HDS Systems EDC # 19

[emarkd]

I really try not to come here and show off every HDS light I buy, but I can't help showing this one around a bit. I've been wanting one of these since the second I found out they exist. Its a bit of a "user", definitely not a shelf queen, but its really in very good shape with only a couple of actual nicks. Most of the surface scratches would polish out with some effort. I've already cleaned it up some and put a new switch boot in it, but overall its in great shape. And of course it works great! I'm thrilled with it! :twothumbs

It came as a package deal. Its got the very popular wvaltakis deep carry clip attached, plus it came with the wvaltakis bezel-up clip and the wvaltakis filler plate/lanyard attachment. Awesome!

 

[Tejasandre]

Nice rare bird there

 

[ven]

Just WOW, beautiful

 

[recDNA]

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

Gary Cooper would be better but either way you'd have to pay for the rights.

 

[recDNA]

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?

Why would anybody want a yellow light?

 

[jon_slider]

4500K seems to be the sweet spot for... me.
...
Side by side the High Noon is a little blue

the color temperature that looks white, will change based on the color temperature of the environment that our brain is accustomed to at the time (the white balance of the brain)

If I try to use my 4500k light to work on a car in the sun, it looks too "orange". For someone working in sunlight, and temporarily using a flashlight, while their brain remains white balanced to sunlight (takes 30 minutes for the brain to lower its white balance), a 5700k light will look more white.

Whether a light appears warm or cool, all depends on the white balance of the user's brain at the time.

Why would anybody want a yellow light?

because they are using the light when their brain is white balanced to 3000k (incandescent() instead of 6000k (noon sun).

I like 3000k when I wake up in the dark, at that time I hate how blue 6000k seems.

I like 6000k when I have been in the sun, at that time I hate how "orange" 3000k seems.

"Pure White" is not a single color temperature. There is Pure White when the LED matches (or exceeds) the ambient color temperature that the users brain is white balanced to.

Therefore, in full dark, 3000k will look white

in the evening, 4500k will look white

in the sun 6000k will look white

what color temperature someone prefers most often, depends on the white balance of the users brain, based on the color temperature of the environment they are using the light in, at that time.

I have choices of a 6000k light, 4500k light, and 3000k light in my kit. I change which one I use depending whether Im working on a car in the sun, or looking under the couch in the evening, or camping in the dark.

Choice of color temperature, also correlates with how bright an output is needed at the time. As we move above 300 lumen outputs, Cool White lights are more likely to deliver higher lumen levels. When Im relaxing at camp, with a 20 lumen level, Warm White lights are more pleasant for me.

There is no One light Color Temperature that will look White in All environments. Peoples preference is dependent on their brains white balance, at that time, which is dependent on the color temperature of the environment that they have been in for the past 30 minutes.

 

[Johnnyh]

Kind of like in the old days when sitting around with incandescent light bulbs. Things don't appear particularly yellow to the eye. But if you took a photo with a camera with no white balance, the photo, when developed, would look horribly yellowed. The old film camera actually captured what was the actual color in the room, not what your brain and eyes perceived at the time.

 

[F89]

the color temperature that looks white, will change based on the color temperature of the environment that our brain is accustomed to at the time (the white balance of the brain)

If I try to use my 4500k light to work on a car in the sun, it looks too "orange". For someone working in sunlight, and temporarily using a flashlight, while their brain remains white balanced to sunlight (takes 30 minutes for the brain to lower its white balance), a 5700k light will look more white.

Whether a light appears warm or cool, all depends on the white balance of the user's brain at the time.



because they are using the light when their brain is white balanced to 3000k (incandescent() instead of 6000k (noon sun).

I like 3000k when I wake up in the dark, at that time I hate how blue 6000k seems.

I like 6000k when I have been in the sun, at that time I hate how "orange" 3000k seems.

"Pure White" is not a single color temperature. There is Pure White when the LED matches (or exceeds) the ambient color temperature that the users brain is white balanced to.

