Emisar D4V2

That definitely seems to be the most popular. Isnt it supposed to run hot?

Emitter choice is a matter of preference. What will you be using the light for? Do you prioritize output over color rendering? Is tint important to you? There are many variables to consider when posing such a broad question.

Just everyday carry. Some indoor and some outdoor. Honestly I didn't even know about cri but it sounds nice. I've never even thought about tint either. I always just looked at lumen output but i barely even use my fenix pd36r because it's so harsh.

If you are just starting out and aren’t sure, sticking around 4000K - 4500K is a good bet as it’s very neutral (not too warm, not too cool).

You’ll find most enthusiasts in the hobby will prioritize tint (which is a greenish or magenta cast with the latter generally being preferred) and CRI over raw output (but again, it’s a preference).

You can’t go wrong with 219b or E21A. 219b are generally considered the crème de la crème of LEDs when it comes to tint and CRI, but they will have the lowest output of any of the choices. E21A also have excellent color rendering (on par with 219b) and will be a little more floody because they come with a frosted optic due to angular tint shift (though you can ask for a clear optic instead). E21A tint is also excellent and usually appears quite neutral at low current and shifts toward magenta at high currents.

The 219b 4500K (specifically the sw45k which is what Hank is offering) is generally lauded around here as the benchmark for tint. It has an aggressively magenta cast and very high CRI. It’s a fan favorite.

SST-20 is also great when it comes to CRI, though it does tend toward a greenish tint at lower currents. Output will be higher than 219b and E21A.

If raw output is more important, XP-L HI 4000K will not disappoint and generally has a nice tint as well. CRI will be lower (~70-75).

All of the choices listed above are also available in warmer and cooler color temps if desired (though the cooler options for SST-20 will be low CRI).

Good luck with your decision!

Output and efficiency has always been my thing but I never truly understood flashlights. This has been a while new journey for me. The 219b has less output than the e21a? What is sw45k? I don't see that on the options. There's a 219BT-v1 R9080.

The R9080 just means it is high color rendering, the 218BT-v1 is the 219B. The 219B will generally offer more output. SW45K means 4500 kelvin and also a specific version of the 219B.

Ahh ok. Im thinking of just getting the 219b 4500k and be done with it. I could go back and forth forever on all the choices lol. I might end up getting the D4V2 in 219b and getting the d4sv2 in XP-L 4000k for shear power.

That sounds like a good plan, I personally like the XP-L 4000k but I usually select a frosted optic because I see some tint shift in the beam at the center.

If you plan on using the light outside much I recommend the XP-L Hi emitters. I like my e21a lights for close-up stuff but outside the XP-L Hi lights make them look like a joke.

I might get an XP-L later on but I already have a few bright throwy lights. Im kinda wanting singing something different and special. The 219b seems to be highly regarded and soon itll be unavailable.

I had the same dilemma recently when deciding to buy a D4V2. I went with the 219B 4500K. Can’t tell you how it looks yet as it is still in transit.

Got a few throwers and floods already. Read all the reviews of the sw45k and went for it.

Am I the only one who is unimpressed with sw45k for not being bright enough?

I have a bunch of them and have tried them in several lights. But every time I try them out in a light, I tend to take them right back out. The lack of punch just gets to me.

I much prefer FD2 bin SST-20.

Probably not the only one. I haven’t had the sw45k specifically but the lack of “oomph” is really noticeable in my e21a lights when I take them outside. I like my e21a lights but they just aren’t what I would reach for first when going outside.

I hear the 219b has even lower output?

The FD2 SST-20 is nice, though I do still prefer the Nichia LEDs. There’s something about Luminus’s phosphor mixes that I don’t really care for, especially in the low CRI emitters like SST-40. Those are some of my least favorite LEDs. That said, I do have a couple lights with the FD2 bin SST-20 including a D4Sv2 and I do like them. Great color rendering and a pleasantly rosy tint.

The 219b’s output doesn’t bother me but I don’t ever use crazy high lumen turbos, like ever. The light I take with me on nighttime trail hikes is a D80v2 with a single 219b sw40 and a 2A linear driver. With that light I can clearly see a couple hundred yards across a field. It’s about 400 lumens on the highest mode, but I generally only use it under 50 lumens.

It wasn’t very long ago that a super bright tactical flashlight was like 80 lumens (I still have and use an old incandescent SF A2 just for fun :smiley: ), and everyone was wowed by how bright it was. I’m always puzzled when people say they “need” a 1000 or 2000 lumen mode on a light, especially a little pocket EDC light.

I do get the fun factor though. I have my fair share of lumen blasters for impressing muggles.

I find the output of 219b and E21A fairly close at similar currents, though the 219b can be pushed to slightly higher currents.

Looks like that D80v2 has decent reflector in it. I think the D4V2 suffers with lower output leds (a bit) because it was designed to get throw with brute force. (Neat host btw, I kinda like it.)

I agree there is no need to have 4300 lumens in a pocket light. But the D4V2 is designed to be a hotrod so in a way the hi CRI low output LEDs run against its entire design philosophy. And you don’t need that many lumens you could probably have a smaller host than the D4V2.

Still thinking about ordering this light. Anybody chosen the extra floody lens option. I like a floody light.

Yeah, the D80v2’s reflector is highly focused with a sharp hotspot. Great cd/lm for its size.

I generally EDC one of Bob McBob’s modded Zebralights with a 219b sw35 but I also have a D4v2 that I dropped some sw40 in that I really like.

I’ve generally found that with a floody multi-emitter light, cranking up the lumens to try to get range just results in everything up close being far too bright and washing out what little light gets downrange. It really depends on the environment where it’s used though. It’s fine in an open field but not so great for peeking down a wooded trail. Floody lights are, however, great for indoor and task use.

Hi all,
Does anyone know anything on how the output of the XP-L HI U4 8A 2850K 80CRI compares to the XP-L HI V2 5D 4000K?

I love the warmish/neutral tints, hate the greenish/blueish ones, don’t really care for high cri and i’m thinking to try this time the warmer XP-L 2850K in my new D4V2 but i don’t want to sacrifice a lot of lumens or get a greenish tint on low levels and i can’t find any info on these leds anywhere :person_facepalming:

XP-L HI U4 8A 2850K 80CRI will be 85% as bright as the XP-L HI V2 5D 4000K, according to the data sheet.

Thank you so much Azirine :slight_smile: so if this so in reality, 15% reduction in brightness must be almost imperceptible!