The white end of the color spectrum has a wide range, from 2700k ( Kelvin) up to over 10,000K average.
We see LED emitter in lights pretty much everywhere between that range. Many of the cheapest lights tend to be high in the tint range, ( above 6500 - 7000K.
Higher in the color temp, the lower the CRI (Color Rendering Index) and the higher CRI emitters are usually in the 3850 to 4500 K range (as specified by the X-Rite color system for Printing & viewing Color Spectrum standards)
- What is your favourite tint range for flash lights for general outdoor use ? is there a difference you like for indoor use ? in winter ? or in summer ?
For me its around 4200 to 4500k for most general use, and the warmer 3000k to 3500k lights for outdoors in fog, rain or snow.
I find the higher tints from 6000k and up to “glarey” and above the 7000k color rendering really drops off and looks to un-natural and flat, and to much resemblence to the the horrible-tinted cheap lights we see as the 5mm-LED shower head & 5 dollar plastic lights we see in dollar stores.
XM-L(2) T6-4C, it’s a good balance for me
Not too warm, not too cool. Other than that, I prefer warm white over cool white
It’s seems that on fasttech a U2-4C appeared, the difference on output should be not noticable by eyes but could be interresting if intl-outdoor sell them with notctigon.
I have a light claimed to be T6-4C emiter but it was really yellow, maybe 5 or 6 something, it’s really nice to use too.
Good choice.
That’s much my favourite range & right in the 4200-4500K range, and seems to be the best balance of good CRI and illumination with fog-cutting light. Though i still prefer my Warm White (3600K range) SkyrayKing when boating at night or in rain over the cool whites.
My vote for EDC use goes to Nichia 219A 4500K, if even only for the really great color rendering. For CREE LEDs i very much like the XP-G2 R4 5B4 in my Armytek Predator and the XM-L2 T4 5B1 in my XinTD C8. So i’m in for LEDs in the 4200-4500K range with a substantial emission in the red part of the spectrum. Most other and HighCRI-LEDs lack emission in the red part and seem therefore too yellowish to the eye.
I also have a Citycat with XM-L T4 7C, which is very much like a super bright incandescent light but much to yellowish for my taste. Interestingly though, i very much like this light and it cuts thru fog and haze like a hot knife thru butter.
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…and i also prefer the 4C tints over the (most commonly) 3C ones!
The same for me, BUT! I often see the C-bins produce greenish-yellowish hues in the hotspot with a typical reflector (It collects sideways-beams that goes through much yellow phosphor).
So I would like to see 3A/3D/4A/4D offered instead. I think they are more neutral (more like Nichia 219).
It depends what I am using the light for. For me there is no ‘one tint to rule them all’.
I used my Convoy S5 (XM-L neutral 3B tint) in the shower (which is normally lit by 16W ~80CRI 3500K CFL but I am waiting for a new bulb), and it felt so sterile, horrid light, made the water feel cooler than it was.
This 3B tint is great for urban area walks, not too washed out like the cool white LEDs, not too warm, good range in greens and browns. My Nitecore EA4W is warmer but I’m spoilt by the smaller size of li-ion power lights, so I tend to overlook it.
I will have to do some run time tests on the E09 with Nichia 119 (92 CRI, 3500K) and Ultrafire 10440…
For some ‘working’ tasks I actually prefer the cooler tints that wash out the colour information a little. Maybe it helps me concentrate? It’s all quite subjective.
I have a couple of couple of lights with 5C, and both of them have got comments for how nice the light is. 5c picks up colour out doors well - reds and greens pop.
That puts me in the 4-4500k bracket.
I see Olight have released the S10 in NW due to demand - seems like the market is shifting toward NW.
I’m really liking tints in the 5 region. Specifically I am using a 5A3 which is quite nice. 5A2 is a bit purple to me. 5C1 is not bad too but a bit yellower than I would like.
I still need to try a 5B1 or 4C to see if it is more neutral as the 5A3 is on the warmer side of neutral. I personally like it though.
I really dig the 4c tint ever since I got the Convoy S5 with it.
Really sorry to hear the 4C tint will now not be available on the Starrry Light Group Buy that is coming together as we speak....( here's to hoping that it does materialize)..
I like 4C and warmer, love my T4 7C Convoy. The warmer tints make it feel more like sunset to me, giving a more relaxing feel. They don’t seem to reduce my night vision as much, and cut through the fog that we get frequently well, while the brighter cold tints tend to blind more and are almost useless in heavy fog.
i have been swapping the 4C’s in alot of lights lately.
