Do you pack red cellophane for wrapping around the end of your flashlight (secured with a rubber band)? Apart from preserving night vision, I've learned that most insects don't see the red spectrum so it could be practical to not attract wasps or to not scare earthworms when collecting them at night for fishing (here big earthworms go out on the lawn at night)

I'm aware that there are some red filters for flashlight like the ubiquitious mini maglite. Are they better than cellophane?

Also I think I've read something on the forum about using red cellophane as a bait to attract frogs.

Frankie

Red cellophane is fine if your on a budget. If you have a few extra coins get the filter for simple convenience. Red flannel is an old time and proven lure for frogs. And to gig any sarcastic comments, we are talking amphibians and not les anglie's nickname for frenchmen <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Hey Chris, long time no see! And yes indeed, many anglais call french Canadians "french frogs". I'm wondering where it comes from though...

Frankie

I think it's best to carry a red LED flashlight separate from your white light. It can be as simple as a keychain coin cell light and will still last a very long time. A red led produces red light directly, as opposed to a filtered white light which burns a lot of battery power making a full spectrum, then throws away 90% of the energy by filtering it. If you want something sturdier than a coin light, try a Gerber Infinity Ultra (red led version) which runs on one AA cell. There is also the new LRI Proton (www.photonlight.com) which has six white leds and one red led, runs on one AA, and is dimmable (microprocessor controlled), a good general purpose light though on the pricey side for non-flashlight buffs.

Les Anglais is the derogative term used by the French about the English. Usually acompanied by an obcene gesture. Some people are such poor loosers.....

Can't comment on the French, but I live about an hour south of the Quebec border. If I had to take a guess, it is has to do with taste when you cook them. Shhh....

*Sneaks up behind Frankie with spear and ketchup* <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I don't know in France but here, les anglais is simply the translation of "english people". Of course the non-verbal factor can always change the meaning and if you add the adjective "maudit" like this "les maudits anglais" then it's really derogative indeed. But our choice term here is "les têtes carrées" which means square heads. Don't ask me where it comes from and keep in mind that it's rather from the previous generation. Young french canadians are less critical about english people today.

Frankie

- And some are even poorer winners. Keep it nice people <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I think it was Paul Newman that said "Show me a good looser & I'll show you a looser." The animosity between us (The English) and the French is something of a National Sport. It makes the football (that's soccer to you) and rugby "interesting". I actually work for a French company. And I have a St Georges Cross flag stashed permanently in my locker....
On a more serious note, the two point's that I would make about this discussion. The first one is that there are still places on this planet where your accent will get you into serious trouble. The second point is that the Members don't do "looser". Gracefull, good or any other sort either. Looser means dead.

another spiteful, but more literary expression is "perfide Albion" (perfidious England); <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
However, nowadays, I think this expression is more a second (or third ...) level joke, than a true vindictive one...

As for "froggies", I always assumed it was because frog legs are part of french gastronomie ...

now ... where the hell is the link between the various names we (english- and french- people) are using against each other and the red cellophane ????? <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

this was not "serious trouble", but I still remember the hard time I had, on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, to get a glass of water !!! Yes, I confess, my accent was (and still is...) really bad, but the fact the waitress thought we were French Canadian did not make the matter any easier... I finally got the glass of water when she understood we "only" were "real" French and her animosity disappeared. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
I don't know if that animosity between english- and french-speaking Canadians is still as virulent as it was at that time ... but god, it was quite frightening... <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Hi Frenchy,

I live in Montréal and especially when I go out in the west of Montréal, it's now rare when we are served in french, even native french speaker start with english. I believe because of a fall of the birth rate especially in french canadians and with an increase of immigration, the animosity is more about religions such as between jews and muslims and since 911 I think racism has increased. So yes the animosity between the têtes carrées and the frogs was more virulent like 20 years ago. Now with the internet and everything, it's in the interest of young french canadians to learn english. There are still some die hard separatist who blame everything on the english and the americans but they are a minority and shouldn't be taken very seriously.

Frankie

The reason that we English are refered to as "perfide Albion" is that English foreign policy has always been to ally with the smaller European powers, in order to balance the power that France has in Europe. That power comes directly from France's geographical position and size. Along with Germany/Austria. Fortunately France and Germany, have for most of their history been enemy's. Needless to say, the British Foreign Office has always proved quite adept at playing The Great Game in order to preserve the status quo. In other words, that honest, upright chap with the public school accent can be a sneaky devious clever git when the situation calls for it.

