Tips on a flashlight with light for good colour reproduction?

[Steinar]

Hello,

I've been lurking for a while, but I wonder, can anyone recommend a lightweight, LED-based flashlight where the light makes colours appear “correctly”, i.e. more or less as in sunlight? I'm not looking for some floodlight thingie, if the light is nice and white, 10 lumen is plenty. So, does anyone know of something, or do I have to drag around a neon tube? 

Thanks for any and all answers!

- Steinar

[NutSAK]

Tint and color perception is somewhat subjective, but I find that any of the Cree XP-E emitters with 5A tint bins work well for me--especially for accurately reproducing colors outdoors.

Let me look around a bit for something that will specifically fit your needs.

[Spoonrobot]

I think lights labeled as "warm" tints are what you're looking for. Here's an example of the difference but there are many threads over at CPF showing color rendition of the warmer tints.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=255553

[prime77]

I agree with both nutsak and spoonrobot. You want to look for lights that advertise as having warm or neutral emitter tints. You may want to look at the Quark lights from 4sevens or the RA lights. Both makers use these emitters in some of their lights.

[Benner]

I find an incandescent light is the only way to go to get really good colour rendition, especially if colourblindness is an issue.  Every LED I have used, makes things look greyscale in comparison.

[NutSAK]

Benner, have you tried a neutral emitter?

[prime77]

I find an incandescent light is the only way to go to get really good colour rendition, especially if colourblindness is an issue.  Every LED I have used, makes things look greyscale in comparison.

The new warm and neutral emitters are really amazing when it comes to colour rendering. LED technology has come really far.

[Benner]

Benner, have you tried a neutral emitter?

No, send me one. 

TBH, I can't say I have, however, the yellowyness of an incan bulb gives me what I need.

[NutSAK]

Benner, have you tried a neutral emitter?

No, send me one. 

PM inbound.

[Magnus]

LEDs, like florescent lamps, by their very nature cannot have a colour rendering index of 100 like a black body radiator such as an incandescent bulb.

[NutSAK]

LEDs, like florescent lamps, by their very nature cannot have a colour rendering index of 100 like a black body radiator such as an incandescent bulb.

True, but high-CRI LEDs can reach 92+.  Fluorescent bulbs can only reach ~83.

Keep in mind that the OP was requesting an LED with better color rendition.  Though incandescent does in fact provide higher CRI, an LED can suit his needs and fulfill his request.

[Steinar]

Thanks for all the quick and helpful answers! Right now I'm thinking of a Quark 123 and a neutral emitter head, but I will need to do some more research to follow up the tips I've gotten here.

I'm a physicist by training, so I understand the inherent limitations of LED vs ideal black body radiation. I don't need perfect color rendition, only better than a run-of-the-mill white LED, while retaining all the goodies LED brings over incandescent bulbs. One of my use cases is actually as simple as being able to tell the difference between dirt and Aspergillus mold on concrete to check for signs of water damage. This may be hard with a normal LED.

- Steinar

[John]

The closest I came to incan lights was a sundrop CRI led sadly i don't have it now but man the color renditioning is spot on,that said there are cheaper alternatives already mentioned here, and I'd agree anything with a warm tint should fit the bill in fact my ITP EOS A3 is surprisingly warm   

[NutSAK]

Thanks for all the quick and helpful answers! Right now I'm thinking of a Quark 123 and a neutral emitter head, but I will need to do some more research to follow up the tips I've gotten here.

I have a Quark 123 tactical neutral, and I'd say it will probably fulfill that requirement.  I use it outside, and it shows brown/green/red earth colors MUCH better than a cool white emitter does, even though it isn't high CRI.

[Millhouse]

In addition to the emitter, look for a light that allows variable output. If you are doing close range work, you don't want a light that will wash everything out because it is too bright.

I would suggest Jetbeam's Jet I Pro with a Q3-5A emitter. You can select from 2-145 lumens.

4Sevens Quark series would also be suitable, but I think they no longer have any with neutral emitters left.

[thebullfrog]

I'd love to find an LED with decent color rendition. Last week while taking a tour of a cave I realized just how terrible my Fenix L0D is (it was the only thing I had at the time). The yellow/brown cave walls looked blue and grey. The guide's Mag actually made me jealous. Never thought I'd be jealous of a damn Maglite lol.