Superceded by this: https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/7845
I am interested in the CRI value .
How high is it ?
It's a CREE XM-L T4 7B. Unfortunately the specific chromaticity isn't noted but it is >80.
Some other details:
3000-3500 k color temp
Price: $90
I want one in the neutral option! as pictured in the beam comparison.
I hear you :) An informal poll was made at CPF and based on the responses, the initial run will be T4 high CRI. The demand isn't as great for a neutral but it isn't out of the question. Note that emitters are purchased in large quantities in order to be economical so we had to make a hard choice here.
Not so surprising CPF voted for a warm LED being as most of them are incan snobs and judge everything against Surefire incans. Folks here are true LED snobs and know that a good neutral is far more desirable than an orange CRI. I have a 7C bin XM-L in one of my lights and the yellow/orange tint to the beam is the most unnatural thing to look at. I just can’t get used to it. I find it hard to accept that just because a tint is in the 3000k range that it is automatically a true CRI. Sunlight is between 5000k & 6000k and only neutral LEDs can render color properly.
When I see something that is supposed to be white but shows as yellow I will never get used to it. Give me 5000k any day and keep your 3000k color temps. They are terrible. Here is an excerpt explaining how even with a high CRI, color rendition can still suck. Just look at the pic below and try and tell me the pic on the right looks better. The full article is here.
A more simple explanation is how an artificial light source shifts the location of eight specified colors on a version of the C.I.E. color space as compared to the same colors lighted by a reference source of the same Color Temperature. If there is no change in appearance, the light source is given a CRI of 100 by definition. From 2000K to 5000K, the reference source is the Black Body Radiator and above 5000K, it is an agreed upon form of daylight. Incandescent bulbs have a CRI rating of 100, yet are far from ideal for color rendering and matching. Why? With a color temperature of only 2700k they are far too weak at the blue end of the spectrum making it next to impossible to distiguish between various shades of blue. The CRI rating of 100 simply means that the 8 samples look exactly the same as they would under a black body radiator at 2700k. The same can be said for lamps that exceed 6000k in color temperature as they are too weak in the red end of the spectrum, making reds and oranges appear too similar creating a "washed out" appearance. The northern sky with a color temperature of about 7500k and a CRI of 100 is not necessarily the ideal color rendering light source either. An ideal light source for color rendering will have both a color temperature similar to daylight and a high CRI value.
An example:
The image on the left is an example of a full spectrum light source with a kelvin temperature similar to natural daylight and a CRI of 93. The image on the right is from a Solux halogen bulb source touted as having a "spectral match to daylight" and a CRI of 98. So why does her white hat appear yellow and not white in the photo? It is because the CRI calculation and spectral match was done against a 4100k reference source which is several shades more yellow than the actual sunlight striking the earth's surface. Remember CRI can only be determined by using a reference that has the same color temperature. A true spectral match to daylight would only occur in the 5000-6000k range, not at daylight if it were only 4100k! In our opinion, it is unfortunate that marketing strategies like this are allowed to exist, but can be easily avoided by the educated consumer.
Thanks for the time. While I agree wholeheartedly, I myself gravitate towards the warmer 3500k range just because it's more pleasant for home night use (not for any arbitrary "CRI" value). For outside, I do like my neutral modded V10R Ti and Fenix LD25.
In your "lady" example, the photo on the RIGHT is more pleasing to the eye in general (still too yellow), though not "accurate". The photo on the left is more accurate but too cold and medical for some. I did an informal poll just now here at work and it's split 7 for the warmer and 3 for the cooler.
As an avid photographer myself, it's always a subtle balance between what is a pleasing and what is accurate. Different strokes for different folks -- wouldn't call them all "snobs" unless all they were placing value in was the "CRI" value. Some are looking specifically for the temperature.
NOTE: I would take 4300k over either 5000k or 3000k if I were stuck on an island with only one choice. 5000k is more cool than neutral.
NOTE 2: I'll qualify my comment a bit on the "lady" photo. The one on the left resembles too much like an on camera flash shot to those that were polled. We also need to remember that our eyes do our best to neutralize color and that overly yellow lady will appear much better in real life than the deer in headlights one :)
Congrats JohnnyMac.
I'm amazed by the pictures.
I just got a 7C tint XML to experiment with it's strange that it's considered high CRI.
1A tint XML OP 4B tint XML OP 7C tint XML OP
Heheh... tint discussions, as long as they stay informative and polite as it is now ;)
Well I definitely appreciate that everyone has their favourites, but for me personally, I'm a 4200K fan, essentially anything from the cree tint bins 4C/5B region rate highly for me, but these are only really relevant when we have comparisons. One of my early DIY headlamps was with a warm warm white led. I didn't know what tints were at the time, and I didn't know then that I wouldn't like it as much a few years later, but without any other reference, it definitely rendered colours nicely and didn't feel yellow/orange within a few minutes of use.
Will shipping to australia be prohibitive? Ive modded all of my V10Rs, but it would be nice to have one made with a neutral for a change (except for the red version)
Huh? I didn’t take them. 
Quick comment. If one is going to be given away at BLF, where should it be posted?
Guys, I have some great news and some ok news.
The great news is SWM have agreed to several conditions and will allow for a limited run using the V11R. Yep, you heard right. That's a...
V11R XML T4 factory fresh. Same output specifications as stated before.
The ok news is their is a minor price difference.
Those that have contacted prior will be contacted again with some great news.
You can save everyone's time and send it directly to my home address. :bigsmile:
Just kidding. Giveaways belong either to LED Flashlights - General Info or here (Commercial Sellers' Spot). In your case, I would suggest the latter one.
Thanks for considering to arrange the giveaway. That's always good publicity!