What is your favorite UI in a light?

[KeyGrip]

Forward clicky and Hall effect sensor. Basically a SF U2. Close second is a forward clicky with the ability to change modes by twisting the head of the light. The main priority is to be able to select the level before turning the light on, and to change levels while the light is on. Ideally with one hand.

 

[don.gwapo]

Single mode for easy on and off on a forward clicky light.

 

[scout24]

Absolute favorite? SF Titan/ T1A Twist on, more twist for more light, less twist for less light. A very close second is Don's McClicky forward clicky 3 mode. Then, Don's PD...

 

[325addict]

For me, the Surefire U2 Ultra is the one and only method of conveniently having more than one mode:
- forward clicky
- selector ring to instantly access one of the six brightness settings (even one-handed!)

Six brightness settings are BETTER to me than an infinite brightness settings system, as you can now know the run times. You only have to remember current draw in all of those six modes....

Now getting rid of that terrible color of the light, and the U2 would have been the perfect light for me (this color makes me use my C3 Centurion with P90 or E1E with LF bulb much more often... both with a forward clicky).

Timmo.

 

[bjt3833]

Of the lights I have, I like the operation of my quark 123 turbo and my jetbeam rrt-0.

 

[oldways]

I like the SF U2 ui the best

 

[e1sbaer]

I like the UI of the ramping nitecore D10. It's easy and always does as expected.
I dislike the UI of the jetbeam III-m. Changing levels by twisting the head works well. Selecting ramping mode means clicking 3 times. Usually I don't get the desired ramping level right the first time so I have to do the 3 clicks, a second time but it then goes into sos/strobe moment. I prefer lights without a sos/strobe mode.

 

[ICUDoc]

Can't believe the Blackhawk Gladius has not come up. Three-position tailswitch rotates to give you (user-pre-selected-) low, high and strobe. Nice solid switch with rapid access to all modes. Second favourite for me is the Surefire U2, as again you know what you are going to get BEFORE the light comes on.

 

[Jack Reacher]

I like the UI of the ramping nitecore D10. [...]

Sorry... OT for a mo' here.

Briefly, I'm not familiar with the term "ramping". Is this a steady increase in output (like an old potentiometer/incan sort of thing)? Any links to how it works?

—Cheers, Jack. 🙂

 

[bedazzLED]

Surefire LX2 for me has the perfect UI.
Followed by the Nitecore PD.
After that it's the 4Sevens tactical UI.

 

[Thermion]

Right now my favorite is my D10 PD with the ramping. The most important thing is it remembers the last setting when turned off and turns back on there. I have just ordered a Ra clicky 140GT and expect it to become my favorite.

 

[MWClint]

Continuous Ramping..(either by electronics or physical movement)
D2DIM, EX10, Peak FR1000A, Surefire Titan/T1A

second is twisty
Peaks, Ra twisty


dont like clickies..too much noise. piston drive is fine, momentary tails are fine too.

 

[e1sbaer]

Sorry... OT for a mo' here.

Briefly, I'm not familiar with the term "ramping". Is this a steady increase in output (like an old potentiometer/incan sort of thing)? Any links to how it works?

—Cheers, Jack. 🙂

That's right. An increase to max output or decrease to min output by holding the tailbutton pressed. In this video (at about 1:30 minutes) the ramping is shown.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dReQZuwHATE

 

[rickypanecatyl]

I think a good UI should balence the tension between simple and light for every occasion. (Obviously a 200 lumen max light can't do the work of a 2000 lumen light but I want my 200 lumen lights to do everything a 5 lumen light can do.)

I haven't seen it, but the varapower from lambda sounds ideal...

I like the spacing of levels on my new Eagletac TC MKII - each level spaced about 5X apart; 12, 60, 300 hundred lumens. I personally don't see any reason to have them any closer together... I can't really tell. If I had a selector ring on this particular eagletac I'd have 5 levels as oppossed to the 3 - 2.4, 12, 60, 300 & 450. 450 would be a inefficient, overdrive, burst. Something you knew you couldn't just leave on but getting the maximum out of the light.

However many levels a light has I do want it to be super simple to have it come on in high and low and I can fiddle around with other modes I may want. Instant access to high for shock and awe value and to low so I don't wreck my night vision or disturb others. If I want a medium there usually is no "urgency" to that.

