SOS.
I wont buy lights with those features now.
If it's multi mode, then L-M-H at the most. Even low - high is just fine.
No strobe, no SOS.
I wont buy lights with those features now.
KiwiMark
Flashlight Enthusiast
Re: what mode do you like most for flashlight
I have a variety of lights with a variety of modes. My Jetbeam Jet-I torches have 3 user settable modes so I set them like so:
Mode A (always comes on to this mode first) - absolute minimum to cause minimal hurt to my eyes if I use this in the middle of the night.
Mode B - Useful medium, good amount of light for typical use with better run time than full output.
Mode C - Full maximum output for when you need the most the torch can produce.
These modes work well and make the torch very versatile & useful.
But my Jet-IIIM is pretty good too - it has only 2 modes: Head tightened is for max output and head loosened is programmable to whatever you need (min/strobe/med/whatever). I programmed it to minimum output (around 2 Lumen). This torch has a forward clicky and you have just on/off from the button - ultra simple.
Sometimes it is nice to have a torch that you can just turn on and use, ignoring other modes that it may have. My Fenix L0D can be twisted on and used - it comes on to a useful medium output and you don't generally need to worry about the low-high-strobe-sos modes. Just tighten the head, use the light then loosen the head to turn it off. I do like that I have the option of lower output with a longer run time as well as a higher output for more light.
Most UI types work well enough, but I am not a big fan of Hi-med-low - you wouldn't want to turn on something like that in the middle of the night because the first setting would be painful and stuff up your night vision. My Jet-IIIM is better - I can check the head is loose then click the switch for a low that won't be painful on my dark adapted eyes.
I have a variety of lights with a variety of modes. My Jetbeam Jet-I torches have 3 user settable modes so I set them like so:
Mode A (always comes on to this mode first) - absolute minimum to cause minimal hurt to my eyes if I use this in the middle of the night.
Mode B - Useful medium, good amount of light for typical use with better run time than full output.
Mode C - Full maximum output for when you need the most the torch can produce.
These modes work well and make the torch very versatile & useful.
But my Jet-IIIM is pretty good too - it has only 2 modes: Head tightened is for max output and head loosened is programmable to whatever you need (min/strobe/med/whatever). I programmed it to minimum output (around 2 Lumen). This torch has a forward clicky and you have just on/off from the button - ultra simple.
Sometimes it is nice to have a torch that you can just turn on and use, ignoring other modes that it may have. My Fenix L0D can be twisted on and used - it comes on to a useful medium output and you don't generally need to worry about the low-high-strobe-sos modes. Just tighten the head, use the light then loosen the head to turn it off. I do like that I have the option of lower output with a longer run time as well as a higher output for more light.
Most UI types work well enough, but I am not a big fan of Hi-med-low - you wouldn't want to turn on something like that in the middle of the night because the first setting would be painful and stuff up your night vision. My Jet-IIIM is better - I can check the head is loose then click the switch for a low that won't be painful on my dark adapted eyes.
I was thinking about this thread yesterday. Funny how accustomed you can get to any given UI.
Away from work, my current EDC is a modded E2L which goes low to high, whether from back to back momentary bumps, or clicks--favorite UI for a utility light, btw.
My last EDC light, a C2-HA with Malkoff M60WLF and Z58 clicky, goes everywhere in my bag, and currently sees very little use. I did use it a few times the last couple of days, though, and each time I double-tapped the tailswitch.
I know the light is single stage, but when I turn the light on, I'm now conditioned to seeing low mode. So when I want full output, I automatically tap it twice. When I want the low mode that isn't there, and the light comes on on "high", I double tap it, apparently expecting to get back to low.
So my C2 now gets double-tapped every time I use it.
I'm sure there's a lesson in there somewhere.
Or maybe my single mode light has just become too complicated for me😱
Did think it strange that I have not done this with my work light, which is also a single stage clicky...
Away from work, my current EDC is a modded E2L which goes low to high, whether from back to back momentary bumps, or clicks--favorite UI for a utility light, btw.
My last EDC light, a C2-HA with Malkoff M60WLF and Z58 clicky, goes everywhere in my bag, and currently sees very little use. I did use it a few times the last couple of days, though, and each time I double-tapped the tailswitch.
I know the light is single stage, but when I turn the light on, I'm now conditioned to seeing low mode. So when I want full output, I automatically tap it twice. When I want the low mode that isn't there, and the light comes on on "high", I double tap it, apparently expecting to get back to low.
So my C2 now gets double-tapped every time I use it.
I'm sure there's a lesson in there somewhere.
Or maybe my single mode light has just become too complicated for me😱
Did think it strange that I have not done this with my work light, which is also a single stage clicky...
computernut
Enlightened
I liked the interface of my E2L (clicky) until I got my A2 (twisty).
The two-stage clicky needs a double tap to get high which works well. If high came on first like the E2DL I wouldn't like it as much.
The twisty just needs to be pushed in all the way to get high. It's not as convenient to put it on constant as you have to twist the tail cap but it's nice I can twist it part way in to lock it on low and push it in all the way to get high for brief bursts. You can also twist it out a bit and lock out high so you don't blast your night vision.
I do miss the 'click' when I pull it out to illuminate something, I'm missing that dramatic effect with the twisty 😉 I liked the twisty so much I got an L1 for my EDC now.
The two-stage clicky needs a double tap to get high which works well. If high came on first like the E2DL I wouldn't like it as much.
The twisty just needs to be pushed in all the way to get high. It's not as convenient to put it on constant as you have to twist the tail cap but it's nice I can twist it part way in to lock it on low and push it in all the way to get high for brief bursts. You can also twist it out a bit and lock out high so you don't blast your night vision.
