I have a friend who is a veterinary student. He needs a headlamp for different situations. No surgery or something like this.
The lamp will not be used in a clinic but on home services(at clients home). He will do mini procedures like panting a wound, place a cannula, check their skin and so on.
Anyway, I’m looking for a lamp with a budget of maximum $30-$40. I prefer a lamp with usb charging. If not possible 1x18650 battery with separate charging will be good as well.
I don’t know what kind of light is better in this kind of situation. I mean, considering he will be will probably work at 30-50cm distance.
I would pick something in neutral white and hi-cri just to have good color contrast. I like the side emitter of the C22C flashlight, it makes a decent uniform relatively big flood light that is good for working, and you wont get distracted by the hot spot (there is none)
I really like that new Boruit EHL0628. It’s about $10 on Aliexpress. The emitter is CW, but it uses a regular 20mm star so you can swap it out for any color you want. Maybe a nichia 219 NW on a copper star for $5. Then add a 45° or 60° tir lense for $1. The Boruit battery is “okay” for about 1600mah for $2 extra. A good quality 3000+mah battery would cost $5 to $10.
It’s very light weight and easy to use. I find myself using it more than my “higher end” headlamp.
For good rendition of colour on skin and reds/rashes/cuts, blood, etc, I would specifically go with a headlamp that uses a Nichia 219b or 219c.
I believe Manker headlamps are quite affordable and use Nichia 219c emitters.
The reason I recommend a Nichia emitter apart from high cri and good tint, the reds (R9 value) are much higher than comparable Cree LEDs. The difference is noticeable, atleast in my experience and user based opinion.
The Nitecore Nu20 high cri is also a great option. It uses a 5000K nichia 219 emitter and colour rendering is absolutely fantastic. I would go with a reflector based light to get focused light on the target without blinding the animals from a wide diffused beam.
You can’t go wrong with Nitecore Nu20 high CRI.
As for colour temp, I would go between 4000K to 5000K.
Depending on the time he may need to use it, maybe a Manker E02 or E03H may do the work!
Specially the E03H, as it brings a headstrap. It is small.
Can be used with AA batteries and Ni-MH rechargeables!
It comes in XPL or Nichia so it may be decent for those kind of works!
EDIT: BTW, it is sold in AliExpress, on the offical store of Mankerlight!
My Brother is a Veterinarian. He likes the 5000k hi cri Zebralight I gave him for Christmas a few years ago. I would think you’d want the color temp as close to daylight as possible with the highest cri possible.
I will bump this thread after a year. I wanted to buy Nitecore Nu20 cri with Nichia 219B led. Couldn’t find in the last half a year or so. Stock is out.
The new nitecore Nu20 is using CREE XP-G2 S3 led which I heard is not that good for maintaing the colors.
So, any good headlamp in 2019 with a good led which doesn’t give just a big white but actually maintain the colors? Budget is the same $30-$40
Thanks guys
Stay away from the nitecore Nu series, they are crap and not worth the money compared to what’s on the market today (skilhunt, convoy). I believe if you order a headlamp from Simon (convoy) direct he’ll put in any high cri emmiter you want that’s avaible to him. An emiiter swap with the skilhunt is also very easy…
andix23,
You might take a look at this one I reviewed here.
It’s only $18.75, with a good battery and a charger.
It’s not a high CRI light, but the flood beam pattern is wonderful for close up work. There is no hot spot at all.
It’s cheap enough that it will do till you find a perfect fit to your needs. It costs less than a replacement battery for a Welch Allyn Otoscope.
Good luck in your hunt.
