HDS Systems EDC # 15

[PoliceScannerMan]

So, what is the floodiest HDS light? I'm guessing any of the new Cree based models?

Surefire's F04 filter fits the HDS bezel perfectly, turns any HDS into floody goodness.

 

[the.Mtn.Man]

I sold my Rotary. It was sweet, dont get me wrong, I just prefer the Clicky interface. Yes, 4 levels is enough for me.

How could you prefer the Clicky interface when can you program the Rotary to work just like a Clicky? That doesn't make sense. You should have kept the Rotary instead just so you always have more options in the future in case you change your mind.

 

[pjandyho]

Awesome! wacbazz or whoever he was is back!

LOL! I doubt he is wacbzz. Anyway, I had stopped reading his always rather long and argumentative posts so I just skipped all the time. It is always arguments and arguments I got bored.

 

[the.Mtn.Man]

It's nothing we haven't seen before with incandescent lighting (which incidentally has a higher CRI), and I was hoping for something new, which I would view as progress.

I think an LED that approaches the tint and CRI of incandescent -- the holy grail of light sources -- but with all the advantages of an LED is progress.

 

[P_A_S_1]

Awesome! wacbazz or whoever he was is back!

:laughing:

 

[Norm]

Move along guys, back On Topic - Nothing to see here. - Norm

 

[nbp]

What exactly were you hoping they would do? They came up with a new UI, new machining, introduced a new emitter etc. Why is this not progressive? I'm curious about what would have made you happy? And also, how much experience with previous HDS offerings you have had to gauge progress or lack thereof.

 

[jimmy1970]

The lack of a HI CRI light in my stable makes me think I need to free up some funds for a SunDrop though. :devil:

I love my Sundrop XR-U but it really is a 'niche of niches' style of light with a very limited throw - only for up-close use or for longer distance flood illumination. Below are a few photos comparing the tint/beam of the Sundrop XR-U 3 speed and the HDS 140 GT. This particular 140 GT has a fantastic tint but looks nothing like the fantastic tint of the Sundrop?!?!:thinking:

My old HDS Hi Cri clicky 80 had a very warm beam but the varying rings of tint and limited output pushed it out of my personal light stable. It had a much 'warmer' tint than the Sundrop.

For a Hi CRI light to be truly valued by me as a 'perfect beam' style of light, it must have a consistant tint across the centre section of the beam - the old HDS HI CRI P4 light did not achieve this in my opinion with a white hotspot surrounded by a very yellow ringy spill. I'm yet to see the new Rotary Hi CRI Cree lights - I truly hope the beam and CRI rating is an improvement over the old HI CRI model.

It's true that everybody perceives colour differently - one thing is certain, the tint etc of the old HDS Hi CRI light looked nothing like the tint of the Sundrop XR-U.

I find the super high CRI rating and sunny tint of the Sundrops' Nichia 083B High CRI LED to be unrivaled. I won't sell it as for close up use, it's the best!!:twothumbs

Here are a couple of bonus photos of my other prize 'metal bodied led device' - a super rare Sharp EL-801 calculator from 1972 - still going strong!!!!

LED technology from 1972!!!:naughty::twothumbs

 

[kaichu dento]

To me the change HDS made is a step backwards, away from natural lighting and toward artificial lighting similar to what we've had for more than a century, although I understand that others have different points of view.

I was hoping for something new, which I would view as progress.

That's a good point of view, albeit still a personal choice and I think it will hopefully be possible that all tastes will be covered as they get better at producing whatever outputs they desire in the manufacturing processes. I definitely think of anything new as progress too, but perfections on the old is progress just the same.

For a Hi CRI light to be truly valued by me as a 'perfect beam' style of light, it must have a consistant tint across the centre section of the beam - the old HDS HI CRI P4 light did not achieve this in my opinion with a white hotspot surrounded by a very yellow ringy spill. I'm yet to see the new Rotary Hi CRI Cree lights - I truly hope the beam and CRI rating is an improvement over the old HI CRI model.

LED technology from 1972!!!:naughty::twothumbs

Even though I'm still happily using an older high CRI Clicky I too wish that it had the consistency across the beam pattern that it sounds like you've found.

Nice old LED pic!

 

[woodentsick]

How could you prefer the Clicky interface when can you program the Rotary to work just like a Clicky? That doesn't make sense. You should have kept the Rotary instead just so you always have more options in the future in case you change your mind.