Therefore, in full dark, 3000k will look white

in the evening, 4500k will look white

in the sun 6000k will look white

what color temperature someone prefers most often, depends on the white balance of the users brain, based on the color temperature of the environment they are using the light in, at that time.

I have choices of a 6000k light, 4500k light, and 3000k light in my kit. I change which one I use depending whether Im working on a car in the sun, or looking under the couch in the evening, or camping in the dark.

Choice of color temperature, also correlates with how bright an output is needed at the time. As we move above 300 lumen outputs, Cool White lights are more likely to deliver higher lumen levels. When Im relaxing at camp, with a 20 lumen level, Warm White lights are more pleasant for me.

There is no One light Color Temperature that will look White in All environments. Peoples preference is dependent on their brains white balance, at that time, which is dependent on the color temperature of the environment that they have been in for the past 30 minutes.

I partially agree with some of what you've written.
I can see tint in a light regardless of comparison or ambient light. I did mention that tint differences can be more obvious when comparing or under ambient lighting.
There certainly are tints that are more white regardless of time of day, comparison or ambient lighting e.g. 200 Hi CRI always looks a bit warm while the High Noon always looks quite white. Yes, when using a light exclusively our brain will become accustomed to it and auto white balance to an extent but regardless the High Noon will always be more white than a 3000K or 6500K light.
When Hogo said this thing can't be anymore white he meant what he said. Is it perfect? No (what LED is?), but as far as current LEDs go it's quite impressive given it's CCT and CRI. When used solely you could certainly allow yourself to feel there's midday sunlight coming out of your light.
As far as tint preference based on the lighting someone's been in for the last half an hour, I think this has nothing to do with mine or most other people's preference at all.
I generally use my lights outside or inside when there is no other lighting (but not always) and my CCT prefernces are purely aesthetically, emotionally and technically based (CRI, white rendering etc). Basically what looks pleasing to my eyes.
It's like icecream or women, lets say we've got vanilla, caramel and chocolate. I'm not really a fan of caramel but if we're talking women then caramel is generally my favourite, that's not to say I'm not a big fan of vanilla and chocolate either.

 

[Stoneking]

Does anyone know the size of the o-ring for the battery compartment? Henry sells them on the HDS site but I'm sure I could find a whole bag of them for $5 as opposed to just one.

 

[F89]

The more I use the High Noon the more it occurs to me how awesome this LED is.
I completely understand why this is Hogo's grail light.
I may have tint preferences and appreciate different tints in different circumstances but this thing is a jack of all trades when it comes to quality neutral white LED lighting.

 

[Johnnyh]

The more I use the High Noon the more it occurs to me how awesome this LED is.
I completely understand why this is Hogo's grail light.
I may have tint preferences and appreciate different tints in different circumstances but this thing is a jack of all trades when it comes to quality neutral white LED lighting.

Totally agree with this...my thoughts exactly. And I do mean exactly! I was just outside in the back yard with the dog, just kind of scanning around with the High Noon and spotted a young cottontail rabbit that has taken up residence by the garage. He did that "freeze and he won't see me" thing in the grass so I just lit him up a bit and looked at him for a few minutes. As I stood there, It came across my mind just how great this beam is and how my appreciation for it grows the more I use it. Then I come in the house, get out the iPad and see this post! Glad I trusted Hogos opinion, it hits a sweet spot that none of my lights ever have.

 

[recDNA]

Kind of like in the old days when sitting around with incandescent light bulbs. Things don't appear particularly yellow to the eye. But if you took a photo with a camera with no white balance, the photo, when developed, would look horribly yellowed. The old film camera actually captured what was the actual color in the room, not what your brain and eyes perceived at the time.

Middle of the day or middle of the night incandescent illumination has always looked yellow to me. I never prefer it. At night I like dimmer white light.

 

[the.Mtn.Man]

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.

There are a lot of misconceptions in this post. A a white object illuminated by a 3200K, 100CRI source will appear white to the eye, not yellow. Keep in mind that many incandescent sources are considerably warmer than 3200K even though we think of incandescent as always being 3200K. The reason old incan flashlights looked dim and yellowy is because the batteries couldn't keep the bulb at full brightness for all but the first few seconds after turning it on. You need something like a professional television light to see how good 3200K can really look. Trust me, it doesn't look yellow.

