LD15 - EZAA

Kingfisher

Enlightened
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Oct 31, 2005
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298
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UK
I can't make up my mind which one to buy between these two. Done enough reading, and can't seperate them - so I now have to be TOLD which one to buy.

Fenix LD15 or Nitecore EZAA?
 
I can't make up my mind which one to buy between these two. Done enough reading, and can't seperate them - so I now have to be TOLD which one to buy.

Fenix LD15 or Nitecore EZAA?

I am going through a similar think,had my heart set on the Nitecore D10 but not keen because of the problems some members are having and tossing between your 2 and now leaning more to the LD10 or the Lumapower Flashlights: Incendio V3 R5.At the moment the LD10 has my vote,but still toying.
 
I don't have an EZAA to compare but I do have the Fenix LD15.

I liked these refinements with the Fenix:

very high quality anodization
smooth threads for easy operation
ultra clear lens is very nice
very efficient regulation
nice tint and smooth reflector gives a clean smooth beam pattern
2 well spaced brightness modes
anti reverse polarity feature
thick high quality o-ring

One thing that could be improved on the LD15 is the knurling on the head which is not as aggressive as the knurling on the body.
 
I am going through a similar think,had my heart set on the Nitecore D10 but not keen because of the problems some members are having and tossing between your 2 and now leaning more to the LD10 or the Lumapower Flashlights: Incendio V3 R5.At the moment the LD10 has my vote,but still toying.

Trust me mcnair55, not buying a D10 because a couple members had issues is a serious mistake on your part. If you review all the D10 threads on this site (here is a good place to start) you'll find it's a forum favorite that's tried, tested and true. I've EDC'd a D10 Tribute every single day since I got it and I can't praise it's operation enough. Out of dozens of 1xAA lights I own, it's the only one I leave the house with every single day.

That said, the LD10 is what I carried before I had my D10 and it's a great little light. The soft-click UI is a pleasure to use, the threading in the head/tail is smooth and strong, and the light feels sturdy in your hands. I expect it'd survive a fall better than my D10. It has a good beam tint and is plenty bright. I hate the clip - it's the worst of any light I own (in my opinion).

Having owned, carried and used both extensively, the D10 is my recommendation.
 
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I can't make up my mind which one to buy between these two. Done enough reading, and can't seperate them - so I now have to be TOLD which one to buy.

Fenix LD15 or Nitecore EZAA?

Don't own an EZAA so can't offer an unbiased opinion. Just got my LD15, so here's my initial impressions:

good:
- solid build quality, nice anodizing and smooth operation
- excellent beamshot despite the smooth reflector
- brass ring (always visible when battery inserted) looks very elegant

bad:
- hard to operate with one hand as knurling is not all that aggressive
- I REALLY don't like that it comes on High -> Low

really bad:
- when this light is empty, the head will screw down entirely, hiding the brass threads. When a battery is inserted, it will no longer do that. There is only one thing that's keeping your head from screwing down entirely, and it IS the battery. That scares me a lot. I don't want to hand this thing to a friend who's unfamiliar with flashlights and have them crank it down, crushing the battery inside. I know to stop when I hit resistance (even if it does feel a bit weird on a twisty to stop before it's done rotating) but I know people who wouldn't stop, they'd power right through that resistance. To me, this is bad design and it's the reason I won't recommend it to non-flashaholics.

Overall it's a nice little light. I've heard the EZAA UI is a bit easier to understand, but this one uses newer parts and is available for a good price. Let us know what you decide!
 
really bad:
- when this light is empty, the head will screw down entirely, hiding the brass threads. When a battery is inserted, it will no longer do that. There is only one thing that's keeping your head from screwing down entirely, and it IS the battery. That scares me a lot. I don't want to hand this thing to a friend who's unfamiliar with flashlights and have them crank it down, crushing the battery inside. I know to stop when I hit resistance (even if it does feel a bit weird on a twisty to stop before it's done rotating) but I know people who wouldn't stop, they'd power right through that resistance. To me, this is bad design and it's the reason I won't recommend it to non-flashaholics.

This could be a clincher, I really don't like the sound of this.

