Color Temperature and Help Choosing 3000K vs 4000K...

Cosmodragoon

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Hi. I'm new and experimenting. So far, I greatly prefer "neutral white" to "cool white", both psychologically and in terms of what I can actually see. I have picked up a few lights with Nichia 219B an 219C that are listed at 5000K and I like them. These lights advertise high CRI and I can tell colors apart pretty well with them. I also have the little Massdrop Brass AAA with a Nichia 219B. It seems warmer and it "feels" very good on my eyes. (I really wish I could find a light that replicated the comfortable 110-lumen high mode of that flashlight for longer run times.) I didn't see a number published for it but one reviewer here listed it as 4360K.

So I was poking around and discovered the Convoy L6. It looks like you can get it with a 4000K LED. I'm not sure what the lumen output will be in various modes with that LED, but it can produce a lot more light overall and I'm definitely interested in exploring 4000K. Then I noticed that it also comes in 3000K. Are there major disadvantages to going that warm? Does anyone here like flashlights in that temperature?
 

wolfey1

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I've tried 3000k in lights but didn't care for it. 4000k is the warmest I like to go now. The warmer you go the more everything looks orange and colors blend to much to make out detail.
 

WalkIntoTheLight

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I have the Convoy C8 in neutral as well as the 3000K warm. IMO, I really like the 3000K for indoor tail-standing. It provides a pleasant room illumination, very similar to incandescent light.

I prefer the neutral for outdoors. It provides the best distinction of colours. The warm is okay, but things don't look very natural with it.

If you have not yet tried 4000K, you should definitely try it before you go for 3000K. You will probably find 4000K plenty warm enough. 4000K is my favourite colour temperature, but lots of people prefer something closer to 5000K.
 

archimedes

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I have a Malkoff WCv5W in 3000K which I enjoy using very much, and there are certainly others on CPF who appreciate output this warm .... I think the recent custom runs of HDS are down to even 2700K this time.

However, I would guess that far more here prefer 4000K over ~ 3000K (or less) and probably slightly even more like ~ 5000K, as long as the tint is reasonable too.

For most purposes, I think 4500K is near-ideal for me, but tint > CRI > CCT in terms of priorities, if we are to split hairs.
 

FRITZHID

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I like the nichia 4000k LEDs for most every usage thus far, save one of my nightstand lights, which has a dedomed xm-l2 3500k (closer to 2750-3000 after dedome) that I like for low level lighting whilst my wife is sleeping, it's a little kinder on the eyes when first waking in the darkness. Jmho. :)
 

Modernflame

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I enjoy 3000K but only late at night and only if the device does not have to compete with other, cooler light sources. If I were to contribute one idea to your search, the warmer lights benefit from high CRI, otherwise things can look a little flat.
 

bigfoot

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Another vote for 4000K. Seems to be a great middle ground, IMHO. :thumbsup:

Not as warm as 2700-3000K, and not as harsh as those in the 5000-6000K range.
 

tech25

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Im with you on this, I find 5000k a tad too cool but still ok and 4000k is good (especially the one in my ZL H600fc) but would prefer 4500k with a high CRI.
For most purposes, I think 4500K is near-ideal for me, but tint > CRI > CCT in terms of priorities, if we are to split hairs.
 

markr6

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Nichia 219b 4500k is my perfect tint.

It's downright crazy that everyone doesn't agree with this! It's almost like people are lying if they have anything bad to say about it.

It really is perfect, middle of the road, good for every application IMO. Truly a "tintless" light.
 

WalkIntoTheLight

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It's downright crazy that everyone doesn't agree with this! It's almost like people are lying if they have anything bad to say about it.

Clearly, you're one of "them", and not to be trusted.

4000K Nichia 219B is the only true answer. All others are lies.
 

staticx57

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Here's on for the crowd. Not all 219B are R9080 so not all 219B are sepcial.

Besides, we have moved on from R9080 now, 5he cool kids are at Rfg00
 

Thetasigma

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Clearly, you're one of "them", and not to be trusted.

4000K Nichia 219B is the only true answer. All others are lies.

Lol, nice. SW40 R9080 preference here too. The SW45 R9080 looks oddly cold and purple to my eyes for some reason, or maybe I'm crazy, anyone's guess is as good as mine...

For the OP, I personally love anything in the 3000K-4000K range. Most of my stuff I carry regularly is 4000K as it is versatile and looks only gently warm in daylight applications and nice and neutral at midnight. I do have a D1 around modded with a 3000K 219C that is just cozy. The best 219C I've seen though, was the 3500K R9050 ones, very cozy, but not quite as yellow as the 3000K. 2700K is getting on the orange side for me with most emitters.
 

Nichia!

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I like the nichia 4000k too! It has Gorgeous tint (rosy tint) l love it. You can say I like all nichia LEDs A, B, C,....etc
 

markr6

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I like the nichia 4000k too! It has Gorgeous tint (rosy tint) l love it. You can say I like all nichia LEDs A, B, C,....etc

I have that in my Malkoff MD2. Absolutely amazing! At first glance it seems too warm, but since there is basically no tint, it's very pleasant. If it were the usual yellow/green Cree at 4000K, it would be horrible.
 
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