This forum dead or dying?

[Monocrom]

Nailbender! Saabluster! HDS!

Thank you. I hope more members chime in with more names.

 

[jacobd]

McGizmo, Data (Cool Fall) and Mirage Man are in my opinion, the best makers to ever be on the platform.

Don, the father of all other customs
Data, the original innovator
And Mirage Man, still backing it up with the highest level of manual machining I've ever seen.

 

[yellow]

Also a must mention:
The Sandwich Shoppe,
ALL their driver Boards
and their
Mini maglite LED "pills"

 

[Kestrel]

[...] I will never forget how I contacted him after I came up with the idea for what became one of his best-selling custom creations. SureFire L1 that did double duty as a medium output general use light. But with a further press of that tailcap switch, you got 200 lumens of tactical goodness. He sold a bunch of those custom creations after I got mine. Think about it.... 200 actual lumens from a single CR123 primary. The first ever such flashlight. (9 months later, SureFire came out with their factory creation that did the same thing. But Scott was first. And, I was the first to own it.) [...]

The Milky that comes to mind was the SF L1 modded for the AW 17500. That was my 'grail light' for a long time, until the P7 DD mods came out.

Edit: Finally remembered it; the build Milky did for CPF member Crenshaw. :-)

 

[DHart]

On the brighter side; there are a few who built a business as well.

First person who comes to mind is Vinh "SkyLumen". I came in after most of you guys, but remember seeing him doing mods on his dinning, or kitchen table. I sent him my (SF Fury) to have him do an emitter swap (XPG). Then posting beam shots showing the difference between the XML and the XPG.

Yes. Vinh did some nice work for me, as well. I wonder if he's still doing business in flashlight mods?

 

[AZPops]

Yes. Vinh did some nice work for me, as well. I wonder if he's still doing business in flashlight mods?

Check out his website: SkyLumen ... (y)

 

[Monocrom]

The Milky that comes to mind was the SF L1 modded for the AW 17500. That was my 'grail light' for a long time, until the P7 DD mods came out.

Edit: Finally remembered it; the build Milky did for CPF member Crenshaw. :-)

Yup, the Golden age of CPF, and we never knew it at the time. Though, you sure it was the L1 model? Well, if anyone could get a 17500 to fit inside, it would be Scott. I bought another one of Scott's creations, a tear-drop SureFire E2E model second-hand that was designed to run off of one AW 17500; back in the day.

 

[Juggernaut]

Monocrom said:
inviting members to his house en masse to hang out for Get-Togethers!

I was just thinking about that, and I couldn't remember what the name of those events where called. Also I have no clue how to do quoting in the "new" CPF system it is not intuitive to me. It says "Added to multiquote" but I have no idea where that pops up...

I likely check in here once a year or every two years.
I'll repeat what I've said before on "Is this-forum-dead-or-dying" style threads in the past. Cell phones have rendered us pretty much obsolete, everyone carries around a multi 100 lumen flashlight now, pulling out a bright EDC just doesn't wow anyone any more. In the event someone does have a flashlight it's already going to be too bright. I always enjoyed this hobby back in the "golden age" for the shock factor, but well, everyone has our power now.

I'm a functional person. The "trouble" with buying extremely reliable well thought out light purchases 15 years ago, is they tend to still work today. So no need to buy anything new. I am glad the forums are still "alive" even if the hobby has moved on.

 

[jacobd]

I likely check in here once a year or every two years.
I'll repeat what I've said before on "Is this-forum-dead-or-dying" style threads in the past. Cell phones have rendered us pretty much obsolete, everyone carries around a multi 100 lumen flashlight now, pulling out a bright EDC just doesn't wow anyone any more. In the event someone does have a flashlight it's already going to be too bright. I always enjoyed this hobby back in the "golden age" for the shock factor, but well, everyone has our power now.

I'm a functional person. The "trouble" with buying extremely reliable well thought out light purchases 15 years ago, is they tend to still work today. So no need to buy anything new. I am glad the forums are still "alive" even if the hobby has moved on.

