avusblue
Enlightened
This may be heresy to say this here. Even though I still carry it, I find myself using my Arc AAA less and less. I really like the Dorcy 1AAA 1LED "imitation tactical" tailcap. The ability to quickly grab the light, flash the thumb button, and set it back down, cannot be done with the Arc. It takes two hands and more "groping" to do it with the Arc AAA. And therefore I fish it out of my pocket less and less.
However, I think we can all agree that while the Dorcy may be a great value for 6 bucks, it is still a fundamentally cheap light with quality of parts, finish, and design that are good, but not fully up to Arc levels.
I think it's time for Arc to consider redesigning it's workhorse (or adding to the lineup) by integrating some features as follows:
o Have the LED and electronics in the head end of a one-piece body of the light.
o Load the battery via a removable tail cap.
o Design the tail cap like the Arc AA (tail standing with landyard ring) -- but put a small button in the end for momentary light. Tighten the tail cap all the way for "on", loosen a turn for lockout.
This light, with typical Arc quality and finish, would be a knockout. An AA version would also be a hit (maybe even more so).
The alternative, is that for my usage patterns, the six dollar Dorcy is "knocking out" the Arc AAA from heavy rotation.
I know some will say "all these parts and stuff would detract from Arc's high level of reliability." I have to believe that it can be done (everyone else does it). And the Arc AAA has hit enough reliability potholes lately that with all due respect to the company and it's people, maybe a fresh design wouldn't be all bad.
Your thoughts??
Again, I mean no disrepect to the current Arc AAA or to Arc as a company. I just think the world has innovated in the meantime. And we flashaholics are all about enjoying fruits of innovation.
Cheers,
Dave
However, I think we can all agree that while the Dorcy may be a great value for 6 bucks, it is still a fundamentally cheap light with quality of parts, finish, and design that are good, but not fully up to Arc levels.
I think it's time for Arc to consider redesigning it's workhorse (or adding to the lineup) by integrating some features as follows:
o Have the LED and electronics in the head end of a one-piece body of the light.
o Load the battery via a removable tail cap.
o Design the tail cap like the Arc AA (tail standing with landyard ring) -- but put a small button in the end for momentary light. Tighten the tail cap all the way for "on", loosen a turn for lockout.
This light, with typical Arc quality and finish, would be a knockout. An AA version would also be a hit (maybe even more so).
The alternative, is that for my usage patterns, the six dollar Dorcy is "knocking out" the Arc AAA from heavy rotation.
I know some will say "all these parts and stuff would detract from Arc's high level of reliability." I have to believe that it can be done (everyone else does it). And the Arc AAA has hit enough reliability potholes lately that with all due respect to the company and it's people, maybe a fresh design wouldn't be all bad.
Your thoughts??
Again, I mean no disrepect to the current Arc AAA or to Arc as a company. I just think the world has innovated in the meantime. And we flashaholics are all about enjoying fruits of innovation.
Cheers,
Dave