JetskiMark
Enlightened
Bernie, excellent photo essay.
You clearly illustrated why I like my LunaSol 20 so much.
You clearly illustrated why I like my LunaSol 20 so much.
The neglected LOW LEVEL
- Thread starter Kiessling
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Hooked on Fenix
Flashlight Enthusiast
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2007
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I agree that a low level is very useful. However, I hate PWM. If I'm reading a book or using a light as a nightlight in a tent, I don't want a strobe light to give me a headache. If I use a light with a low level, I prefer constant current powered and often regulated. My favorite lights with a good low level are my Rebel PT EOS headlight (5 lumens), Fenix P3D Q5 (5 lumens), Fenix EO1, and my old Gerber Infinity Ultra (3 lumens). All are pretty floody without a super bright hotspot. Dimmer than 3 lumens isn't that useful for me since if I need less light, I have moonlight. A P3D on low with a diffuser cap was bright enough to see 10 feet in each direction while being dim enough for stargazing during a meteor shower with night adapted eyes. You've got to love the long runtimes you get with low level l.e.d. flashlights nowadays.
I think the key with PWM dimming is the frequency. If it is soo low, we get the strobing effect like with the Photon or the Eternalight. On the SunDrop, which also uses PWM dimming (regulated nevertheless) I don't see any strobing.
And ... agreed on th eneed for throw. There are situations that require power and throw. No question. I never wanted to have low flood reign supreme in the lighting world 😀 ... but I think it has an important place and I further think that it is underestimated here.
bernie
And ... agreed on th eneed for throw. There are situations that require power and throw. No question. I never wanted to have low flood reign supreme in the lighting world 😀 ... but I think it has an important place and I further think that it is underestimated here.
bernie
The light I keep falling back to is a Photon Proton, the origional with the six 5mm LEDs. It's all flood and adjustable to a very low output but it isn't perfect. The color isn't good and the white LEDs don't ramp up from low only down from high. I wish LRI made this light with 7 white LEDs and the UI of the Photon Freedom.
kaichu dento
Flashaholic
The king of the low setting just arrived today! I finally have a light that goes low enough to satisfy my needs in my newly aquired Titan. Up until today my lowest outputs were to be found on my MJP'S, LF2 and 120P. By comparison to the Titan, with all lights on lowest setting, they look like searchlights to the Titan's miniscule speck of light, which is so low you can look directly at the emitter in pitch black without it appearing overly bright! Incredible light and anyone who wishes for both the ultimate in simplicity and low setting, you need to get one of the upcoming aluminum versions! You will be in love! 😎 :twothumbs
easilyled
Flashaholic
Having read this very well-written thread, I was wondering if anyone had considered the new 4-die P7 and MCE leds
which naturally produce very floody beams especially in more portable-sized reflectors.
IMO this could be exploited by creating a well-designed light with a large range of levels from very low to very high.
I have an Aleph-P7 LE with a Bi-Flupic interface that is used in conjunction with a McR27XR reflector to produce a wall-of-light beam
with only a slight increase in intensity at the center.
I can set the low to be very low and this provides an excellent light for reading and close-range tasks.
The high is in excess of 400 lumens and will still project out to medium-range or longer distances because of the power of the beam.
I feel that this can provide the best of both worlds, both inside and outside the house.
Maybe the much feted Surefire Invictus (if it ever materializes) will cater for our needs in this way.
which naturally produce very floody beams especially in more portable-sized reflectors.
IMO this could be exploited by creating a well-designed light with a large range of levels from very low to very high.
I have an Aleph-P7 LE with a Bi-Flupic interface that is used in conjunction with a McR27XR reflector to produce a wall-of-light beam
with only a slight increase in intensity at the center.
I can set the low to be very low and this provides an excellent light for reading and close-range tasks.
The high is in excess of 400 lumens and will still project out to medium-range or longer distances because of the power of the beam.
I feel that this can provide the best of both worlds, both inside and outside the house.
Maybe the much feted Surefire Invictus (if it ever materializes) will cater for our needs in this way.
kaichu dento
Flashaholic
A compliment from one of my favorite posters! This is an excerpt from the post that originally got me on a quest to find a Titan. When I saw how high in output my previous low light leaders were (120P, D10) I knew I had to have a Draco and if possible at least check out the Titan. Now that I have one I realize it's much more compact than it appeared to be from looking at pictures and I can't imagine ever letting this one go.
After hurting my hand yesterday I haven't had the chance to try it out on the trail in the dark, but I'm definitely not letting the chance slip away tonight!
TITAN1833
Flashlight Enthusiast
I have a question does 0.06 lumens! count as low? if so you need to add the Spartanian 2 to your list.I use this low mode all the time pitch black I can still look into the led I believe it's a bit lower than the Novatac 120p low mode. 🙂
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kaichu dento
Flashaholic
That would make it just a tad lower output than the 120P even and definitely one more choice for those of us who think of 2 lumens as medium. With a name like TITAN you really should check out a Titan when you get the chance!
HoopleHead
Flashlight Enthusiast
Huge fan of low levels. Never neglected by me 🙂 Low lows + long runtimes is one of my top criteria in choosing lights! My Milky Hoople, Zebralights, NovaTac 120P and Ra Clicky 140-Cn all do the trick. Lots of options out there.
TITAN1833
Flashlight Enthusiast
Well as I'm cheap grade Ti I've gone for the T1A - Titan Aluminum version,I do hope they keep the low we all grave for though? 🙂
It is not only about flux, but also about beam profile. For example, both the H30 and the SunDrop have a considerably higher flux than most of the others, yet they have lower lux numbers due to the different and - in thsi application - more useful beam profile.
I am glad there are a lot of lights out there that can play the low-level game. There's no way I know them all though. Haven't even heard of a Spartanian :green:
bernie
I am glad there are a lot of lights out there that can play the low-level game. There's no way I know them all though. Haven't even heard of a Spartanian :green:
bernie
RedLED
Flashlight Enthusiast
I agree. And, my two favorite lights are the SF M6, that I rule the Hood with at night, and my SF Titan for low level use.
Love them dim...lights and girls.
Best,
RL
Love them dim...lights and girls.
Best,
RL
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SureAddicted
Enlightened
So ... anyone who wants to take my LunaSol20 or my SunDrop from me ... you're welcome to try :devil:
Uh oh, I like a dare lol
On a serious note, that Sundrop leaves me speachless. Seeing the beamshots and vids astounds me. Would be great to have one in my load bearing vest, the flood beam and rendition is truly close to an incan, if not similar. Great set of lights, and an informative post. Thanks for your efforts.
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sims2k
Enlightened
Thanks Bernie for this post. 90 percent of my light usage everyday is low light and all about flood. Working within the confines of electronics and machines one does not need a full blast thrower but a decent low with flood.
Uh oh, I like a dare lol
You know only Ripley can do this, do you? 😀
Except for Chuck Norris, of course. He can do anything he wants.
The SunDrop, meaning the Nichia 083 High CRI, is better than incan. It is not as reddish, but very natural instead. More like daylight than incan and LED are. A very nice experience indeed.
bernie
TITAN1833
Flashlight Enthusiast
here ya go
the best thing about it is it's UI one mode each side,both can be changed independently from one another,so you could have max left turn ultra low right turn,but you can also ramp them up or down as you wish so easy I love it :twothumbs
scout24
Flashaholic
I just felt this thread was too cool to let linger... Can anyone tell me if the newer Titan T1A has a comparable low level to the original? Not just on paper, but preferably someone who has both doing a side by side comparison? I love the low on the new one, but would like to know if I am missing something... 🙂 Thanks in advance!