I think this is true for general "where do I put my key in this door at night" style use, and definitely why the keychain style light just isn't overly used anymore. I carry a McGizmo Sapphire on my keys, but I can't deny that most of the time my iPhone is far easier to grab and use.

However, for any role or use that a light is needed I think a phone light is a poor substitute.

Think like-

Trades
S&R
Being outside at night
Camping
Hunting
Duty use

I do agree with the major point though. Everyone having a (albeit weak) flashlight on them has stopped 99% of the general everyday need.

 

[NotRegulated]

Cell phones have rendered us pretty much obsolete, everyone carries around a multi 100 lumen flashlight now.

I do use my cell phone light regularly for various purposes.

I have also noted that 9 out of 10 people in the trades that come to the house for repairs all use their cell phone flashlights. Only 1 brought a Milwaukee M12 handheld light. I know an AV guy who uses Milwaukee rechargeable headlamps most of the time. Lighting for up close work seems to dominate the tradesmen I see. It is rare that I see a person with a decent quality flashlight other than first responders.

 

[radellaf]

I think this is true for general "where do I put my key in this door at night" style use, and definitely why the keychain style light just isn't overly used anymore. I carry a McGizmo Sapphire on my keys, but I can't deny that most of the time my iPhone is far easier to grab and use.


I do agree with the major point though. Everyone having a (albeit weak) flashlight on them has stopped 99% of the general everyday need.

I dunno, maybe Gen X is getting old here, but I'd sure rather push a button on a little RovyVon on my keychain than pull out a fairly delicate $500+ awkward-to-hold-while-grabbing-a-doorknob device and having to tap several times in the right places to get the light to come on.

It really comes down to that in most cases where I use a flashlight. Carrying a bag out to the bin after dark? Really don't want to try to hold the phone in one hand with a heavy bag in the other. Nor do I relish the idea that if I slip, I'll be dropping a light that costs more than $20.

I get the idea that Gen Z has basically glued the phone to one hand, so it's always there. My younger neighbor was setting off fireworks, phone flashlight in the other hand. I guess I can't see phones as something to treat casually vs carefully.

The irony is that my, recently replaced, iPhone 13 mini was damaged in its first year by being hit with the steel bezel of the Rovy. It was on a holder, in the car, and the light swung around after I removed my keys. New car has keyless ignition, so it would be hard to do that again.

 

[jacobd]

I dunno, maybe Gen X is getting old here, but I'd sure rather push a button on a little RovyVon on my keychain than pull out a fairly delicate $500+ awkward-to-hold-while-grabbing-a-doorknob device and having to tap several times in the right places to get the light to come on.

It really comes down to that in most cases where I use a flashlight. Carrying a bag out to the bin after dark? Really don't want to try to hold the phone in one hand with a heavy bag in the other. Nor do I relish the idea that if I slip, I'll be dropping a light that costs more than $20.

I get the idea that Gen Z has basically glued the phone to one hand, so it's always there. My younger neighbor was setting off fireworks, phone flashlight in the other hand. I guess I can't see phones as something to treat casually vs carefully.

The irony is that my, recently replaced, iPhone 13 mini was damaged in its first year by being hit with the steel bezel of the Rovy. It was on a holder, in the car, and the light swung around after I removed my keys. New car has keyless ignition, so it would be hard to do that again.

Very true indeed. I'm definitely in the "Gen Z phone glued to hand" era so I may be biased to the ease of that vs digging for my keychain

 

[dc38]

I dunno, maybe Gen X is getting old here, but I'd sure rather push a button on a little RovyVon on my keychain than pull out a fairly delicate $500+ awkward-to-hold-while-grabbing-a-doorknob device and having to tap several times in the right places to get the light to come on.

It really comes down to that in most cases where I use a flashlight. Carrying a bag out to the bin after dark? Really don't want to try to hold the phone in one hand with a heavy bag in the other. Nor do I relish the idea that if I slip, I'll be dropping a light that costs more than $20.

I get the idea that Gen Z has basically glued the phone to one hand, so it's always there. My younger neighbor was setting off fireworks, phone flashlight in the other hand. I guess I can't see phones as something to treat casually vs carefully.

