The SSC beam is hard to replace. If the Cree rings get to you, the GDP version of the EX10/D10 is very nice.
NiteCore D10 & EX10 Reviews: RUNTIMES, BEAMSHOTS, COMPARISONS & more!
- Thread starter selfbuilt
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Excellent review as always selfbuilt!:thumbsup:
Soooo, after all this time since the review, do you like the D10 enough to EDC it over the NDI or do you still EDC the NDI? The reason I ask is I have EDCed my NDI since I got it in December of last year and use it daily. For me, it's the perfect light in that I can adjust the output to whatever I like and know exactly what level it will come on in (head loosened- my chosen level, head tightened- high). However, I've been following the D10 since it was announced and have thought I might want one because of the reliability of the PD system. One almost doesn't need momentary on when it's so easy to just click on, click off with the D10.
My only concern and hesitation for getting a D10 is the fact that it doesn't/can't come on at the same level every time like my NDI, it just comes on at the last level used. At first I thought this would be a deal breaker for me, but now am not so sure. For one thing, the D10 has a much lower low, which I think would be nice. And all level changing can be done with one hand, which is another nice feature.
Your thoughts on my dilemma would be appreciated!
Keep up the good work!
Soooo, after all this time since the review, do you like the D10 enough to EDC it over the NDI or do you still EDC the NDI? The reason I ask is I have EDCed my NDI since I got it in December of last year and use it daily. For me, it's the perfect light in that I can adjust the output to whatever I like and know exactly what level it will come on in (head loosened- my chosen level, head tightened- high). However, I've been following the D10 since it was announced and have thought I might want one because of the reliability of the PD system. One almost doesn't need momentary on when it's so easy to just click on, click off with the D10.
My only concern and hesitation for getting a D10 is the fact that it doesn't/can't come on at the same level every time like my NDI, it just comes on at the last level used. At first I thought this would be a deal breaker for me, but now am not so sure. For one thing, the D10 has a much lower low, which I think would be nice. And all level changing can be done with one hand, which is another nice feature.
Your thoughts on my dilemma would be appreciated!
Keep up the good work!
Although I have carried a number of lights on me as EDC when testing, I now default to the D10 GDP as my main EDC.
Like you, I was a fan of the NDI interface, and had many of the same concerns about switching for the D10. But I find I really like the lower low and ability to ramp one-handed. This really compensates for not having the same preset at all times - it's very easy to adjust. In fact, typically I ramp it back down to low before turning off, so that it always comes on this way. And the shortcuts to min and max are also extremely useful.
As for the Cree vs GDP, I could go either way - but I tend to prefer the smooth beam of the GDP for around the house stuff at night.
Hope that helps!
It does help- thanks! I read your review on the GDP, but still think I'll go with the Cree since I'm
not bothered by the cree rings.
Thanks again!
Just as an update, I got my D10-GDP over the weekend, and had some time to play around with it.
I really do like the beam -- its smoothness is great, and I can't take good enough images to do it justice. When next to my OLight T15 (Q5) the smoothness does make a big difference. I think it's fair to say the pattern resembles that of those SSC P4 lights like the LumaPower LM31/LM33's.
Does it make a difference? IMO yes, particularly at lower brightness levels, when you're trying to illuminate things close by (i.e. looking for something you lost), it's much more usable than the Cree pattern. However, the hotspot doesn't hold as tightly as the Cree and if you're trying to throw long distances, the Cree will beat it hands-down. However, IMO as an EDC close-range illumination is the name of the game. When driven at max compared to a Cree driven at max, IMO the GDP's color rendition is a bit warmer and more "realistic" though it's hard to discern that difference on photo. Also, there is NO blueness or purpleness at any level in my testing.
Something odd that maybe a light guru can shed some... light... on, when whitewall hunting the Cree looks "warmer" tinted than the GDP, which looks really cool white. However, when shining like a wood surface or something else colorful, the GDP seems to display its colors much more realistically while the Q5's portrayal looks somewhat pale.
