LumensMaximus
Enlightened
What's the most popular color, red, blue, green, yellow:thinking: I know it depends on what it's intended use is but if you had to pick one... what do you think it would be:shrug:
Colored lamps
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carrot
Flashaholic
I think red would be the most popular. It has a clear use (night vision) and does it better than white light or any other color.
No other color has such a significant use for most people.
On the other hand, I am highly partial to royal blue. Not because it's particularly useful, you see, but because it is really, really, really cool.
No other color has such a significant use for most people.
On the other hand, I am highly partial to royal blue. Not because it's particularly useful, you see, but because it is really, really, really cool.
LumensMaximus
Enlightened
That's what I thought, going to buy a A2 for a present and was just curious. I also like the blue, never seen the green up close.
mcnair55
Flashlight Enthusiast
Unaided night vision even now in the 21st century is still the subject of some controversy.
For those just looking for an executive answer as to what supplemental lighting should be used to reduced the recovery time back to night vision (dark adapted or scotopic) here it is: a fully dimmable white light! This of course is a very incomplete answer but so are the answers red or blue-green and you should know why.
Lets start with red, specifically what I will call the red light myth.
I believe the myth started in the photographic darkroom.
Until about 1906 most photosensitive material (plate, film, and paper) was not very sensitive to red. Some of these orthochromatic materials are still used. This allowed these materials to be dealt with for a short time under a relative bright red light because the human eye can see red if the level is bright enough. The fact that L.E.D.s (having a number of advantages over other light sources) were economically only available in red for some time has also help to perpetuate this myth.
As more research about the eye was done it was found that the structure responsible for very low light vision, the rods, were also not very sensitive to red.
It was assumed then that like film you could use red light, which is seen by the red sensitive cones (there are also blue and green sensitive cones to give color vision), without affecting the rods.
It takes a while for true night vision to be recovered. About 10 minutes for 10%, 30-45 minutes for 80%, the rest may take hours, days, or a week. The issue is the chemical in the eye, rhodopsin - commonly called visual purple, is broken down quickly by light. The main issue then is intensity; color is only an issue because the rods (responsible for night vision) are most sensitive at a particular color. That color is a blue-green (507nm) similar to traffic light green (which is this color for a entirely different reason). It would seem that using the lowest brightness (using this color) additional light needed for a task is the best bet to retain this dark adaptation because it allows rods to function at their best.
I always use green and not red.
For those just looking for an executive answer as to what supplemental lighting should be used to reduced the recovery time back to night vision (dark adapted or scotopic) here it is: a fully dimmable white light! This of course is a very incomplete answer but so are the answers red or blue-green and you should know why.
Lets start with red, specifically what I will call the red light myth.
I believe the myth started in the photographic darkroom.
Until about 1906 most photosensitive material (plate, film, and paper) was not very sensitive to red. Some of these orthochromatic materials are still used. This allowed these materials to be dealt with for a short time under a relative bright red light because the human eye can see red if the level is bright enough. The fact that L.E.D.s (having a number of advantages over other light sources) were economically only available in red for some time has also help to perpetuate this myth.
As more research about the eye was done it was found that the structure responsible for very low light vision, the rods, were also not very sensitive to red.
It was assumed then that like film you could use red light, which is seen by the red sensitive cones (there are also blue and green sensitive cones to give color vision), without affecting the rods.
It takes a while for true night vision to be recovered. About 10 minutes for 10%, 30-45 minutes for 80%, the rest may take hours, days, or a week. The issue is the chemical in the eye, rhodopsin - commonly called visual purple, is broken down quickly by light. The main issue then is intensity; color is only an issue because the rods (responsible for night vision) are most sensitive at a particular color. That color is a blue-green (507nm) similar to traffic light green (which is this color for a entirely different reason). It would seem that using the lowest brightness (using this color) additional light needed for a task is the best bet to retain this dark adaptation because it allows rods to function at their best.
I always use green and not red.
Hello!!!
I tried many times in my activity (forest guard) friend's green lights. Very hard for my eyes :sick2:. So we tried red colors. It's nice with NVG and seems not to be as frightening for animal than a standard yellow/white light... Anyone can confirm?
I tried many times in my activity (forest guard) friend's green lights. Very hard for my eyes :sick2:. So we tried red colors. It's nice with NVG and seems not to be as frightening for animal than a standard yellow/white light... Anyone can confirm?
^Gurthang
Flashlight Enthusiast
I'll second the red LEDs as #1 DigiKey stocks some orange/red power LEDs
Long while back there were some very nice "gold" LEDs, Nichia perhaps??
Can't take blue LEDs, they're "eyeburners" to me... the Cyan LEDs are very cool though.
Just looked on DigiKey at Green LEDs, very interesting..... They list 11 different wavelengths.
emitters from Osram, Cree, SSC and other less well known makers.
I even saw an Osram "True Green" Dia. Dragon; 205 lm @ 1.4A....
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=475-2586-1-ND
Long while back there were some very nice "gold" LEDs, Nichia perhaps??
Can't take blue LEDs, they're "eyeburners" to me... the Cyan LEDs are very cool though.
Just looked on DigiKey at Green LEDs, very interesting..... They list 11 different wavelengths.
emitters from Osram, Cree, SSC and other less well known makers.
I even saw an Osram "True Green" Dia. Dragon; 205 lm @ 1.4A....
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=475-2586-1-ND
