When will Zebralight use R2 LEDs?

[moses]

With R4s coming out and being announced in at least one major manufacturer's lights, anyone know if Zebralight will be providing any of their lights with at least an R2?

Yes I can already anticipate some responses here who will say the eye can hardly see any difference between Q5 and R2 so why bother etc etc. I already know those arguments.

Would still like to know about the R2 or even R4 option.

M

 

[jar3ds]

i'll believe R4's when i see them but not a min. before...

 

[uplite]

I think Q5 is the highest bin for XR-E.

So...to use R2+ bins...ZL would have to redesign the lights to use XP-E/XP-G: smaller package, larger viewing angle, higher thermal resistance, and no reflector ring.

IMO, don't rush it...take the time to do it right. I'm very happy with the amount of light from the Q3-5A. My only reason to upgrade is higher efficiency. I won't even think about it until there is a neutral/warm tint bin with 50% more lumens/watt @ 350mA, plus a different set of ZL drive currents (for Low-Medium-High-Max) so we can retain the current light levels and just get a longer runtime.

In other words, I'm waiting for the S2-5x. I bet ZL will have redesigned for XP-G by then...

-Jeff

 

[Flashfirstask?later]

I think Q5 is the highest bin for XR-E.

So...to use R2+ bins...ZL would have to redesign the lights to use XP-E/XP-G: smaller package, larger viewing angle, higher thermal resistance, and no reflector ring.

??? ... The Cree XR-E R2 have existed for a couple years now say.

This seller has had R2's for almost two years now at http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=170835 for example.

 

[uplite]

My understanding was based on Cree's XRE web page and XRE Binning spec, which both say that the highest bin is Q5, 107 lumens cool white. No mention of R2.

Did Cree actually announce R2 XREs at some point? Did they document them? Does anyone still sell them?

-Jeff

 

[Marduke]

My understanding was based on Cree's XRE web page and XRE Binning spec, which both say that the highest bin is Q5, 107 lumens cool white. No mention of R2.

Did Cree actually announce R2 XREs at some point? Did they document them? Does anyone still sell them?

-Jeff

Their binning spec is out of date. They did indeed release R2's LONG ago. There was never an official parade so to speak because they were only ever available in relatively small quantities for premium prices. That suited the volumes demanded by flashaholics, but their mass market customers don't give a flip.

 

[uplite]

Thanks marduke. A rare bin for fringe-flash-fanatics...that explains why ZL didn't use it...and why Cree never added it to their public lists.

I'm still holding out for a neutral-warm S2 bin...

...well...maybe R5.

...OK, OK...R4. :duh2: But it has to be neutral-warm tint!

-Jeff

 

[WadeF]

...OK, OK...R4. :duh2: But it has to be neutral-warm tint!

-Jeff

You mean neutral white, like the 5B or 5A tint bins?

Cree XR-E's come in cool white, neutral white, and warm white.

5B and 5A are in the neutral white group. WC, WG, WD, WH, WF, etc, are in the cool white.

 

[uplite]

You mean neutral white, like the 5B or 5A tint bins?

:laughing: I mean "neutral-warm", like the 5B or 5A tint bins.

Cree used to call the 5A and 5B bins "neutral white", but they recently said they were changing their XP labeling. Now 5A and 5B (or if you want to get picky, 5A1-5A4 and 5B1-5B4) are "warm white".

Also plenty of folks, including Zebralight, already called the XRE 5A tint bin "warm". Zebra H501w = H501warm. It's no surprise that Cree moved the line.

So call it "neutral-warm tint" to cover all the bases.... :thumbsup: ...unless you really want a 4x tint bin.

-Jeff

 

[monanza]

I think it would be a worthwhile upgrade for improved efficiency. In fact an XP-G would be particularly nice because of its low forward voltage. So, perhaps next year sometime.

 

[Woods Walker]

I think it would be a worthwhile upgrade for improved efficiency. In fact an XP-G would be particularly nice because of its low forward voltage. So, perhaps next year sometime.

Yea that is what I am thinking. But I would like to see the same 3ish low, 18ish med and 90ish high. Maybe toss in a turbo too. I don't know much about the XP-G but if it is an R4 then there would be what? 35% increase. However I would rather have a cooler longer running ZL at the higher end than say 135 lumens. Unless I am missing something with the new LED.