NS800 is a portable, light-weight and compact color difference spectrophotometer for quick and precise color control. It is easily operable and ergonomic for repeated use over long periods of time. The NS800 is developed with 3NH's proprietary core technology, features separates the light according to a certain wavelength interval, and adopts groups of sensor array to perform sensitive analysis. This design ensures high - speed, accurate, stable, and consistent measurements. NS800 has a compact design, is easy to handle and quick to get to the right colour, even on uneven surfaces of objects.
Key Highlights
45/0 method (45 ring-shaped illumination, vertical viewing)
Excellent Repeatability (ΔE * AB≤0.2)
Inter - instrument Error Control (ΔE * AB≤0.04)
Spectral Value/Graph, Colorimetric Value, Color Difference Value/Graph, PASS/FAIL Result and etc
Large 3.5 Inch Touch Screen Operation, Fully Automatic Calibration
Largest 58mm integrating sphere
NS800 hand held spectrophotometer uses the principle of combination LED precision spectroscopy, separates the light according to a certain wavelength interval, and adopts groups of sensor array to perform sensitive analysis. spectrophotometers NS800 are a combination of the highest metrological standards and modern trends in the use of electronic devices. The vertical design makes the instrument light and easy to use for measuring even very difficult surfaces. NS800 spectrophotometer with higher accuracy is very sensitive to any colors. It not only can measure L*ab value and delta E value accurately, but also can display spectral reflectance curve which can realize color matching function and calculate the real parameters of various color formulas.

In the R&D process, 3nh scientists and engineers measured various color samples from dark to light, white to black, and other standard color boards provided by ISO (International Standardization Organization). The parameters of test results are integrating with international standards.
3nh also analyzed the parameters from Japan, American and Germany spectrophotometers. The differences of L*ab absolute value between them are within ±1.5. Compared the L*ab value between NS800 and Japan spectrophotometer, when measuring any color objects, the biggest L*ab difference is within ±1.0. This is a breakthrough of 3nh high technology which realizes to be fully compatible with international market.

This durable, hand-held 3nh Spectrophotometer is designed specifically for the rigors of on-site testing, with rugged components and waterproof, dustproof, chemical-resistant housings. NS800 spectrophotometer is widely used in plastic, electronic, paint, ink, textile, garment, printing and dyeing, food, medical, cosmetic, industries, scientific research institutes, schools and laboratories. It can measure reflectance spectrum and other color index precisely. NS800 spectrophotometer not only can help to perform color matching and color management studies, but also can control product quality management accurately. The instrument is equipped with high-end color management software which can connect PC to achieve more extension functions.

3nh NS800 portable spectrophotometer serves as a trusted color control tool across many industries:
✅ Plastic & electronics: raw material incoming inspection and finished product color consistency check
✅ Paint, coating & ink: color matching, batch-to-batch difference testing for solid coatings
✅ Textile & garment: fabric, yarn and textile finished goods color verification
✅ Printing & packaging: print color QC and color comparison
✅ Cosmetics, food and medical industries: color quality testing for solid samples
✅ R&D laboratories and quality departments for color formulation and documentation



