Sub-Lumen "Moonlight" Mode Poll

[reppans]

Everybody seems to want a killer Max mode - but what about the other end of the spectrum? What does the general CPF community think about the ultra low lows - the sub-lumen "moonlight" modes?

EDIT: Just for reference, here's a sample of some popular brands/lights with sub-lumen modes (manuf. spec/my meter reading):

 

[kj2]

I like moon-mode. First when I heard of it, I thought why would you ever use moon-mode??. Now that I have the Thrunite T10- I use it a lot. Very handy at night so you don't wake everybody.

 

[madecov]

Just voted, I have a Moonlight mode on one light and I never use it. I usually use High or Medium. I use strobe more often than moonlight.

 

[CMAG]

I like a Low Low Low but not sub lu

 

[bushmattster]

I don't use it that much, but I like the extended runtime. I'm just as happy with 1-3 lumens.

 

[Ezeriel]

You can put me down for - Desirable, a "pro" feature


It's kinda of a wasted setting for anyone that already has it on a light.. now that I have a H502 I don't need it on anything else

...but the more light levels the better.

Gimme a LD20 with 6-10 light levels, when the head is loose, and you will see a VERY happy camper

 

[lampeDépêche]

I use sub-lumen levels all the time, both on my EDC headlamp (a ZL H600w), and on my EDC hand-torch (Quark AA in TI, #366, running 14500). At night, I seldom need more around the house. For reading in bed, anything more than a lumen is an annoyance to the dearly beloved.

Yeah, I think they're great. Part of why I like the Quark regular UI is that it comes on in sub-lumen mode if you have the head loose.

 

[TweakMDS]

A must, but not necessarily on all my lights. I love it on the D25A and C clickies, but not needed on larger lights.

 

[CarpentryHero]

I love the sublumen low lows, I always have atleast one light with me with an ultra low, my back up light tends to be the 750+ lumen light and that's because I need it less often

 

[pjandyho]

I am not too sure if it would be a top priority in my light purchase since it was never really a consideration before I buy a light so I voted desirable. Would be great to have, and some of my lights do have low low output which is useful for times when I either don't want to advertise my presense and position, or doesn't want to disturb someone who is sleeping.

 

[scout24]

I voted Desirable, a pro feature. I use Sub-Lumen as much as anything else, it's amazing in true darkness how much light it really is. I don't need it on EVERY light I own, but generally carry one with the capability. Probably half of the "users" I own can go sub-lumen, and have been chosen for this attribute in addition to their quality.

 

[gunga]

I love it. After my eyes are night adjusted, sub lumen is great!

 

[Jvalera]

I need it !! try reading a pocket book with 300 lumens while waiting for the wife in the car..lol

 

[ganzo]

For me it's a "pro" feature. I use 0.6 lumen mode on my zebra sc50w+ for reading Kindle at night a lot.

 

[Racer]

It's a must for me. What I noticed collecting flashlights for a couple years is that most seemed over-powered (not to mention bulky) for what I wanted in an EDC. Now I mostly carry a T10 as well. Every once in a while it's under-powered, and I need to grab a more powerful light. But most of the time the three modes it has are perfect. I get a lot of mileage out of the moonlight mode.

 

[DavidMB]

I've heard it said here before, but I think a low, low, moonlight is just as important as how bright a light gets.

 

[blackbalsam]

I love the sub lumen mode. Most of my Milkyspits have that option and i like that to be the first one to come on. If I need a higher output it is easily reached by a few soft touches of the clicky switch.......Robert.

 

[Haesslich]

I now make it a habit to carry one light with a sub-lumen mode. It gives me hours upon hours of use, especially when my eyes are night-adapted, or else I don't want to dazzle myself just to make my way through a room or a hallway. Plus, you'd be surprised how usable low-low light can be in areas where you don't have 50000 streetlamps, just to see what's just up ahead, or close to your feet.

 

[Retinator]

Low modes rule for the middle of the night snack or whatever.

Invictus is deadly for this............. set it to low 2 lumen mode, wake up, go for the switch, press in too far (800), back to bed........with a headache

And remember the amount of light you need is proportional to the amount of sleepy dirt in the eyes!

 

[skyfire]

i dont really use sub-lumen for any tasks.
my prefer low is around 2-4 lumens.