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Showing 1 of 10 conversations about:
inventbot
63
Jan 15, 2019
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This looks like a good light, but am curious as to whether I am alone in wanting a beam focusing slider on the front of my lights? It seems like none of the lights we see on MD have this feature.
I have a handful of cheap Ultrafires that are zoomable and find the feature very useful. I had a similar Olight that I much preferred for its smoother feel, but unfortunately the pocket clip snapped and I subsequently mislaid it. They are small enough to fit comfortably in one's palm, while putting out plenty of light for night hikes. I prefer their size over AAA lights, as I have given up on using non-rechargables or even Eneloops in favor of 18650s. Are there any AAA size batteries that are rechargable Li-Ion?
This Folomov is a step up from what I have since it is IPX-8 rated and has more mode like moonlight. It is appealing, but my concern is that I will miss the beam focuser.
inventbot
63
Jan 15, 2019
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inventbotCorrection: the batteries I use are 14500's. I have yet to try a light that holds an 18650. Is the battery life much longer?
zenzic
23
Jan 15, 2019
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inventbotThose numbers, 18650 and 14500, tell you the physical size of the battery. The 14500, which is the same size as a AA, is roughly 14mm diameter by 50mm length. The 18650 is approximately 18mm by 65mm. You can probably guess that the extra size gives significantly greater capacity. While a rechargeable Li-ion 14500 might provide 800 mAh, the 18650 might provide 3,500 mAh. A rough estimate would be 2 - 4 times as long runtime at the same light output level over a 14500, depending on the particular batteries used.
inventbot
63
Jan 15, 2019
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zenzicThank you Zenzinc! I figured it would have a longer runtime, but it's good to know approximately how much.
I wonder what the community's opinions are on focusing options . . . .
SoxFan
6
Jan 16, 2019
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inventbotYes, there is a 10440 battery that is similar in size to a AAA and puts out the same voltage as an 18650, though flashlights using the 10440 are quite rare.
There is also a 10180 battery, which has inspired perhaps a 10-12 super-tiny flashlights with over 100 lumens and Micro-USB chargeability. The 10180 is slightly less than half the height of a AAA battery and about the same diameter.
glennac
1363
Apr 26, 2019
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inventbotAmong flashaholics zoomability seems not to be regarded as a desirable feature. Each light has it's own strengths and weaknesses. Some excel at reach and distance. Others are better when flood is desired. Serious flashlight collectors seem to want lights that focus on one feature and do it well. And thus they collect different lights for different purposes.
Zoomability, is like a pocket knife that is also a bottle opener, a hand spinner, and a carbiner all at the same time. Doing none of those things very well. Collectors tend to want crisp high quality light not encumbered with additional materials between the LED and the beam leaving the light. As a result, you're not going to see many high quality LED flashlights that feature zoomability. You will see outlets like eBay flooded with cheap products that tout zooming as though that was a desirable feature. But you're not going to see many high end collectors including these style of lights in their collections.
I would definitely be interested in hearing what other collectors have to say on this. The above is the general impression I get from lurking on the fringes of the community myself. YMMV.
zenzic
23
Apr 26, 2019
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glennac@glennac I probably couldn't agree more. I have a few flashlights that feature a variable beam width. One is a Coast, which actually implements this feature fairly well, though I rarely find much use for it. Most, however, when the beam is tightened all the way, actually throw an image of the diode itself. I can't begin to describe how annoying I find this rectangular beam pattern, so I just avoid adjustable beam flashlights in general.
Having said that, I freely acknowledge that it's nothing more than a personal preference and I wouldn't think of criticizing anyone that likes them (not that @glennac did in any way). There are probably at least as many uses of flashlights as there are people using them, and if a zoomer fits your needs, I'm glad that they are available to you.
inventbot
63
May 3, 2019
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zenzicThank you both for the insightful responses. I got the Folomov and have been very happy with it, and might end up getting another since the price is good and the battery is included.
I see your point about the beam focusing. Since the Folomov is a lot brighter than the focusing lights, I think I won't miss the focus feature after all. Now I no longer need to tighten the beam to concentrate the light on a particular item to be able to see it well.
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