Convoy S2+

[WalkIntoTheLight]

@Ollie

Yes, the cooler 1A tints are brighter, but they wash out the contrast. To my eye, they make everything look two dimensional, like a cardboard cutout. The warmer tints, and my favorite is probably 5000K, which is neutral white, make things look more life-like. I just built some lights with a 3D tint. I really like it! There have been some very good explanations on this forum (SoCalTiger) about how light interacts with the eye. Polls taken here put 5000K at the top of the list. It’s not just a preference, it’s choosing what helps you see better. That’s what this is all about, isn’t it?

(A bit off-topic, but…) It’s also about what you’re illuminating. A cool-white LED is brighter than a warm-white LED, but if you shine that light on a red towel you’ll notice that the warm-white light shows up much brighter. That’s because the warm-white light has more spectrum in red, even though overall it’s dimmer.

If you illuminate white-paper, the cool white LED will be brighter. That’s how it’s measured. But that’s not how the natural world is structured. If you’re in a mature forest, there will be a lot of brown in tree trunks and leaf litter. Brown (which is really a dim orange), is better illuminated by warm tints. So your warm-white LED light may actually look brighter than a cool-white LED light.

On green grass, the cool-white will look brighter. Cool white is optimized for blues and greens. Warm white is optimized for reds, orange, and yellows.

Ignoring brightness, warm-white LEDs usually have higher color rendition than cool-white. Cool-white LEDs are generally around 65 CRI, while neutral is around 75 CRI. Of course, you can get premium LEDs that give much higher CRI, such as a Nichia 219 LED (my favorite). But you pay a price for higher CRI, with usually much less brightness.

[grumpazoid]

@Yokiamy

The blf A6 with 30q is on flash deal at Banggood, which makes it very interesting, i was thinking of buying it as well, but almost holiday so bad timing for me.

I have enough S2+ es now. Especially when the clear (from GB finally) arrives. (Still waiting)
Generally, shipping of Banggood is way better then GB.

Yes couldn’t believe you get a battery included for much cheaper than the A6 on its own. Lucky timing for me. :sunglasses:

[grumpazoid]

Update: Tested my new light out last weekend on a camping trip. Very pleased with it. Good quality and a lot of light for its size.

[Yokiamy]

@grumpazoid

Update: Tested my new light out last weekend on a camping trip. Very pleased with it. Good quality and a lot of light for its size.

Glad to hear that you are happy, with one fine BLF light!

[mortuus]

I bought some stuff yesterday on gearbest and took this convoy version, was this a bad choice or? maybe i should have asked before i bought…

https://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_232308.html

[Yokiamy]

You can’t go wrong with a Convoy S2+
T6-4C is a nice tint as well and the blue one has a nice stainless switch!

[rizky_p]

I just ordered Desert Tan S2+ cant stop buying Convoy S2+ until you get every colors.

[WalkIntoTheLight]

@mortuus

I bought some stuff yesterday on gearbest and took this convoy version, was this a bad choice or? maybe i should have asked before i bought…

https://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_232308.html

The only thing I don’t like about that version (firmware) of the Convoy S2+, is the limited mode selections (and the blink on low). But, it’s cheap, so if you’re okay with the modes, then it’s a great buy. There’s versions with updated firmware, but they’re more expensive. Also the BLF A6, but it it more expensive too.

At that price, even if you decide you don’t like it, you’re not out much.

[rizky_p]

the only thing i hate about S2+ is the blink on low to change group with standard firmware BLF A6 is superior, get S2+ with bisscotti or flash it yourself.

@WalkIntoTheLight

The only thing I don’t like about that version (firmware) of the Convoy S2+, is the limited mode selections (and the blink on low). But, it’s cheap, so if you’re okay with the modes, then it’s a great buy. There’s versions with updated firmware, but they’re more expensive. Also the BLF A6, but it it more expensive too.

At that price, even if you decide you don’t like it, you’re not out much.

[Lexel]

the S2+ is sometimes in flash sale for 10$ definately worth buying it

[WalkIntoTheLight]

I wish the medium mode was 25, rather than 40. That would give it a good long run time with decent output. And, as a 3-mode light, that would be better spacing.

The better approach is to just get the one with bisscotti. I presume they’re all going to be that way, once the older model sells out.

