P1D CE Textured Reflector Survey - Request from Fenix Engineers

[4sevens]

Hi everyone,

Fenix is experimenting with various levels of texture to smooth out
the P1D CE's beam. As we know, the more texture, the smoother the
transition from spot to flood at the cost of throw. Keep in mind that
the total light output will remain the same. Light is simply being
redistributed from spot to flood.

The engineers at Fenix want to survey what folks prefer as to the
amount of texturing. Three prototype reflectors with varying amounts
of texturing are being tested. The various hotspot lux readings are as follows:

Current reflector as reference: 248 lux - you can see the ring

Thin textured reflector: 201 lux - the yellow ring almost disappears
(18.9% less throw than current reflector)

Medium textured reflector: 165 lux - the yellow ring entirely disappears
(33.5% less throw than current reflector)

Heavy textured reflector: 136 lux - the yellow ring entirely disappears
(45.2% less throw than current reflector)

Do you prefer light-focusing throw or a smoother beam?
Which one would you like Fenix to adopt?

Left-current reflector, Right-thin texture reflector

Left-current reflector, Right-medium texture reflector

 

[Pumaman]

I voted thin.
how would you grade the mcr-18?

 

[4sevens]

I voted thin.
how would you grade the mcr-18?

I'm not too sure as I do not have these reflectors in hand. And
the Fenix engineers do not have a mcr-18.

But from my personal observation, it would be comparable to medium.
MCR's with comparable sized IMS reflectors (smooth) lost about 30%
in the spot.

 

[waynejitsu]

thin or medium.
A novel ideawould be to offer all..., AND to offer a "kit" where the consumer can randomly change reflectors as needed

Just a thought....

 

[65535]

I would say an orange peel light-medium would be quite nice.

 

[BVH]

I've got my lights so no real impact on me but I would not want to give up any throw at all. I voted to stay with the current reflector.

 

[Gman]

You gotta give them credit. They sure get right on things.

 

[LowBat]

You gotta give them credit. They sure get right on things.

Yes, except for my L1D.

What about a semi-textured reflector like Streamlight uses on the Tasklight 2L? That reflector is textured around the LED and becomes smooth towards the bezel.

 

[Long John]

Hello David

I would prefer the possibility to swap the reflector by myself, so what's about the delivery with two reflectors, stock and thin textured and not epoxying in the head? Of course for payment.

Best regards

____
Tom

 

[damon]

4sevens
If Using the Heavy textured reflector
is the beam wall of light Flood?

 

[Nereus]

Would it be possible to have different reflector options? For example, for 70 usd you get the std smooth reflector and then for some extra price you get it changed to a textured reflector.

-N

 

[javafool]

I like the current beam but the light texture looks good without too much degredation to throw. I would hate to see Fenix destroy the form of this great beam so some have pretty looking walls.

It appears a lot of thought and consideration went into developing the original beam pattern for this flashlight.

 

[4sevens]

Updated with another beamshots for medium texture.

4sevens
If Using the Heavy textured reflector
is the beam wall of light Flood?

I'm not sure. I'll check.

 

[GhostReaction]

The medium orange-peeled looks good.
If the heavy textured reflector would be like a Nuwai Q3 beam I ll change my vote for a heavy one

 

[Tremendo]

I would hate to see Fenix destroy the form of this great beam so some have pretty looking walls.

I say the beam is fine as is, compared to what the other pics looks like. In use, the spot is what sets this light apart. Put the time into getting a lower low.

 

[grapplex]

...

 

[grapplex]

...

 

[Mr. Blue]

as long as the new ones are easily swapable....will they be?

 

[lightrod]

It's great that Fenix would ask for our (CPF members) opinion on this! Nice move. I'm definitely a smooth beam transition type - my vote is medium texture. While on the topic of getting input, there's one other item to toss out that also relates to throw.

Something I really like about my P1 is the wide flood – the total beam angle is almost 85 degrees on the P1 as compared to the 70 or so of the P1D-CE. Cutting the front of the reflector by about 2mm would increase the beam angle on the P1D-CE from about 70 to 80 degrees, a noticeable and useful increase IMO. Now we're talkin' "wall of light". This would also cut the throw however – about 10% by my calculations – due to somewhat less light being reflected into the beam center. If THAT were an option, I think I'd go with the thin texturing and the cut down reflector for a total throw loss of about 80%. That way it could - I think - both smooth out the beam transitions and provide a much wider flood, with little noticeable reduction in throw (the light could be 2mm shorter to boot!). May be all wet here but can't hurt to ask I suppose!

I don't want to divert the thread, and I don't want to get too "greedy" as the texturing offer by itself is excellent. Just getting it on the table for potential consideration by Fenix. I think the impressive output of the XRE provides a way to have both excellent flood and throw! I do understand that for many folks LESS flood may be a preference. Maybe something to consider offering as an option – both a flood version and a throw version? (Maybe make the throw version a little longer – to regain the throw that's lost from the texturing??) Just thinkin'….

 

[timcodes]

How about making the reflector deeper for more throw? Will this help smoothen the beam also?