Ward
Newly Enlightened
Ok, maybe it will take a little longer... But I'm sure it will happen one day. What do you guys think?
Prediction: A year from now, continuous variable lights be the norm.
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Gatsby
Enlightened
I had a ramping EX10 and to be honest I prefer having fixed levels (ideally programmable) like the HDS lights UI - I like to pick some utility levels that work for me and have direct access, rather than hunting for the right amount and the time it takes to find it.
I know some like them a lot, and I do appreciate that compared to the Arc4 and the first HDS lights, the Novatac and Ra lights make it easier to change levels if you want to do so "on the fly" but I find that I use that feature sparingly.
Heck I prefer the Liteflux "simple" UI to Nitecore's and I still generally keep it in the programmable mode as I prefer it not to start at the user level but on low.
I'm sure some folks love the continuously variable lights, and perhaps if I used something like a Titan with a nice ring I might change my mind but I like the really quick access multilevels with a clickie gives me.
I know some like them a lot, and I do appreciate that compared to the Arc4 and the first HDS lights, the Novatac and Ra lights make it easier to change levels if you want to do so "on the fly" but I find that I use that feature sparingly.
Heck I prefer the Liteflux "simple" UI to Nitecore's and I still generally keep it in the programmable mode as I prefer it not to start at the user level but on low.
I'm sure some folks love the continuously variable lights, and perhaps if I used something like a Titan with a nice ring I might change my mind but I like the really quick access multilevels with a clickie gives me.
I believe the method used in the upcoming 38DD by Kuku may be popular for continuously variable lights if it proves to be reliable.
Like a Boss! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mfy7QluVvBM
Like a Boss! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mfy7QluVvBM
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Ward
Newly Enlightened
What I mean is in a twisty type light, maybe in combination with a clicky button to save modes.
Launch Mini
Flashlight Enthusiast
Possibly, but I prefer the clickies ( ie SPYs) over the style on the T1A.
For the mig-high levels, on my SPY I know exactly what drain on the battery is, but with the T1A, I am not quite sure, as your eyes can't detect the actual output & there is not guide on the twisty. I like to have an idea how much battery I am sucking down and this is just not available on the Variable ones.
Cool function, but not my favourite.
For the mig-high levels, on my SPY I know exactly what drain on the battery is, but with the T1A, I am not quite sure, as your eyes can't detect the actual output & there is not guide on the twisty. I like to have an idea how much battery I am sucking down and this is just not available on the Variable ones.
Cool function, but not my favourite.
ElectronGuru
Flashaholic
Sounds like "what if Apple made a flashlight?"
hoongern
Enlightened
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that all continuously variable lights as of now use PWM to dim - and the problem with that is that it's never as efficient as current regulation.
Of course, if continuously variable lights using current regulation exist, that would be perfect! Are the HDS/Ra lights current regulated? (I'm not sure)
(As far as I know, some manufacturers like Zebralight use both current regulation and PWM to achieve more levels, but it's not continuously variable)
Of course, if continuously variable lights using current regulation exist, that would be perfect! Are the HDS/Ra lights current regulated? (I'm not sure)
(As far as I know, some manufacturers like Zebralight use both current regulation and PWM to achieve more levels, but it's not continuously variable)
I just dont think that many people CARE about infinity variable output. So I don't see it ever being the norm.
Look at mainstream flashlights. It is trivial to add a low-medium-high on any of them. Do they have em? Noooo. Because most people just don't care about modes.
Even here, many people poo-poo modes because apparently it is super hard to click the button a few extra times. Heck people gripe about multi-mode lights even when it has MEMORY and thus can be effectively used as a 1-mode light.
I like having 3 brightness levels, but even I can't see that I would use infinite brightness adjustment very much at all.
Look at mainstream flashlights. It is trivial to add a low-medium-high on any of them. Do they have em? Noooo. Because most people just don't care about modes.
