FW3A, a TLF/BLF EDC flashlight - SST-20 available, coupon codes public

It looks like the range here is very approximately 2 to 4 cd / lm. Maybe 1.5 to 4.5. The entire range is toward the floody end of the spectrum, but LH351D is the floodiest of the bunch and XP-L HI is the throwiest. Basically, at a distance of ~5 meters or more, the Samsung emitter would need to put out about twice as many lumens to light up objects as well as the Cree emitter.

Yup
Some people seem perfectly happy with negative R9, that makes Red look Brown.

Others prefer High CRI w High R9, that makes Red look Red

The poll will help sort out which group is larger, and for the others, an LED swap should be an option.

Because I’ve tried a variety of emitters in Carclo triple optics, and have found XP-L HI plus 10511 to be a good combination. Its domeless design mostly eliminates any rainbow effects. It has a significantly smoother beam than 219b + 10507, for example, though not quite as smooth as 219b + 10511. To completely eliminate artifacts though, a floodier optic is needed — like 10508 or 10509.

Feedback (like the past two pages or so) is why I put a poll preview online though, to make sure the data is accurate. Here’s the preview again:

http://toykeeper.net/torches/fw3a/emitter-poll.html

Thanks, TK. That makes it very easy to understand. I was waffling, but now, I know I’d prefer XPL-HI’s.

I am simply going by THIS
At the time I said this the XPL HI was the only one with 5 stars in the “Beam” column. Now it seems to have dropped to 4.

OTOH, Samsung lights up a wider area, and reviews for it have been very positive. It’d be a great option indoors.

I agree, it sounds intriguing, which was causing the waffling. I think it may make for too much of an indoor use light though, and be a bit underwhelming as an indoor/outdoor edc.

Yep… the ONLY downside to me. And $6 is TINY in the big scheme of things, to me anyway; to get what I prefer.

And CRI means just about ZERO to me in this discussion.

XPL HI is my preference ATM, I like it. If it is not yours that is fine with me. :+1:

I feel the same way about the $6. This light is a screaming deal at that price. I also prefer a bit more throw. It really makes a difference on a dark night.

Agreed. Not a good choice for best “all around”…… for my money anyway.

I am sold on the XPL HI also cabfrank. :+1:

Some people are signed up for a bunch of lights, and an extra $6 for each adds up. People come from a wide variety of financial backgrounds. Some plan to buy the light as sort of a host and swap the emitters and/or optics, which would make any extra cost counterproductive.

Increasing the price isn’t a trivial matter.

I care about the $6 because I’m not just buying one of these, and it is a 20% difference in price. I’ll definitely be doing some emitter swaps in those no matter what the production emitter is.

I care quite a bit about CRI as well. It’s not the kind of difference that smacks you in the face like the XP-G3 rainbow or a few thousand K difference in CCT, but being used to it, I notice when it’s absent. It’s to the point that I’m rarely tempted to use my one light with an MT-G2 because its poor rendering of reds and browns annoys me. Object recognition is slower. My perception of fatigue is higher.

My first choice will be the 219C. It works well in FET triples even if it does throttle a bit sooner than the other options. My second choice will be the LH351D, because it’s the only other 90 CRI option. I don’t think giving up throw for heat/output relative to the 219C the right trade here, but it is worth it to me to gain CRI over the Cree options. Also, I wouldn’t mind having a bunch of them after swapping a two or three of the lights for 219Cs).

:+1: . :+1: . :+1:
I have emisar D4 Nicha 219C
Too hot … Fire
Vote for XP-L

Understood. I am FAR from having a lot of money. Very far.

Yep $6 more for this light is no biggie for what it is.

And as TK said HERE (copied & pasted below). This triple is not going to be a “thrower” anyway……

Throwiness is a rough measure of candelas per lumen. It’s the overall beam shape. Even the throwiest option is not a thrower, because compact triples are floody by nature.

So yeah…… the XPL HI makes the most sense for best overall choice to me.

Where did the “LH351D: May be a bit green at low levels?” come from? I hate green and my 4000k Samsung triple does not show green.

Since there are too many different opinions the team has decided to settle for Cree XR-Es

In all seriousness, I get that there are different preferences when it comes to tints and LEDs, but please try to tone the discussion regarding this a little down or at least the several contradicting absolute truths (the universe should already have exploded :wink: ). There is no clear best solution for this light and it depends on the personal preference. Everybody will have a chance to vote and we will try to be as objective as possible when describing the advantages and disadvantages of each tint and LED.

I am signed up for several also. I am not saying $6 more is trival. I DO NOT have an over abundance of money either.

I am saying in the big scheme of things $6 more dollars per light is worth it… to me anyway.

I am also saying that to base the cost or emitter choice on the preference of the few people who are only buying them for host to change emitters and/or optics as soon as they lay hands on them would be a mistake.

Of course they would want them for as cheap as possible and not care at all what components they contained.

Most likely however, the vast majority will use them as they are delivered from LT.

From HERE

Right, that is where I quoted from. But how was that determined? And why is it a question and not a statement?