Perfect LED

[BarneyBG]

Hi!

I started another topic about Wf-501b and possible upgrades to it. I am not going to abandon the 501b, because I've invested too much in it. But I was wondering whether the "perfect" LED flashlight exists....Obviously it's not going to be perfect and obviously everybody has different needs. I'm looking for a LED flashlight that is :
- affordable (<50$)
- zoomable - a must
- steady beam - no donut-shaped spots in either flooding or throwing setting
- no different modes, just the one
- very bright (XM-L?)
- uses 18650
- has an extension tube - can be used to change from a 1x18650 to a 2x18650 setup
- modularity - I have parts for a P60, so if compatible good, if not - at least be compatible with readily available parts on the market
- size, shape, color - not an issue
- and obviously - good, solid build, durable and water-proof

Soo....does it exist? :)

 

[cjmorris]

:shrug:Zoomable lights are not good lights.

 

[Imon]

:shrug:Zoomable lights are not good lights.

Yeah, pretty much.
I think the highest quality "zoom" lights you're going to find are Coast (LED Lenser) lights and CPF is lukewarm on those lights at best.

 

[BarneyBG]

:shrug:Zoomable lights are not good lights.

Maybe it's a stupid question but why?

 

[Norm]

Maybe it's a stupid question but why?

Other than perhaps Led Lenser and LensLite, the rest are junk flashlights. None of the cheap focusable lights are waterproof, I'm not too sure whether the other two are waterproof either.

Norm

 

[BarneyBG]

Yeah, I got that, but why? What is inherently wrong about such designs that keeps good manufacturers from making them? Durability?

 

[Norm]

The focusing works a by sliding the head in and out on the cheap lights causing air to be displaced, if this happens underwater it will be water that is drawn in as the light head is moved out. Remember when you were a kid and used your bike pump to squirt water?

Norm

 

[cjmorris]

It's really not necessary, many lights have a great combination of throw and flood. Most of the time I don't find a real long throw that useful. It impresses friends but that's about it. Floody lights are way more useful for edc. With the new LED technology even floody lights have decent throw.

 

[tubed]

Yeah, I got that, but why? What is inherently wrong about such designs that keeps good manufacturers from making them? Durability?

From what I've seen of focus-able lights they suffer from one of the things your're trying to avoid - artifacts and rings. I have a small cheap focusable light that uses a convex lens that moves up and back to go from a focused spot to wide flood. The beam is really, really bad. Tons of artifact and black zones.
Like someone else said, you can find good lights that have a tight center beam and some degree of spread beyond that. There are many, many different beam profiles out there. It's often the key thing folks use to choose their lights. You'll see many discussions on this forum about beam profiles and "beam shots". (you'll have to do your research to find just what you're looking for).
By using high or low settings you can usually get what you want.

Of all your criteria, there are not a ton of lights that go from 1 x 18650 to 2 x 18650 (although there are plenty). so I might start my search with that criteria and whittle it down from there. I think Armytec and Crelant make lights that can do that but i'm sure there are more.

PS -just noticed your $50 price range. That's going to be difficult. Maybe a Crelant. You will probably have to get one of those Ultrafire, Fandyfire, etc type lights from places like DealExtreme