Time was, it was easy to feel a twinge of contempt for those using cell phones as flashlights. Not only those rapidly running down their low-Wh cell batteries trying to use the LCD as a dim light, but also those using anemic early cell phone LEDs. "Why can't these people get a proper tool for the job?"
But these days decent midrange phones have batteries with energy comparable to a 18650 and many of them have what seem to be rather decent LEDs. I was really quite pleasantly surprised by my Moto G 3rd gen's brightness.
Yet CPF threads I was able to find about phone flashlights seemed mostly either dismissive or angry.
It's reminiscent of the situation with cameras. Camera enthusiasts just laughed at early phone cameras. Then when the masses started relying on them, some complained that phones were killing photography.
But as phone cameras improved, enthusiasts and review sites started taking them seriously. Detailed phone camera reviews pointed out improvements and also showed the ways they fell short compared to dedicated cameras with large sensors and optics. Many general tech review sites were persuaded to improve their phone camera testing and incorporate methods from serious camera reviewers.
The results? Informed consumers who weren't previously camera enthusiasts have become more aware of issues in camera technology. Phone cameras have come a very long way due to competitive pressure. Camera companies, forced to find ways to give compact cameras compelling advantages over cell phones, have also made huge leaps forward (e.g. Sony RX100 vs all the 1/2.3" sensor compacts of yesteryear). A win all around.
Flashlight features won't be primary bullet points in phone ads any time soon, but I think some of those advantages could be had for flashlights as well.
But these days decent midrange phones have batteries with energy comparable to a 18650 and many of them have what seem to be rather decent LEDs. I was really quite pleasantly surprised by my Moto G 3rd gen's brightness.
Yet CPF threads I was able to find about phone flashlights seemed mostly either dismissive or angry.
It's reminiscent of the situation with cameras. Camera enthusiasts just laughed at early phone cameras. Then when the masses started relying on them, some complained that phones were killing photography.
But as phone cameras improved, enthusiasts and review sites started taking them seriously. Detailed phone camera reviews pointed out improvements and also showed the ways they fell short compared to dedicated cameras with large sensors and optics. Many general tech review sites were persuaded to improve their phone camera testing and incorporate methods from serious camera reviewers.
The results? Informed consumers who weren't previously camera enthusiasts have become more aware of issues in camera technology. Phone cameras have come a very long way due to competitive pressure. Camera companies, forced to find ways to give compact cameras compelling advantages over cell phones, have also made huge leaps forward (e.g. Sony RX100 vs all the 1/2.3" sensor compacts of yesteryear). A win all around.
Flashlight features won't be primary bullet points in phone ads any time soon, but I think some of those advantages could be had for flashlights as well.
- Is anyone aware of any serious tests of cell phone flashlights?
- What would it take to entice someone with an integrating sphere setup to do a cell phone test?
- (Is there a searchlight Selfbuilt-Signal one uses to summon him, because he is the hero CPF needs?)
- Wouldn't it be nice if general tech review sites started including a couple beam shots and lux measurements in their cell phone reviews? Would it be worth trying to persuade some reviewers?
I really think the flash LED is optimized for camera flash use, with relatively poor heat sinking and resultant low output to protect components and not kill the battery. No thought given to tint, CRI, etc. They do, however, have a sweet mule-like beam that can be very useful for close-range work. As with most things though, there are compromises made when trying to do more than it was designed for. Maybe manufacturers will step up and include a decent emitter behind a small optic for some throw out the top or bottom of the phone, like near the charging port. At that point, you may see enough of a "Lumen War" among the phone manufacturers to make a comparison or reviews relevant. As long as they're using the flash LED "Bare Bulb" style, I doubt there's enough of a meaningful difference to warrant reviews yet. Boss said "What the heck is that???" I'm working on converting him now...
(Just a light-hearted question based on previous banter...)