The irony is that my, recently replaced, iPhone 13 mini was damaged in its first year by being hit with the steel bezel of the Rovy. It was on a holder, in the car, and the light swung around after I removed my keys. New car has keyless ignition, so it would be hard to do that again.

Im not from either gen, but as far as the USA goes, I'm convinced that boomers and gen X were the last of the great workers and innovators. Anybody now just seems to be riding those coattails and focusing on incremental improvements rather than true innovation.

 

[IMA SOL MAN]

Im not from either gen, but as far as the USA goes, I'm convinced that boomers and gen X were the last of the great workers and innovators. Anybody now just seems to be riding those coattails and focusing on incremental improvements rather than true innovation.

Oooh, I imagine you are going to get flamed for that, but speaking as a "Boomer", I thank you.

I think I am a bit of a Luddite. The missus and I finally broke down this month and got a smart phone, as they have become pretty much a necessity. I'm having difficulty adjusting to it. Too many menus, programs and apps...I just want to talk and text on the bloody thing! I already carry 1+ flashlights, I don't need another on the phone. I already own cameras, film and digital and video, why do I need one on my cell phone? And I sure don't need to stare at the stupid thing as I'm walking or driving!

People nowadays don't look up, they are like drug addicts or zombies, shuffling along staring at the stupid things, that are plugged into the GREAT GOOGLE, vacuuming up every thought going through their minds, knowing what they want before they do, and presenting them with ads for easy purchasing. Now my kid plays video games with VR goggles on and looks spastic. I'm almost hoping for an EMP or Carrington Event to bring us back to reality.

 

[Monocrom]

I just wish that young adults would stop doing that extremely rude (though I get it, they don't realize they are being extremely rude) thing where they come to the security desk, say why they are there, ask a question; then turn their phone around from several feet away.

Yesterday, I wasn't in the damn mood! Had one young woman pull that rude garbage on me, I told her, "I can't read small print, and you obviously speak English. Look at your phone, and tell me what it says." Directed her where she needed to go. She left without a word. Yeah, she probably thought I was the rude one. Don't care.

Growing up, the only ones who could pull that and not be rude were one, people who are literally mute. They need to ask a question. They write it down on a slip of paper, then turn it around for you to read; while mentioning that they are mute in the note. Two, small children going to the store to bring home a couple of small items they can carry. Showing the note to a store employee. (Yeah, that doesn't happen anymore.) Or, immigrants fresh off the boat. Someone handed them a note, told them what it says, told them to show it to someone who speaks English; once they have arrived. That's it! Only times that sort of behavior is acceptable.

As far as flashlights on phones.... More and more businesses are forbidding Smartphones on company property. As in, you get caught with one in your car, in the company parking lot; you get fired! They don't care if you're on your break. They don't care if it was turned off but you left it on your front seat and the security guard noticed it while doing his usual foot-patrol. THEY DON'T CARE!

Need a flashlight for work? Oh, you better not whip out your phone!

 

[jacobd]

As far as flashlights on phones.... More and more businesses are forbidding Smartphones on company property. As in, you get caught with one in your car, in the company parking lot; you get fired! They don't care if you're on your break.

A ridiculous policy, unless its a very strict NDA "state-secret" style information controlled environment.

Limit phone usage? Sure. They're distracting and people shouldn't need to be on them at work

Ban phones? Nah, I'd rather work somewhere else. I like to contact my family, check emails etc.

 

[Monocrom]

A ridiculous policy, unless its a very strict NDA "state-secret" style information controlled environment.

I agree. Very ridiculous. But if folks want to keep their jobs, either leave the phones at home; or double check that they are turned off before tossing them in the glove-box. And, not everyone can just get another job as good as their last one. A lifetime ago, when I worked as a skip-tracer on the financial side, we had a debtor taking care of his elderly father. He had fallen horrendously far behind on his credit card payments. Really didn't want to file for bankruptcy. He volunteered the fact that he quit his high-paying job over a silly dispute with his boss. Best he could do at another company was 50% of his old salary. This was an executive with a degree! We put him on a payment plan that he could afford.

