HDS Systems EDC # 19

[F89]

glad you found your happy place

my point was that an SC32 will throw farther because it is Capable of 480 lumens, while the HDS is limited to 250 lumens.. but, I respect your preference

maybe post a couple photos of the throw of the HDS on Max and the SC32 on Max..

HDS aren't throwy or floody, they are a general use well balanced beam. That said they do throw reasonably well with good spill.
On another note, zebralight aren't even close to the same league, they have a terrible UI that I can tolerate for a handy little AA sized standard light or headlamp but the UI really isn't that good at all or that customizable but people still seem to love them.
Anyway what I came here for is to say well done on the High Noon Hogo. First impression is excellent, I'll elaborate later after some use and comparison.
This LED crosses boundaries in a way, cool but not cold, warm but not orange, quite white with little tint variation, high CRI (importantly).
A true neutral by all standards (the new standard?).
I love my 4000 to 5000K with a touch of warm or pink but this High Noon certainly nails it's niche.

 

[doctordun]

I love my HDS's for a number of reasons, but not the least of reasons is that it is not an off the shelf item and it is custom/handmade.
I know that some components are mass produced, but the design and product is lovingly produced by one dedicated person.
It's why I also like my custom holsters and custom knives.

 

[eraursls1984]

On another note, zebralight aren't even close to the same league, they have a terrible UI that I can tolerate for a handy little AA sized standard light or headlamp but the UI really isn't that good at all or that customizable but people still seem to love them.

While I love my rotaries, they are my second favorite UI. Zebralight, IMO, has the best package available. The only two complaints I have about my rotaries are the size and the inability know exactly what mode I'm on. I'm not sure if you've used any of the newer ones over the past few years (especially this year's new lights) but they are very customizable. The latest offerings give you the standard preset with 6 modes, 3 of which you can adjust to your liking within the subset, and two new presets that allow full customization of all six modes in each preset. That's 18 different modes, 15 that you can program, that are easily available at anytime.

 

[recDNA]

The noon has more accurate white and perhaps CRI? But I wouldn't trade my 3 o'clock

 

[bigfoot]

Thought this thread could use more photos. Here's a Rotary high CRI 200 lumen, fitted with an F04 diffuser...

 

[coffeecup66]

Nice pic Bigfoot... and description.
Cheers.

 

[wimmer21]

One High Noon arrived in Pennsylvania. How long till dark thirty?

What's the High Noon HDS? Does it have a pic of Clint Eastwood on it? ;p


Edit: I'm so far behind... just realized this post I quoted is from six pages ago. Feel free to ignore me guys.

 

[F89]

While I love my rotaries, they are my second favorite UI. Zebralight, IMO, has the best package available. The only two complaints I have about my rotaries are the size and the inability know exactly what mode I'm on. I'm not sure if you've used any of the newer ones over the past few years (especially this year's new lights) but they are very customizable. The latest offerings give you the standard preset with 6 modes, 3 of which you can adjust to your liking within the subset, and two new presets that allow full customization of all six modes in each preset. That's 18 different modes, 15 that you can program, that are easily available at anytime.

Zebralight UI is average at best and far from very customizable. Yes you have various levels and so on but you're always stuck with the terrible short press High, long press Low, Double click medium etc etc. It's just not cool, even if it had last mode memory it would work better.
When I think of a good and fully customizable UI I think of HDS or possibly more so Dr Jones lucidrv.
I tolerate zebralight for a tiny AA sized headlamp or pocket torch but only have them because I have a million torches, I could definitely do without them.

 

[F89]

The noon has more accurate white and perhaps CRI? But I wouldn't trade my 3 o'clock

It does have quite an accurate white.
I can see how many may prefer the 3 O'Clock, I might even myself? The High Noon when compared does boarder on cool making the standard 200 Hi CRI appear toasty warm.
I really like the Cree XPG3 5000K Hi CRI as much as I favour Nichia. However, to make that LED great it needs to be behind a Ledil Boom or diffused lens.
The High Noon really is an excellent run and was gratefully well organised by Hogo.

 

[eraursls1984]

Zebralight UI is average at best and far from very customizable. Yes you have various levels and so on but you're always stuck with the terrible short press High, long press Low, Double click medium etc etc. It's just not cool, even if it had last mode memory it would work better.

You may want to look at the newer lights, you are not stuck with short press high, etc. etc. You can program any mode into any level you want. I love Zebralight UI so much because I love e lots of modes and other UI's that offer more than 3-4 modes are a pain to use. I love the Lucidrv2, I just hate scrolling through the modes all the time.

 

[F89]

You may want to look at the newer lights, you are not stuck with short press high, etc. etc. You can program any mode into any level you want. I love Zebralight UI so much because I love e lots of modes and other UI's that offer more than 3-4 modes are a pain to use. I love the Lucidrv2, I just hate scrolling through the modes all the time.

