Thanks. The knowledge on this forum is great.
Out of curiosity I did a rough calculation on the Duv range of 7step. Seems like about 20 points form one end to the other?
That doesn’t seem too bad but I guess 7step’s CCT also has a large range of variation; for example CCT of 4500k looks like it could be as low as 4100k and as high as 4900k. This is quite a large range of beam color variation.
In case you’re a hard core headlamp users, my impression of the 4 headbands with overhead strap that I have tried. Why overhead strap? Weight above ~ 4oz for me. I’ve found that when headlamps exceed ~4 oz in weight, it’s not stable AND I get a headache from the weight pressing on my forehead. Using headband with overhead strap makes these heavier headlamps more comfortable for me.
I’ve decided to split the 4 bands into 2 types because I think the backing might be an important factor to consider. This is an on-going evaluation so opinions obviously may change. Hope this helps and as always IMHO.
WITH HARD PLASTIC PLATE BACKING
Olight “Headband 2 for Perun” headband has a hard plastic backing with a groove, and then a rubber strap that you pull over to hold the headlamp. Except for the relatively higher cost, nothing but praise for it. Unlike the rubber ring design, this design allows you to remove the light quickly. Very comfortable, very well made. The rubber strap means it should fit multiple light diameters. I got mine from eBay for $15.
Skilhunt HB3 Headband headband has a clip, protrudes from a hard plastic backing. The clip is probably best version if you take light on and off all the time (which I don’t do). It’s made for the smaller Skilhunt headlamp, and hence is too tight for Convoy H2 headlamp. You could still use it with Convoy H2, just that I have to be careful with rotating, and forget about taking H2 on and off. Best price on Aliexpress here.
WITH SOFTER RUBBER and 2 RINGS BACKING
Convoy Headstrap has two soft rubber rings (Olight has another band of similar design). The backing is soft rubber. Convoy is the least expensive by far (two for 6 bucks!), but one thing that I’ve noticed about the Convoy headband is the horizontal elastic strap seems to be on the small size (mine is set at max size and I’m not a big person - 5’7” 155 lbs). The elastic band expands easily so maybe it’s not a problem, but I don’t know. On Aliexpress here
Skilhunt HB2 Headband Similar in design to Convoy, key difference being the band that goes around the head is not too tight like Convoy. Discontinued and I could only found this from Aliexpress Here. . I think this one is discontinued and ironically just might be my most favorite. I got mine for about $8 IIRC.
I like all 4 and have some trouble picking out a favorite; all have excellent functionally. Skilhunt and Olight headbands subjectively have the look and feel of an expensive strap. Skilhunt HB3’s “clamps” is too small for my Convoy H2 (not Skilhunt’s fault, it’s not made for Convoy H2). Convoy headband very oddly is very tight and even too tight for my head, and I am of medium built 150 lbs 5’8”. Stability are excellent in all 4. If you wear your headlamp for a long duration, it seems like the soft rubber design might - MIGHT - be more comfortable and should be a consideration. This is an on-going evaluation so please don’t be surprised if my opinions change.
Weights of headlamps with battery (some favorite lamps highlighted):
Fenix (16340 battery) - 1.9 oz - 55 gm
Skilhunt H04R RC 3.4 oz - 97 gm
Sofirn D25L 3.7 oz - 105 gm
Convoy H2 4.4 oz - 126 gm
Coast XPH30R - 4.44 oz - 126 gm
Fenix HM65R-T 4.83 oz - 137 gm
’
While we are on topic of Nichia LED in headlamps, I have a Skilhunt headlamp with Nichia 519a 4500k 
coming - that should be a fantastic fit for the Skilhunt headband. I ordered the version with reflector H04R RC because I like to see throw and brightness and among the 3 versions of H04, this is supposedly it. The weight is amazing low (hope it’s correct!) - only 48 gm for an 18650 light (without battery). I can hardly wait.
Nichia 519a has warm golden beam color with world class CRI and R9; should be great for a headlamp. Convoy also has 519a headlamps, in the H1 or H3 hosts. H3 is much cheaper than Skilhunt and in addition has integral USB-C charging, but is just too heavy (88 gm) for headlamp (for me) so I painfully had to pass.
