Once again, here looking for wisdom from you all.
This time I’d like to know about some high CRI inexpensive lights, and I mean, the cheaper the better as long as the ratio CRI-$ is as good as possible. So far I have not been interested on high CRI lights, but IDK I wanna know if their as pleasant as people say in comparison to something brighter.
IMO colour temperature and tint is more important than CRI.
What form factor lights are you looking for?
Can’t go wrong with a 519a in an S2+ from Convoy.
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Sofirn S11C is $8.99 on their website or $10.99 with battery. 90 CRI 5KK LH351D. Zoomed “all the way out” the beam is surprisingly useable. USB chargeable with cable, magnet in the tail. Can’t beat the price.
Well, my favorite flashlight in general is the Convoy S21D with 519A (4500K) 8-amp CC and 60 degree beaded lens. It’s around 93 CRI. Wonderful floodlight just small enough to fit in your pants pocket. Should be $30-35, so it’s quite affordable. It’s worth noting that this light has 4 LEDs, and something like the S2+ only has one LED. That’s part of why it costs $10-15 more.
If you need a high CRI budget light with throw, something like the L21B XHP70.3 R9050 is pretty sweet. $38 or so.
I have heard that the 719A in the L21B is disappointing, so I haven’t bought one. In the product listing, it lists the max output at 1100 lumens, and the XHP70.3 high CRI version is listed at 3000 lumens. That doesn’t mean that it’s ~3 times brighter considering the way we perceive light, but it’s still a big difference in favor of the XHP70.3.
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Wurkkos TS10 4000K. It’s high CRI, very good tint, comes with an f-ton of nice features and right now can be had for less than $16 including a battery:
I don’t think there’s a better high-CRI low-cost flashlight anywhere!
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Wurkkos TS10 (90 CRI), or Convoy T3 (or any other small Convoy) with 519A (R9080, possibly the most CRI/$ of any light that isn’t an incandescent)
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Is that bulb high CRI? at least I’m pretty sure it’s got good DUV.
Also, where are the beamshots?
Agree with JagerLion the S11C is a great value basic, inexpensive light that meets your requirements. If cost is not king, spending a couple of bucks more on some of the others mentioned would be a sensible upgrade.
The funny thing is we spend hundreds of dollars trying to find the perfect LED for that perfect tint and the tungsten lights ARE the perfect solution LOL.
A perfect 100 CRI and 0.00 DUV, with a lovely 2700-3000k CCT.
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Perfect with the exception of luminous efficacy 
Plus, some people like 3200k+ CCT.
No need to spend hundreds of dollars on these things.
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You can have both high CRI and high brightness. Wurkkos TS25 in 519A is a good way to experience that, but will cost a bit more (with discounts it’s ~$40 right now, with battery) than something like a TS10 or convoy light. TS25 will give you Anduril with RGB aux if you have not tried that either. Imo it’s a really great package, USB C charging, USB C output, good magnet, 21700 cell.
I also recommend something in 519A because if you’re not quite blown away by the default coloring, they’re easy to dedome (which makes them warmer and shifts the tint red a little bit) which just looks gorgeous to me personally (although some folks would disagree).
I personally will never order another LH351D light. All the ones I’ve received are green, and I know I’ve heard it’s a tint bin gamble, but it’s not a gamble I’m willing to make. 519A has been consistently wonderful in the 10+ lights I’ve ordered/swapped it in to.
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High cri isn’t necessarily all its worked up to be. As has been said, you also need good tint which can be indicated by a low or negative duv. I’d take a lower cri, good tint light over the opposite. If you’re unfamiliar with cri and duv, stay way from LH351D and SST20 because it’s very possible to get green-tinted ones. Keep it simple at first and get anything with a 519A (or 219B, and TS10 in 4000k is also a good choice). Convoy S2+ or T3 are good budget options.
Years ago I got my first high cri light (I think it has an xp-g2) and I was not impressed - kinda ugly green tint. I thought high cri was overrated. Some SST20 were better, but I still wasn’t all that impressed. Eventually I learned about duv and tint. Now I mod and put 519A in just about any non-thrower light I have.
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