Moding the Arc4 for better close range light

[xochi]

I have recently aquired two arc4's and am very impressed with these lights. However, the longer I own them the more irritated I become at the beam profile. It seems that the reflector is designed to maximize throw and the result is a tiny hotspot that becomes way too bright when a light level producing decent sidespill is selected. I would like to diffuse the hotspot into the sidespill a bit giving a beam more like the lsh-p or like a lowdome (but with a more even gradient from center to edge). Am I making any sense? I'm going to try a lense with diffusion film but I'm thinking that this will turn the beam into a big smudge and reduce overall output. I don't know much about reflectors and lenses but I thought that perhaps a small convex lense place over the center of the lights polycarbonate lense might diffuse the hotspot some without making the light a big blur. I don't know if this would work or not or even if something like that is even available. I don't know if a different reflector or if installing an optic would help. Please help with any thoughts ya'll might have.

 

[paulr]

The first thing I tried was a piece of frosted scotch tape over the lens. It helped the beam quite a lot, though of course it wasn't a clean or permanent solution.

 

[PaulW]

xochi,

You could try a Surefire F04 beam diffuser. It's an easy, reversible fix.

Paul