High CRI advice / recommendations?

[CrazyIvan2011]

I know there are people who give a lot of praise to high CRI flashlights, and I am looking to try one out for my self....but not sure how many there are out there....that are readily available? (I.e. not something like a McGizmo which seems very few and far between)

My last purchase was a HDS rotary, which I love....and would love to add a 120 clicky high cri to go with it! But I live in the UK, and all are sold out that I can see. I don't know if anyone knows how long Henry's orders are taking at the moment, last I read on here their was quite a wait/backlog. Plus I don't know how expensive it would end up being to get over here...has anyone done this recently for an estimate?

I really nearly just pulled the trigger on a Zebralight sc600w, but after reading some people getting an obvious green tint becoming noticeable, I decided not to. I know neutral tints are not really high CRI, but can be easier on the eyes, so I have been considering even a good neutral tint flashlight if it was nearly as good as a high CRI (if that makes sense).

Anyone have any suggestions or advice?

(ps. Forgot to mention, looking for a edc to mid size, single R123, 2x R123 or single 18650... Not to fussed at this point, all suggestions welcome...anything up to price of HDS clicky CRI)

 

[archimedes]

I think Oveready still have warm XP-G Peak Logans, and will ship international. These are not as high in CRI as the very limited run of Eigers with Nichia 119 emitters, but still higher CRI than the usual cool-neutral emitters.

IIRC, these warm XP-Gs are about 85 CRI, versus about 92 for the Nichias.

 

[Brasso]

Quark and Zebralight both have high cri lights.

 

[Viper715]

I second the OR Eigers there very nice. Also the best HCRI I've had to date is the Lumens Factory P60 it is the best I've seen. The next is a Malkoff M61 HCRI. FourSevens has a good selection of HCRI but all four of mine are kinda greenish compared to the rest but better than a cool white.

 

[twl]

I would definitely do some research of beam shots to see if you can tolerate the warm tints that often accompany the HCRI emitters.
They are often very yellow/brown/red tint range, with variations of that with different emitters. They are not anywhere near neutral.
However, there are some more rare HCRI emitters that are in the 4500k-5000k area,which would be neutral, but I don't know of any lights that they are available in.
"High CRI" is often varied in definition, with some saying CRI of 85 is "high", while I might be more inclined to say "high" is 90 CRI or higher.
"High CRI" means that it is high CRI for that specific tint bin, and does not mean that it is "more accurate" than other LEDs from another tint bin. So in most cases, what you get is a "high CRI" emitter in the "warm" tint range. That may or may not be to your liking.
IMO, this is just a matter of swapping one type of tint distortion for another, and the warm is better with the yellower end of the spectrum, and not as good with the blue end. Cool emitters are the opposite, doing well with the blue, but not so good with the yellows or reds. It's a matter of choice.
To me, the ideal would be a 4500k-5000k color temp emitter with a CRI of over 90, if you could find such a thing.
Most of the available HCRI emitters these days are in the 3000k-4000k range, which is quite warm and yellow.

So, it's a matter of what you like for tint. I would look into that before buying.

 

[think2x]

Also the best HCRI I've had to date is the Lumens Factory P60 it is the best I've seen. The next is a Malkoff M61 HCRI.

I totally agree with the Lumens Factory drop in, I have the single mode in my C3 and it is one of the best. My Malkoff M61LL HCRI tint is "ok" not displeasing but not as favored as the Lumens Factory.

FourSevens has a good selection of HCRI but all four of mine are kinda greenish compared to the rest but better than a cool white.

I heard about this "green tint" issue so I went DIY HCRI on my Quark lights. :devil:

 

[UpstandingCitizen]

See this thread for a list of neutral and high CRI:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb...Available-HighCRI-Neutral-amp-Warm-LED-Lights

 

[chewy78]

I second the OR Eigers there very nice. Also the best HCRI I've had to date is the Lumens Factory P60 it is the best I've seen. The next is a Malkoff M61 HCRI. FourSevens has a good selection of HCRI but all four of mine are kinda greenish compared to the rest but better than a cool white.

