Trying to decide between ZL H600fc and H600fd. To be used in a foggy environment.
----
specs:
ZLH600Fc Mk 3
LED: Cree XM-L2 EasyWhite (Typical CRI: 83-85, Nominal CCT 4000K)
ZLH600Fd Plus
LED: Cree XHP50 Neutral White (Typical CRI: 93-95, Nominal CCT 5000K)
--------
I would pick the one with higher CRI, even though it is 5000k
note that the following photos, which are excellent imo, the first pick is about a 6000k led (correction if mistaken please), so it exaggerates the difference you will have when comparing 4000 to 5000k. Also the 5000k Zebra is 93CRI, while the 6000k pictured first below is probably only 70CRI.
CRI is more important than color temperature! Thats my opinion, and Im standing by it with my flame suit ON!
CRI is my friend. It makes less blue glare, because it is a more balanced spectrum, including a higher proportion of red rendering. Red in Fog is your friend also, it goes into the fog, instead of bouncing back at you as glare from a cooler, lower CRI led.
My vote is for the
ZLH600Fd Plus
when using a light in fog, the closer to the ground it is, the better. That means you will have some advantage if you shield the top of the light with your hand, so there is less light aiming upward into fog that reflects to you at eye level. Also aim the light at the road, not the sky.. forgive the stating the obvious.. I can get that way sometimes.. LOL
1. Olight SR Mini, 3x XM-L2 cool white:
2. Custom 3x XP-L @ 4k:
You want to see a "glaring" :hahaha:example of this. In HEAVY valley fog in our CA central valley car headlights are practically useless. The insanely orange sodium street lamps cut through the fog like a hot knife through butter. They seem to be actively replacing sodium lamps now with LED of course
good example, the sodiums are 3000k and have very high Red Spectrum output
the LEDs are 6000k and are very LOW Red Spectrum output and lower CRI and narrower spectrum than the sodiums, which are a form of incandescent, that his a hot glowing metal element that is putting out black body radiation (broad spectrum)
again you see the theory Im suggesting that is a priority variable is CRI, which is why I would buy a 5000k 93 CRI light, before a 4000k 83 CRI light.
LEDs are extremely poor sources of red light, they are much more blue, and are marketed on the fact they are more efficient, that is use less electricity for a give amount of brightness. The fact cities adopt them is for cost savings, not color quality.