HDS Systems EDC # 19

[usdiver]

I think I'm the only person alive that prefers the standard clicky. Actually, I prefer the old Novatac 120T ui over everything I tried. I haven't tried the LE ui but I believe its similar tot the 120T.

As it is, my preference is Clicky, Tactical, then Rotary. Of course, considering its all so programmable I can get any set to the way I like it so the differences are moot. And the tactical is an interesting bird, got my hands on my first one last night. At first I was thrown as it its less customizable but its growing on me. Interesting system.

Give it some love... stroke it... then use the hell out of it. Less customizable sorta, you lose 1 preset... but that preset for me would be the slow strobe/ sos/
I guess it depends on what you are using for... I need the main strobe quickly available without having to think about getting it to go.

 

[the0dore3524]

I prefer the Clicky as well...it just seems tougher. The clip is also a big factor for me, because aesthetically the clip looks terrible on the Rotary.

 

[Ozythemandias]

USdiver, once I figured out how to swap the strobe and max positions on the rotary tail I like it a lot more.

I prefer the Clicky as well...it just seems tougher. The clip is also a big factor for me, because aesthetically the clip looks terrible on the Rotary.

I've been putting the fancy clip on my rotaries and carrying it bezel up, working really well so far.

 

[Hondo]

**Ugly grunting noise** I'm so tempted to get an HDS rotary. I love the infinite variability in brightness.. How do they compare to Surefire build-wise?

Just to make sure you are not disappointed, the Rotary is not really infinitely variable, it just allows you to scroll through all 24 levels with a turn of the dial. Every two levels up doubles the brightness, which might sound like big jumps, but it's not at all. Like sound, your eyes perceive brightness in a logarithmic fashion, so this system makes the steps appear even, or as Henry calls it "visually linear". You really have to slow down on the dial and look close to see the jumps, but you will see them if you look for them.

Some lights, with magnetic ring controls, are in fact infinitely adjustable. But they are also very inefficient. Fun to play with for a while, though.

 

[Ozythemandias]

Just to make sure you are not disappointed, the Rotary is not really infinitely variable, it just allows you to scroll through all 24 levels with a turn of the dial. Every two levels up doubles the brightness, which might sound like big jumps, but it's not at all. Like sound, your eyes perceive brightness in a logarithmic fashion, so this system makes the steps appear even, or as Henry calls it "visually linear". You really have to slow down on the dial and look close to see the jumps, but you will see them if you look for them.

Some lights, with magnetic ring controls, are in fact infinitely adjustable. But they are also very inefficient. Fun to play with for a while, though.

I was schooled yesterday that other than QTC almost no lights are actually "infinitely adjustable" but they may have something like 240 logarithmically spaced levels. Practically speaking it's infinite but not technically.

 

[indigon]

USdiver, once I figured out how to swap the strobe and max positions on the rotary tail I like it a lot more.
I've been putting the fancy clip on my rotaries and carrying it bezel up, working really well so far.

I also prefer swapping the strobe on the tactical also, nice feature on the V4 lights.

For me, depending on use, rotaries are better in critical low-light situations where night vision is essential.
Clickies are more utilitarian (and durable) for general use.

 

[F89]

I also prefer swapping the strobe on the tactical also, nice feature on the V4 lights.

For me, depending on use, rotaries are better in critical low-light situations where night vision is essential.
Clickies are more utilitarian (and durable) for general use.

I can't quite see your logic there regarding low light situations. You are just as likely to accidentally spin a rotary dial too far and get bright light than any other example.
As a clicky guy, with four of them, there are two that I often use in what you call critical low light situations and they work perfectly with no worry of accidentally getting bright light. I use the last mode memory feature so if I'm using moonlight or low I can stick to a low mode every time I turn it on no worries.
The whole which is tougher debate is a massive can of worms here but without stirring too much I definitely agree that the clicky's are more durable and utilitarian but equally as important to me is that the clicky has the best interface.

 

[Hogokansatsukan]

And now... the end is near... and I face... the final white wall...
Well, not only is the end near for my semester and I can take a break from anatomy, physiology, and histology, but there will be some tests tonight on an integrating sphere... and some new very limited HDS lights should be available tomorrow.
I'm so excited I think my corpora cavernosa are filling with erythrocytes, leukocytes, thrombocytes, and plasma.
The first 4 are Rotary 200 silver bezel flush tail. They are graced with a Nichia 219c and listed at 4000k. Only two will be available. Sphere data will be published late tonight or early tomorrow. Yes, only 4. One for me, one for a long time customer, and two to go out the door.
The second is a run of Rotary 219c 5000k. Sphere data to come. There are about 20 of these. They will come in Rotary (though Clicky will be possible but will cost the same as a Rotary). I'm trying to get a mix of bezel colors and extended and flush tails. This won't be like a group buy where you can pick and choose. If these go the way of the Dodo bird, then a third run will be done rather quickly with another emitter. All with the goal of getting that "Perfect Tint".

Henry is doing the testing.

 

[F89]

And now... the end is near... and I face... the final white wall...
Well, not only is the end near for my semester and I can take a break from anatomy, physiology, and histology, but there will be some tests tonight on an integrating sphere... and some new very limited HDS lights should be available tomorrow.
I'm so excited I think my corpora cavernosa are filling with erythrocytes, leukocytes, thrombocytes, and plasma.
The first 4 are Rotary 200 silver bezel flush tail. They are graced with a Nichia 219c and listed at 4000k. Only two will be available. Sphere data will be published late tonight or early tomorrow. Yes, only 4. One for me, one for a long time customer, and two to go out the door.
The second is a run of Rotary 219c 5000k. Sphere data to come. There are about 20 of these. They will come in Rotary (though Clicky will be possible but will cost the same as a Rotary). I'm trying to get a mix of bezel colors and extended and flush tails. This won't be like a group buy where you can pick and choose. If these go the way of the Dodo bird, then a third run will be done rather quickly with another emitter. All with the goal of getting that "Perfect Tint".

