some beamshots, iPhone, auto white balance, 8am overcast. This is to show beam shape, not tint or color temperature.
imho, the triple Carclo 10507 (narrow clear), has the best beam with the least artifacts or rings. The center IS brighter than the spill, but the transition is quite smooth. I really like the consistency and spread of the triple, useful for indoors and close range:
the single 219b has the most rings in the beam, and the tightest hotspot, it throws the most. I really like the small hotspot of the single 219b, but not the rings in the spill. I tolerate irregularities in the beam, though I wish they were not there, some of my use is very low light, and then I only see the hotspot, not the spill. Also, I am a whitewall hunter and very very picky. Some people would not notice these rings in actual use:
The stock XM-L has a larger hotspot, and some rings in the spill, less obvious than the single 219b. The stock XM-L is Low CRI, which is why I have my lights modded. Im all about High CRI:
My thoughts on LED choices and applications:
imho, the 4500k is the most versatile EDC. During the day it looks pink, at night it looks bright white. This is due to differences in the white balance of my brain, under different ambient color temperatures.
The 3500k is a beautiful warm color, I prefer it at night, and on the nightstand, at which time the 4500k is cooler white than necessary, imo.
bear in mind my bias is that I use 3000k incandescent in my home. Compared to incandescent the 3500k looks slightly “whiter”, as it is slightly cooler. The 4500k actually looks blue by comparison.
For these reasons, I EDC a single 4500k, and switch to the triple 3500k at night. A single LED is more efficient, imo. It takes half as many lumens to illuminate a small target, compared to a triple, which illuminates a larger target. Im not into efficiency though, I use rechargeables, and these Original RRT-01 accept 18350 (Unprotected only, the new model accepts protected, but its an ounce heavier, and its fatter, so I prefer the Original.)
I have not tried the 4500k in a triple, note to self, keep one for myself