P43 green or P45 white — which phosphor to choose
Phosphor choice is the most visible — in the literal sense — decision you make when ordering a tube. P43 produces the traditional green image, P45 a warm white-grey image. At very similar prices, the question recurs: which to choose?
What physics says
P43 (yellow-green) emits at 543 nm — the wavelength of maximum human eye sensitivity. At equivalent luminance, a P43 image appears brighter than a P45 image.
P45 (warm white-grey) emits in a wide band centred at 555 nm with red and blue components. The image is perceived as more «natural», close to photographic black-and-white. Less eye fatigue over time, according to several studies (US Army NSRDEC 2018, USMC 2021).
In the field — three nights of testing
January 2026, three comparative nights in the Vosges forest, with two LAB-NVS units configured identically except for the phosphor. Conditions: overcast sky, no moon, temperature −4°C to +2°C.
Night 1 — Patrol in undergrowth
P43 immediately brighter, ground reading easier for the first hour. After two hours, perceptible eye fatigue — green afterimage on removing the tube that took 30+ seconds to fade. P45 more «cinematic», less immediate reading but no fatigue after four continuous hours.
Night 2 — Static observation
A wash on detection. P45 shows texture variations (bark vs leaves vs rock) with more nuance — the grey scale has more perceived bits. P43 flattens nuances but offers more overall contrast.
Night 3 — Alternating map reading
Critical test: read a paper map by red light, then return the eye to the NVG. With P43, the transition is harder, adaptation takes 15-20 seconds. With P45, the return is almost immediate — the eye doesn't «store» the green.
Our recommendation
P45 by default, except for specific short use (< 2 h) in very dark areas where P43's brightness gain matters. For operators who alternate between NVG and naked-eye observation, or who do long sessions, P45 is almost always the better choice.
To note: the industry shift from P43 to P45 since 2018 reflects this trend — it's today the de-facto standard on high-end L3Harris and Photonis tubes. P43 remains available and an excellent choice, but is progressively ceasing to be the reference.