I just ordered mine yesterday, SST-20 4000K. Now I'm wondering if I shouldn't have gone with the 219C. My EDC at the moment are FW3A XP-L HI 3D that I'm very pleased with and a Rovyvon A8 (UV) 219C that is just awesome. I decided on the SST-20 as I wanted something different. Now seeing all the comments about the SST having Green/Purple issues I'm wondering if I shouldn't have gone with the Nichia instead. Do you suppose I could email them back and get my order changed? Are they that responsive? Am I worried about a non-issue?
Thank you ToyKeeper for your impeccable work both with the build and the review.
I ordered one in Sand, with SS bezel and 18500 tube equipped with 5000K Nichia 219C emitters. I will more than likely swap in Samsung LH351D W6 5000K within an hour of arrival, we’ll see. A lot of dependant variables around here lately…
Appreciate all the info and hard work, very much so. Hat’s off to the both of ya on a job well done.
Not even Hank knows exactly what bins of SST-20 he has gotten but I’ve had fairly good luck with almost all of them I’ve used, and fixing it is as simple as picking up some minus green filter sheet.
The “purple” of the 6500K version isn’t a actually a “bad” thing per se, that just means they’re getting fairly rosy at that output and in a very cool tint like 6500K that will appear closer to purple than it would on a lower temp light where it looks rosy. (Blue + pink = purple, “white” + pink = pink basically)
My $0.02, I’d rather have a light that’s slightly green over everything at some outputs which lets my eyes/brain adjust, than one that only makes certain things (wood, skin, dry grass/brush, etc.) look strangely greenish or dead like lower CRI emitters. Lower color temps close the gap there though.
Tint is never a non issue.
The 4000k sst20 is pretty decent, with a bit of green, but you accept this for the hi cri, that really pays off outdoors. If you use your light indoors and for white wall hunting go for the 5D. If you want best of both worlds and some extra cosiness go for sst20 3000k.
I’ve tried minus-green filter in my SST-20 D4. It greatly improves the tint.
But at the same time, it’s not a great solution. Minus green filter reduces lumen output anywhere from 14 to 30% depending on which Lee filter you choose. Result is better tint, but MUCH lower output.
Good point. I remember seeing a post with beamshots of an SST-20 compared to a 219 (B or C, can't remember) both before and after minus green filter being applied. It made a pretty noticable difference. As for an emitter swap, I've never done that but if I really hate it it might become an opportinity to learn new skills. Selling or gifting a flashlight? I don't even know what those words mean...guess I'll roll the dice and see what happens
At 4000K the transition will be more yellow-tinted to pink-tinted than green to purple. Also, some users are more sensitive to it than others.
This chromaticity diagram (source), overlaid with data from a 4000K SST-20 test, may help you better understand the trend: https://i.imgur.com/Z3zBVo2.png
I would say not to worry too much about it, but if you would like to change, at least ask the question. Emisar is usually quite responsive.
Be aware that Hank has historically received a variety of bins of 219C emitters, too. My D4v1 has very neutral 219C’s in it. Other v1 owners have complained about green tinted 219C’s. Unfortunately, I don’t think there’s a really good way to know how good what you will get is until you receive it, for any of the emitter options.
15% reduction isn’t very noticeable at all to human eyes. Considering the alternative is 219Bs with their much lower output and less throw I’d say that’s a serious net gain if the tint of the SST-20s bothers anyone.
