AardvarkSagus
Flashlight Enthusiast
Nitecore EX10 SP - Submitted for consideration for the review forum
The SP edition of the venerable Nitecore EX10 is really a collection of updates to the original that end up changing the entire feel of the light. Though visually barely different, the resulting new UI and LED change have really shaken some things up.
Nitecore EX10 and EX10 SP
Meat and Potatoes
The Nitecore SP User interface substitutes 3 preselected outputs for the full "infinitely" variable output of the original EX10. This division has created two separate schools of thought on the matter inside the enthusiasts community. One side believes this to be an improvement allowing for simpler/quicker access to usable modes without the hassle of searching for the "right" output to match your needs at a given time, whereas the other group believes that by taking away the full ramping brightness of the EX10 it has given up the very core of what made it unique.
Regardless of your belief on whether the change should have been made, the EX10 SP user interface does present itself useful with its new UI . The three output choices are all excellently placed to provide both highly visible brightness differences and drastically extended runtimes. Nitecore has chosen these levels well, specifically landing on a quality medium mode that is very well balanced.
The extra addition of a strobe and SOS mode to the new user interface really can only be seen as bonuses since it is now much quicker to select the minimum or maximum output through the standard brightness selection action. True the previous direct access to these outputs is now repurposed for the "blinky" modes, but anyone trying to make a case for a small pocketable EDC like this to be used as a tactical light is only fooling themselves. Interesting to note, upon turning the light on in either the Medium or Max modes, they both will switch to low first when engaging the output selection mode making it that much easier to lower your output quickly if less light is wanted.
The most visible change between the old and the new is the use of the Cree XP-E LED rather than the XR-E of the original model. This led is rapidly becoming renown by naturally creating a smoother, more even beam of light in virtually every light where it is used. The EX10 SP is no exception. Where my original EX10 has a hint of a dark ring from the metal collar around the LED dome, the new EX10 SP model has a wonderful corona blending the corona into the spillbeam resulting in a very usable transition. Even the slightly off center emitter is easily forgiven but the nicely textured reflector to create one of the nicest beams I have seen.
Nitecore EX10 SP
Constructive Criticism
One of my primary concerns with the original EX10 was something I was desperately hoping would be abated with these new changes. My original EX10 has a very pronounced inductor whine present on nearly all levels leaving the light screaming in high pitched terror every time it is used. In flipping through the mere three levels of the SP model, I was highly disappointed to find that the latest sibling in the family suffers from the same whine. Thankfully it is not present in all the levels, left out entirely from min and max. The medium level more than makes up for this, however, with its painful auditory assault. This was something I was desperately hoping would be corrected, but at least they managed to get 2/3 of the way there.
The last addition to the user interface has proven frustrating to me far more than it will likely prove useful, though it may be a case of "your mileage may vary". Nitecore has listened to a selection of its customers who were asking for some method to "lock out" the light preventing accidental activation when necessary and their choice of so doing was an electronic method achieved by holding the button down while the light is off for around 2 seconds. The light will give a brief flash signaling lockdown and refuse to activate again until it senses a rapid triple click or a full reset (by unscrewing and re-tightening the body). Interesting enough though, inevitably upon handing this light to someone who hasn't seen it before, their first action was to accidentally lock the light out and make it appear defective because they can't turn it on. This literally happened to every single person who handled this light, including yours truly. I believe that this could be averted by simply having the light turn on as soon as the button is engaged (like the original EX10) rather than waiting until the button is relaxed. This would prompt the user to release pressure before the threshold required to lock the light down is reached. This appears to me to be a simple change that would greatly benefit the end user.
Nitecore EX10 SP
Conclusions
The Nitecore EX10 SP model may or may not be an improvement over the original depending on your viewpoint. Regarded as an individual light though, I believe it to be quite capable of holding its own. A smooth beam, well chosen output levels, a beautiful design, and compact size all come together to make a light I am proud to show off any time I carry it.
