What is the best LED light? Opinions

[skammer]

Using a red light to preserve your night vision might be useful on some occasions. You'll lose color perception - everything will be in shades of red. The light should also be somewhat dim or strictly in a certain area of wavelength for preserving nv. I guess it's up to you if you find this option necessary. Green light does not preserve night vision (nor does blue, or any other color except red).

Not true.

Matter of fact the airforce has switched to low power white light (still preserving night vision)for map reading as colored lights make the same color on maps disappear.

The army is switching overt to blue light (still preserving night vision) for similar reasons as well that blue is easier on the eyes than red. Colored lights are not just used for night vision protection but also the enemy cant see colored lights as easy as white protecting soldiers steath in the dark.

Skam

 

[Peter La]

Would you guys go for red LED or blue LED?

 

[Will]

Not true.

Matter of fact the airforce has switched to low power white light (still preserving night vision)for map reading as colored lights make the same color on maps disappear.

The army is switching overt to blue light (still preserving night vision) for similar reasons as well that blue is easier on the eyes than red. Colored lights are not just used for night vision protection but also the enemy cant see colored lights as easy as white protecting soldiers steath in the dark.

Skam

So what is your suggestion (color)for a small back-up Photon-type light? I figure if that is all I have in the dark, I will want to preserve my night vision as best as possible, and only use the light when absolutly necessary. This would be little things like map reading, sorting gear, tying knots and like while climbing or setting up rapels. I think white will give most light, but then when it goes off, I will be more blinded. I suppose I can get a red and a green and figure it out for myself, sice the lights are not expensive.

Will

 

[Way-O]

Not true.

Matter of fact the airforce has switched to low power white light (still preserving night vision)for map reading as colored lights make the same color on maps disappear.

The army is switching overt to blue light (still preserving night vision) for similar reasons as well that blue is easier on the eyes than red. Colored lights are not just used for night vision protection but also the enemy cant see colored lights as easy as white protecting soldiers steath in the dark.

Skam

Well this contradicts my knowledge on the subject.

(Further reading: I found this page which explains in pretty simple terms the mechanism as I have understood it.)

A dim white light would make you lose some night vision, but probably not all, especially if used only briefly. As stated, maps can be properly read only in white light, so a dim white would be an obvious compromise. Could this be the case?

As to blue light... I was stationed in a field kitchen when I was doing my mandatory Defence Forces service. Our towable kitchen had a dim blue light for use in the night time. From experience, it did not preserve night vision. We were even told that it's purpose was to add stealth. The manufacturer refers to it as camouflange lighting (sic). It was too dim to be useful, so eventually we just used the normal lighting and made sure there were no light spills.

 

[Will]

Well this contradicts my knowledge on the subject.

(Further reading: I found this page which explains in pretty simple terms the mechanism as I have understood it.)

A dim white light would make you lose some night vision, but probably not all, especially if used only briefly. As stated, maps can be properly read only in white light, so a dim white would be an obvious compromise. Could this be the case?

As to blue light... I was stationed in a field kitchen when I was doing my mandatory Defence Forces service. Our towable kitchen had a dim blue light for use in the night time. From experience, it did not preserve night vision. We were even told that it's purpose was to add stealth. The manufacturer refers to it as camouflange lighting (sic). It was too dim to be useful, so eventually we just used the normal lighting and made sure there were no light spills.

If red is the best choice for preserving night vision, and white for brightness, and true color, what are the advantages of the other colors? Is it just for nightvision compatability, or is green a comprimize between red and white? I have never heard of green being better than red, but I am sure i have heard/read of it being equal to red, or at least almost as good for preserving night vision while being brighter. I think also that animals can't see green light which might be an advatage while hunting at night.

 

[featherstone45]

I have, carry, use, love, and highly recommend the XO3. It rocks. Its beam competes neck-and-neck with my beloved SureFire E2e. I love the Inova product line.

Inova, however, has yet to produce a light with a body as compact as one of the SureFire Elites -- E1e or E2e -- and still throw a beam like no one's business. The XO3 might just edge out the E2e on overall beam whiteness and throw, but I can't slip the XO3 into the pocket of my blazer or my khakis. The E2e gets the top grade for carryability.

Sure I love my X1, X5T, and XO3, but I'm not leaving my E2e or E1e behind, either.

Cardimon,

I have a question about the E2e, How long does the bulb last before it burns out and need changing? Sure is a cool looking little light, might have to pick one up.
Thanks..............

 

[cardimon]

Cardimon,

I have a question about the E2e, How long does the bulb last before it burns out and need changing? Sure is a cool looking little light, might have to pick one up.
Thanks..............

I'm not sure. I've had mine for about two years now. No problems. Longest time running has been about 30 minutes. Usually only a minute or two here and there.

SUREFIRE EXECUTIVE E2 may give you a better idea.

 

[Michael_Aos]

I haven't re-read this whole thread, but if you haven't already, check out the Surefire E2O-L.