+1 on the lumens factory 90 cri p60 drop in.

 

[xxguo]

Quark and Zebralight both have high cri lights.

These two are better. I have read its information. I also want to find one which is suitable for me. It is worth to do some research on it.

 

[eh4]

My only experience is with Mere 85 CRI at 4000K from Zebralight, and I think it's really, really great.
Blows cool white 75CRI away in my opinion, and all I've got to look forward to are better emitters.
Unless you are spoiled on something much better already you will probably really enjoy 3000-4000K 85 CRI, which seems to be the "run of the mill" for high CRI.
I'd love to have a sunlight neutral 90+ led light some day but what is readily available is already so much better to me than the old blue white 75CRI. :-)

 

[BigBluefish]

I have the single level Lumens Factory Hight CRI P60 drop-in and the tint is great...very incan-like. So if you like A2s and E2Es, you should be happy. If you like 6000K cool white LEDs, it's not for you.

The older high cri HDS lights with teh SSC P4 had a pretty good "warm" tint, but a bit too much yellow for my liking, and lacked throw. I'm hoping the new XP-G HDS High CRI will be a bit less yellow.

The Malkoff M61 High CRI has a pretty good tint, warmish, but in mine, just a bit of green. I really preferred the current Mallkoff M61W, and kept that and sold the M61 Hi CRI.

 

[CarpentryHero]

I have the Malkoff Hi cri dropin and it's great but the lumensfactory dropin is wayyyyyyy cheaper for trying it out. A warmwhite led has a Cri of about 80, Quark Hi Cri are 85 or better.

Definitely get a hi cri, you won't regret the warm tint ;)

Xeno E03 XML warmwhite is pleasant to the eye and cheap too (not hi cri)

 

[Sparky's Magic]

@CrazyIvan2011: Have a look at Jason's lights at Dark Sucks. Hi CRI 92+, 150 lumens. These are very beautiful lights and his site is one of the most user friendly ever.

Good Luck.

 

[deklan]

I have the sc600w, malkoff m61hcri and lumens factory p60 hcri (both single and 3 mode). The lumens factory dropins are the ones i personally prefer, with the single mode being a tad brighter than the 3 mode. With the added convenience of switching to lower brightness levels as needed, the 3 mode offers great value for money. Grab a now discontinued surefire c2 or z2 host and you will have a terrific combo to last you a long time :)

 

[Harry999]

Based on the advice in this thread I have ordered two Lumens Factory HCRI drop ins. One to use with 2xCR123A or 1x18650 and the other lower voltage one to go on my Surefire E2LAA. I'm looking forward to trying these out. I love HCRI tints.

 

[BigBluefish]

Based on the advice in this thread I have ordered two Lumens Factory HCRI drop ins. One to use with 2xCR123A or 1x18650 and the other lower voltage one to go on my Surefire E2LAA. I'm looking forward to trying these out. I love HCRI tints.

Don't forget, with the Lumens Factory E-series modules, you need a Lumens Facorty E-Series head, as well. Their drop-ins won't fit in a Surefire incan E-series head.

 

[eh4]

Crap, will they fit into a Malkoff VME head?

 

[troelskc]

I second the OR Eigers there very nice. Also the best HCRI I've had to date is the Lumens Factory P60 it is the best I've seen. The next is a Malkoff M61 HCRI. FourSevens has a good selection of HCRI but all four of mine are kinda greenish compared to the rest but better than a cool white.

I just got the Lumens Factory 3-mode drop-in. I only draws 0.3A @ 1 x 18650. How are your experiences about this drop-in and required voltage for max output?
Lumens Factory states a max output of 1 A.

 

[troelskc]

Nailbender makes a XM-L HCRI 90+ drop-in as well. I gets good feedback in the sales thread. I'm thinking of getting one. Any experience?