Even here, many people poo-poo modes because apparently it is super hard to click the button a few extra times. Heck people gripe about multi-mode lights even when it has MEMORY and thus can be effectively used as a 1-mode light.
I like having 3 brightness levels, but even I can't see that I would use infinite brightness adjustment very much at all.
HKJ
Flashaholic
Why do you believe that?
It has been easy enough to make continuous variable lights for some time, but only a few have shown up.
The problem with continuously variable lights is that you're never quite sure how much runtime you're going to get. What would be useful is one with an estimated remaining runtime LCD display. Provided it didn't take up a lot of space that is.
Ward
Newly Enlightened
Because I'm hearing more and more about QTC, which makes it relatively easy to implement, and because I think It's a very 'natural' way to turn on a light and select the amount of light needed in just one twist.
Better then endless click sequences to select the mode you want, or gimmicky selector rings. When done right of course, in a quality light (like RA).
mossyoak
Flashlight Enthusiast
The tech is here. But most prefer to know how much runtime you have on a given level.
HKJ
Flashaholic
But you will not be able to stabilize the light output, it will vary with the battery voltage. The efficiency will also be lower than any light with an electronic brightness control. There is also the problem with unpredictable runtime.
It will probably show up in a lot of cheap lights, but the better light will probably stay with a magnetic ring.
jellydonut
Enlightened
I quite like selector rings, they might as well be continuously variable if the tech is there and affordable/rugged enough.
As for the guy claiming that those of us who hate clicky mode changing think it is 'hard' to click the tailcap a few times.. No, it is not. I prefer consistency when using the tail switch. I want to be able to use momentary light and always know what is going to come out of the darn thing when I activate it. The amount of 'click three times, wait a second, click one more time and then the light can be programmed to launch nukes' stuff around the ownership of a clicker mode changer light with sudden unexpected strobelights, fireworks and pinatas shooting out the bezel reminds me of that scene in Goldeneye where Boris is clicking the detonating Q pen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a6De7KpwuE
Actually, every light that uses tailcap clicks to change modes should include one mode where the light detonates five seconds after being activated. Maybe then more people would realize how much better the control rings and two-stage tailcaps are.
I don't much care about remaining runtime - you'll end up using different modes anyway, what are you gonna do, keep spreadsheets of how long you've ran it on low, medium and high? :sick2:
As for the guy claiming that those of us who hate clicky mode changing think it is 'hard' to click the tailcap a few times.. No, it is not. I prefer consistency when using the tail switch. I want to be able to use momentary light and always know what is going to come out of the darn thing when I activate it. The amount of 'click three times, wait a second, click one more time and then the light can be programmed to launch nukes' stuff around the ownership of a clicker mode changer light with sudden unexpected strobelights, fireworks and pinatas shooting out the bezel reminds me of that scene in Goldeneye where Boris is clicking the detonating Q pen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a6De7KpwuE
Actually, every light that uses tailcap clicks to change modes should include one mode where the light detonates five seconds after being activated. Maybe then more people would realize how much better the control rings and two-stage tailcaps are.
I don't much care about remaining runtime - you'll end up using different modes anyway, what are you gonna do, keep spreadsheets of how long you've ran it on low, medium and high? :sick2:
Ward
Newly Enlightened
Well ok then, I stand corrected. If nobody wants, it surely will not happen.
I still hope some manufactors will implement it though, because I do like it.
I still hope some manufactors will implement it though, because I do like it.
Sub_Umbra
Flashlight Enthusiast
I, for one, don't think continuous variable lights are that useful. I would much prefer a light that ramps up output in steps that are programmable by the user.
With infinitely variable output one may make the light brighter very simply but when you want to return to your previous (lower) setting it will be nearly impossible as your eyes are no longer as sensitive to light as they were before you ramped up the output. While it looks the same to the user it is not and the user will suffer a hit as his dark adapted vision will not be returning to the extent he thinks it is -- his runtime at the inadvertently higher setting will also decrease at a higher than expected rate. HDS_Systems had a white-paper stuck away on his site that covered the problem in detail.
