Nichia and Cree

[Cadmium]

Convoy makes many S2+ model torches, most of which are not UV, so careful when ordering. The "S2+" name alone doesn't mean it is the UV version they make.

https://www.gearbest...voy-S2__-_gear/

Always make sure the S2+ you are getting is a UV version.

 

 

Furthermore, I now find the Convoy S2+ UV torch (which uses a Nichia 365nm LED), and the Convoy S2 UV torch (which uses a Cree 365nm LED).

NOTE: S2+ and S2.

https://www.gearbest...onvoy-UV-_gear/

 

Has anyone tried the Cree version? Just wondering how it compares to the Nichia version, and why it is more expensive.

John? Any info, ideas?

[dabateman]

I don't know if the link you provided is the same as you first intended. But I see two convoys. One is on flash sale for $20. The other is normal prce at $29. The $29 is rated IPX8, which is military grade dust and waterproof. The $20 is rated IP65, which is kind of sealed like a camera might be. I would not drop the cheaper one in a bucket of water. If the other standard is correct, you could use it under water.

[Cadmium]

The first link searches/shows a variety of "Convoy S2+" and S2 torches.

The second link searches/shows the "Convoy UV" torches (S2+ Nichia and S2 Cree).

 

One of the torches has the Cree brand LED (click on the right hand photo showing the LED, it is CREE)

It is an "S2" (no +).

("Waterproof Standard: IPX-8 Standard Waterproof (Underwater 1.5m)"):

https://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_009809861697.html?wid=1433363

 

The other torch has the Nichia brand LED (listed in the specifications below)

It is an "S2+".

(yes "IP65 waterproof standard highly protects your flashlight"):

https://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_277704.html?wid=1433363

 

My point here is that someone looking for one of these Convoy UV torches might get the wrong one, if in fact the Cree LED doesn't work as well as the Nichia LED does... for our endeavors.

I wasn't planning on the bucket test... but of course IF the Cree worked as well as the Nichia then I might get it for the bucket for a little extra $, but I don't know anyone who has compared the two LED's.

I am guessing the Nichia works best for UV 365nm, and I wanted people to be clear about which LED brand they are getting when they buy a Convoy 365nm UV torch...

[dabateman]

The only Cree vs Nichia comparison I could find was here by Johan:

http://extreme-macro.co.uk/uv-macro-lighting/

 

But this is really a Nitecore CU6 vs MTE 301 flashlight test. But still Cree vs Nichia.

He said the Cree 365nm had less bleed through into visible, but was weaker.

So we may not see any difference between these depending on how hard the LEDs are driven.

[Terry]

The only Cree vs Nichia comparison I could find was here by Johan:

http://extreme-macro...macro-lighting/

 

But this is really a Nitecore CU6 vs MTE 301 flashlight test. But still Cree vs Nichia.

He said the Cree 365nm had less bleed through into visible, but was weaker.

So we may not see any difference between these depending on how hard the LEDs are driven.

 

The information from that page is not entirely correct

 

The Nitecore CU6 does use the CREE XP-G2 but that is the white light LED. It has a separate 3W UV LED which Nitecore are very vague about - I have read conflicting reports that they are quite possibly Nichia.

I will ask the distributor to fire off another email to see if they will confirm or deny the Nichia/CREE status and see what they say.

 

I'm going to the distributor tomorrow and I'll grab a P20 UV torch. It has 4 UV LEDs and from what I understand they can be controlled individually meaning you can increase and decrease brightness between 1-4 LEDs

I have found that the Nitecore Tube UV is not enough and the CU6 is at times, too concentrated.

[Cadmium]

Here is an up close and in scale (with each other) comparison of the Nichia LED's in the MTE 301, 303, and Convoy S2+ 365nm UV Nichia version.

Of course, this is no way to compare to the Convoy S2 365nm UV Cree version, to do that I would need to get one of the Cree versions.

I would stick with the Nichia torches, at least until someone compares. The water resistance of these are not going to be a factor in UVIVF unless maybe you are shooting under water, and I don't even know how that works. The Convoy S2+ 365nm UV Nichia torches defiantly have O-rings in all the right places, so I feel pretty comfortable with the way they are designed and built for the elements. I'm not wearing scuba gear when I do fluorescence...

 

[Terry]

The Nitecore torches MT1U, CU6 and the GEM series UV LEDs are made by Luminus

 

https://download.lum...V_Datasheet.pdf