 

[Bronco]

Here's my take on this. I've been posting here on and off for the last 21.5 years (it's really been that long?). It was actually LEDs which got me interested in lighting in the first place. Back then LEDs were not much more efficient than many incandescents. Two things attracted me to them however. First was the fact they were immune to the shocks which destroyed many bulbs in the halogen bike lights I was using at the time. Or rather, tried to use and give up on because the bulbs were costing me too much. I was riding in the dark at night until LEDs came along. Then I modified one of those halogen lights with 5mm LEDs. I think at the time they were already twice as efficient as halogens, so it was step up in output, plus they just never burned out.

The other reason I liked LEDs was the fact they were available in high color temperatures. In fact, that was ALL white LEDs were available in back then. Higher color temperatures made for better seeing at night, to the point I would say they were 3 or 4 times more effective than the halogens they replaced, even though lumen output was only maybe 2 times as high. Prior to this, the only other high CCT light source was fluorescents, which of course could not be miniaturized like LEDs. I thought of using them to light HO passenger cars and other scale model imitations of fluorescent lighting.

Back then we regularly saw huge increases in LED efficiency. We went from 25 lm/W to over 100 lm/W in a relatively short period. The link to my LED testing thread in my signature gives a nice timeline of this. Finally around the late 2010s LED efficiency gains started petering out. It had to happen eventually as we were approaching theoretical efficiency limits. Some production LEDs were hitting 230 lm/W, for example.

Despite the plateauing of efficiency, LEDs still remained interesting for a while. We were making huge strides in more consistent binning, along with greatly improved color rendering, plus availability in CCTs ranging from 1800K to 6500K and beyond. Those early LEDs were typically well over 6500K and had CRIs in the 60s or 70s. Also, costs were dropping dramatically. I remember when power LED emitters were $30 a pop. They kept dropping in price. Now many are well under $1. Mid-power LEDs used in things like LED tubes or bulbs can be now be had for under one cent in quantities of a few thousand.

Lately the pace of everything slowed. Obviously prices can't drop lower than the price of raw materials. We won't be seeing LEDs for 0.01 cents, for example. CRI more or less plateaued around 95 but some LEDs have managed 98 or 99. Again, not much room for improvement. In short, LEDs became commodity products we see in literally everything, just as I had predicted would happen many years ago. Generally once something becomes a commodity it loses interest as a hobby. There's no point to doing mods these days when you can get 700 lumen AA lights for something like $20 on Aliexpress. Plenty of people I'm sure are playing with LEDs to light scale models and other stuff. Maybe that facet of the hobby is still vibrant.

You’re making me nostalgic for the heady days of the early 2000s when the rumors first started circulating that a soon to be released LED called the Lux V was poised to crush all competition and, if driven properly, might even have the potential to pump out over 60 landscape scorching lumens OTF. :D

 

[cave dave]

You’re making me nostalgic for the heady days of the early 2000s when the rumors first started circulating that a soon to be released LED called the Lux V was poised to crush all competition and, if driven properly, might even have the potential to pump out over 60 landscape scorching lumens OTF. :D

Ya, but it was so expensive i could only afford the B42 on closeout. 42 lumens with 4 non-programmable modes unlike the rich guys. :cry:

metadata says picture was taken in 2009. Light was latter re-programed and modded with SSC for about 110 lm

 

[Bronco]

Ya, but it was so expensive i could only afford the B42 on closeout. 42 lumens with 4 non-programmable modes unlike the rich guys. :cry:

View attachment 85790

metadata says picture was taken in 2009. Light was latter re-programed and modded with SSC for about 110 lm

Yeah well, they may not have been very bright back then, but at least the run time was super short! :D

I can still remember being completely amazed by my first light of that era which I could actually use from my front porch to visibly illuminate the garage door of my neighbor who lived directly across the street. It didn’t illuminate it well, but you could definitely see that some light was making it to the door. I was just blown away by this insane level of performance. Just to be crystal clear for the benefit of all our flashaholics here who were still in diapers back then, my neighbor’s garage door is no more than 30 yards away.