Good observations Jon_Slider
This is why I wish there would be more variable color temp lights.
The optimum color temperature for looking at something in the daytime outside is quite a bit cooler than at night with dark adapted eyes. I think an Emisar D4 with variable tint like the Sofirm IF25, and running Anduril 2 would be lovely.
When choosing an LED for my lights I tend to consider the following in order of priority:
- Output - A flashlight can have the best CRI, tint and color temp in the world, but if it doesn’t actually produce enough light to illuminate what I want to see what’s the point? I like pocket rockets so more output is always better. But that said, once the output is “good enough”, then other factors such as CRI become more important.
- CCT - if the color temperature is too cool, I’m probably not going to like it no matter what other features the LED has. Since most lights aren’t variable tint, I have to pick a compromise that looks good to me in most situations. My preference is 4000-4500K, with occasional use up to 5000K. I tend to not use lights with other color temps no matter what features they have.
- Intensity - Closely related to output. More intense LEDs throw better. Depending on the optic or reflector your light uses this could be a good or bad thing. Also, in some small lights I can get away with a less bright LED so long as the hotspot is still bright enough. For dedicated throwers this is the most important factor.
- CRI - after all the others are considered, I prefer high-CRI with high R9, such as the SST-20 4000K. But for me, CRI is probably the least important of the above factors. I don’t like Nichia 219B sw45k, because every light I tried them in failed to produce sufficient lumens to satisfy me. On the other hand, I like SST-20, because they have a good mix of lumens, intensity and CRI, despite having less overall output and intensity than XPL HI (with both at 4000K).