The neglected LOW LEVEL

[scout24]

Bump to a great thread, and I would like to add that Photonfanatic's Tasklight Two (which is still for sale as of this writing.) has an absolutely beautiful Low Low in the Mini Flupic programming, not much brighter than my Titans... Nice and floody, and well worth considering. Beautiful light and well worth the asking price...🙂

 

[JNewell]

Great thread. Does anyone have any data on the Gladius with the SSC/P4 transplant on lowest?

 

[don.gwapo]

Since I got the light, i'm using the lowest level on my L2M every night with the LT-1 lantern in it. It gives pretty decent light on my room even on the lowest mode which enough for me while checking cpf every night.

 

[JNewell]

My current loooooooooow experiments for indoor night navigation are:

• A2-HA-YG with the cap twisted out so you can't punch through to the incan
• K2MS-BK set to YG (much dimmer than the larger LEDs in the A2)
• Gladius SSC P4 set all the way down (which is really, really dim, IMO)

The comments about degree of flood being important is really true in practical use, but hard to show with a camera. IMO the SureFire TIR optics are a disadvantage in this role. I just bought a NOS L2, even though in almost every respect the LX2 is a "better" light, because I wanted a relatively even reflector beam rather than the tight TIR beam.

 

[ninemm]

What an excellent thread. I think this deserves a bump! I love my low level flood lights (T1A and U2A w/diffuser). Thinking of picking up a M60WLF for my 6P as well. Thanks for compiling such awesome beam shots Bernie! :thumbsup:

 

[kaichu dento]

I never found any interest in the Titan until I found out how low it could go, and it used to rule as my lowest possible output light.

Now I have a few other lights with very low levels and they are both my MillerMods Arcs (AA & AAA) and an 007.

The lowest output available from any of them is the 007, which can actually be set so low as to be about equal to a single trit. My MillerMods Arc-AAA can actually be set much lower than even the Titan is capable of, but for flood with no hotspot and beautiful moonlight-like flood that spreads all about, my absolute favorite low level light is the MillerMods Arc-AA. This particular light has the reflector painted with GID paint, which makes it nothing more than a Mule with three levels.

 

[ninemm]

My wallet is very afraid of my desire for a 007. :devil:

 

[kaichu dento]

When are you getting one? :devil:

 

[ninemm]

When are you getting one? :devil:

Oh man. I don't know. So expensive. Maybe a year or so from now? :sigh:

On a low level note: Just scored an Oilslick Mule. Going to see about getting an LE built with a nice 3 level including a very low low plus glow powder/trits for even more low light emitting goodness.

 

[kaichu dento]

Just watching the type of lights you've been getting and your slow roller coaster climb, I'm sure that at some point you'll reach the top and come down full speed into ownership of a couple of the lights that you're still holding off on. You're really going to like the 007, but on a more realistic note for the time being, I suggest you get a mule type setup coupled with a very low level for a type of low level bliss that is available from no other.

 

[ShayM]

I've been using 2xAA incandescent Maglites for years and want to switch to a 1xAAA LED light on my keychain. No more Maglites for me. People in this thread have made excellent points. However, I think you are probably mostly talking about larger models. There's plenty of reviews and comparisons of 1xAAA flashlights, but as the thread says, low level is neglected. What should I be looking for?

 

[Kestrel]

Before my T1A, my lowest was a 3P clone w/ a 5mm LED direct-driven from 1xCR123 for maybe 2-3 lumens. After reading how incredibly low the T1A could go, I was pretty surprised to find how usable it actually was, it still wasn't too low for real nighttime use indoors. :thumbsup:

 

[saabgoblin]

I believe that low level lights get very little recognition due to what I'll call the Icarus effect and even some mid and yesterdays high level lights suffer from this as well. Once you have that lumen monster, you are apt to miss the power, kinda sounds like Darth Vader here, and therefore diminish the value of your previously bright 60-80 lumen flashlight that was a breakthrough just a few years ago. Yes, sometimes brighter is better or needed and that is all very situational depending on light pollution, beam characteristics, and tint, but low levels account for approximately 70%+/- of my usage.

Low lumen levels just seem to get associated with the little chores and seemingly unimportant tasks while higher output creates a thrill and is therefore more alluring.


My favorite contenders;
Surefire L1 first or second generation, low low first, with immediate access to high:thumbsup:
HDS EDC Basic42
Lunasol 20, another great low first with that piston drive:thumbsup:
Peak Matterhorn 3 LED
Surefire E1B

I am sure that there are many others and I am somewhat ashamed as a Flashaholic that I don't yet have an ARC in my collection.:candle:

Long live the low, low, level lumen output, you don't have to necessarily come to the "Dark Side", but you can appreciate just how little light you actually need to shine a light.

 

[saabgoblin]

I've been using 2xAA incandescent Maglites for years and want to switch to a 1xAAA LED light on my keychain. No more Maglites for me. People in this thread have made excellent points. However, I think you are probably mostly talking about larger models. There's plenty of reviews and comparisons of 1xAAA flashlights, but as the thread says, low level is neglected. What should I be looking for?

Hello ShayM and welcome, try doing a search on key chain lights and a great place to start are the sticky's at the top of the General Flashlight Forum-Threads Of Interest and the Flashlight Checklist.

 

[red02]

Don't know if being regulated is needed to make this list, but the Photon Freedom get the lowest low I've ever seen. Even my 0.2lm Quark seems bright after using one.

 

[Burgess]

. . . . or the L.R.I. Photon Proton Pro.


Very LOW, indeed !


How LOW can you GO ? ? ?


(said in my Island voice, mon')

😎
_

 

[ShayM]

Hello ShayM and welcome, try doing a search on key chain lights and a great place to start are the sticky's at the top of the General Flashlight Forum-Threads Of Interest and the Flashlight Checklist.

Thanks. I did end up ordering a silver coloured ITP EOS AAA Upgrade Edition as it seems to be well liked, well made, inexpensive, and for the low power mode. I was going to get the Maratac version instead because you can stand it up, but I'm Canadian, and in all honesty, I never really did that with my Maglites anyway.

 

[Flying Turtle]

The Photon Rex is another with a very good low. And, the slick charging setup just adds to the fun.

Geoff

 

[red02]

Photon Fusion gets a nice low as well.

 

[Beacon of Light]

Just curious how much NeoSeikan's Spartanian II was? I read the other thread and there was never a price listed, and his site doesn't show prices either.