Thoughts on Narva Contrast+

[LeanBurn]

I look periodically at Candlepower to see the new developments and sales etc, and came across the Narva Contrast+ ( http://store.candlepower.com/bcorenewitna.html ) . I drive quite a bit in adverse weather conditions especially during the fall/winter months, and was wondering how these measure up. I know my eyes seem to prefer a more selective yellow light when the weather turns, so I am considering these. Also, I live in Canada, so I was wondering if these will make mainstream stores like the old Philips Weathervision bulbs did at one time.

Thoughts/opinions? (thanks)

 

[Alaric Darconville]

This post should sum it up.

 

[Lightdoctor]

As previosly stated, some people don't like them. I personally have never seen them, but would think that they would be an improvement over standard color (3200K) in inclement situations. (Narva makes good quality bulbs, BTW.)

 

[Diesel_Bomber]

I, too, am interested in expert opinions on these bulbs. I live in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, in what is very nearly a temperate rain forest. My vacation home on the coast IS in a temperate rain forest. Anything that'll help me see in inclement weather would be fantastic.

Edit: My first response would be dismissal of the entire idea. Just like the blue bulbs, adding a coating that removes light can not increase brightness or seeing. However, filtering out blues will remove a LOT less lumens than filtering out reds and yellows, and it seems to be the expert opinion around here that yellow fog lights are better than clear, all other specifications being the same. While slightly yellow bulbs may reduce clear-weather seeing by some amount, the trade off for better seeing in inclement weather may very well make this a worthy winter/rainy season upgrade for some of us.

So I'm left scratching my head, and will wait on further expert opinions.

 

[-Virgil-]

My comment in the linked post is pretty much the extent of it. The bulb itself is of Narva's normal good quality, but the yellow color doesn't make the grade. It's not the selective yellow we want to see in a fog lamp, it's sort of a pale **** yellow-brown tint. Not consistent throughout the beam, and not something I'd want to drive with. It's unfortunate; I wanted to like them, but I can't.

 

[Lightdoctor]

Narva should go back to producing an old fashioned dichroic gold bulb in the most common fog light sizes (H3, 9006 etc.). I know that some posters on this board don't like them, but they would be better than what is currently available.

 

[-Virgil-]

I don't imagine there's enough of a market for Narva (that is, Philips) to consider it worthwhile.

 

[Lightdoctor]

I don't imagine there's enough of a market for Narva (that is, Philips) to consider it worthwhile.

Unfortunately, you're probably right. The question I have is; why would Narva-Philips go through the R&D to produce something that is inferior to a past product? It seems like a total waste.

 

[Diesel_Bomber]

Is there a Weathervision-esque bulb that is of decent quality and an upgrade for inclement-weather driving?

 

[Lightdoctor]

Is there a Weathervision-esque bulb that is of decent quality and an upgrade for inclement-weather driving?

There's people on-line that sell Narva Azzurro bulbs...they've been out of production for at leased the last 5 years. (US DOT sizes are going to be harder to find...aka the ones with the plastic base, 9004 and up. H4 and H3 can be found.) Just google all weather 900X and it will give results.

 

[Diesel_Bomber]

There's people on-line that sell Narva Azzurro bulbs...they've been out of production for at leased the last 5 years. (US DOT sizes are going to be harder to find...aka the ones with the plastic base, 9004 and up. H4 and H3 can be found.) Just google all weather 900X and it will give results.

Thanks LD.

This thread has cleared up the issue quite nicely for me, though. I'll stick with what I'm running.

 

[Marcturus]

Unfortunately, you're probably right. The question I have is; why would Narva-Philips go through the R&D to produce something that is inferior to a past product? It seems like a total waste.

maybe a patent they had in the drawer which is cheaper to produce than other dichroic multi-coatings?