I have 2 Surefire X300 Ultras. One I purchased last summer, and another I just received today. In comparing the two, I noticed differences in the light output. First, the beam on my older one has more of a yellow-green tint, where the one I got today has more of a white-yellow tint. Second, the hot spot on the older one is smaller in diameter vs the newer one. Total spill is about the same.
I’ve attached a pic here. Kind of hard to tell the size difference, but somewhat noticeable. You should be able to see a difference in tint between the two. Old one is on the left, new one on the right.
Has anyone experienced variations in beam patterns between different X300 Ultras? Thanks in advance!
Yes. That is a function of the variability of the LED manufacturing process. They are sorted into tint/color “bins” and flashlight companies like SF specify what bin they want although they can never be perfectly matching.
So it could be that SF switched bins but judging from my 10 or so X300/X300Us I would say that they are just normal variation within a bin.
Dennis.
Thanks for the info!
Very interesting about the color/tint bins, I never knew it was done that way, and there was that much variation, not that it really matters. I am still amazed how bright these suckers are.
Its hard to tell by the pic, but the one I bought last summer looks just like yours on the left. I never really noticed a tint. Mine is very White/Bright.
I have never really noticed any color tint on my Surefire or Quark LED’s, but maybe I am not looking hard enough. I have noticed a difference in hot spot and spill.
I just picked up my second (but used) X300U and noticed that the hotspot or whatever the pronounced circle part is called is bigger on one than the other. Not sure if it’s just the battery life left or something else.
Normal, within reason, due to LED and reflector manufacturing and assembly variance. Battery life has minimal effect one this unless almost dead.