So with 'older' Nichia designs like the 219B, there is still a good reason to prefer it over the 219C or 219D because it looks so darn good, even at the cost of lower efficiency. But how about the Cree's? Most of them don't have high CRI's and a few of those have green tints. So...to someone new to modern flashlights, is there any reason to look at something other than XHP35, XHP50, etc? Like does the XP-L HI or XM-L2 still offer something the newer LED's lack? If not in output, then perhaps in quality of light?
I'm sure there are other threads about this second question - but I'm looking for all the good recommendations in 2019. If that means dipping back into 2017 or 2018, I'm fine with that. I already bought a couple Nichia 219B models. :)
Third question: Is there a list of the best Cree LED's ever made along with accompanying flashlights? 'Coveted ones that still have value today? Or are newer designs like the Samsung LH351D just putting them to shame?
(With the exception of a big backyard thrower, I'm mostly concerned with quality over quantity in my quest)
I will add from myself that my favorite LEDs are XP-L HI and XHP35 HI. I love their pure color, not changing at lower levels. Good efficiency. Resistance to overdrive. The worst for me is XHP70.2
Early XM-L2s respond to high current better than later ones. Early XP-G2s respond to dedoming and high current better than later ones.
But LH351Ds respond better to high current than any XM-L2. SST-20s probably outdo XP-G2s in just about any situation, and for those who really want pencil beams, there’s the White Flat.
The older models (XP-G2, XP-L, XP-L Hi, etc.) have a higher vF, which is ideal, even essential, for certain direct drive applications, and they are not “flip chip” designs, so you get less tint shift and a better beam. XP-L Hi is still an ideal LED for direct drive applications.
I like XM-L2 in warmer tints and XP-L in cool because the tints on them look really good to me (the one neutral white XP-L I got is yellow with almost a dash of green, usable but not my cup of tea). XP-G2 makes for very nice beams on shallow smooth reflectors, gread flood/throw ratio, and at least from my experience, exceptionally pleasant NW tints. (Mind you, I only mean domed ones, I don’t have a single flat emitter. Heard good things about the tints on XP-L HI though.)
That’s all for me, really. I’m not interested in the spearhead of lumens and candela technology, my torch usage is 95% of the time under 40 lumens, and having slightly “outdated” items made cheaper from all the new developments is perfectly fine by me.