Yeah, Leigh, but the REAL question is does that git use red cellophane and rubber band or a machined filter? And which one makes him more clever?

Machined, old boy. Bespoke of course. It's a matter of style. Although the cellophane will do in a pinch. On a more serious note, a lot of our diplomates are ex-Armed Forces. There is a very hard man under the polished exterior. They have been there and done that. If you ever hear a British Diplomat describe the situation as being "A bit tense." Be elsewhere and do it fast.

Ah, the British habit of understatment <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

How in the heck did this thread get off track?!?!

Anyway, Yes I typically have a filter or dedicated red, green or blue light. I prefer Green or Blue because it is easier to read maps with and causes less eye strain while maintaining NV.

The Gerber Recon is an excellent RGB option.

Ah yes. The understatement factor. When I was working in the U.K. (DERA) I remember one lovely time when we are all packed up in the handbasket and the ferryman had been paid. A native (I'm pretty sure he was ex-military) turned to me and said "it's a bit of a struggle." This was said knowing full well that over 500 manhours had already gone into the problem with no effect and that our particular "hell" meant a very large, expensive, and public operation was coming to a complete standstill; leaving hundreds of consultants and employees standing around drinking tea. Yes... "a bit of a struggle" indeed. <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

as an affectionado of all that glows and illumninates, the Gerber recon offends me.

Seriouslly, I was very disapointed by the Gerber Recon. It is a poor application of a good idea.

If the Gerber is the headlamp with three separate heads & look's like a prop from Dr Who, then no, it wouldn't be my first choice either. Petzl Tikka with filter please.

romania, what's bad about it? I think you are talking about this one:


Not a headlamp per se, but has a clip so you could make it one with a ballcap, etc.

I've never purchased one, but it looks like a decent enough idea and Gerber products are usually pretty high quality.

I think this must be the one to which Leigh referred

As I understand it, the twisty filter bit (I don't know what else to call it) likes to attract grit. And becuase there is no way of cleaning, the grit binds up.

And also, for a single LED system, that thing is HUGE. You could have put in a simple integrated circuit that would have been able to fit in between four LEDs and rotated through them with each click. Or any number of other design options of increasing complication. The filter design just looks cheap.

That's the one I was referring to. When I deploy, I most often take my Surefire A2 and the Gerber Recon. There aren't many situations that one of the two won't cover.

Like I said a good concept but:

Poor light to weight ration. Not impressed with the construction. Finally, If I have white light, I want good bright white light. For map reading and close intasks I prefer either a Petzl Tactka LED or a small LED light like the Proton Freedom in Green.

It probably works for some, just didn't like mine... so I dumped it.

The only use for a red light I have is for close illumination and for escape and evasion. For that reason I keep a red Photon I Covert on my key-chain. I also have a UV Photon I Covert on my key-chain for scorpion hunting. If you are in an escape and evasion situation you want the light to go off if you drop it. You also do not want it on all the time. For most situations white light is the best! LED for short range and SureFire for long range!

If you are going to use a red light to get to the deer stand before the sun comes up then a red filter on a Petzl headlamp would be ideal. Forget the cellophane!

Yes it is. It's also a bit heavy for my taste

I am considering the Petzl Tactikka headlamp but for the time being, I have a Nite-Ize headband. For the long range beam I'm considering a Princeton Tec Rage after reading The poor flashaholics top 10 and will see if it fits a Nite-Ize headband. I already EDC a LRI Photon II red LED on my keychain. I'm not sure if I'll get a Surefire not so much because of the price but also because of hard to find bulbs and batteries...

That's kind of my lighting set up plan for now but that may change, I'll see. What do you think?

Thank you everyone for the replies.

Frankie

Good choice, Petzl has been my prefered choice for headlamp's, for a number of years now. My thinking on torches etc is that you are dealing in two descrete ranges. 6" to 30' ( 30cm to 10m) and 30' to limit of vision. If you need to see anything beyond the 30' mark, nightvision ( unless the situation is tactical using NVG's) becomes academic. Comment's anyone?