The Big HDS Emitter Thread

[lion504]

Contemplating a new HDS Rotary but unsure which emitter to choose? Tired of scrolling through the archives looking for HDS beamshots? You've come to the right place. This thread is meant to be a comprehensive listing of HDS emitters, past and present, with a big ol helping of beamshots and opinions.

The Big HDS Emitter Thread is a safe place for tint snobs and CRI connoisseurs. A place where white wall hunting is encouraged and respected. Do you care about a limited run of 14 pieces, duv, black body, R9, bin codes? Yep, post about it here.

Complaining about emitters is fine, encouraged, actually (sorry, it is too green...).

Complaining about enthusiasts complaining about emitters is not fine. Save it for the main HDS thread.

 

[lion504]

Reserved.

 

[lion504]

A good place to start.

I've taken a series of pictures with different WB settings, and manually adjusted the 4500K WB image to match what's closest to my perception. From left to right are NB30, NB35, NB40, NB45 against brilliant white printer paper. If you'd like to see the full series of shots you can find them here: https://imgur.com/a/MJ70XVP

Cheers!

 

[lion504]

GD+ on the right, with a hotspot so bright it steals the show. The beam is very focused. Tint is pretty good on this one!
High Noon on the left.

 

[troutpool]

The two Rotaries that I favor are the 170N from May 2015 and the 200 High CRI from October 2015. Both have Nichia emitters, but the 170 did not test high enough for Henry to call it High CRI. I know there are newer emitters that are also excellent, but I have been very happy with these two.

 

[PoliceScannerMan]

I have a orange cerakote rotary 170N. It is a light that I will never sell. Love the tint and beam. Smoothest rotary I own too. Dunno if the cerakote has anything to do with the action.

 

[wweiss]

Both the NB45 and SDR50 are great color renderers. Trouble is deciding which one to use when taking both (of course) for a trail walk. Find myself switching every few minutes...

 

[Celery]

Did these come from HDS cerakoted? What emitter was offered for the 170N?

Idk why I like the well-used look of it so much, but I sure do. I bet the first few dings were heartbreaking though lol

I have a orange cerakote rotary 170N. It is a light that I will never sell. Love the tint and beam. Smoothest rotary I own too. Dunno if the cerakote has anything to do with the action.

 

[kerneldrop]

....

I do like that orange. There's some really detailed cerakote designs now...the designs have come a long ways.

 

[WarriorOfLight]

My old compare from 2018 (yes .... time goes by. Did not realized it yet, it is that long time ago). Taken from here.

Now my big HDS Color compare. Unfortunately the Surefire M3 3 CR123 that were not Fresh anymore When I have my Ultra High CRI HDS I will take more time for a better compare.

 

[jon_slider]

LH351d 3500k:

warning
tint comparison are a gateway to buying more lights

my personal favorite is 219b 4500k
for a warm option I like 219b 3000k or 2700k LH351d

 

[Celery]

Well.. now I'm thinking I need a NB45 with my 35 and 40 (and amber) on order.

 

[gottawearshades]

The HDS site now says there's at least a 10-week delay for the high-CRI options. Ten. Weeks. Guess I won't be placing an order right away.

 

[InvisibleFrodo]

I just went on the site and I see that the lead times change drastically depending on the emitter option. Interesting. Maybe they have already assembled heads with certain emitters?

 

[klackey]

I think there must be something to the thought ""just went on the site and I see that the lead times change drastically depending on the emitter option. Interesting. Maybe they have already assembled heads with certain emitters?""

I ordered a UV and it was delivered last week. Betting, they were already "built'. The wait is always worth it.

 

[flashlight nut]

From left to right is HDS 4000k, HDS 5000k, HDS 5700 and Malkoff M31. These were from the special runs 4 years ago.

 

[greatscoot]

My favorites are the Samsung @5000K and the XPL @3900K. I like the bigger hotspot and the tint on the Samsung is fantastic.

 

[desert.snake]

Hope that someday I will see new Cree XP-P or Nichia 319A (or by that time already 319B or C). At the moment my favorite is 219B 4500K.

 

[WarriorOfLight]

Hope that someday I will see new Cree XP-P or Nichia 319A (or by that time already 319B or C). At the moment my favorite is 219B 4500K.

Maybe in 2023 as "Celebrating 40 years in business" anniversary edition

 

[Mr. LED]

I just got today my first HDS, an orange cerakote EDC Executive. It has yellow sticker on the positive contact, so I guess 100 lumens. Color is around 4000, very nice tint. But I can't identify the LED. Firmware is 1.23 so I'm guessing produced between 2010 and 2011.

Please help me identify the LED. Thank you.