I’d be 100% in to buy at least one of each/any tint that ends up getting put out. Would buy more if I liked the emitter. I haven’t used the E21A yet and these C01S lights are cheap enough I’d get one of each for experimentation’s sake. Been happy with all the other C01 variants thus far.
As for preferences, I’d prefer to see a L-M-H mode order, no memory, starting on a sub-lumen moonlight mode. I think the new 2 mode-group driver would be ideal. As far as optic vs. mule, whatever makes the beam have less tint-shift would be ideal. I liked the raw/no-ano models that have come out, but I also wouldn’t be opposed to more host colors, like OD green, purple, gold, or pink (not sure if any of those are common Sofirn colors that would be realistic, just ones I like).
10440 support is no deciding factor for me. cool to have it, but I don’t even own any 10440s yet so it wouldn’t be missed if it wasn’t there.
If this is the case, 4500K sounds preferable, as a rosy tint seems much nicer than greenish tints.
Maukka tested limited samples from single lots that Clemence ordered, and Clemence seems like he has a good connection somewhere in Nichia’s distribution chain to be able to consistently source hard-to-find emitters. So what Maukka tested might tell us very little about the tints of whatever lots Sofirn might get.
I’d recommend people just figure out what color temperatures they want. Bare minimum, the E21A is available in a wide range of CCT’s with stellar CRI. I would be careful about assuming what the DUV will be.
That said, I think Ryzbor is correct that the highest output bins, like D240 at 5000K, are more likely to have an unfavorable tint versus the next output bin down.