With the output programed into fixed steps decided upon by the user things are much simpler. The user always knows where he is and where he's going, output wise. If he needs more light for a bit it's just click, click, click and he's there. When he's done and wants to reduce output levels and regain some of his dark adapted vision it's just a quick click, click, click and he's not only back where he started from but he knows he's back where he started from.
I much prefer that to continuously variable lights where the user never really knows what his output is set to.
With infinitely variable output one may make the light brighter very simply but when you want to return to your previous (lower) setting it will be nearly impossible as your eyes are no longer as sensitive to light as they were before you ramped up the output. While it looks the same to the user it is not and the user will suffer a hit as his dark adapted vision will not be returning to the extent he thinks it is -- his runtime at the inadvertently higher setting will also decrease at a higher than expected rate. HDS_Systems had a white-paper stuck away on his site that covered the problem in detail.
With the output programed into fixed steps decided upon by the user things are much simpler. The user always knows where he is and where he's going, output wise. If he needs more light for a bit it's just click, click, click and he's there. When he's done and wants to reduce output levels and regain some of his dark adapted vision it's just a quick click, click, click and he's not only back where he started from but he knows he's back where he started from.
I much prefer that to continuously variable lights where the user never really knows what his output is set to.
Joe Talmadge
Flashlight Enthusiast
Up until now, I've found continuous variable lights a disappointment. They always had cumbersome UIs, or added more length to the light than I liked, or both. I do think QTC is a game-changing technology for this usage, if there are no unpleasant surprises, like the stuff wearing out physically, or becoming less efficient over time, or catching fire if more than 1A is pushed across it, etc.
What I don't think will happen is that this will become the norm. First, I'm not sure there's a good fit here for lights that are intended for defensive/tactical usage. And by my count, 85% of the men on this board believe that the SEALs might call them up for help, any moment now. So that entire class of light probably won't be going continuously variable. For many other types of light, a few set levels are good enough, and the UIs are good enough, too.
Where I love this technology for now, is exactly the early adopters -- Kuku's and (probably cancelled, but previously-planned) Orb lights, little EDC lights that are subject to a broad daily range of usage, and that are screaming out for a better interface than "twist and untwist once for low, twist and untwist again for medium, twist and untwist again for hi-- oh damn, I twisted too much and now it's strobing!" I love "twist to the level you want" for this type of light, especially since it adds negligible length to the small form factor.
What I don't think will happen is that this will become the norm. First, I'm not sure there's a good fit here for lights that are intended for defensive/tactical usage. And by my count, 85% of the men on this board believe that the SEALs might call them up for help, any moment now. So that entire class of light probably won't be going continuously variable. For many other types of light, a few set levels are good enough, and the UIs are good enough, too.
Where I love this technology for now, is exactly the early adopters -- Kuku's and (probably cancelled, but previously-planned) Orb lights, little EDC lights that are subject to a broad daily range of usage, and that are screaming out for a better interface than "twist and untwist once for low, twist and untwist again for medium, twist and untwist again for hi-- oh damn, I twisted too much and now it's strobing!" I love "twist to the level you want" for this type of light, especially since it adds negligible length to the small form factor.
WDR65
Enlightened
I hope that they do not become the norm. I prefer a few fixed levels and really use only 2 most of the time. The only light that I like having more than that is my Surefire U2. My favorites are the two stage tailcap Surefires like the L1 and LX2.
I do like my T1A but I don't use it much on anything except max or minimum.
I just don't see them becoming that mainstream. Most people just don't want but so many options.
I do like my T1A but I don't use it much on anything except max or minimum.
I just don't see them becoming that mainstream. Most people just don't want but so many options.
How about a side mounted thumb wheel type of switch where the "wheel" partially protrudes from the body and is provided with a definite click to go from off to on and provides an infinitely adjustable light output. An option might be definite click points through the range for those who need it. Waterproofing might be a challenge.
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