It might not make sense to you, but PoliceScannerMan may have wanted a simpler flashlight with fewer moving parts for increased durability and ease-of-maintenance and self-replacement of parts. Of course, this is just my guess on why he prefers the Clicky.

 

[smarkum]

So, what is the floodiest HDS light? I'm guessing any of the new Cree based models?

I second the F04 diffuser. . . it is a great fit on the HDS's that I've owned. And, it has the bonus of anti roll!
Hey Dan, it will also fit on the PD . . . you might give it a try and see if it helps make it a little more usable for your needs .

 

[PoliceScannerMan]

How could you prefer the Clicky interface when can you program the Rotary to work just like a Clicky? That doesn't make sense. You should have kept the Rotary instead just so you always have more options in the future in case you change your mind.

One word>>>>> Clip!

 

[the.Mtn.Man]

One word>>>>> Clip!

Ah, so you consider the clip part of the interface? I hadn't considered that.

 

[the.Mtn.Man]

For a Hi CRI light to be truly valued by me as a 'perfect beam' style of light, it must have a consistant tint across the centre section of the beam - the old HDS HI CRI P4 light did not achieve this in my opinion with a white hotspot surrounded by a very yellow ringy spill.

I've noticed this as well. It's especially evident on white walls, but in general use it averages out to a warm looking tint. However, the beam shots of the new high CRI emitter on the previous page do make it seem that the tint of the hot spot is more even which I'm happy to see.

 

[PoliceScannerMan]

Ah, so you consider the clip part of the interface? I hadn't considered that.

Lol, no, sorry. But I took all factors into consideration. A clip is pretty important for me in a edc light. Including gunk getting into the rotary assembly, but I'm sure Henry thought of that and it's sealed pretty good.

It just seemed like every time I carried the rotary it ended up sideways at the bottom of my pocket when I sat down, it was annoying. The rotary carries great in a cargo pocket though...

 

[the.Mtn.Man]

...gunk getting into the rotary assembly, but I'm sure Henry thought of that and it's sealed pretty good.

I emailed Henry about this, and he said that it's designed in such a way that it shouldn't require maintenance, but I do understand your concerns.

It just seemed like every time I carried the rotary it ended up sideways at the bottom of my pocket when I sat down, it was annoying. The rotary carries great in a cargo pocket though...

My clip solution from an earlier post:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb...stems-EDC-15&p=3722755&viewfull=1#post3722755

 

[d_rasp]

I second the F04 diffuser. . . it is a great fit on the HDS's that I've owned. And, it has the bonus of anti roll!
Hey Dan, it will also fit on the PD . . . you might give it a try and see if it helps make it a little more usable for your needs .

Well, too late to try on the PD, but I'm definitely going to grab one for my Clicky!

 

[Girryn]

My hopes and dreams have just been crushed by an overly warm tint..

 

[dixemon]

Ok Guys. You need to take those photos of the beam with a grain of salt. The photos look alot warmer than it really is in actual use. Ive probably owned over 200 lights in my life, And I find this to be one of the most usefull tints Ive ever seen. The color transition of the beam doesnt shift, it is very consistent with a whiter brighter center. I agree that for some of you that need a more neutrual tint, that Henry should offer one more option in his customization choices. However, I am satisfied with the preformance of the Hi Cri XPG thus far.

 

[Bass]

Using the high CRI CREE XP-G for the HDS makes sense. As all the new HDS lights have XP-G's, the same reflector can be used - makes the manufacturing easier. As much as I value high CRI offerings, the potential sales will be much lower as a percentage vs. cool white. I can understand why Henry would want to keep them all the same. It cannot make economic sense to have to re-design the reflector and optics just for a niche, low volume seller such as the high CRI lights. It is great that this option is available at all.

GaAslamp - you obviously appreciate the benefits of high CRI and with the exception of a few drop ins, Don is the only maker who makes lights of this nature. He is the pioneer of using Nichia High CRI in lights and his work is superb. The Sundrop is specialised and comes at a premium but it is the light you probably need to satisfy your requirments. There is nothing else like it.

The advantage of the HDS (LED choice excluded) is that in Rotary form, it is the only continiously variable light that offers a high CRI option. That is a unique feature that no other high CRI light offers.