Left: Convoy S21E (SST40 5000k)
Right: Emisar D4K (519A 3500K. Domed, Lume X1)
I bought the Emisar D4K expecting it to be an upgrade, or at least comparable to the Convoy S21E. So far, I’m a bit disappointed: despite being significantly more expensive, it feels noticeably weaker and heats up much faster when used side by side.
I’m still pretty new to the flashlight hobby, so this may very well be a case of wrong expectations or a sub-optimal configuration choice on my part.
At this point I’m not sure if the Convoy is simply much more efficient, or if I picked the wrong emitter, driver or general configuration on the D4K.
Are my expectations off, or did I mess up the D4K config?
Also open to suggestions for a real upgrade from the S21E.
by mw_spike
4 Comments
Warmer and better CRI is coming at the cost of efficiency and lumen. Thats just how it it.
If you just want lumen and efficiency then it is not an upgrade. If you want a nice warm light, then most would consider it at massive upgrade.
I got the same D4K and led and it is one of my favorites. It is kinda floody, so if you want to throw longer a better emisar would be the D1K.
The SST40 has a higher efficiency than the 519A‘s, due to the low CRI and high CCT. It could also be the fact that the thermal ceiling set on the emisar is lower than that on the convoy. Convoys typically restrict at 55c, while hanks restrict lower. It can be changed because it’s Anduril.
My god, that S21E is GREEEEEN.
High CRI like the 519a is less efficient, also higher temperature feels brighter. Even if it was the same led on both the 5000K would feel brighter than the 3500K.
Also, the SST40 is more of a thrower, so there you go.
These two set ups are for kind of opposite use cases. The sst40 is kind of a balanced thrower with spill and 5000k in a neutral white. The 519a is high CRI so good color rendering. 3000k is a nice warm rosie color. It’s better indoor use and tint snobs