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4500K or 6000K LED?
Posted: Sat May 27, 2023 10:07 pm
by tardibear
I think I'll get a Motic BA310E with a Halogen bulb (only because the seller doesn't offer a package with LED). I would like to add an LED module. I would then be able to compare and contrast between the Halogen vs the LED which might be fun at the beginning, but I'd imagine I'd just stick with the LED in the long run, especially since there might be a lot of turning on/off.
Motic offers two versions (AFAIK): 4500K and 6000K. In order to save costs, I'd like to get just one but I'm not sure which one to get
Re: 4500K or 6000K LED?
Posted: Sun May 28, 2023 12:15 am
by Scarodactyl
Cri gets better on lower temperature leds. I personally like the 4kish range and dislike the blue cast higher temperatures get but tastes may vary.
Re: 4500K or 6000K LED?
Posted: Sun May 28, 2023 6:38 am
by Phill Brown
If I remember correctly an 82c filter knocks out the blue.
That way you get both.
Usually possible to get a camera filter to drop over the field lens.
Re: 4500K or 6000K LED?
Posted: Sun May 28, 2023 9:21 am
by tardibear
Phill Brown wrote: ↑Sun May 28, 2023 6:38 am
If I remember correctly an 82c filter knocks out the blue.
That way you get both.
Usually possible to get a camera filter to drop over the field lens.
When using filters, will there not be any loss of spectrum?
Re: 4500K or 6000K LED?
Posted: Sun May 28, 2023 9:35 am
by Phill Brown
With a 6000k LED the difference may be preferable.
With incandescent it's usually the other way with a blue filter or ND.
Re: 4500K or 6000K LED?
Posted: Sun May 28, 2023 10:09 am
by Hobbyst46
tardibear wrote: ↑Sun May 28, 2023 9:21 am
Phill Brown wrote: ↑Sun May 28, 2023 6:38 am
If I remember correctly an 82c filter knocks out the blue.
That way you get both.
Usually possible to get a camera filter to drop over the field lens.
When using filters, will there not be any loss of spectrum?
The blue peak in the spectrum of 6000-6500K LEDs is especially strong.
The 82C or alternatively KR-12 orange-brown filter will cut the intensity of the blue peak to a considerable extent. Will make the 6000K spectrum more similar to a 3000K spectrum ("warm-white LED"). Overall brightness of the KR-12 filtered light is reduced, but is still acceptable.
For certain purposes the strong blue peak is an advantage (shorter wavelengths mean better resolution).
But 4500K appears more close to "neutral white" than 6000K.
And blue-filtered halogen beats them all IMHO...
Re: 4500K or 6000K LED?
Posted: Sun May 28, 2023 1:06 pm
by ddy5
My preference is like Sarcodactyl's. My LED microscope light has a variable color temperature, and I quickly gravitated to around 4100°K as most pleasing.