 

[Jack Reacher]

That's right. An increase to max output or decrease to min output by holding the tailbutton pressed. In this video (at about 1:30 minutes) the ramping is shown.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dReQZuwHATE

Thanks for that link. 🙂

I must say that the D10 looks like a nice light too, especially in its "camo" colours. Dunno about the piston interface though in the longer term.

—Jack.

 

[was.lost.but.now.found]

I forgot to mention, that all modes with yellow border are memorized.
Its very similar to the zebralight UI for the H501R, the H60 or the SC30:
You have three modes of which the two lower modes can be programmed to have one of two levels whith a double click.
DId you ever use a Zebralight?

Essentially my UI adds momentary function to the Zebralight UI and reduces the need to push and hold (and wait) to reach modes. I think its a lot more convenient to reach all modes by a simple click and to use Push and hold only for spacial purpose like momentary light and to turn te light off without having to cycle through all modes.

the double click is used to reach the "hidden" strobe mode and to change the level of the two lower modes permanently.

So in you example of a task where 50 lumens are needed you have to click two times and make a double click from off once.
After that the light memorizes the setting of the medium mode and you just use two clicks to reach 50lm.

That way you essentially have a light with 5 levels and a strobe mode but it feels like a three level light which is more convenient in most circumstances. Use a zebralight to get the feeling for it.

Very interesting.

For me I voted Other - selector ring.

 

[GarageBoy]

Selector ring is my first and foremost favorite (along with the Titan style pot, but IIRC, that is less efficient)

Second is the Arc6 UI (2 modes with an extra bonus mode you get by mashing down the button quickly)

Not really a fan of the soft press to change modes, but I'll deal with it. I do hate lights that alternate (off, low, off high)

 

[naiter]

I hate having to twist & click. unless its a twist only UI. then i'd think just twist it to desired level would be best.


If i had to make a UI without completely copying ZL the dream would look like this:
--Press+hold while off = moonlight, for XX delay then slowly ramps up
--double tap anytime = max
--press when off = last mode memory - OR - preset to a configured level (chosen in a special config setup)
--press+hold while on = light level (if @ max ramps down, if under 5% ramp up) if in middle ramp up (OR down (configs setup)) quick ramp, [quick blink off@max for notify], quick pause, then ramp down quickly,[short low flash @lowest for notify], pause, ramp back up slower, repeat. If you were just ramping in last 3 seconds another press+hold will change directions and move at the slower ramp rate. In case you missed your level, or if just wanted to go a different direction.

--- you could configure in setup:
whether to ramp up or down on initial press+hold
memory or preset level after first ON click.
high and low ramping speeds
maybe even delay times for press and hold, and delay times before ramping start in the other direction @ max/min
maybe replace ramping levels with a choice of 3 to 8 well thought out presets. for people who would rather have preset modes than dynamic ramp.

Any thoughts?


my vote is for Zerbalight!! but I'm so used to it. perfect amount if quick hold delays for changing levels. any level of light easily accessed. - which is -
--press + quick release = max.(or programmed high)
--press+short hold = programmed low mode (low or moonlight)
--continued hold goes from low to programmed medium (which is still super quick to get to medium)
--then the double click for the second level in whatever mode your at. sound complicated but its great!!


I found this thread cuz I like the Olight S10 UI - which is -
-last mode memory (excluding tac strobe)
-its press and hold goes to moonlight. but moonlight is a memory mode 🙁 so you lose whatever memory you had before
-double press while on goes straight to tac stobe. which is awesome, but i'd like double press to go to max.
-while on, press+hold to cycle through levels

-- so the only problem is after i use moonlight i have to press and hold for awhile to get to max again. if the double press went to max instead of strobe it'd be perfect UI
-- the hold cycling time it too long for me. it is not incredibly long, its just not zebralight fast.


But, i know that the zebralight ui is tough for my father in law to handle, and that random people that'd pickup my SC600 would tend to MAX it right away. sometime they get moonlight and not even know its on.

 

[K-Tex]

Favorite AND Ideal UI and Why?

What is your (1) favorite and (2) ideal user interface and why? Ready Go!

 

[buds224]

Re: Favorite AND Ideal UI and Why?

Fenix TA21. Control ring with clicks between modes. 9 levels of brightness with strobe/SOS/beacon at the end. Ring continues beyond 360degrees, so jumping to any mode is easy, and because it's a forward clicky, I can choose the mode I want before turning it on.