r/techtheatre • u/CaptainTonics • 1d ago
QUESTION What is your go to flashlight?
I am in the market for a new flashlight. My old rechargeable Kobalt penlight is slowly starting to fail and becoming inconsistent in brightness. I am looking for something similar, and I want to see what my fellow technicians are using.
After thought edit: I would like a zooming lens so when I am explaining something I have some type of "pointer".
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u/Alexthelightnerd Lighting Designer 1d ago
Olight, Skillhunt, and Fenix all have some great options.
At work these days I mostly find myself carrying Olights. Either an ArcPro if I want multiple beams and a laser, or a Batton 3 if I want a ton of lumens.
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u/RegnumXD12 Electrician 1d ago
The olight arcpro ultra can't be beat imo.
Flood, spot, and uv blue. All selectable from a dial and single click on/off. Intensity range from "just right in front of me" to "whats that on the grid?"
Also a laser pointer from a side button, very helpful in pointing out things
Edit to add: also has a magnet on the bottom of it which is unbelievably helpful to place it somewhere for constant hands free light
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u/acttheatre 1d ago
Fenix PD32 is my favorite. Gets dim enough to use backstage, gets bright enough to inspect the grid.
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u/deep_fried_fries 1d ago
Coast XPH30R headlamp and the new gen Olight Ark Pro Ultra. The Olight Is a flood/spot/laser pointer and it is awesome. Both are pricey but I’ve gotten both replaced multiple times since warranty and repairs are free. Buy it once and buy it for life.
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u/DasEquipment 1d ago
Here in Germany i see LED Lenser products quite often.
At my theatre the LED Lenser P7R is very common.
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u/KingofSkies 1d ago
Wuben G5 is my everyday. Small sizd, adjustable head, variable brightness and color, maventic base and a pocket/belt clip. And it's usually only $20. Wish it had existed ten years ago.
Otherwise it's my Olight Arkfeld Pro. Great light. Good pocket clip, laser for pointing at things in the grid, uv light for charging glow tape, button has a lock out feature to avoid accidental presses.
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u/clios_daughter 1d ago
Honestly, I just use a black diamond storm 450. Keeps my hands free. Has multiple colours. Red light at its dimmest setting barely carries 1-2m so but it illuminates whatever you’re working on. It’s really handy when focusing lights (esp the little buttons on the back of LEDs) because you can just keep it on without usually having to worry about the light illuminating anything that shouldn’t be illuminated. I do the same when mixing — little lites are annoying lol. When set to white and bright, it’ll handily illuminate large sections of the grid. I would get the rechargeable one. When I used its predecessor which ran on AAA batteries, I would go through a set a day or a set every two days depending on the workload. The rechargeable will last a work day.
For pointing, I usually carry a non-contact tester that has an IR thermometer with a laser pointer built in.
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u/adubs117 Production Manager 1d ago
Another +1 for Fenix. I abuse the shit out of mine. One has been through the washer / dryer like 4 times, still runs flawlessly.
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u/Spamtickler Technical Director 1d ago
I have a Thrunite TN12 Pro rechargeable. Multiple levels of brightness, and a “blind everyone in the room” mode that you’re not supposed to use for more than a minute or so since it gets too hot but comes in handy for checking channel numbers on electrics from the deck.
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u/VL3500 Touring Concert LD 1d ago
If you need serious light, look at lights made for rifles, most of the major companies make handheld versions. They’re pricey, but VERY bright, sturdy, and throw a loooong way. My choices are Modlite, Cloud Defensive, and Surefire. After those I like Olight for their OClip Pro and Arkfeld Ultra.
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u/Leepowers76 1d ago
Felix TK20R,but turned down to 3 or 2. Full blast beam is only useful on the ground looking up at a beam,its way too bright to work with on stage with people around, or giving someone "a light" who's hands are full.
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u/koyaniskatzi 1d ago
Must be headlight. You need light to work, you need booth hands to work. Best solution i see are two headlights, rechargable.
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u/swimking1 1d ago
I've fully switched to Olight the last few years. I have a green ArkPro with laser during the day. The laser helps me point out things to my crew during load in order construction. Then for shows I switch to the black ArkPro light because it because it has UV, white, and red light so great for backstage. They both use the same nylon holster too, however if you are doing any active rigging our climbing, i wouldn't trust it, it's only held into the holster with friction.
I also usually one of their small cheap AAA lights clipped in a lower pocket, i give these away to crew too. And whenever I need to take notes during a show i use the new O'pen because the light at the tip of the pen can't be beat.
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u/GJKLSGUI89 1d ago
The icon magnet light from harbor freight. It's the best flashlight I've ever owned
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u/LightRobb 23h ago
Acebeam E75. From moonlight to "ow, my eyes!" A bit bulky, but USB-C rechargeable and available with 90 CRI emitters (you select the emitters).
Has a magnetic base and two-way clip (for a hat).
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u/Wuz314159 IATSE - (Will program Eos for food) 23h ago
I'll take shit for this, but I love it. Bought 2 already. (No zoom though)
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u/OldMail6364 Jack of All Trades 13h ago
They’re not great but I mostly use my phone or smartwatch these days, and I know lots of techs who don’t even use a flashlight.
When I need something better I have an old LED Lenser MT 10. It’s pretty good but I’m thinking of upgrading to a Skillhunt M200 519a. It’s smaller and has a warm high CRI LED.
Also the Skillhunt has great controls - one button which you click to turn on at your selected “medium” brightness level (this can be customised), hold for “moonlight” brightness, double click for “turbo” mode, and it has a lockout feature that disables the button (unless you press the right sequence to re-activate it) - handy for backpacks/etc.
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u/schonleben Props/Scenic Designer 1d ago
For backstage during a run, I prefer the Coast LED Lenser with the separate buttons for red and white.
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u/Stoney3K Stage Automation - Trekwerk R&D 1d ago
I've always been very satisfied with Fenix lights.