 

[Johnnyh]

Middle of the day or middle of the night incandescent illumination has always looked yellow to me. I never prefer it. At night I like dimmer white light.

Well, by "the old days" I guess I'm referring to when there was no such thing as led's or much color choice. Yes, I'm old. [emoji31] Kind of like watching TV when color TV didn't exist. It sucked, but we didn't know it. Likewise, our house lights were yellow, but we didn't know that either. It just was.

But back to HDS and modern times! If Hogo's second run of High Noons pans out, I'll get one. I had planned to gift it to my Son, but now want to use it as a bargaining chip for someone that has an extra 3 Oclock laying around. (I know, fat chance) All this talk has got me wanting to see it in person.

 

[the.Mtn.Man]

Kind of like in the old days when sitting around with incandescent light bulbs. Things don't appear particularly yellow to the eye. But if you took a photo with a camera with no white balance, the photo, when developed, would look horribly yellowed. The old film camera actually captured what was the actual color in the room, not what your brain and eyes perceived at the time.

Incorrect. The real reason is that someone was using daylight balanced film under incandescent light. The opposite would happen with tungsten balanced film under daylight: the pictures would have a hideous blue tint. The modern equivalent is a digital camera set to the incorrect white balance. The camera doesn't have some magical ability to show things "how they really are".

 

[jon_slider]

"how they really are".

everybody is right, at a different time of day
people who love a 12 oClock High, a 3 o'clock High, and a 5 oClock High are allright with me

collect them All!
High CRI for every oHigh...

I propose a Midnight oHigh, with a nice High CRI 3000k Nichia to round out the stable, along with a 4 light bandolier.

 

[the.Mtn.Man]

everybody is right, at a different time of day
people who love a 12 oClock High, a 3 o'clock High, and a 5 oClock High are allright with me

I just wanted to address the common misconception that 3200K looks yellow. It doesn't any more than 5600K looks blue.

 

[jon_slider]

I just wanted to address the common misconception that 3200K looks yellow. It doesn't any more than 5600K looks blue.

Thanks
Ive been trying to say the say thing, with a lot more words

anyway, I agree, they do look blue and yellow, depending on depending on

 

[F89]

There are a lot of misconceptions in this post. A a white object illuminated by a 3200K, 100CRI source will appear white to the eye, not yellow. Keep in mind that many incandescent sources are considerably warmer than 3200K even though we think of incandescent as always being 3200K. The reason old incan flashlights looked dim and yellowy is because the batteries couldn't keep the bulb at full brightness for all but the first few seconds after turning it on. You need something like a professional television light to see how good 3200K can really look. Trust me, it doesn't look yellow.

I disagree.
And a 3200K LED will look orange/yellow.
Just because an LED is rated at a particular CCT there are other things at play in the tint of light it creates. How pure a tint is doesn't simply rely on it's CCT.
Bottom line is the High Noon is a very white LED as far as LEDs go.
You can believe all the misconceptions you like.
As far as time of day and so on and so on means nothing to me or my eyes, a ~5000K LED will always appear the whitest.
I never go for a real cool white or really warm for that matter but I can appreciate a cosy warm tint walking through spooky bushland etc but for general quality white rendering and colour production I find the Nichia high CRI LEDs around 5000K provide the most accurate and pleasing viewing.

 

[F89]

Thanks
Ive been trying to say the say thing, with a lot more words

anyway, I agree, they do look blue and yellow, depending on depending on

Generally depending on comparison with a different tinted light, that said the ~5000K LEDs always appear the most neutral and when it comes down to it I don't need 3 or 4 tints or however many to compliment the time of day or ambient lighting etc.
Some like 4000K or warmer some like cool of 6500K or so and many like the middle ground and they all acknowledge that they prefer warm or cool etc and that is their preference for morning noon or night.
Some, like me appreciate many tints but favour neutral high CRI and if you like to match a LEDs CCT to what you think looks best at 3am vs 6pm then go for it.