Provided for review by the kind folks at Nitecore.
The SP edition of the venerable Nitecore EX10 is really a collection of updates to the original that end up changing the entire feel of the light. Though visually barely different, the resulting new UI and LED change have really shaken some things up.
Nitecore EX10 and EX10 SP
Meat and Potatoes
The Nitecore SP User interface substitutes 3 preselected outputs for the full "infinitely" variable output of the original EX10. This division has created two separate schools of thought on the matter inside the enthusiasts community. One side believes this to be an improvement allowing for simpler/quicker access to usable modes without the hassle of searching for the "right" output to match your needs at a given time, whereas the other group believes that by taking away the full ramping brightness of the EX10 it has given up the very core of what made it unique.
Regardless of your belief on whether the change should have been made, the EX10 SP user interface does present itself useful with its new UI . The three output choices are all excellently placed to provide both highly visible brightness differences and drastically extended runtimes. Nitecore has chosen these levels well, specifically landing on a quality medium mode that is very well balanced.
The extra addition of a strobe and SOS mode to the new user interface really can only be seen as bonuses since it is now much quicker to select the minimum or maximum output through the standard brightness selection action. True the previous direct access to these outputs is now repurposed for the "blinky" modes, but anyone trying to make a case for a small pocketable EDC like this to be used as a tactical light is only fooling themselves. Interesting to note, upon turning the light on in either the Medium or Max modes, they both will switch to low first when engaging the output selection mode making it that much easier to lower your output quickly if less light is wanted.
The most visible change between the old and the new is the use of the Cree XP-E LED rather than the XR-E of the original model. This led is rapidly becoming renown by naturally creating a smoother, more even beam of light in virtually every light where it is used. The EX10 SP is no exception. Where my original EX10 has a hint of a dark ring from the metal collar around the LED dome, the new EX10 SP model has a wonderful corona blending the corona into the spillbeam resulting in a very usable transition. Even the slightly off center emitter is easily forgiven but the nicely textured reflector to create one of the nicest beams I have seen.
Nitecore EX10 SP
Constructive Criticism
One of my primary concerns with the original EX10 was something I was desperately hoping would be abated with these new changes. My original EX10 has a very pronounced inductor whine present on nearly all levels leaving the light screaming in high pitched terror every time it is used. In flipping through the mere three levels of the SP model, I was highly disappointed to find that the latest sibling in the family suffers from the same whine. Thankfully it is not present in all the levels, left out entirely from min and max. The medium level more than makes up for this, however, with its painful auditory assault. This was something I was desperately hoping would be corrected, but at least they managed to get 2/3 of the way there.
The last addition to the user interface has proven frustrating to me far more than it will likely prove useful, though it may be a case of "your mileage may vary". Nitecore has listened to a selection of its customers who were asking for some method to "lock out" the light preventing accidental activation when necessary and their choice of so doing was an electronic method achieved by holding the button down while the light is off for around 2 seconds. The light will give a brief flash signaling lockdown and refuse to activate again until it senses a rapid triple click or a full reset (by unscrewing and re-tightening the body). Interesting enough though, inevitably upon handing this light to someone who hasn't seen it before, their first action was to accidentally lock the light out and make it appear defective because they can't turn it on. This literally happened to every single person who handled this light, including yours truly. I believe that this could be averted by simply having the light turn on as soon as the button is engaged (like the original EX10) rather than waiting until the button is relaxed. This would prompt the user to release pressure before the threshold required to lock the light down is reached. This appears to me to be a simple change that would greatly benefit the end user.
Nitecore EX10 SP
Conclusions
The Nitecore EX10 SP model may or may not be an improvement over the original depending on your viewpoint. Regarded as an individual light though, I believe it to be quite capable of holding its own. A smooth beam, well chosen output levels, a beautiful design, and compact size all come together to make a light I am proud to show off any time I carry it.
Provided for review by the kind folks at Nitecore.