I will write a weight comparison once the Skilhunt gets here. 48 gm is truely exceptional and that’s why I put up with the much higher cost and lack of integral USB charging. Anyway it’s a Nichia 519a and I have a hard time saying no to Nichia lol.
Just an off topic relaxing picture of the nature trail of my evening walks. Lots of plants and flowers along the path to justify why I talk incessantly about CRI and R9 lol. And why I’m ordering M21B w/ Nichia B35AM even though I most definitely don’t need another light 
and don’t like lights without USB-C charging (my light is on high brightness for nearly an hour and requires frequent recharging).
Thank goodness Simon seems to be switching and releasing more lights with USB-C charging.
wow beautiful view
> Out of curiosity I did a rough calculation on the Duv range of 7step. Seems like about 20 points form one end to the other?
thank you, that is very helpful info
I do think a 0.0020 point range is not uncommon, and imo it is also not a large visual variation
> 7step’s CCT also has a large range of variation; for example CCT of 4500k looks like it could be as low as 4100k and as high as 4900k.
also great info. I agree a +–400K “seems” large, however
that is within a ± 9% variation, not uncommon
this is why there will always be a “Tint lottery”. No two LEDs will be identical. The Opple can really help quantify the differences, something most people never realized was typical before.
> Skilhunt headband has a clip
great info, and also really appreciate your photos
Im a fan of designs that allow easy conversion from handheld to handsfree use
> 48 gm for an 18650 light (without battery)
add 45 grams for the battery
I look forward to your HeadLamp impressions
enjoy the night walks!
Nichia 219b and 519a in S21D with side switch and integral USB-C charging is coming.
This is why I hesitate to buy Nichia 519a in M21B even though I would love a throwy 519a. I prefer side switch w/ USB-C lights and am thinking/hoping Simon is going to put it in M21F (?) as he is adding more USB-C lights.
Thanks Argo & Jon for the nice comments. Re. headlamp: Skilhunt H04R RC is in for a fight; the Convoy H2 twins (Nichia 219b 4500k and 3700k) are fantastic and a delight to use. They are throwy for a Nichia light, which I really like for a walk light, and sustained brightness is among the very best. Of course their weakness (weight) is Skilhunt’s strength, so I think I’m going to love all 3 :innocent: .
Hello, is this true? This is what I miss on my s21d, it’s not always convenient to scroll through the modes, I’m used to a button with a smooth change in brightness, this will be perfect
B35AM is like 4xE17A not E21 - fyi, cannga. I have convoy with B35AM, very low lumens, weak hicri led. Not more than 1000lm on 3A (18w) and it make smoke on this. Just 700lm on 9w.
Yes, Simon Mao the person I quoted is owner of Convoy. “In production” hopefully means it won’t be too long.
@dick33 thanks for the helpful info. You have the first gen light that smokes?
Simon replied
I have started to produce the drive and the host.
This may take 1 to 2 months.
Oh no that’s a little too long of a wait lol. I am finding this one hard to resist, maybe 519a in 5000k so that if it’s lower than spec, it would hit my desired 4500k .
Pic of my latest toy M21B w/ B35AM 4500k. Love it so far. My reasons for the B35AM are:
**first, its exceptional CRI finish, Ra=98 R9=98 are among the very highest CRI numbers I’ve seen, and
**second, I’m looking for a throwy (throwish?) Nichia in a pocketable host as all of my Nichia lights so far are floody lights.
Although I like the magenta/rosy 219b 4500k lights, I actually am hoping for a beam color that is different from magenta. I find it more fun that way as it would be boring for me if every LED looks the same. BTW sorry about the yellow clips in every light - that’s the only leftover spray paint I have and I got tired of metallic finish.
Sorry for OT, but every time i see a MAO flashlight i think about them!
Specs from Simon - even among these top Nichia LED’s, the B35AM’s CRI numbers look exceptional. It has among the very highest Ra and R9 numbers that I have seen. Duv on negative side, hopefully beam color will be different from what I’ve already had, to bring variety to (flashlight) life.
