I know this is old news to most of you but since I'm now using (2)CR2016 batteries (instead of my normal (1)CR2032) in my turquoise Photon Freedom Microlight I decided to find out how to activate the 50% power usage mode in order to conserve battery life. The most surprising thing I noticed is that the difference in output vs. the 100% power mode is barely noticeable. From now on I think I'll be using the 50% power mode most of the time. Plus, it could come in real handy if I need to run one of the strobe modes for an extended period. Here's a great instruction "how to" from the Photonlight forums.

http://forum.photonlight.com/50-power-mode-for-even-more-battery-life-vt1158.html

What made you chose the turquoise?
simon

I chose it because I thought its was the brightest non-white color, considering our eyes are most sensitive to blue/green light. It was supposed to go on my dog's collar as a night beacon but I liked it so much I put it on my keychain. The only downside is that, unlike the new white ones, the turquoise LED really needs over 3V to get started, which is why I'm using (2)CR2016's.

Works with my simplistic X-Light version too.
I think it would be handy to have the info all together right here.

To activate the 50% power mode.
While looking from the front at the LED, depress and hold the button, and then immediately release it at the first sign of light (like starting it in the Brightness Ramp Up mode).

Switch the regular flashlight modes as usually after that. All of them will work in 50% power mode.

To exit the 50% power mode, just turn off the flashlight. You have to repeat the procedure each time you want to switch into the 50% mode.

To determine the current power mode, wave the light back and forth quickly while watching the LED. The trace of light appears as a solid line in 100% power mode, and as a dotted line - in 50% power mode.

I was considering the turquoise for preserving night vision. But though red light makes red things invisible, there aren't many red objects you need to see in the woods. There are a lot of green things. Does the turquoise make you half blind in the greenwood?
simon

The red lights are problematic if you're trying to read a map at night. I don't know about green lights, I've always stuck to old fashioned white.

The turquiose color rendition is similar to the green and blue. Still no where near as good as white but maybe a little better than red. For night vision I actually chose the orange Photon. I know, not nearly as good as red for nighvision preservation, but still not as distrubing as yellow. For me, its a good compromise. As far as using any blue/green light for night vision, from what I understand those are the worst colors to use considering our eyes are most sensitive to light from the blue/green end of the color sprectrum. Anyway, proper colors of red (I think below 600nm) are the best choice for not disturbing your night adapted eyes.

A lot of people mention preserving night vision... I wonder how many people actually have night vision, and use it regularly?

Everyone does. Your eyes adapt. Your are least sensitive to red light, so the effects are reduced.

Or are you thinking about NODs? Heavy, expensive, eats batteries, limited usefulness.

The advantage of green is that it IS the wavelengths you are most sensitive to- lumen per lumen, it gives you your most usable light.

I know, between this and my other post, I sound like I'm contradicting myself. There are two camps, I've worked with red and green, still trying to figure out which I like best.