I received the batch of FA3 and FD2 SST-20 leds today, that Texas_Ace had sent to me. Thanks TA again for these.
This evening I did the test I was most curious of: modding 3 of the FA3 leds into my freshly received FW3A.
(I did all the tint checks with the FW3A’s AR-coated lens in place, I hope and think that using a plain glass lens will make results only slightly different, not much)
And as expected from the effect of the optic, even the FA3’s were not enough to get the tint in the hotspot below the BBL at any current. You have to start with very obvious rosy leds to get that done.
Also on inspection by eye, the beam has no rosiness to it.
Instead I got a very nice neutral tint in the hotspot (close to 3950K at all levels) that has not even a hint of green. Just as neutral white as 4000K can be
The beam next to my Sofirn C01S, that has a 4000K 95CRI SST-20 of unspecified tint (so likely FB4), makes the C01S look more green, so these leds have indeed visibly a different tint closer to the BBL.
The CRI is between 96.5 (turbo) and 97.6 (close to highest ramp level) on all currents, with R9 between 86 (turbo) and 98 (close to highest default ramp level).
Also at the lowest levels the hotspot has no visible green. The duv went from 0.0015 (very low level) to 0.0022 (highest default ramp level) to 0.0005 (turbo).
For comparison, the Sofirn C01S has a duv of 0.037 (high) and 0.034 (low). (The C01S also has a TIR optic, but it may be optically a bit different from the Carclo 10570).
I feel quite spoiled to have such nice leds in my FW3A.
Later (I hope tuesday) I will check a FA3 led and a FD2 led in a S2+ reflector at a few relevant currents.