As far as inductor whine, it is present on highest on NIMH, disappears about two steps down from highest. No big deal to me -- I am pretty sensitive to high pitched noises but this doesn't bother me at all unless I hold the light right up to my ears on max brightness. I find myself mostly using around 75% brightness anyway so it's less of a deal.
The UI is great -- by far the best light UI I've used so far. Easy to switch, rapid switching on and off doesn't activate some secret hidden SOS mode, fully one-handed operation. The grip is also very great -- the knurling is perfect. IMO the D10 is just the right size -- I would imagine the EX10 too small to confidently grasp.
Oh yeah, so far I haven't found any quirkiness with the piston-drive on the factory lube.
I really do like the beam -- its smoothness is great, and I can't take good enough images to do it justice. When next to my OLight T15 (Q5) the smoothness does make a big difference. I think it's fair to say the pattern resembles that of those SSC P4 lights like the LumaPower LM31/LM33's.
Does it make a difference? IMO yes, particularly at lower brightness levels, when you're trying to illuminate things close by (i.e. looking for something you lost), it's much more usable than the Cree pattern. However, the hotspot doesn't hold as tightly as the Cree and if you're trying to throw long distances, the Cree will beat it hands-down. However, IMO as an EDC close-range illumination is the name of the game. When driven at max compared to a Cree driven at max, IMO the GDP's color rendition is a bit warmer and more "realistic" though it's hard to discern that difference on photo. Also, there is NO blueness or purpleness at any level in my testing.
Something odd that maybe a light guru can shed some... light... on, when whitewall hunting the Cree looks "warmer" tinted than the GDP, which looks really cool white. However, when shining like a wood surface or something else colorful, the GDP seems to display its colors much more realistically while the Q5's portrayal looks somewhat pale.
As far as inductor whine, it is present on highest on NIMH, disappears about two steps down from highest. No big deal to me -- I am pretty sensitive to high pitched noises but this doesn't bother me at all unless I hold the light right up to my ears on max brightness. I find myself mostly using around 75% brightness anyway so it's less of a deal.
The UI is great -- by far the best light UI I've used so far. Easy to switch, rapid switching on and off doesn't activate some secret hidden SOS mode, fully one-handed operation. The grip is also very great -- the knurling is perfect. IMO the D10 is just the right size -- I would imagine the EX10 too small to confidently grasp.
Oh yeah, so far I haven't found any quirkiness with the piston-drive on the factory lube.
lebox97
Enlightened
awesome job!
any chance you have same "all battery type" charts for LOW mode?
any chance you have same "all battery type" charts for LOW mode?
Per request, here are the runtimes for first D10 sample for all battery types on one graph:
Don't have as many tests for ~50% modes, but here goes:
No, I don't typically do low modes on anything other than Li-ion, if that. Low modes are problematic to do because they tie up the lightbox too long, and would damage any NiMH cells by letting them run down to zero (I watch the Med-Hi runs to stop them before that happens).
Thanks so much for these incredibly detailed reviews! I've purchased a D10 based on your work, and I'm very happy with it.
While I almost hate to point it out, I see a small typo in the chart below. Looks like the 50% runtime on 14500 should read "2 hr 42 min to 50%"
I only noticed because I'm awaiting my first 14500 cells and wanted to get a glimpse of the performance.
I'm about to PayPal your battery fund--I'm glad there's a way I can support your work for our community.
Thanks again!
Jack
While I almost hate to point it out, I see a small typo in the chart below. Looks like the 50% runtime on 14500 should read "2 hr 42 min to 50%"
I only noticed because I'm awaiting my first 14500 cells and wanted to get a glimpse of the performance.
I'm about to PayPal your battery fund--I'm glad there's a way I can support your work for our community.
Thanks again!
Jack
Thanks for spotting that - just fixed it (press your browser reload to see the updated graph).