It's the E2, Outdoorsman, LED version. 3W, 6hrs.

Mike

 

[skammer]

Well this contradicts my knowledge on the subject.

(Further reading: I found this page which explains in pretty simple terms the mechanism as I have understood it.)

A dim white light would make you lose some night vision, but probably not all, especially if used only briefly. As stated, maps can be properly read only in white light, so a dim white would be an obvious compromise. Could this be the case?

As to blue light... I was stationed in a field kitchen when I was doing my mandatory Defence Forces service. Our towable kitchen had a dim blue light for use in the night time. From experience, it did not preserve night vision. We were even told that it's purpose was to add stealth. The manufacturer refers to it as camouflange lighting (sic). It was too dim to be useful, so eventually we just used the normal lighting and made sure there were no light spills.

YOur source of information is suspect. A flashlight nerd giving anatomical science lessons should be taken with some serious salt.

He is however correct in one reguard. Red does protect night vision better than any other color.

Intensity plays a huge role in the amount of night vision lost. A million candle watt spot light covered in red WILL screw up your night vision no question. It will come back quicker however than another color. Blue and green will protect night vision as well but not as good as red in my experience of using all 3 colors extensively. One must pay attention to the brightness of the light being used.

One other trick used a lot is to cover up or close the right eye while using any color incuding white and your night vision returns very quickly as the spoiled eye hurries to adjust to the good eye.

As for map reading and LED's I believe the best combo of map readability and brightness while still saving some night vision is Yellow or Amber/orange if distance lighting is less important. It will allow you to see most colors on your map without distortion.

My 3 cents.

Skam

 

[Way-O]

YOur source of information is suspect. A flashlight nerd giving anatomical science lessons should be taken with some serious salt.

He is however correct in one reguard. Red does protect night vision better than any other color.

All sources should be taken with a grain of salt, you and me even. This flashlight nerd just explained it pretty well imo. I have never heard a reliable testimony to green light preserving night vision, only claims from retailers, and these I take with a tankerload of salt. And of the animals not seeing green, I have heard this too, but not from any 'reliable' source on with any real argument.

In short, a quote from Wikipedia:
Biological night vision works on similar principles. Rhodopsin in the rods of the eye breaks as light hits it. The peak rhodopsin build up time for optimal night vision in humans is 30 minutes. Rhodopsin in the human rods isn't sensitive to the longer red wavelengths of light, so many people use red light to preserve night vision as it will not deplete the eye's rhodopsin stores in the rods and instead is viewed by the cones.

And another:
Rhodopsin of the rods most strongly absorbs green-blue

To a layman, this would sound awfully lot like green and blue are not very good for night vision preservation. And I'm almost completely sure, that green (~turquoise) is probably the color which we perceive as being the most bright. Meaning that if we had a equally bright (by measurement) red and green lights, the green one would appear brighter - and effect as such.

Intensity plays a huge role in the amount of night vision lost. A million candle watt spot light covered in red WILL screw up your night vision no question. It will come back quicker however than another color.

To this I agree. Intensity is a major factor. But filtering white light is not quite the same as producing light in a controlled, specific wavelenghts - as is single color leds. But on this I might also be wrong, so correct me if needed.

Blue and green will protect night vision as well but not as good as red in my experience of using all 3 colors extensively. One must pay attention to the brightness of the light being used.

Perhaps any single color will be better for night vision than a white light, but I really can say from experience that at least blue is no good in practice.

In any case, if red light is the best for the discussed purpose (as you also stated), why not simply use and recommend that. Guess that was the point at first any way.

We went pretty deep in on this subject, and I'm not an expert, really. I still hope our conversation was helpful to Will and everyone else.

-Mikael

 

[spyder8]

UK4eLED 4AA 1 watt light
made for hazordous locations fully waterproof has regulated 20 peak run time


U might want 2 ask ovr at candlepowerforums.com cuz there are a lot of toipis lik this

 

[Terrill]

One company I have not seen mentioned is Peak Solutions. I've been playing with one of their little single LED, single AAA battery models and have been rather happy with it. My everyday carry has become a Surefire E2 in a Fatboy bag, the Peak in my pocket and a Photon II around my neck.

 

[cardimon]

One company I have not seen mentioned is Peak Solutions. I've been playing with one of their little single LED, single AAA battery models and have been rather happy with it. My everyday carry has become a Surefire E2 in a Fatboy bag, the Peak in my pocket and a Photon II around my neck.

I carry a Photon Freedom Micro Covert on a lanyard around my neck, along with an ARC AAA.

In my pocket I carry an Inova X5T vertically next to my wallet, with a lanyard attached that hangs outside my pocket for quickdraw capability. The setup works rather well.

 

[Terrill]

I always thought the ARC is a great little light. But they just don't make them anymore. Peak had been making parts for ARC and just picked up were they left off.
For size verus light, the Photons are hard to beat.

 

[numberthree]

I found this light on the ETS page....looks interesting and very minimalist: http://www.9voltlight.com/