NS800 works best for flat solid samples such as plastic sheets, coated panels, paper, fabric and cosmetic solids. The 45/0 geometry is not recommended for metallic pearlescent paints.
It supports CIE Lab*, LCh, ΔE, whiteness, yellowness and other common color indices.
Yes, it meets CIE No.15, ISO, ASTM and DIN standards for color measurement.
This type of spectrophotometer is engineered for precise color analysis within the coatings industry and built to comply with global industry standards. For automotive coating applications, spherical spectrophotometers with d/8° geometry or multi-angle spectrophotometers featuring 3 to 12 measurement angles are the mainstream choices. Directional 45°/0° spectrophotometers are less commonly used in this sector.
It refers to spectrophotometers dedicated to color testing, manufactured to meet ASTM, ISO and DIN international standards. Before purchase, we recommend consulting color measurement professionals to select the right instrument according to your sample types and required measurement accuracy.
Spectrophotometers typically range from $3,000 to $20,000, which is reasonable considering they are high-precision laboratory-grade instruments. Buyers should stay cautious during selection. A high price tag does not always guarantee superior quality, and low-cost options carry risks. Some suppliers may disguise simple spectrocolorimeters as full spectrophotometers. Currently, many global manufacturers source cost-effective spectrophotometers from China.
Spectrophotometers formulated for general paint applications share similar construction and functions with those used for automotive coatings. Instruments with d/8° optical geometry are most widely adopted. They can test opacity, whiteness index and gloss. Support for SCI and SCE measurement modes is also an essential feature for paint color inspection.
Fundamentally, a spectrophotometer captures spectra within a defined wavelength range. Color spectrophotometers operate in the visible light spectrum, covering 400–700 nm. All other color metrics are derived by converting the original spectral readings into colorimetric values.
With outstanding measurement accuracy and stability, the NS800 enables enterprises to strictly control product color quality, boost competitiveness and win market recognition.
| Model | NS800 |
| Illumination/observation system | 45/0 method (45 ring-shaped illumination, vertical viewing), Comply with CIE No.15,GB/T 3978 |
| Integrating sphere Size | Φ58mm |
| Light Source | combined LED sources |
| Sensor | Silicon photodiode array |
| Wavelength range | 400~700nm |
| Wavelength interval | 10nm |
| Reflectance range | 0~200% |
| Measuring Aperture | Φ8mm |
| Color Space | CIE LAB,XYZ,Yxy,LCh,CIE LUV |
| Color difference Formula | ΔE*ab,ΔE*uv,ΔE*94,ΔE*cmc(2:1),ΔE*cmc(1:1),ΔE*00,ΔE(h) |
| Other Chromaticity Data | WI(ASTM E313,CIE/ISO, AATCC, Hunter), YI(ASTM D1925,ASTM 313), Metamerism Index (Mt), Color Stain, Color Fastness, Color Strength |
| Observer | 2°/10° |
| Illuminant | D65,A,C,D50,D55,D75,F2,F6,F7,F8,F10,F11,F12 |
| Display Data | Spectral Value/Graph, Colorimetric Value, Color Difference Value/Graph, PASS/FAIL Result, Color Offset, Color Simulation |
| Measurement Time | 1.5s |
| Repeatability | Spectral Reflectance: standard deviation within 0.1%(400~700nm: within 0.2%) |
| Colorimetric Value | Standard deviation within Delta E*ab 0.04 (Measurement conditions: white calibration plate measured 30 times at 5 seconds intervals after white calibration was performed.) |
| Inter Instrument Agreement | Within Delta E*ab 0.2 (Average for 12 BCRA Series II color tiles) |
| Dimension | L*W*H=90*77*230mm |
| Weight | 600g |
| Battery | Li-ion battery. 5000 times within 8 hours |
| Lamp Life | 5 years, more than 1.6 million measurements |
| Display Screen | TFT 3.5inch, Capacitive Touch Screen |
| Interface | USB |
| Data Memory | 1000 Standards, 15000 Samples |
| Operating Temperature | 0~40℃(32~104°F) |
| Storage temperature | -20~50℃(-4~122°F) |
| Standard Accessory | Power Adapter, Built-In Li-ion Battery, User Guide, PC Software, White and Black Calibration Cavity, Dust Cover |
| Optional Accessory | Multifunctional test kit, Micro Printer, Universal Test Compon |
| Others | Provide complete spectrum reflectance curve, Input L, a, b value manually |
| Notes | The specifications are subject to change without notice |
3nh NS800 handheld spectrophotometer with 45°/0 geometry for precise industrial color measurement, color matching and ΔE testing. Ideal for plastic, paint, textile, printing QC.
FAQs About NS800 Portable Spectrophotometers
SCI&SCE are two method in the color measurement. SCI means Specular Component Include,SCE means Specular Component Exclude.
Under the method of SCE, only test diffuse refection and exclude specular reflection. In that way, the test result is similar to object color was observed by human eyes.
Under the method SCI, both the diffuse refection and specular reflection will be included. In that way, the value about the color is more objective. It will not effect by the environment condition.
When we choose the instrument, those elements should be taking into consideration.
D/8°and 45°/0°are two kinds of illumination geometry with different optical geometry design. D/8°illumination geometry is more widely used for the color comparison and measurement of high-gloss materials; 45°/0°illumination geometry is mainly used in printing and packaging industries.
A colorimeter or spectrophotometer should be used to measure the color of a solution. The instrument directs light through the liquid and quantifies absorbance at certain wavelengths. The values obtained indicate the color intensity of the solution and, by default, the concentration of the solution.
The main instruments used to detect color are spectrophotometers and colorimeters (including photoelectric integrating colorimeters).
Spectrophotometer: High-precision option. It analyzes the full visible light spectrum to measure color accurately. Suitable for complex scenarios like textured surfaces, special effect colors, or batch consistency checks in industries such as paint and coatings.
Colorimeter (Photoelectric Integrating Colorimeter): Cost-effective and portable. It uses RGB filters to measure tristimulus values directly. Ideal for quick color difference detection in simple applications. Key Selection Tip Choose based on accuracy needs: use a spectrophotometer for high-precision color measurement, and a colorimeter for fast, basic color difference checks.
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