Not keen for whatever zebralight is up to now. I did read about their UI changes but it still doesn't sound good and people expressed that they had issues so you're still stuck with a bad UI, either way zebralight have a long way to go in that regard and while it may float with the budget sector it really isn't even ballpark with HDS and Dr Jones (which can very much be budget depending on the build) etc.
As far as modes go I'm happy with 1 to 3 modes depending on the application, more can be a bonus as long as the UI is good.
I'd say zebralight UI is a pain but never lucidrv2.
Anyway, back to HDS. No complaints with the set up on my clickies.

 

[wimmer21]

I get it now... pretty cool.

"Testing on an integrating sphere revealed these to be as close to noon day sun in temp and color rendition as anything on the market," -Hogo

 

[F89]

I get it now... pretty cool.

"Testing on an integrating sphere revealed these to be as close to noon day sun in temp and color rendition as anything on the market," -Hogo

Yep, but if it did have a picture of Clint Eastwood like on Hogo's holsters that would be really cool.

 

[the.Mtn.Man]

The High Noon certainly isn't for everyone. People have tints they like, and tints they don't like... and there are many, many folks who use lights who have never considered the tint, and think we, the flashaholic few, are crazy to even consider it with the purchase of a light.

That's why raw lumens are always advertised on flashlight packaging, but the lightbulb industry gets it. A lot of LED lightbulb manufacturers have started printing color temperature on the packaging, and some of them have even started listing CRI.

The Holy Grail of LED technology for me is 3200K, 100CRI. Will it ever happen?

 

[the.Mtn.Man]

The only two complaints I have about my rotaries are the size and the inability know exactly what mode I'm on.

What does it matter? If there's not enough light, turn it up; if there's too much light, turn it down. Who cares what exact level you're on?

 

[kaichu dento]

That's why raw lumens are always advertised on flashlight packaging, but the lightbulb industry gets it. A lot of LED lightbulb manufacturers have started printing color temperature on the packaging, and some of them have even started listing CRI.

It's great to actually be able to benefit from what florescent tube makers have been doing for decades! Haven't seen the CRI on any packages yet but if so, I'm all for it. Let the customer know exactly what they're getting so they (we) can make their own choices.

The Holy Grail of LED technology for me is 3200K, 100CRI. Will it ever happen?

I'd sure hope so. I think I'd jump on that run if there ever was one.

 

[F89]

The Holy Grail of LED technology for me is 3200K, 100CRI. Will it ever happen?

Sounds great and I'm sure it'd be a comforting tint but the thing is, for me anyway, will white look white at that tint? The answer is quite likely no.
That's where LEDs like the High Noon technically win, white is white and colours accurate.
Compare the High Noon to the standard 200 Hi CRI, with the warm 200 whites have a warm hue that gives them a yellow/orange tint but the High Noon is pretty close to white.
Even a standard incan light bulb with it's apparent 100 CRI makes whites warm which to me is inferior to a Nichia LED at ~90 CRI that depicts white closer to white and colours more natural.
For the most part though a pleasing tint is what matters and warmer tints are generally more comforting, cosy and often easier on the eyes e.g. standard 200 Hi CRI. The High Noon is more of a "technical tint" whereby it has a better white balance if that makes sense?
Tints when in comparison are usually where extremes are evident however and when using a light without external or comparison light source it will be white balanced by our brain so the warm hue over white of the 200 Hi CRI won't be so noticeable in use.

 

[Hogokansatsukan]

The High Noon really is an excellent run and was gratefully well organised by Hogo.

Thank you, and thank you again to everyone who picked one up. It just started out with me trying to find my personal Holy Grail of lights, and it wouldn't have been possible without the folks here. I'm just glad it all worked out. Shipping is definitely getting easier, though the US post is getting rather greedy! I think I only messed up 2 orders, and those were where I forgot to put a holster in the package, so all in all, I'm getting better at it.
I post a feeler thread in group buys for a second run of these. There won't be any more 3 O'clock Highs. The first and only run exhausted my supply of LEDs so if you have one of those and you like it, I would hang on to it. The High Noon though, for me, is just what I was hoping it would turn out to be.

 

[Tejasandre]

I'm definitely a 3 o clock guy. Unless for some reason a 5 o clock shows up. 4500ish.

 

[F89]

I'm definitely a 3 o clock guy. Unless for some reason a 5 o clock shows up. 4500ish.

4500K seems to be the sweet spot for many, including me.
My overall assessment of the High Noon is this. It does not dethrone my favourite LED (Nichia 119/219A variety in 4500K Hi CRI).
Here's why. Side by side the High Noon is a little blue, the 119 (LED used in McGizmo 119V LE) is a little warm and rosy, they do however render white pretty white and colours are both natural and well balanced.
CRI wise, to my eyes the 4500K has an edge, more natural and life like with an overall more pleasing tint.
It really comes down to personal preference because technically they are both excellent and the new LEDs achieving what they do at a higher CCT is a great development.
However, not to detract from the excellent High Noon, I'm still a fan of the A variety Nichia in 4500K over the B or C.