Henry is doing the testing.

So these first few are 200 lumen 219C 4000K Hi CRI? How do they compare to the standard 200 Hi CRI?

 

[Stoneking]

So these first few are 200 lumen 219C 4000K Hi CRI? How do they compare to the standard 200 Hi CRI?

Probably have to wait for the test results to know that...

 

[F89]

Probably have to wait for the test results to know that...

Hogo called them Rotary 200 silver bezel flush tail. So I just thought he meant 200 lumen?
I did see he mentioned testing though so I wasn't sure.

 

[scout24]

My guess is they have been programmed at 200 lm, but the exact color temp and cr-i numbers is what we're waiting on...

 

[Greighps]

Well, it has literally been years since I've posted lol, but never the less use my HDS clicky every single day. But unfortunately yesterday, I went to change the battery, and a small piece of copper wire fell out. Didn't really think anything of it, until I tried to turn it on, and all I could get was about 5 seconds of "medium"-ish brightness. Got looking and it looks like the signal wire running up the length of the tube had broken. So I emailed Henry, and sent it off for a warranty job this morning.

...and I already hate not having it. Feel naked walking around without it clipped to my pocket lol.

I did manage to bend it up a bit (the signal wire) to get it to work throughout the rest of the day at work.

 

[Ozythemandias]

Honestly at 200lm I'd much prefer the current High CRI model with the beautiful rosy tint. Hogo wasn't kidding when he said it will be a very specialized run with a specific purpose. I guess the 219c will offer longer runtime than the current High CRI but I'll be sitting this one out. All the better for ya'll! May the Gods of the Drop be with you two lucky people.

 

[Hogokansatsukan]

Until I get the call from Henry, or he emails his findings, the only difference I can see for these first 4 are that it will
"go to 11". It's one of the reasons there are so few of the first ones. If there is a chance the CRI would be higher, or the tint may look different... just don't know so have to build em to find out.
It's an experiment, like mixing Liquid Plumber and tinfoil those many many many years ago back in Jr. High School. Don't leave it in a glass soda bottle with the cap on. I still remember my dad's face when he saw what the explosion did to the bathroom. Yep. Kinda like that without the explosion or a month of being grounded. Ahhhh. To be 37 years younger.
Henry didn't think they could be driven higher than the 200, though they should be about 10% more efficient. Won't know the exact CRI and other details until he finishes them on the sphere. I'm hoping for a surprise, but not counting on it with those 4. Still, better efficiency is still a good thing, and if it does turn out they can be brought up to 250 lumens, then, so be it. Again, won't know until later tonight. Henry's a night owl, so...
The 5000k is what I'm very curious to see... not just the beam but the data.

They could probably be driven at 225, but the way lights are calibrated, it would mean having to do a total reprogramming of the calibrator. The current calibrator does 200, 250, 325... so going in to change that doesn't make sense. If the light can't make 250, it is then set at 200.

If you get bored waiting, you can always read this thread, it will let you know just how crazy I am, just in case you didn't already know this: The Adventures of Longman and Shorty

Update: So I got an email from Henry late last night. He said the lights are built, calibrated, and "look nice". However, he cannot boot into Windows 7 to run the integrating sphere - it has been several months since he last did that. I'll see if I can run over there today to help swear at the computer.

 

[kaichu dento]

I'm so tempted to get an HDS rotary. I love the infinite variability in brightness.. How do they compare to Surefire build-wise?

To compare build, I'd say that while Surefire lights have a nice, quality feel to them, for sheer robustness, HDS wins out.

I think I'm the only person alive that prefers the standard clicky.

I like the Clicky better in some conditions, and for that added nth degree of toughness. There are others too.

...the Rotary is not really infinitely variable, it just allows you to scroll through all 24 levels with a turn of the dial.

Some lights, with magnetic ring controls, are in fact infinitely adjustable. But they are also very inefficient.

Yep, Henry did it just right. Efficient in all ways.

For me, depending on use, rotaries are better in critical low-light situations where night vision is essential.

I don't leave my Clicky programmed to level 1 anymore due to change in work situation, but the Clicky can be every bit as good for low light situations as the Rotary.

That said, I still prefer my Rotary at least 98% of the time.

 

[kaichu dento]

Update: So I got an email from Henry late last night. He said the lights are built, calibrated, and "look nice". However, he cannot boot into Windows 7 to run the integrating sphere - it has been several months since he last did that. I'll see if I can run over there today to help swear at the computer.

That should straighten things right out. :twothumbs

 

[Hogokansatsukan]

Long story short. Windows sucks.
Henry is having to reinstall Windows 7 on the computer that runs the sphere. No Mac support, so the sphere gets it's own machine and it has to run on 7. He is now doing this so should have the data Monday. The lights are built and calibrated though.
The tint on the 4000k looks pretty much just like the current offering, just a bit more efficient. Guess will know more on Monday.
Putting them in the web store if anyone wants one before the exact data is known. At the least, they are just like the 219b but with better efficiency. I just confirmed that with Henry.

 

[Tejasandre]

Score

 

[Random Dan]

Ooh, tempting, but I think I'll wait for one of the later runs. I don't think I would gain much over my 219B rotary.