The Power Of X
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Check out the NEW LED Database!
The lights listed below are from NAB 2015. We have posted the NAB 2016 results — every brand of LED light at the show, over 160 lights from 65 brands — in our new LED Color Quality database, since we used a more advanced spectrometer. We recommend checking out that database for all of the current LED lights on the market.
The 2015 database is still a very good resource for those purchasing LED lights made during that year. Since LED technology is continually improving, current generations of lights will most likely be higher quality than previous generations of LED lights, such as those listed below. This most likely explains why the below data may not agree with measurements from current models, even if the model has the same name. What is important is the LED diode/emitter within the light fixture, which most likely is regularly updated.
. Pay close attention to the R9, R13, and R15 readings, as these values tend to be weak points for LEDs. The closer these values are to 100, the better your skin tones will look on camera.
I am the engineering manager for Litepanels and I am going to cast a serious doubt on your measurement of the Astra. I cannot comment on sources of error at the NAB show, your logic with the sodiums is sound, but your result with the Astra is wrong. I’ll explain.
We test all of our products to the TLCI “extended color gamut” rating. The Astra scored at an astounding 99/100. I’ll admit that we would normally be around 98 or 97, but the fact is that our custom LEDs we use have amazing color, and they are dead consistent. I would cite our R9 and others but i am on the road and don’t have that info handy. i will say that I have memorized our spectrum and you show a green bump that is not from our panel.
I suggest that you consider re-evaluating this light, or take it off of your site. It is misrepresentative of the truth. But you should prove that to yourself and not take my word for it. I’m sure we can arrange a unit to test, or better yet, come to our office in Chatsworth and you can chose a light. We do not cherry pick, they are all great. That is an invitation.
See http://www.gtc.org.uk/tlci-results/tlci-results-new-format.aspx
Rich.
Hello Rich,
It is great to get your input. We too were surprised at our readings for the Astra.
I have temporarily removed our Astra results from our LED Database page until we are able to retest the light.
Rich,
Thanks for your comments. 🙂 While we were surprised too, our methodology applies the same to all of the lights we tested, and we used the Sekonic C700. So I’m curious as to what the variable would be. We would be happy to retest your light and publish the results. We also have the Lighting Passport, so now we can take the TLCI reading too.
So, I have several Westcott Flexlite panels. Your tests indicate an R9 reading of 78(red?). Based on it’s distance from 100, would I need to make corrections to achieve better results when using these lights, especially for skin tone? thanks so much for the great content, I joined last week.
There isn’t much you can do to make corrections, since many gels for this type of situation only correct color temperature. There are some gels coming to market that correct for some LED issues, but at the same time you can’t add color that isn’t there. The only way is to decrease the other colors so they all balance together better.
All that being said, the Westcott Flex Light is a great light, one that we use ourselves. We also use the Fill-Lite brand of lights a lot which has similar R9 values. We don’t make any corrections for either light. While other lights like the Aputure have much better R9 values, if you are happy with what you are getting for skin tones from your Westcott, don’t worry about it. The R9 value is for saturated red, and so some feel that it isn’t as crucial for skin tones as it is for strawberries, red apples, stop signs, etc.