2nd high quality light

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Karasu

Newly Enlightened
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Aug 6, 2012
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It was recommended I try asking this question in this forum instead of recommend me a light for the more well versed flashaholics opinion so I'm giving it a try :p
My current edc and only flashlight worth mentioning is my HDS clicky.

DSCF0163 by KarasuStatus, on Flickr
However I'm looking to expand my collection of flashlights and get a feel for the variety available. I'm primarily a knife and blade enthusiast but I'm now trying to learn and get into the flashaholic world as well. Looking for a light that would work well for edc and I could rotate with my hds. I typically work in the city and use my light a lot in the shop when closing up or working with the machinery or looking for product in back stock, also I like using my light on late night walks when I get off work. I also go hiking and camping frequently and my hds does fine for that as well. Currently torn between a High CRI McGizmo Haiku, the XML haiku, and the Dark Sucks Prometheus Alpha Ready Made. Can I get opinions and maybe some compare and contrast? Thanks in advance for indulging this newbie CPF!
 
Don't own one but have heard many great things about the Haiku.

My vote goes for the Haiku w/ 119V HCRI.
 
I love my Haiku, it's my favorite EDC light. My review is linked below. Mac makes a heck of a light too; my Tri is growing on me. No experience with Dark Sucks unfortunately.
 
nbp said:
I love my Haiku, it's my favorite EDC light. My review is linked below. Mac makes a heck of a light too; my Tri is growing on me. No experience with Dark Sucks unfortunately.
Click to expand...

For the purpuse I'm looking for would the high CRI work better or the XM-L version?
 
If you want big floody spot of light and don't mind the cool tint, the XM-L would do well. If you prefer a little tighter beam with more throw, and need excellent color rendition, the 119 is going to be your better choice.
 
nbp said:
If you want big floody spot of light and don't mind the cool tint, the XM-L would do well. If you prefer a little tighter beam with more throw, and need excellent color rendition, the 119 is going to be your better choice.
Click to expand...
Forgive my ignorance but I'm having understanding the difference between a cool tint and when a need for good color rendition would arise? No specific examples of tasks with that need come to mind. would it be possible to provide an example?
 
The XM-L will provide more output then the Nichia LED and is available in warmer tints. The Nichia would be more helpful in situations where distinguishing between colors is important. The XM-L (even the neutral white one) has a lower CRI and would make it harder to distinguish between colors unlike the higher CRI Nichia.

Say you are electrician and need to distinguish between many different color wires. The Nichia would be better for this task.

IMO, a neutral white beam just looks nicer in general (warm white is a bit too yellow for me).
 
how much is the output variation between the two? is it negligible?
 
For camping I would go with the 119... Color rendition can be pretty important when preparing food too (especially meat). The better color rendition can also make a difference when treating medical emergencies. Might also help with identifying wildlife. Could mean the difference between a poisonous snake or a non poisonous variety. Cool white tints can sometimes wash out colors... When you're in the woods surrounded by greenery it can sometimes work against you when looking for something in particular (something you have dropped or lost maybe).

Just some examples... I'm sure there is more I didn't think of.

In the city I like cooler tints. They can appear brighter sometimes due to the atmospheric lights around me. Color rendition isn't always as important to me in the city due to the fact my job doesn't always require it and I often have no problem finding other sources of light in the city if I need to.

I would get the Haiku or look into a Macs custom to pair with that HDS.
 
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Karasu said:
Forgive my ignorance but I'm having understanding the difference between a cool tint and when a need for good color rendition would arise? No specific examples of tasks with that need come to mind. would it be possible to provide an example?
Click to expand...
Since you have your HDS you can see that it provides a "cool white" light, so you are still able to distinguish colors but everything looks sort of cold.
The Nichia HCRI can provide light very similar to sunlight tint so even if you might not need to distinguish colors to such a degree it can be very pleasing to the eyes when view stuff under the Nichia HCRI.

Karasu said:
how much is the output variation between the two? is it negligible?
Click to expand...
The XML's brightness over the Nichia 119 will not be negligible, so if you just need more brightness then the XML will be the prefered choice.

So basically thats the trade off here, either quantity of light or quality of light.

Here is a thread with some pics showing off the Nichia 219 which should be similar if not identical to McGizmo's new Nichia 119V LED:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?336907-Post-your-Nichia-219-4500k-beamshots
 
At 700 mA, the Nichia 219 with the CRI of 92 is around 180-190 lumen, while the XM-L is 260-300 lumen (depending on bin). The Cree is brighter at the same current then the Nichia LED and the output difference should be visible.
 
Karasu said:
Forgive my ignorance but I'm having understanding the difference between a cool tint and when a need for good color rendition would arise?
Click to expand...

I prefer the cool white for the advantages already mentioned here. My Haiku XM-L 2xAA cool is the least cold of all my lights. Very nice. I use my lights mostly for general purpose and camping. The 1x123 Haiku should make a wonderful EDC/camping light in either tint.
 
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Due to lack of need for amazing color rendition I think I'll be going with the XM-L and the High CRI down the road. mostly because I don't have a very floody light atm. Is the XM-L comparable to the "punchy flood" of the XP-G?
 
Does anyone know the actual amount of lumens spat out by the xm-l or Nichia 119? I haven't found need for more light than 140 on my HDS which is something I've realized. So trying to find out the exact/balpark amount spat out by the 2 options, planning on buying sometime this week or next.
 
Thought I'd just chime in and say that for a 'newbie' you certainly have picked winners, and started on the right foot out of the gate. Sounds like you're getting good feedback from others.

I myself am a 'sometime in the future' owner of an HDS rotary high CRI
 
Hi Karasu,

Did not realize you have a thread here. As per my PM to you, get the high CRI. Although it throws better than the XM-L, it still possess enough side spill to be used as a general EDC light. Keep it for times when you intend to go on your camping trips. You will quickly realize the usefulness of high CRI when distinguishing between cooked and partially cooked food at the camp fire. As per the usual CPF saying, get both :)
 
Just wanted to chime in and say if you don't need large throwy light, I love my Sundrop head. I find the sundrop's even dispersion of light to be extremely useful in everyday use. (e.g. navigating around at home at night, close up work, photography)
 
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