Nitecore D11

[compasillo]

I agree that it was a big mistake (for the American market anyway) to replace instant min and max with instant strobe & SOS. The former would most likely be used every time I use the light and the latter perhaps once in a lifetime.

+1 (not only for the American market...)

I've just received mine this morning and I'm not really happy with it. The LED is a bit off center and the tint is on the blueish side (at leat is not greenish!).
I'm a D10/EX10 fan/collector so this one comes to complete my collection.
On the positive part I have to say the piston is completely compatible with the late new style D10's and it's not stiffy at all in my sample.

Here come some pics... (slotted piston courtesy of JHanko)

 

[Kilovolt]

I got my new D11 yesterday and the first discovery was that the piston action is much softer and smoother than in my early D10 which I have hated with a passion (sticky ring, sticky piston).

When opening the light I noticed that the o-ring is no longer on the piston body but on the pushbutton:

I have an early series D10 and an EX10 so I can't say if this position of the o-ring is new or not.


In any case this light is really powerful and has a nice clean beam. Looking at my latest 1 x AA purchases I have to say that I like it better than Fenix LD15, JB BK135A, Nitecore EZ AA R5, Quark Mini AA. It feels sturdy when you handle it, if you understand what I mean.
BTW I was among the very few who never used the shortcuts because there is no memory to go back to the original level. I love the shortcuts in LiteFlux lights where it's simple to revert to the original level which is supposedly the one you chose as suitable for you in that moment.

 

[compasillo]

I have an early series D10 and an EX10 so I can't say if this position of the o-ring is new or not.

This is the new style piston in the late D10's (ramping and SP)

I love the shortcuts in LiteFlux lights where it's simple to revert to the original level which is supposedly the one you chose as suitable for you in that moment.

I agree on this. A weak point in the D10/EX10's UI

 

[Henk_Lu]

I'm a D10/EX10 fan/collector so this one comes to complete my collection.

I decided that I'll stay with the 10. I got one D10SP, but I don't like it, the ramping UI was part of the hype.

The UI of the D11 is another variation which I don't like. As kilovolt said, a memory is missing in all the different UIs, but the ramping one had at least High and Low, which is now Disco and another Disco, completely useless (my opinion, yes, yours may vary).

 

[DHart]

I decided that I'll stay with the 10. I got one D10SP, but I don't like it, the ramping UI was part of the hype.

The UI of the D11 is another variation which I don't like. As kilovolt said, a memory is missing in all the different UIs, but the ramping one had at least High and Low, which is now Disco and another Disco, completely useless (my opinion, yes, yours may vary).

I have an earlier D10 R2 XR-E and just bought a special run D10 R2 XP-E that has the SP 2nd edition piston (o-ring on the button part of the sleeve, not on the sleeve itself). This special run D10 R2 XP-E with the SP piston is really sweet... the operation is very easy, not sticky, but the light still has the original UI with ramping and short cuts to min and max. I think this is the best version of the D10 yet.

For anyone wanting the special edition D10 R2 XP-E with SP 2nd edition piston and original D10 UI, they are still available from Flashaholics.co.uk. Be aware they are shipping in a box that says D10 R2 SP, but it is NOT an SP, it has the original UI, but is upgraded to the SP piston and the XP-E emitter! Really sweet. Thanks to calipsoii for telling me about the availability of these from flashaholics.

I've also found with the D10 R2s having the o-ring on the piston itself that using a smaller diameter o-ring (or no o-ring at all, if you don't absolutely require water-tightness) makes the operation of the piston really nice and easy! The resistance to button operation is a function of the friction between the piston's o-ring and the body of the light. A thicker o-ring increases resistance, a thinner o-ring reduces it. I actually like no o-ring at all on one of my earlier version D10 R2, which I never submerge in water or use in the rain anyway. 🙄

The original D10 interface is so cool... you can have momentary operation with just a soft press, or soft press for constant on, memory to come on at any pre-set level, two quick taps for minimum, tap and press for maximum, press and hold to ramp up or down, or it can be a twist for on, untwist for off... really an amazing, simple, and versatile UI. Boggles my mind that Nitecore ditched that with the SP and the D11. :fail:

Excellent D10 resource thread:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=255627

 

[bigfish5]

When i read about the d11 i cannot see any reason to upgrade from my old d10. I think my d10 was rated at 130 lumens, the d11 is 140 right? How is that any better? Then you take away the instant high and instant low that i use constantly and add some useless gimicky strobe and sos? That helps. Now i love my d10, it works like the day i got it , which must be close to 2 years ago. With my slotted piston and tritium insert it is a great light. But the zebraligh sc51 " or whatever 51 it is". Sounds like the next real upgrade, 200otf lumens from 1AA now im listening. I have a couple of those real small trits laying around, any place i can put them on a zebralight?

