Other than convoy, does anyone know of any makes or models of lights that offer stock 5700K R9080 519a emitters?
All my life I’ve been immersed in perfect CRI and 0dUV since I’ve stuck to tungsten halogen lights for so long. Since the 519a was introduced I’ve become more open to LEDs. I always thought I hated “cool” white on principle, but it seems that the real problem for me was that most cool white LEDs just had awful CRI and dUV for two decades, so I’m wanting to give the 519a in 5700K (roughly sunlight) a shot.
I like convoy OK and appreciate that it’s a low risk/cost way to try out the emitter, but I’m curious about what else is out there (I know about Hank/Emisar) since a Google search isn’t super productive for me.
There’s no “right/wrong” answers for LED CCT/tint/CRI reference, it’s whatever you find appealing with your eyes!
I sound like a Kaidomain shill given how many times I’ve mentioned them in the last couple of days, but they do have an enormous range which includes stuff that’s not available elsewhere. I find shipping to be very slow though, my current order I’m waiting on is exceptionally bad.
Do you know about the Getian FC40 in 5000K and the Nichia B35AM?
Those are High CRI and Low DUV, as well, especially the FC40. This LED in 5000K is the perfect white, according to me and this review: LED test / review - Getian GT-FC40 (≈ 5000K, 90 CRI)
The problem ist, the FC40 is a 12V and the B35AM is a 6V LED. In addition, the B35AM can’t be overdriven much because of it’s missing heatpad.
Again, you will find both at Convoy, but the B35AM also with one or two other manufacturers.
Y’know, I was just about to say it was because when I ordered an S2 from convoy quite a while ago there wasn’t a buck driver option for the 519a 4000K emitter I selected, so I had to go with a linear driver. The linear driver S2 I have currently just gets too hot too fast for it to be a really practical tool for me. However, I just checked again and now there is a buck driver option?
So I guess that 80% solves my problem? As nipicks go, I’m also just not really an appreciator of reverse clickies.
Consider the Convoy S21F, which is side switch and lets you try 2 CCTs of 519A in the same light!
Also, I strongly recommend getting a TIR-based light over a reflector-based one, for 519A. The type of secondary optic has a huge influence on the tint and tint consistency of the beam, and all reflectors will give you a greenish hotspot+corona and a pink/purple spill, which kinda defeats the purpose of high CRI.
And as @L4M4 suggested, the B35AM 5700K has much better angular tint consistency than 519A.
Well, not always. The Quad-Optics from Convoy make the 5700K 519A green/yellow, like, a lot. I have several lights with the 5700K 519A and the reflector ones are all fine, just my modded S21A with Quad 519A is green.
Left: S21A 519A 5700K Quad optics, right T3, 519A 5700K
Oof, this is good to know. Do the more diffuse TIRs, like the 60deg beaded, fare better tint-wise? The T3 reflector has a pretty high depth/diameter ratio, which helps it mix tint much better than the S2+ reflector.
All of my S2+ 519A’s look like crap with the stock reflector; every single TIR I’ve ever tried makes it much better. Perhaps there is something uniquely at fault with the shallow quad TIRs.
In any case, the B35AM has almost no angular tint shift regardless of secondary optic type–there is little reason to get the 519A 5700K in its place.
and this review: 