UIs for this sort of thing are more often a negative value, "what do I not want in the UI". For example I don't really care that much about switch types or sizes or whatnot (although if pressed I'd say "mechanical switch on the body right where your thumb would be when you hold it"), but the one thing I never, ever, ever want to see again is those insane multi-model switches where you have to cycle between High, Medium High, Medium, Medium Rare, Well Done, Rare, Medium Low, Low, Strobe, Conga, Waltz, Macarena, SOS, Shave-and-a-Haircut, and Off every time you use it, which it seems like every one I pick up has to show how cool the designers are. High, Low (for long-duration use to save battery), and Off is all you need.
What's your favorite UI design on flashlights?
- Thread starter XTAR Light
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Bronco
Enlightened
I used to believe that - until my Narsil, Anduril, Bilbo, Frodo and Barliman Butterbur based lights started reprogramming themselves in my absence. I've had more than one spontaneously switch between smooth and ramped output mode. And my BLF GT Mini is now all but useless as it does nothing but go straight to turbo and then immediately ramp down to moonlight mode. All attempts at resetting it are useless.
Gimme turbo, firefly and three additional well spaced settings in between - maybe a strobe mode if you really want to get crazy - and that's all I need. Having a light that I can program to flash the Fibonacci sequence couldn't possibly interest me less anymore.
WebHobbit
Enlightened
Bronco other than the BLF GT Mini what models have you had reprogram themselves?
znomit
Enlightened
I really do love my Noctigon KR4 with Anduril, but will take it into work next time one of my team comes up with a very good but overly complicated solution to a simple problem.
Zebralight is pretty much ideal for me.
Zebralight is pretty much ideal for me.
WebHobbit
Enlightened
My only issue with the ZL UI is every now and then I will accidentally engage disco mode. I HATE strobe modes. It's the dumbest and most annoying and useless thing ever IMHO.
Candlestick
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2018
- Messages
- 44
Literally the worst, actually a waste of time and effort. There has to be a mode memory. Low medium high. Something like .1-10-100+
fuyume
Enlightened
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2021
- Messages
- 323
My next light is almost certainly going to be a Fenix PD36 TAC, because in addition to its excellent UI, its Eco power mode of 30 lumens is rated to run 160 hours on a fully-charged 21700. Its Low power mode of 150 lumens goes over 18.5 hours, and its Medium 350 lumen mode runs over 10 hours, all of these with completely flat discharge/brightness curves.
And goddess forbid I should ever need to use it, but its Tactical Hi power mode starts up at 2000 lumens, and will run at about 750 lumens for over 3 hours, once it settles down. I'm much more interested in the actually sustained brightness level than in the maximum startup brightness.
It's the 30 lumen mode I want most, followed by the 150 lumen mode. And since the PD36 TAC in Duty mode always starts up in Eco mode, with Low mode a half press away, it's a perfect light for when I need something more than my single AA E12.
And goddess forbid I should ever need to use it, but its Tactical Hi power mode starts up at 2000 lumens, and will run at about 750 lumens for over 3 hours, once it settles down. I'm much more interested in the actually sustained brightness level than in the maximum startup brightness.
It's the 30 lumen mode I want most, followed by the 150 lumen mode. And since the PD36 TAC in Duty mode always starts up in Eco mode, with Low mode a half press away, it's a perfect light for when I need something more than my single AA E12.
WebHobbit
Enlightened
I WANT to love the new Fenix lights....but I want 90+ CRI....and I want 4000k-5000k CCT
Bronco
Enlightened
The most recent two that come to mind were a couple of mid sized throwers - the Mateminco MT90 and a Noctigon K1.
WebHobbit
Enlightened
Then you should contact Hank at his website as he is VERY good with support even beyond the 90 days (I think it's 90).
MTHall
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2020
- Messages
- 78
Any examples?
here
and
exclude each other. Although, it can be done, something like a rotary switch that is simultaneously clicky, or a forward click with a very long travel to unlock and in the way of this travel there will be more contacts that will switch modes. But it will either be too big for a handheld flashlight, or small and unreliable, or reliable and very expensive...
I like different control options depending on the task. HDS and Zebra are very well done, but I don't like that you can't switch to the right mode right away. For example, from L1 to M2 if M1 was enabled. Therefore, I made 3 modes on the zebra - H1=H2, M1=M2, L1=L2. Also on HDS - B=C.
In terms of control, the Dominator is almost perfect for me. The modes are selected by the ring, pressing 1 of the three buttons turns on one of the modes:
It would be nice to add 1 function to the left button - if you hold it for a long time, then it turns on the maximum from current mode, if you release it, it returns to the current mode. If you use the right button, then after releasing the flashlight is off and to turn it constant on, you need to press the left button again.
ironhorse
Enlightened
Rotary switch from off to max brightness, ie Jetbeam RRT01.
Fraz Labs can be used one handed but is much easier with two. Twist with super low lumen capable.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ this
Especially the newer one with the forward switch,, can start on any output you want.
As I said before my favorite is a slider with a detent for signaling but Coleman came out with one I like even better. A slider with a detent for low output then foward to high. When member @greenpondmike spoke of that one here I said outloud "oh be still my beating heart, the grail is amongst us". The low on the one I bought is 4 lumens and high is 250. Trouble is it's not very sturdy.
Somebody please do a sturdy version (hint hint xtar).
Somebody please do a sturdy version (hint hint xtar).
chillinn
Flashlight Enthusiast
Though funzel mentioned no memory, starting in high is madness. Though I have never quite seen it, I prefer a 3 mode mechanical tactical forward clicky with no memory, firefly 0.05Lm, low 12Lm, turbo 160Lm or whatever, 1000Lm, but always starting in the lowest mode, firefly.
The neat thing about no memory starting on the lowest mode is you can switch back and forth between the two lowest modes saving battery, but turbo is there when you need it. Also, 12Lm to about 18Lm is as bright as you can get without destroying dark adaptation in close quarters with reflective surfaces, and preserving that can mean life or death when you don't know your surroundings and only have one light and one cell. Tripping in the dark is the number one killer of flashaholics. Save a life and always carry two lights.
The neat thing about no memory starting on the lowest mode is you can switch back and forth between the two lowest modes saving battery, but turbo is there when you need it. Also, 12Lm to about 18Lm is as bright as you can get without destroying dark adaptation in close quarters with reflective surfaces, and preserving that can mean life or death when you don't know your surroundings and only have one light and one cell. Tripping in the dark is the number one killer of flashaholics. Save a life and always carry two lights.
Clickie switch with a level ring is perfect for me. Not very many lights out there like that, so I'm still using my OG U2 from two decades ago and a Streamlight Stinger 2020. Anyone currently make a smaller (like single cell) light that'll go ~10 lumens on low to 100+ on high with a half dozen steps?