 

[Starchaser]

When i read about the d11 i cannot see any reason to upgrade from my old d10. I think my d10 was rated at 130 lumens, the d11 is 140 right? How is that any better? Then you take away the instant high and instant low that i use constantly and add some useless gimicky strobe and sos? That helps. Now i love my d10, it works like the day i got it , which must be close to 2 years ago. With my slotted piston and tritium insert it is a great light. But the zebraligh sc51 " or whatever 51 it is". Sounds like the next real upgrade, 200otf lumens from 1AA now im listening. I have a couple of those real small trits laying around, any place i can put them on a zebralight?

bigfish5... The D11 max output is 145 lumens. And apparently they went for longer run times in this upgrade rather than a lot more lumens.

Runtimes on one AA:

D11
Output & Runtime Maximum output 145 lumens, for about 1.5 hours
Output & Runtime Minimum output 3 lumens, for about 100 hours

D10
Output & Runtime Maximum output 130 lumens for approx 50 minutes
Output & Runtime Minimum output 3 lumens for approx 45 hours

According to the numbers above, taken off websites that had it for sale, the D11 has 15 more lumens and has doubled the runtime from the D10.

 

[wyager]

According to the numbers above, taken off websites that had it for sale, the D11 has 15 more lumens and has doubled the runtime from the D10.

:thinking:
I'm wondering how they did that....

 

[bigfish5]

Ok. I see the longer runtimes , but for me that is why you buy an AA light. You can get 20 batteries for 7 bucks on every corner. I think brightness is what will push my button this time. Besides you should have a way to dim the light down to 145 lumens if you want and you can still get 1.5 hours out of an aa batt.

 

[Starchaser]

:thinking:
I'm wondering how they did that....

D10 has XP-E R2... D11 has XP-G R5... better efficiency I would say. 🙂

 

[wyager]

D10 has XP-E R2... D11 has XP-G R5... better efficiency I would say. 🙂

True... what would happen if I swapped the R2 on my D10 with an R5? Would it get more efficient at the same power levels, or just brighter all around?

 

[Starchaser]

Ok. I see the longer runtimes , but for me that is why you buy an AA light. You can get 20 batteries for 7 bucks on every corner. I think brightness is what will push my button this time. Besides you should have a way to dim the light down to 145 lumens if you want and you can still get 1.5 hours out of an aa batt.

True bigfish5... I agree with the part about brightness will push our hot buttons.

Dimming the D10 down to 145 lumens to get the 1.5 hours of runtime may not work either.

For example, if you run both lights at 3 lumens, the D10 will run about 45 hours, and the D11 will run about 100 hours according to the specs.

However, you won't be able to do anything with the D10 to match the 100 hour runtime of the D11 XP-G R5 emitter. It's just more efficient, you won't be able to compensate for that, unless you carry 20 batteries around with ya. 😉

 

[Henk_Lu]

True... what would happen if I swapped the R2 on my D10 with an R5? Would it get more efficient at the same power levels, or just brighter all around?

It should get brighter. The light engine still gives the same current to the LED, it doesn't know you have changed anything and thus the runtimes should stay the same.

Well, everything else depends on the things I personnally don't understand, like the Vf of the LED, which may let it run longer or shorter with another emitter as the emitter may run with less voltage or on the opposite need a higher one. In theory, runtimes don't vary.

D11
Output & Runtime Maximum output 145 lumens, for about 1.5 hours
Output & Runtime Minimum output 3 lumens, for about 100 hours

D10
Output & Runtime Maximum output 130 lumens for approx 50 minutes
Output & Runtime Minimum output 3 lumens for approx 45 hours

The XP-G is 32% more efficient IIRC, so they must have worked a lot here to get those runtimes! It's possible though I guess and it's indeed a reason to buy a D11 instead of a D10!

I haven't seen the beam yet, but the one of the D11 should have a larger hotspot and no (or minor) Cree rings. Less throw should also be a result, the XP-E versions has already less than the XR-E (their beam was neater though).

The built quality of teh D11 should be superior to the D11 and piston action smoother, at least compared to the original D10. So, besides the UI and teh throw, everything speaks for the D11 and I would definetely recommend it to non-flashaholics. If you collect D10 (& EX10) however, you probably won't love it... :duh2:

 

[compasillo]

Here's a beamshot comparison that might help

 

[Kilovolt]

Here's a beamshot comparison that might help

Very interesting, thanks for sharing. :thumbsup:


I take the opportunity to post a size comparison shot:

 

[rayman]

Getting better and better. Can't wait to get mine 😉.

rayman

 

[michaelmcgo]

Vote with your dollars guys. I won't buy lights that have disco modes I can accidentally activate. The Preon series is just barely hidden enough for me to accept.

Like many of you, I agree that the ability to go from low to high with a button combo was awesome. This is one of the reasons the Ra Clicky is so beloved. Why do the Chinese think we Americans need an SOS mode so readily available on all of our flashlights?????


Heck, 4Sevens actually listens to its customers and STILL INCLUDES AN SOS MODE 😕. I imagine a bunch of Chinese flashlight manufacturers at a convention discussing the importance of SOS mode...

 

[Dioni]

Thanks for these pics guys! :thumbsup:

 

[Starchaser]

All the pics are great Kilovolt... thanks 🙂

 

[Starchaser]

Getting better and better. Can't wait to get mine 😉.

rayman

Wow rayman... you ordered your D11 last week. Thought you would have gotten it by now.

Can't wait to read your mini review. 😉