And thanks for considering my paypal battery fund! :wave:
lebox97
Enlightened
understandable...
what about doing for one alkaline?
it would be helpful to know how long it will stay in regulation+ if needed (cave or wilderness survival, etc)
what about doing for one alkaline?
it would be helpful to know how long it will stay in regulation+ if needed (cave or wilderness survival, etc)
bluecrow76
Enlightened
Chevrofreak already did a bunch of runtimes on all these different batteries as well. Use the link below:
Nitecore D10 and EX10 runtimes
Nitecore D10 and EX10 runtimes
bluecrow76
Enlightened
Between selfbuilt's review and chevrofreak's runtime tests, I was convinced I NEEDED one... of each! :twothumbs
lebox97
Enlightened
ahhh - WOW!
D10 LOW (from Chevrofreak chart)
Energizer E2 Lithium "6 days 2 hours 42 minutes 52 seconds to 50%"
Duracell Ultra "4 days 11 hours 30 minutes 41 seconds to 50%"
Duracell 2650mAh NiMH "4 days 4 hours 1 minute 15 seconds to 50%"
AW 750mAh protected 14500 "4 days 1 hour 27 minutes 22 seconds to 50%"
SWEET!
D10 LOW (from Chevrofreak chart)
Energizer E2 Lithium "6 days 2 hours 42 minutes 52 seconds to 50%"
Duracell Ultra "4 days 11 hours 30 minutes 41 seconds to 50%"
Duracell 2650mAh NiMH "4 days 4 hours 1 minute 15 seconds to 50%"
AW 750mAh protected 14500 "4 days 1 hour 27 minutes 22 seconds to 50%"
SWEET!
Yeah, Chevro's detailed runtimes are very useful - we generally get close agreement on results.
FYI, I am doing an impromptu non-lightbox low mode runtime of the 2AA D20 on regular duracell alkalines (sitting in my closet as a night light). It's been running for almost 10 days straight now, and still going. Since the D20 low mode is about the same as the D10, I expect we are probably getting toward the end of its run ... we'll see.
Interesting observation on the D10-GDP: When running off NIMH, the inductor whine on high stops just about 15 minutes before the light would lose regulation and rapidly drop down to its 'moon' intensity (on high) -- ironically enough I'm finding it to be a bonus battery indication feature! If there's one thing to complain about with these really nicely regulated lights, they get too close to the bright-bright-bright-POOF behavior near the end of their runtime
Thanks selfbuilt for your input regarding the concerns I had about going from an NDI to the D10 as EDC (a few posts up). I've had it for 3 weeks and absolutely love it! The one handed brightness adjustment makes it better than the NDI and the clip is also a nice added accessory. Really glad I got one. I retired my NDI to my briefcase in the event something should happen to my D10 while at work, I'll have a fantastic main EDC backup.
Long RunTime
Enlightened
+1, bought my EX 10 after reading this. Now got the NDI stuck in my mind
newbie here.... and i've been scratching my head for a few weeks with a small problem.
I got a SmartPD D10 about a month ago and it appeared to be everything I had been looking for in a flashlight. Small, bright, AA instead of CR123A. Strangest thing has been happening though... after a week or so, the battery is dead. The only reason this is strange is because I haven't been using the flashlight. It's not like I've been leaving it on and forgetting about it, it really just dies after a week. A new battery and it works great (for a week). I'm thinking that either a) I am needing to monkey with the thing or b) something it busted with it and I need to send it in for a replacement.
Any of you smart cats have any advice?
Thanks in advance.
I got a SmartPD D10 about a month ago and it appeared to be everything I had been looking for in a flashlight. Small, bright, AA instead of CR123A. Strangest thing has been happening though... after a week or so, the battery is dead. The only reason this is strange is because I haven't been using the flashlight. It's not like I've been leaving it on and forgetting about it, it really just dies after a week. A new battery and it works great (for a week). I'm thinking that either a) I am needing to monkey with the thing or b) something it busted with it and I need to send it in for a replacement.
Any of you smart cats have any advice?
Thanks in advance.
2manybikes
Newly Enlightened
Exactly what kind of battery are you using ? Is it stored at room temperature?
