Sofirn SF36W

[toddcshoe]

The Sofirn SF36W is $17.43 on Amazon right now with a battery and charger. I grabbed one the other day and it arrived today. I didn’t know how I would feel about the 3000k warm light but, after using it around the house for the last few hours I really enjoy it. Very easy on the eyes.

https://www.amazon.com/Sofirn-Flashlight-Searchlight-Waterproof-Rechargeable/dp/B076J9S2PB/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1522292185&sr=8-11&keywords=sofirn

[saypat]

I love the tint on mine!

[toddcshoe]

@saypat

I love the tint on mine!

For sure. I was hesitant at first. Glad I went for it though. Really liking it. I like 4300k to maybe 5000k or a bit less but, I am digging this 3000k. Reminds me of some old Rayovac lights my grandpa had, just a lot more powerful.

[puglife2]

3000k for life

[DavidEF]

I don’t generally “like” warm tinted lights. But, since I got a SF36W a while back, I’ve realized they really do make a difference in “seeing”. It’s a difference that can’t be explained by lumens, or throw, or any of the normal ways that we express “brightness”. The warm light even looks less bright than a cooler light of the same lumen output. But, it makes what I’m seeing more meaningful. When I’m using the SF36W, I see what I’m looking at rather than the light that I’m shining on the thing I’m looking at. By way of analogy, the warm light of the SF36W highlights the object(s), while neutral or cool lights are like a layer of snow covering the object(s), washing out all the colors and reducing contrast.

[garrybunk]

I’ve never tried any tint below 3000k (well not in a flashlight), but this idea of “seeing objects better” is what we try to explain over at MTBR in regards to nighttime mountain biking. I prefer my neutral white lights to be at the lower end of neutral - around 4,000k to 4,200k and I believe they make a huge difference on seeing objects and details as your blasting down singletrack trails through the woods.

-Garry

[toddcshoe]

@DavidEF

I don’t generally “like” warm tinted lights. But, since I got a SF36W a while back, I’ve realized they really do make a difference in “seeing”. It’s a difference that can’t be explained by lumens, or throw, or any of the normal ways that we express “brightness”. The warm light even looks less bright than a cooler light of the same lumen output. But, it makes what I’m seeing more meaningful. When I’m using the SF36W, I see what I’m looking at rather than the light that I’m shining on the thing I’m looking at. By way of analogy, the warm light of the SF36W highlights the object(s), while neutral or cool lights are like a layer of snow covering the object(s), washing out all the colors and reducing contrast.

I was looking for a way to explain exactly what you just said. Masterfully done sir. I am thinking I need more lights with this tint.

[DavidEF]

@toddcshoe

@DavidEF

I don’t generally “like” warm tinted lights. But, since I got a SF36W a while back, I’ve realized they really do make a difference in “seeing”. It’s a difference that can’t be explained by lumens, or throw, or any of the normal ways that we express “brightness”. The warm light even looks less bright than a cooler light of the same lumen output. But, it makes what I’m seeing more meaningful. When I’m using the SF36W, I see what I’m looking at rather than the light that I’m shining on the thing I’m looking at. By way of analogy, the warm light of the SF36W highlights the object(s), while neutral or cool lights are like a layer of snow covering the object(s), washing out all the colors and reducing contrast.

I was looking for a way to explain exactly what you just said. Masterfully done sir. I am thinking I need more lights with this tint.

Ironically, I still “prefer” the cooler side of neutral, around 5000k temp. :person_facepalming:

[toddcshoe]

[/quote]
Ironically, I still “prefer” the cooler side of neutral, around 5000k temp. :person_facepalming:
[/quote]

I understand. I wouldn’t want 30 flashlights all in that tint but, it sure would be nice to have a few. Yes, I like that 4700 to 5000 range. That super bright white tint always comes out looking blue to me.

[sb56637]

@DavidEF

I don’t generally “like” warm tinted lights. But, since I got a SF36W a while back, I’ve realized they really do make a difference in “seeing”. It’s a difference that can’t be explained by lumens, or throw, or any of the normal ways that we express “brightness”. The warm light even looks less bright than a cooler light of the same lumen output. But, it makes what I’m seeing more meaningful. When I’m using the SF36W, I see what I’m looking at rather than the light that I’m shining on the thing I’m looking at. By way of analogy, the warm light of the SF36W highlights the object(s), while neutral or cool lights are like a layer of snow covering the object(s), washing out all the colors and reducing contrast.

Right on. It’s strange how 6500K CFL and LED lightbulbs are sold as “daylight” tint, but I absolutely hate them and I think they look nothing like daylight. If you ask any child to draw the sun, it will be done with a yellow crayon. So I feel that the closest approximation of the sun at night is a neutral or even slightly warm tint like the one described here.