I did post a couple new photos of the BLF lantern in field-testing.
Photo below is the BLF V2 & V1 lined up with all the other best lanterns i have on the trip east. ( here the V2 BLF prototype is in the middle of the line up, The one right in front of the little tree in the center of the row/photo. Here you can see that its brighter than all the larger lanterns, ( all lanterns are on maximum modes) many of them are modded and are brighter than they were from the factory. ( The only really brighter lantern is the huge apocalypse Lantern on the right of the photo i built from from the OldLumens BLF custom build competition)
Here is a close up, showing the V2 prototype in the center with the 4000K LH351D LEDs, and the V1 prototype to the left of th eV2 with the 3000K 351B LEDs.
Below the V2 BLF lantern with the 4000K LEDs is on the chair in the left of the photo, and the V1 of the lantern with the 3000K LEDs is on the chair on the right of the photo behind the campfire:
The 3000K LH351 series LEDs are a nice warm white, very close to that of an incandescent light bulb. ( it is also high CRI like the 4000K variant. The reason why we want to incorporate the tint-ramping is to allow the BLF lantern to be set at a tint that everyone likes, hopefully all the way from 2700K up to 5000K. ( though i have no 2700K or 5000K Samsung LH351D LEDs yet to test, all i have is the 3000K in the V1 lantern & the 4000K in the V2 lantern.
I rather like the BLF with a little lantern symbol. But cost may be a consideration for this.
I do not necessarily believe it is useful to have two CRI’s vs more evenly distributed light with a single color. If asked; 4 LEDs of two CRIs, or 4 LEDs of bright white; I would choose bright white. I would want to see sunlight rather than incandescent light bulbs, kerosene lamps, fires places, camp fires, etc. I am not after nostalgia. I m after light.
As noted above, my view of CRI is one of an emergency light; not camping. Reading a book with the lantern, cooking, or just sitting around while the power people figure out why we do not have power and fix it, would seem to be better with white. Better visual range. Closer to actual colors.