Warmth and High CRI: Ra Clicky and Zebralight comparo
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leukos
Flashlight Enthusiast
I don't think I care much for the high CRI LED that HDS uses. I couldn't stand the white hotspot and warm colored ring to the beam. I found it to be a less true rendering of colors to me. I much prefer the 3000K XPG's for my outdoor uses. They seem to be the closest in performance to a good incandescent outdoors. The high CRI light I had seemed like a step backwards.
1. I too think high CRI is where it is at next.
2. I'd like to have an affordable high CRI.
3. As to die size, surely Zebralight could consider the Nichia?
4. I think the Nichia has an even higher CRI than 93. Something like 97 if I remember correctly?
M
2. I'd like to have an affordable high CRI.
3. As to die size, surely Zebralight could consider the Nichia?
4. I think the Nichia has an even higher CRI than 93. Something like 97 if I remember correctly?
M
Are you thinking to the masses or just with flashaholics/specialist? I have talked with several non-flashaholics about color rendition and how nice neutrals and warms are and it all goes in one ear and out the other, I don't even bother anymore.
All the general masses care about is lumens for the most part, maybe sometimes they will try and balance output with runtimes but tint is a non-issue. I believe high CRI will always be about as popular as it is right now with maybe a bit more jumping on board.
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applevision
Flashlight Enthusiast
:wow::huh2::wow: leukos, that is shocking! Though I do love my warm XP-G Preon (3000K would correspond to the "warms" as designated by 4sevens using the 7A3 or 7B4 bins, it seems), and I use it every single day, I just did some informal testing around my house... To me, the high CRI Ra Clicky is still king!
There is no doubt that initially the warmer beam of the XPG (which, of course, is brighter and floodier--it is superior in almost every way!) is very pleasing to the eye... but once I fired up the less potent and more tightly focused spot (both of which I personally like less), the color rendering and quality of the light from the High CRI really wins the day!
What I want to do is repeat the test with a neutral XPG and a warm XPG... I still think that there is something magical about the "depth" of looking at something with the high CRI beam... but I could be wrong. The "more lux = better color" issue brought up by vvs is also somewhat dispelled by this comparison... More work needs to be done on this, but perhaps you had a bad sample unit?
In sum, for me at least, the high CRI is beating out the warmer, brighter, and more pleasing beam-shape light, which is frankly amazing.
Nice! I'm not sure if they considered the Nichia... but that would be amazing!
As far as I can tell, the Nichia 083 (the one used in the Sundrop) is only about 92 (see here), so the Ra Clicky technically is superior at 93. [Though, to be complete, McGizmo shows another reading from his integrating sphere that lists the Nichia 083B at 95.7 here.]
Now, a fellow CPF member (who will remain anonymous unless he wishes to post here), mentioned to me via a PM that he was actually disappointed with the coolness of the Sundrop's beam and prefers the Ra Clicky. I'd love to see a comparison between these lights!
I think there is MORE truth in that!
Agreed... but like many measures of quality, the masses will eventually get it if we experts (hee hee!) keep on thinking/talking/writing/buying these types of lights, eh?
kaichu dento
Flashaholic
You may want to get someone to replace the emitter in your MiNi CR2. The warm version they made has the same beautiful beam, but is my present favorite right now, even over my high CRI Clicky! I'm carrying the warm AA MiNi, but have a CR2 version to match, and just love it. The Ti MiNi's don't get carried due to the tint, but I'm going to eventually have them modded.To the Beamshots!
First, the players: From L->R: Ra Clicky High CRI, the Proton Pro (newest edition), Zebralight SC50w, and the 4Sevens MiNi CR2 (my EDC of EDCs!):
And the cool-but-awesomely-bright 4sevens MiNiCR2 (a workhorse, indeed):
oldways
Enlightened
As a former owner of the HDS high CRI I found the tint too brown-orange outdoors. It was nice inside but lousy outside too dim and brown.
The ZL SC51W and H51W is much better outdoors and much brighter.
The ZL SC51W and H51W is much better outdoors and much brighter.
bodhran
Enlightened
I'm with kaichu dento...I have the HDS HCRI and an MD2 with the M61HCRI drop in but the light I'm never without is the Mini CR2 warm. I purchased a spare while they were still available should something ever happen to the one I have. Just a fantastic little light.
applevision
Flashlight Enthusiast
Ohh... I might need a miniCR2 warm...
Hmmmmmmm... Thanks guys!
Hmmmmmmm... Thanks guys!
the.Mtn.Man
Flashlight Enthusiast
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2008
- Messages
- 2,516
I can't agree with that. I thought the high CRI Clicky was a fantastic outdoor light that rendered colors in a way that was very natural and pleasing and really brought out subtle shading. I have a cool white Rotary now, and while it's a great light with a wonderfully floody beam (it looks like a giant circle of light), I miss the accurate color rendering of the high CRI Clicky and sort of wish I hadn't sold it. As soon as Henry puts the high CRI Rotaries up for sale, I'll be the first in line to buy one.
