Beam Type preferences

Hi everyone,

New to the forum here. Just curious about the rest of you.
Do you prefer the traditional spot with spill of the paraboloid-based flashlights or the more defined shape produced by TIR or other optics?

I myself like the higher punch with less spill but thats just my personal flavor.

Anyone?

Thanks.

I think it depends on flashlight usage.

I use an Inova T1. Works great as a tactical light with a sidearm.

I prefer the traditional reflector-based beam type. The smoothness of an orange peel beam is pleasing to my eyes.

for smaller flashlights like 2AAA I like reflectors, even 3AAA or 2CR123A.

As they get bigger, i like as much like in the spot as possible.
I guess I like the "spot light" quality of light...love to see it cutting through the dark without all the spill.

MatajumotorS said:

I think it depends on flashlight usage.

Click to expand...

I agree. For small distances(about 0-10 meters) reflectors with small hotspot and large sidespill give more usable light pattern(for example if I have to search something in the room). To longer distances(> 10 meters) I prefer optics because they don't "waste" the light to dim sidespill.

I've never liked TIR optics or pure spots, but my usage is different to everyone elses - I like a bit of throw, with quite abit of flood - so on my mag mods I use reflector numbers 4 and 6 - Heavy OP and Medium Stipple. These provide a great beam - lots of flood and still with throw!

99% of the time I prefer and use a 100% floody light.
I find throw useless for daily use.

I was curious.
I do like the spot/flood of smaller reflectors in smaller handhelds.
However, Surefire has made a killing pushing the TIR optics principle.

I have and use both types of light depending upon the application it is being used for. It's more a matter of using the light appropriate to the task. Most of the time I will use a light that offers throw and decent spill/flood. I use the TIR or other optics based lights when I want to get a beam into a narrow space (like a driveway) without lighting up the entire house.

Stromberg said:

I agree. For small distances(about 0-10 meters) reflectors with small hotspot and large sidespill give more usable light pattern(for example if I have to search something in the room). To longer distances(> 10 meters) I prefer optics because they don't "waste" the light to dim sidespill.

Click to expand...

yep, everyday use, flood is the way to go. outdoors, spot is the way to go.

My favourite indoor light is a LED Lenser David 15. It uses an optic rather than a reflector, giving a pleasing flat-out flood.

Outdoors however, it is all about spot and flood combined. A FiveMega Medium Orange Peel Reflector gives my favourite all-purpose beam.

I prefer a reflector-based beam with a lot of spill and as artifact free as possible.

so for the most part, it seems people here prefer the reflector style beams....

have anyone looked at softer TIR fields? like a 8-10 degree soft spot? its a mix between a narrow spot and flood....

thats actually my favorite....all the light is in the beam, but the beam is softer and more unform...doesnt throw as far but has a much nicer appearance than traditional flashlight fields

I myself like the higher punch with less spill but thats just my personal flavor.

Click to expand...

there is only "no punch with less spill"
--> less light overall

any optic I have used so far did lead to a weaker hotspot and less spill (in case of Tiros' no spill and a weaker primary)
(and I have tested quite some)

just try it: get 2 identical led, wire them in series, power them up, put any optic and a reflector on, compare, change them between the led, compare again.
Reflector wins any time. Hotspot and spill!

PS: most reflectors I have gotten so far seem to focus at about 6-8 degrees

I started with a preference for throw but have changed gradually to prefer flood. They are much more useful for me. The Zebralight and mule are great lights.

I have to cast my vote for the optic based spot light type lights. They appear brighter since the beam is so tight. People are impressed!! Who looks twice at someone using a 3AAA 8led light? So primative!!

yellow said:

there is only "no punch with less spill"
--> less light overall

any optic I have used so far did lead to a weaker hotspot and less spill (in case of Tiros' no spill and a weaker primary)
(and I have tested quite some)

just try it: get 2 identical led, wire them in series, power them up, put any optic and a reflector on, compare, change them between the led, compare again.
Reflector wins any time. Hotspot and spill!

PS: most reflectors I have gotten so far seem to focus at about 6-8 degrees

Click to expand...

Thanks.

I actually have done this. It depends on the diameter. All optics whether lenses, reflectors or TIR are simply imaging devices. The effectiveness is dependent on the primary source etendue. In the case of Cree for instance, a reflector can not match the intensity of a TIR or aspheric of equal diameter due to forward lumen loss. In the case of SSC or Lumileds, due to much wider overall primary, there is higher capture rate and reflectors work very well.

For my use, typically indoors and at shorter distance, I like a lot of spill (the wider the better) with a gradual transition between the spot and the spill.

cool
I refer to that pattern as a squeezed lambertian or Mountain

there are 4 general patterns:
"HILL"--wide flat beam with low center to edge ratio (5x)

"MOUNTAIN"--similar to HILL but field is a bit narrower and center is now 10-20x

"MESA"--defined center spot with rapid cutoff and "raised floor" spill

"TOP HAT"--defined center spot with rapid cutoff and very little spill

I like them all

most flashlights are MESAs...a number of the Surefires and others using good TIR are TOP HATs....heavily stipled or faceted reflectors are often Mountains (sometime some TIRs are as well)
the Cree XRE is a Hill by nature