once a year I email my favorite flashlight manufacturer to ask if they’ve finally made a flashlight that just turns on and off when you push the button, and every year they’re like, “no, but thanks so much for your feedback!”

be honest, have any of you ever used the flashing feature on your flashlight? did it actually come in handy? handy enough that I have to scroll past it every single time I want to turn my flashlight on or off

  • MagnyusG
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    633 months ago

    it should just be, big button for power on and off, and another button for mode/cycle.

    • @[email protected]
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      213 months ago

      My Emisar flashlights have a single button that does a hundred different things that you need a fucking map to navigate

      But if you click it right, it goes into Muggle Mode… where it acts as a normal flashlight. Click to third on, click to turn off.

      • electromage
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        123 months ago

        “Muggle Mode” is for Anduril 1, Anduril 2 usually comes in “Simple UI” by default, and requires unlocking which is probably better for most users. Anyone familiar will be able to detect it and unlock, other people are less likely to burn themselves.

        • @[email protected]
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          23 months ago

          Aha! My D4v2 has the old firmware, and my DT8 has the new one. I don’t really dig deep—I mainly use turbo and step-up on them both. I love them so much.

    • Fonzie!
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      33 months ago

      Honestly, they should just have an on and off button.
      Who even uses all the other modes?

      • @[email protected]
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        23 months ago

        When your flashlight has enough power to burn holes in your pockets, you may want to dim it sometimes.

        • Fonzie!
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          13 months ago

          When your flashlight is burning holes in commonly worn fabric, it shouldn’t have passed safety checks nor be on the shelves.

          • @[email protected]
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            12 months ago

            Some flashlights I own have a lockout feature to prevent this from happening accidentally.

            The one bike light that doesn’t have this lockout mode, or the ability to disconnect the battery by unscrewing the cap, burned through a dry bag I had it in…

            Still a good light, but I had to tape a metal ring over the on/off button, so this never happens again.

            • Fonzie!
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              12 months ago

              I’m starting to think torches burning right through pockets is a common occurrence, now.

              At least here, I’d never think any of my or someone else’s torches could ever become hot; there are hot lamps but they are their own market (i.e. chicken farms)

          • @resonate6279
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            03 months ago

            False

            It’s really nice when working ambulance and trying to work a patient at night. I’m able to illuminate the scene well enough that everyone can see.

            Have also lit up yards while looking for patients/hazards.

            • Fonzie!
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              13 months ago

              I’m talking about normal-people off-the-shelf torches, those shouldn’t burn through your clothes at random that’s far too dangerous!
              Medical equipment is a different story.

              Also, lighting a scene such as an entire yard is done with a big light, rather than a small but powerful light.
              Those also don’t burn through fabric.

              • @resonate6279
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                13 months ago

                It’s a personally owned light, not medical equipment. And, I also can use it on moonlight mode to check pupils, works better than the lights we are given.

                And, why carry a big light if a small light can do the trick? I have a bigger light (noctigon K1) with a 1 mile throw, I can’t lug that around in my pocket.

                I mechanically lock out the light in my pocket so it doesnt accidentally get turned on. It’s my choice to carry a light with those capabilities, it’s also not that dangerous…

                • @[email protected]
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                  23 months ago

                  It’s only dangerous if youd don’t take some precautions. My D4V2 lives in lockout (needs 4 rapid taps of the power button to turn on), clipped to my pocket. Pretty much no way for anything to press the button even once.

    • @[email protected]
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      23 months ago

      Mine does that. It has a big button on the back that just turns on the brightest setting and then turns it off. The button on the handle will let you cycle through 3 brightness settings and then the strobe effect.

      It’s just some off brand, probably from Amazon, that my uncle bought for my dad and I took when my dad passed away.

    • @[email protected]
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      12 months ago

      I don’t mind a long-click to turn off/on, and a short click to move between SOLID modes (high/low). But for the love of Christ and all the saints, any strobe mode should be a special key combination (i.e. double click).

      Flashlights that have you moving through multiple strobe modes before you can get to a different brightness level, or before you reach “off” are infuriating.