Thanks to those who have kindly responded....but I'm still struggling :mecry:
 
This could be a clincher, I really don't like the sound of this.

Thanks to those who have kindly responded....but I'm still struggling :mecry:

Not trying to scare you out of it Kingfisher, just offering my experiences. The fact that it's such a battery crusher caught me totally off-guard when I opened the package - I wish I'd read about that before buying it. That's why I'm telling you, so you know before you get it too. :)

It's not a bad little light at all otherwise. Nice and solid, good construction, feels good in the hand and throws a good amount of light. Newer components mean better output and longer runtime. In my personal opinion: get both. BatteryJunction has EZAA's on sale for $35 right now and LD15's for $41. That's cheap and once you decide which you like better, you can sell one on the MP or to a friend.

Good luck!
 
I can't make up my mind which one to buy between these two. Done enough reading, and can't seperate them - so I now have to be TOLD which one to buy.

Fenix LD15 or Nitecore EZAA?

It's all about the differences in their User Interfaces. The EZ AA U.I. is simplier, and turns on in low-mode first. If you need more output, just keep twisting the head. Makes a good EDC light. And is ideal for handing to a non-flashaholic friend during a blackout or emergency.
 
That's where I got mine from. Perhaps Matt was having a clearance sale?

BTW, couldn't be happier with it. It gets very hot, but not uncomfortable to hold if you run it on high for longer than a couple of minutes. But that just means it does a very good job of drawing heat away from the emitter.

This is the type of light that would be ideal for someone used to a Mag Solitaire, willing to put up with a bit of extra thickness, and wants a high-mode for those times when a full-sized flashlight is needed but not at hand. With the gift tin, it would make a nice gift for a non-flashaholic. Best part is, it works well with an e2 lithium primary.:thumbsup:
 
If your thinking with the EZAA is to keep it small I think the QMiniAA is a better alternative. I have both and much prefer its performance. Size differences are negligible.

Geoff
 
Let us know what you decide!

I decided on the 'revised' Nitecore mainly because of the screwdown issue you mentioned. Also the 'camera mount' and a couple of extra lumens swayed me. I know it's an older peice than the Fenix, but I'm happy.

I will post some pretty pics when it comes.

Thanks to all who took time out to reply.
 
I decided on the 'revised' Nitecore mainly because of the screwdown issue you mentioned. Also the 'camera mount' and a couple of extra lumens swayed me. I know it's an older peice than the Fenix, but I'm happy.

I will post some pretty pics when it comes.

Thanks to all who took time out to reply.

Hey Kingfisher, where did you purchase your EZAA? I've been looking for a new one but they seemed to be sold out everywhere. Thanks!
 
Hey Kingfisher, where did you purchase your EZAA? I've been looking for a new one but they seemed to be sold out everywhere. Thanks!

I'd like to know too.... I read somewhere that the EZAA was recalled by Nitecore due to some sort of problem.

Regards

Christian aka

Kaptain " *Fuzzy* accurately describes my memory these days" Zero
 
Just checked a couple of places that used to have them in stock just a few weeks ago. Wow! Sold out.

MarketPlace is usually a good bet if you really want a specific light. Just make a Want To Buy (WTB) topic.
 
Trust me mcnair55, not buying a D10 because a couple members had issues is a serious mistake on your part. If you review all the D10 threads on this site (here is a good place to start) you'll find it's a forum favorite that's tried, tested and true. I've EDC'd a D10 Tribute every single day since I got it and I can't praise it's operation enough. Out of dozens of 1xAA lights I own, it's the only one I leave the house with every single day.

That said, the LD10 is what I carried before I had my D10 and it's a great little light. The soft-click UI is a pleasure to use, the threading in the head/tail is smooth and strong, and the light feels sturdy in your hands. I expect it'd survive a fall better than my D10. It has a good beam tint and is plenty bright. I hate the clip - it's the worst of any light I own (in my opinion).

Having owned, carried and used both extensively, the D10 is my recommendation.

And now I am glad I am avoiding the D10,too many problems on another thread also,so no serious mistake on my part.
 
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