[mortuus]

any chance we can get moonlight mode on s2 convoy?

[Jerommel]

@Phlogiston

@grumpazoid

Ok I am on the verge of ordering.

However I’ve searched the forum and can’t find an answer to this.

The specs from Cree seem to indicate that the cool 1A LED produces more lumens for the same current than the warmer tints.
Does this mean the 1A version is brighter?

Yes, it does.

As a general rule of thumb, cooler tints are more efficient and therefore brighter than warmer tints, all other factors being equal. This is an effect of LED physics and applies to all manufacturers.

The reason warmer tints still sell is that many people prefer them and are willing to lose a few lumens in exchange for light that looks nicer to them.

In fact, you can see the thing you shine the light on better with a warmer tint.
so a cool white may produce more light, but it doesn’t provide better vision.

[BazzH]

Neutral white (5500 - 6000K) is great. And unless you want to look at food, high CRI is not worth the lower lumens and the higher cost. PWM or non-PWM isn’t an argument for people with normal vision, if the PWM is higher than about 100 Hz.
.
It’s all a bit like “gluten-free”. Only 1% of the population is gluten intolerant but more and more people make it into an issue. Same goes for PWM and/or high CRI.

[Geuzzz]

@BazzH

Neutral white (5500 - 6000K) is great. And unless you want to look at food, high CRI is not worth the lower lumens and the higher cost. PWM or non-PWM isn’t an argument for people with normal vision, if the PWM is higher than about 100 Hz.
.
It’s all a bit like “gluten-free”. Only 1% of the population is gluten intolerant but more and more people make it into an issue. Same goes for PWM and/or high CRI.

I do not agree. Tint and cri are the most important specs for me when buying/building a light… For me the cost of lumens is well worth it. You can see more depth and distinguish more with more cri and also with warmer tints, especially outdoors. For me it’s also less tiring on the eyes.

My sweetspot is still 4000-4500k. Cri, the more the better.

[BazzH]

At the end of the day, it depends on what you use your light for. In most cases, however, I’m right.

Unless you’re on a gluten-free diet, of course

[Jack_Kellar]

@BazzH

Neutral white (5500 - 6000K) is great. And unless you want to look at food, high CRI is not worth the lower lumens and the higher cost. PWM or non-PWM isn’t an argument for people with normal vision, if the PWM is higher than about 100 Hz.
.
It’s all a bit like “gluten-free”. Only 1% of the population is gluten intolerant but more and more people make it into an issue. Same goes for PWM and/or high CRI.

Of course, there’s the matter of what the user likes, but hey And no, I wouldn’t change any of my Nichias for anything else at all, it looks far too nice in a colorful environment.

Helps that I’m not a lumen pincher, and runtime and practicality for me are what really matters in a choice.

P.S.: As for the gluten-free thing, not consuming gluten when you’re not intolerant to it can lead you to develop said intolerance :disappointed:

[Macka17]

Hi.
Another way of looking at it.

I have both. Neutral and cool (white)

I. Personally go for the higher output, stronger beam, for one reason only.
75yr old “tired” eyes. Need all the help they can get.
I DO see better with the white over the Neutral. Even while admitting that the
neutral brings out more natural colours.

[Lightbringer]

@Yokiamy

You can’t go wrong with a Convoy S2+
T6-4C is a nice tint as well and the blue one has a nice stainless switch!

The 4C will give you a nasty fried-egg beam, overly yellow hotspot and cool blue spill.

Swap the reflector for a standard 20mm TIR, and you’ll get a beautiful beam, a nice creamy neutral-to-warm white, as the TIR blends the different angles (thus beam colors) much better.

Try it. You’ll never go back.

[Lightbringer]

@WalkIntoTheLight

The only thing I don’t like about that version (firmware) of the Convoy S2+, is the limited mode selections (and the blink on low). But, it’s cheap, so if you’re okay with the modes, then it’s a great buy.

I swapped out the reflector for the abovementioned TIR, and the B’harni-awful UIed driver for a nice 1.5A 1-mode driver. Now it’s a simple general-purpose semi-flooder with an absolutely beautiful-color beam. Creamy white with just a hint of rosiness, almost a pale “peach” color.

And I can swap TIRs to any beam-angle I have, from 5° to 90°.