I do miss the 'click' when I pull it out to illuminate something, I'm missing that dramatic effect with the twisty 😉 I liked the twisty so much I got an L1 for my EDC now.
Know what you mean. I had a similarly modded L1 before the E2L(sold it to fund the E2L). I love that UI, too, but tend to use this light in constant on most of the time, so I'm happy to have the clicky. Plus, the L1 wasn't Li-ion friendly, while I use a 17670 in the E2L.
To tell the truth, though, if the L1 clip didn't get on my nerves, I probably would have tried to get a mod done with a Li-ion compatible board like the GD500, and kept it. It really was a sweet little light.
To tell the truth, though, if the L1 clip didn't get on my nerves, I probably would have tried to get a mod done with a Li-ion compatible board like the GD500, and kept it. It really was a sweet little light.
Outdoors Fanatic
Flashlight Enthusiast
Single mode only, or anything like the SureFire A2/L1/L2. I'm done playing with complicated toys.. Keep it simple, it's a tool...
Gatsby
Enlightened
I think, probably too much, about UIs (whether it's flashlights, phones, computers, PDA's, etc...) and generally prefer intuitive and easy.
When it comes to flashlights I agree that use makes a big difference, I am not in frequent tactical situations but appreciate the value of an on/off clickie with momentary and a different method to change levels (if there are any). That filters into even the Fenix L1Tv2.0 which I do like and use with some regularity as an around the house task light. But as mostly a casual user I have become somewhat picky about what works and doesn't work for me. For example - lights that come on in high with no memory are a deal breaker - and even come on in medium is close - and I'm no fan of strobe and particularly SOS (I remain puzzled at this feature - if I'm stuck on a desert island I'm not sure my little Fenix light is going to get me rescued...).
All that being said I am an unabashed fan of the Arc4/HDS/Novatac/Ra heritage UI. I like the low low as I walk around the house late at night and check on the kids, etc... I like a medium task level and I like being able to access maximum brightness. Actually the "secondary" level is nice but I could dispense with it and have just three. Still, the ability to to to max or lowest from either primary or secondary, and back again, as well as toggleing between primary and secondary is extremely useful. And every level (well other than max) can be user set to what you like/want and use. The relative ease of adjusting the levels introduced with the Novatac lights is gravy - I don't use it that much but it is nice to know you can rapidly adjust on the fly. I admit that it isn't that intuitive, but for a complex programmable light it is pretty well conceived and I also admit that part of the appeal for me may be that I am very used to using it!
I think my least favorite - other than no memory cycling lights that start on high or medium - is multimode twisties (other than two stage ones which make sense), the kind you have to twist on and off multiple times to get something to happen. For me, at least, that just isn't very user friendly or easy to use.
When it comes to flashlights I agree that use makes a big difference, I am not in frequent tactical situations but appreciate the value of an on/off clickie with momentary and a different method to change levels (if there are any). That filters into even the Fenix L1Tv2.0 which I do like and use with some regularity as an around the house task light. But as mostly a casual user I have become somewhat picky about what works and doesn't work for me. For example - lights that come on in high with no memory are a deal breaker - and even come on in medium is close - and I'm no fan of strobe and particularly SOS (I remain puzzled at this feature - if I'm stuck on a desert island I'm not sure my little Fenix light is going to get me rescued...).
All that being said I am an unabashed fan of the Arc4/HDS/Novatac/Ra heritage UI. I like the low low as I walk around the house late at night and check on the kids, etc... I like a medium task level and I like being able to access maximum brightness. Actually the "secondary" level is nice but I could dispense with it and have just three. Still, the ability to to to max or lowest from either primary or secondary, and back again, as well as toggleing between primary and secondary is extremely useful. And every level (well other than max) can be user set to what you like/want and use. The relative ease of adjusting the levels introduced with the Novatac lights is gravy - I don't use it that much but it is nice to know you can rapidly adjust on the fly. I admit that it isn't that intuitive, but for a complex programmable light it is pretty well conceived and I also admit that part of the appeal for me may be that I am very used to using it!
I think my least favorite - other than no memory cycling lights that start on high or medium - is multimode twisties (other than two stage ones which make sense), the kind you have to twist on and off multiple times to get something to happen. For me, at least, that just isn't very user friendly or easy to use.
alpg88
Flashlight Enthusiast
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2005
- Messages
- 5,837
I really like the UI on the Fenix TK40! Brilliant!
R@ndom
Enlightened
A2 ftw imho
. And single mode forward clickies/tk11 type of interface.
Fully programmable UI's seem great. Yet to try one though.
Hate any reverse clicky.
. And single mode forward clickies/tk11 type of interface.Fully programmable UI's seem great. Yet to try one though.
Hate any reverse clicky.
SilentK
Enlightened
I like the quark tactical interface the best. I think it keeps it simple, yet you can still have a choice
Yes, the Quark Tactical UI is a nice design.
Re: Do you prefer Low/Mid/High or High/Mid/Low?
I prefer Low - Medium - High
(with no memory)
I've NEVER used SOS mode.
(but not saying anything against it, as long as it's well-hidden)
Only time i've used Strobe is when playing around with it.
Never more than that.
(but i can certainly see where it COULD be an attention-getter)
I prefer Low - Medium - High
(with no memory)
I've NEVER used SOS mode.
(but not saying anything against it, as long as it's well-hidden)
Only time i've used Strobe is when playing around with it.
Never more than that.
(but i can certainly see where it COULD be an attention-getter)
