Inova X5T Question

[Catman10]

Hello,
I recently purchased an Inova X5T with cobalt blue LEDs. I was pretty impressed with it, so I decided to buy another one, but with white LEDs. The white one is a fair bit less bright than the blue one (in all natural light conditions). Does anyone know why this might be? Could it be something to do with the sensitivity of different wavelengths, or could it be with the Light itself. It would seem weird to have that big a difference with a 5 LED light.(also, I have experimented with the batteries and that isn't it)
Thanks

 

[FalconFX]

It's a combination of both. Your eyes perceive the blue as brighter, and the blue pulls a slightly higher current than the white when I tested both of mine out...

 

[paulr]

I believe that white LED's are less efficient than monochrome ones. A white LED is a blue LED surrounded by a phosphor that absorbs the blue light and re-emits light in different wavelenghts (white). The phosphor also loses a little bit of energy.

 

[hotbeam]

catman10

i have both as well. the blue is indeed much 'brighter' than the white. see my beam shots.

 

[Catapult]

Blue LEDs from the same flashlight are always brighter than white. I saw a blue X5T in action, and I was amazed! I've been meaning to get an X5T, but its price is higher than the number of greens I have in my wallet. But some of you don't have just one, but two or more! Maybe if I give up food for a week... nah, I've lost too much weight already.

 

[Catman10]

Hey Everyone,
Thanks for the input and the screenshots. Those screenshots were about what I am experiencing. It's too bad that the white isn't as bright as the blue, but it's good to know that I don't have a defective light. Maybe Emissive/Inova will make a Luxeon based light soon. It's hard to check though, as they haven't had anything on their website for ages.

 

[BigMac]

The only upcoming light of theirs that I know of is the X1.

 

[Catapult]

I kinda wanted the blue because it is so much brighter than the white, but blue, or any other color, does not offer full color rendition, and without the additional phosphor of a white LED, colored LEDs tend to be blotchy and ringy. Funny how I didn't notice that the first time I saw the blue X5T. I guess I was so amazed at the output that I didn't give a hoot about the beam artifacts.

 

[BigMac]

I agree. I hear alot that blue lights put out more ligh tthan white, but IMHO two thirds of the objects around you will just suck up the light anyway (unless you are in a completely blue room), so white comes out on top in my book.

 

[oldgrandpajack]

[ QUOTE ]
Catapult said:
I kinda wanted the blue because it is so much brighter than the white, but blue, or any other color, does not offer full color rendition, and without the additional phosphor of a white LED, colored LEDs tend to be blotchy and ringy. Funny how I didn't notice that the first time I saw the blue X5T. I guess I was so amazed at the output that I didn't give a hoot about the beam artifacts.

[/ QUOTE ]

My Memmory isn't what it used to be. I think I read this fix for the ringy output of the blue LED X5 on the forum. Put a piece of frosted scotch tape over the end of the light.
oldgrandpajack

 

[FalconFX]

You can try WriteRight (for chrom PDAs). It at least allows for more light to pass through as compared to scotch tape, but works like wonders for ringy incandescents.

 

[holtz58]

If you guys think the blue is bright then you should try the green X5, I think it's brighter than the blue.

 

[Catapult]

[ QUOTE ]
My Memmory isn't what it used to be. I think I read this fix for the ringy output of the blue LED X5 on the forum. Put a piece of frosted scotch tape over the end of the light.
oldgrandpajack

[/ QUOTE ]

I know about the use of WriteRite and foggy tape, but then, a significant amount of light is lost through the additional medium. I don't mind the beam artifacts of LEDs, they're not as bad as incandecents. Anyway, white is always more preferable than any other LED color due to its full color rendition and smooth beam without any modifications.