On the lowest setting, this is rated at 8 lumens and with the supplied battery will give 850 hrs which is pretty amazing. I was hoping for something even dimmer, but i think if i want that, i will have to find or make a slip-on filter (perhaps a red filter) to tone it down even more. ... I once had a light that was infinitely variable, it cost more than this one, and after a couple years it broke. So i'll stick with this design. Good light.