Throw of B35AM in M21B host is 263 m, instantly making it the most throwy-throwish small Nichia light I have (S21D and Emisar D4V2 with 219b 4500k are next best at ~170m see here). This is equal to GT-FC40 4500k’s throw in same host. However there is more to this story, as output of B35AM is roughly half of FC40 by my amateur ceiling bounce method, so something has got to give (area of central brightness and spill).
Now that I actually see the MAO finish, I think it is very beautiful. It’s a fantastic subdued off white, almost chalk white. So different from every other flashlight I have. @Argo see pics of the stormtrooper’s head and leg . Anyway, my preliminary thought: from what I see so far, IMHO get your money ready (grin) if you’re into collecting Nichia.
Nichia 219b 4500k
CCT 4526k
Ra 96
R9 97
R12 79
Duv –0.00995
Nichia 519a 4500k
CCT 4500k
Ra 93.6
R9 82
R12 80
Duv 0.00091
Nichia B35AM 4500k
CCT 4454k
Ra 98
R9 99
R12 77
Duv –0.00503
I like it too… I hope it proves suitably durable for you
Storm Trooper Edition… lol
.
Can anyone confirm that s21d fits wurkkos 20350 tube? I know s21d shares threads with s21b, and that the s21b fits the wurkkos 20350 tube and works, but if possible anyone has the combo and post wether or not it works? I’d like to see how it looks like too.
There must be something wrong with yours then because B35AM should produce about 1400-1500lm at 2,4A. There were issues with burning LEDs at 3A that’s why Simon dialed it down. Maybe yours was affected as well?
Although I take a lot of white wall beamshots, I refrain from commenting until I have seen it in actual “real life” use. So last night I had Skilhunt on my forehead, and 3 lights (D4V2, S21D, M21B) in my pockets. It’s a good thing my wife is used to this craziness. :person_facepalming:
Beam color: Used at high and medium mode during my evening walk, B35AM 4500k appears to be in between 219b and 519a 4500k, but is closer to 219b’s magenta/rosy tint than 519a’s neutral tint. For those who find 219b at times just too rosy, B35AM would provide a relief.
Beam character: A bright and relatively smaller hotspot (small, not tiny), and spill that is of low-medium brightness, but still bright enough to make it useful as a walk light. The throw (~263 m vs ~170 m) is subjectively significantly better than my S21D and D4V2. For me this is the first Nichia light in my small collection that qualifies as a walk light.
Beam Color Comparison: Comparison of LEDs in different hosts is inherently difficult; as a result the exposure setting of pics below are not the same. I adjust so they best approximate what I see in real life; meaning very subjective.
At this level all 4 LEDS are excellent in reproducing colors. They do have different tints (rosy vs neutral) and which one you like comes down to personal preference, if you like the famous rosy/magenta tint, then only 219b 4500k would do. If you prefer a neutral tint, then it is 519a 4500k with what I see as a “golden” tint. In between those 2 bookends, there are the B35AM and GT-FC40. Some comments based on “real life” view:
Nichia 219b 4500k: That famous rosy/magenta tint. In actual use in nature scenes, both GT-FC40 4500k and (even more so) Nichia B35AM resemble this LED.
Nichia 519a 4500k: Neutral tint, “golden” color (more yellow) to my eyes.
Nichia B35AM 4500k: My nick name for B35AM: “219b with throw” IMHO. If the magenta tint of 219b 4500k is too much for you, then this should provide some relief, if only a little. B35AM still leans much more towards 219b’s magenta than the neutral tint of 519a though. There are two LEDs in my collection that look like 219b: first is E21a, and second is this one, B35AM.
Getian GT-FC40 4500k: Still looks like 219b overall, but now surely leans more towards the golden tint of 519a.
B35AM may produce 1400lm but that would be 70cri 5000k on super good mcpcb and without losses on optics etc.
Convoy’s b35am 4500 r9080 will never give you 1400lm, they will fry much earlier.
I talk about real lumens in real flashlight s21a/b with 3A driver. And it give you just 1000lm on 3A. Datasheet tells the same - 1400ma and 700lm for convoy’s bin. You may find actual tests or measure it yourself.