If the Osram/SST20 version was buck / boost, I would have had a hard time deciding which to get.
Based on the two options, the decision is easy for me, XHP35 all the way.
I hope Hank offers the XHP35 version with warm white 80 and 90 CRI options.
As others have mentioned, warm white penetrates fog so much better. I also find it adds contrast and definition.
Looking forward to see the numbers on throw and lumens. I suspect the XHP35 will be about twice as bright (lumens) as the 3V version, with similar throw.
For 2700K, the SST-20 version could be the best bet, as it has deeper reds, than XHP35 HI (I would still take a 2700K XHP35 HI 90CRI, if it were offered).
For 3500K and 4000K, SST-20 has again strikingly good tint. I have SST-20 3500K and 4000K in Convoy C8 at 3.5A, and the tints I got for these CCT are definitely greenish/yellowish, when driven at low currents, but at 3.5A and above, even these can improve a lot, and they can be feel as almost spot on BBL with reflectors (with TIR, the situation would not be near this good).
If there could be a buck driver for the 3V LEDs instead of a linear driver, then these variants could have noticeably better runtimes on the highest setting, before temperature regulation starts to kick in. It is another question, that maybe a good buck driver around 4.5-5A could be more expensive - personally, I could justify 7-10 extra $ per unit, if I could buy these with a buck driver.
Regarding only efficiency (as of current driver options), I would also vote for the XHP35 HI variants (one 3500K 90CRI and one 4500K 90CRI for sure) - if I take throw/heat ratio, the SST-20 should win, but I guess, not with a linear driver.
In addition, it’s super hard to get a reading because there’s a slight tinge of yellow in the hot spot and I guess my hand is not steady enough to not have “inconsistent reading” like 3/4 of the time.
Hank, if you can source any A or D tint XHP35 HI 80CRI, that would be awesome. If you offer it with the good bins, I’m sure many people will buy multiple emitter versions of this light.
hmmm
A fair bit bigger than the GT mini…
Still pretty small… bigger reflector, more lumens and kcd than even my Vin’d GT mini… I’m excited…
This will out punch my Varapower turbo 2.0!