Flashlights

TL;DR: The only flashlight I use these days for outdoors or studio light-painting photography is the Olight Warrior 3s-AX1

You’ll find below my current best options for tube light-painting, either for studio or outdoors work. All listed flashlights are waterproof and they all fit in a T8 size tube. Any 1" head (25mm) flashlight is going to fit easily inside my tubes. That means most of the 18650 battery type flashlight available on the market. I usually prefer a flashlight that can be turned on from the back button. It is easier to turn on/off the light when it's inside the tube. From my experience, constant strobe is available on all Olight, Astrolux, Thrunite, Folomov and Convoy brands. On the other hand, these brands have variable (non-constant) on some or all of their flashlights: Nitecore, Thorfire, Eagletac, Fenix, Soonfire and Klarus

I am not sponsored by any flashlight brands!

*2025 update: There are numerous new options on the market which I didn’t get the chance to test simply because they lack some essential features I need for my work (no pressure switch, no double-button strobe/continuous). But these might work for you for basic tube light-painting: Sofirn SP31 V3.0, ZTI Rechargeable Flashlights 2000 Lumen, ThruNite Archer Pro S.

*2025 second update: As every flashlight I use (and sell) is made in China, you’re going to get heavily taxed if you order from my store (we ship from Canada). Please use the Amazon links below instead (affiliate links).

1- Folomov Hero (starter flashlight)

This is a great budget option! It is also the smallest 18650 battery type light on the market.

Specs: 3.9” long
Buy now: Lightpainting.store

Pros

  • Constant strobe (double click on the back button)

  • Five brightness levels

  • Extremely small

  • Very affordable

  • Single button design (back button)

  • Comes with a battery that can be recharged directly (micro-usb port on the battery itself!)

Cons

  • Not as bright as my other 1000 lumens flashlight. It doesn’t necessarily means that the LED itself is not bright enough, but it can have to do with the reflector and beam angle.

  • Small delay when you turn off the light from the button

  • No pressure switch available

2- Olight Warrior 3/3s/3s Tactical Flashlight (and Olight Warrior 3s-AX1 mod)

Here's the flashlight I have been using non-stop since April 2022. I use it with custom made dimmers, as demonstrated here: https://youtu.be/wKGs-Y0pr4M

*UPDATE: the 3s-AX1 mod is now available on my store. Check out the product release info here: https://lightpainting.art/news/introducing-the-olight-warrior-3s-ax1-mod

Specs: 2300 lumens
Buy now: Standard one on https://amzn.to/3F4rqlY or modified version on https://lightpainting.store/products/olight-warrior-3s-ax1

Pros

  • It's the brightest flashlight I own that fits in my tubes

  • This is the only flashlight I use these days

  • Magnetic pressure switch: https://amzn.to/3RZRa60

  • Magnetic battery charging

  • Momentary on (both for continuous and strobe)

  • It is one of the most solid flashlight I own (Olight makes real high-quality products)

  • Modified version (AX1) comes with an extention tube and 6 dimmers

Cons

  • Proximity sensor may dim the light when inserted into a tube. The easy workaround is to cover it with a black sharpie (at your own risks!)

  • Sand or Salted water can disable the connection between the pressure switch and the flashlight

  • I haven’t found a way to combined two of these on a single button (it’s very easy with the Klarus and Nitecore below)

3- Klarus XT2CR PRO (and Klarus XT2CR-AX1 mod)

Another very good option. There’s only one major drawback when compared to the Olight Warrior 3: the light stays on when you hold the button for more than two seconds. This is very annoying 😵

Specs: 2100 lumens
Buy now: Lightpainting.store (and check out the pressure switch here) , or get the complete kit including the AX1 mod here: https://lightpainting.store/products/klarus-xt2cr-ax1

Pros

  • It is extremely bright

  • It has constant strobe, and they are equally spaced (as long as you hold the button)

  • Momentary on (both for continuous and strobe)

  • Smoothest pressure switch on the market

  • Modified version (AX1) comes with an extention tube and 6 dimmers

Cons

  • Light sticks to on when holding the button for > 2 seconds

  • Non-constant strobe when releasing the button

4- Nitecore P10v2

One of my favorite studio flashlights. The pressure switch is absolutely necessary!

Specs: 900 lumens,
Buy now: Lightpainting.store (see also the RSW2 pressure switch)

Pros

  • Instant strobe AND instant continuous from the flashlight or from the pressure switch (without any locking like the Klarus does)

  • Instant continuous at selected brightness level (3 levels)

  • Bright enough for studio work

  • Super narrow beam! That means great light distribution in the tube

  • Solid build

Cons

  • Very stiff and bad quality pressure switch

  • Noticeable flicker

Flashlights to avoid

  • WUBEN L50 Tactical Flashlight - No strobe. Memory mode quite buggy

  • Acebeam P15 - Such an interesting one! But the pressure switch can only do strobe or continuous (not both)

  • Olight Warrior Ultra- Too big for my tubes 😭