Summary
The Imalent BTL50 is not a zoom flashlight in the traditional sense, yet the width of its beam can still be adjusted โ without any moving parts. This is made possible by an integrated diffuser whose strength can be controlled electronically. This technology is extremely rare in flashlights, but highly practical.
Although the flashlight feels compact and comfortable to handle, the capacity of the built-in battery is somewhat limited for its size. The flashlight stands out with its slightly futuristic design and stylish leather-like covering. The width of the beam is adjusted with a rotary control, which allows for smooth, intuitive operation. A pocket clip or holster, however, would have been a welcome addition.
The full review is available here:
English review at BudgetLightForum
German review on my website
Ridiculous flashlight but nice review ;). A tripod mount on the underside would have fit in with the night vision look. The Imalent Store link doesn't work for me (shows a blank page with my browser config) but that's ok. Light is $119.95 on Spamazon if anyone is curious.
Traditional incandescent Maglites were all zoomies and they worked ok. They had reflectors that moved forwards and backwards around the bulb. That must be harder to do with LED lights because of thermal management differences, at least at high power. I don't know if the current LED Maglites also zoom.