Nitecore SR3
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half-watt
Flashlight Enthusiast
right now, it's two of the Lux V's (hopefully, the SSC version will be purchased next month in July2009). Bill, i'm forgettin' (i checked the SF website and couldn't figure it out), it's either the A21 or the A19 - i forget which one is for one cell and also fits the U2, but it's definitely one of those two. sorry, my "old-timers" causes me some real problems remembering things. wish i could be more help.
damn, but i found another bug which don´t make me happy.
i activate the strobe mode and than i switch the sr3 off. next i turn the selector-ring in lowest position. and waiting a few minutes.
if i switch it on again and turn the selector-ring to strobe-mode, there is no strobe only the maximum.
than i turn the ring into another position and than back to strobe-setting and than there is a strobe.
but there is no system noticeabel. sometimes it does it . sometimes not.
i activate the strobe mode and than i switch the sr3 off. next i turn the selector-ring in lowest position. and waiting a few minutes.
if i switch it on again and turn the selector-ring to strobe-mode, there is no strobe only the maximum.
than i turn the ring into another position and than back to strobe-setting and than there is a strobe.
but there is no system noticeabel. sometimes it does it . sometimes not.
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Bradlee
Enlightened
JAG, does this strobe bug occur only when you crank it down to the very lowest setting?
yes ...only when i crank it down to the lowest setting.
Henk_Lu
Flashlight Enthusiast
Here my thoughts about the SR3 :
The light looks tough and well crafted. The selection ring works as it should, it switches easier between level 5 and 6 or 6 and 7, but no major problem. It can be operated with one hand. Inside, it looks well done too, serious contacts and brass plates. The reflector looks nice, the LED is centered.
Minimum is low, but could be lower. The Liteflux LF3XT is by now the only light I can use at night to go to the bathroom (except the Gatlight, but that one stays in its box, the Clickies are not programmed on the lowest mode). The first 6 modes are well stepped, but you don't see much difference between 6 and 7 and hardly any difference between 7 and 8. So, I would like to see level 7 as level 0!
I managed both to activate strobe willingly and unwillingly (a few times). I'm pretty sure that I didn't swif that ring back and forward in less than 2 seconds, but I suppose in normal operation it'll be OK, while testing you act different. I also noticed that sometimes it is switched off after turning the light off and on again, sometimes not. Well, personnally i don't really care, i only hope the strobe will stay where it initially is : hidden!
The beam is nice, well balanced, bright, tight hotspot. In comparison with a TK10, the hotspot is smaller, but brighter. The spill doesn't seem that bright, but still OK for a universal light. Compared to the PD20, the hotspot is larger and brighter, more spill. 😎
In size, the SR3 can be compared to the odd looking EagleTac T10C, the diameter of the lens is about the same, the SR3 isn't so small down the reflector because of the selection ring. It also is quite heavy.
I bought the light because I immediately fell in love with it when I saw it. For my big hands, the size is the right one, but because of its thickness, it won't replace any Clicky in my pocket for sure, those are the largest I actually want to carry in a trousers-pocket! 😱
The light looks tough and well crafted. The selection ring works as it should, it switches easier between level 5 and 6 or 6 and 7, but no major problem. It can be operated with one hand. Inside, it looks well done too, serious contacts and brass plates. The reflector looks nice, the LED is centered.
Minimum is low, but could be lower. The Liteflux LF3XT is by now the only light I can use at night to go to the bathroom (except the Gatlight, but that one stays in its box, the Clickies are not programmed on the lowest mode). The first 6 modes are well stepped, but you don't see much difference between 6 and 7 and hardly any difference between 7 and 8. So, I would like to see level 7 as level 0!
I managed both to activate strobe willingly and unwillingly (a few times). I'm pretty sure that I didn't swif that ring back and forward in less than 2 seconds, but I suppose in normal operation it'll be OK, while testing you act different. I also noticed that sometimes it is switched off after turning the light off and on again, sometimes not. Well, personnally i don't really care, i only hope the strobe will stay where it initially is : hidden!
The beam is nice, well balanced, bright, tight hotspot. In comparison with a TK10, the hotspot is smaller, but brighter. The spill doesn't seem that bright, but still OK for a universal light. Compared to the PD20, the hotspot is larger and brighter, more spill. 😎
In size, the SR3 can be compared to the odd looking EagleTac T10C, the diameter of the lens is about the same, the SR3 isn't so small down the reflector because of the selection ring. It also is quite heavy.
I bought the light because I immediately fell in love with it when I saw it. For my big hands, the size is the right one, but because of its thickness, it won't replace any Clicky in my pocket for sure, those are the largest I actually want to carry in a trousers-pocket! 😱
For the dim mode nit pickers (no offense, I find the low mode important too!), the U2 was put
back together for beam shot comparisons...
The following is the light on the lowest setting for each light.
The light is held at 20inches from the map at a 45 degree angle.
Camera is 10 inches from map.
All shot at ASA 100, f-stop 5.6, shutter speed 1/8, white balance daylight.
The Surefire U2 is the old style, flat body, lux V.
back together for beam shot comparisons...
The following is the light on the lowest setting for each light.
The light is held at 20inches from the map at a 45 degree angle.
Camera is 10 inches from map.
All shot at ASA 100, f-stop 5.6, shutter speed 1/8, white balance daylight.
The Surefire U2 is the old style, flat body, lux V.
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Bradlee
Enlightened
Thanks a lot for taking the time to do that. It's good to see that the SR3 low is definitely lower than the U2 and to get an idea of the sidespill (or lack thereof).
I just ordered one of the SR3's from 4sevens. I'm wondering if the previously mentioned holder will come with, or if there is a way to afix a belt clip? I also ordered the Fenix tk10 white light diffuser. Bothe the SR3 and the tk10 head diameters are within 1mm of eachother, so a slight mod to the diffuser should do the trick.
The adjuster ring should be something my wife might actually use on a flashlight, rather than have to try and explain and demonstrate programmable brightness settings of other lights!
The adjuster ring should be something my wife might actually use on a flashlight, rather than have to try and explain and demonstrate programmable brightness settings of other lights!
Henk_Lu
Flashlight Enthusiast
My SR3 definetely has a bug concerning the strobe.
After testing it thoroughly, it is sure that the strobe modus can sometimes be activated by turning the ring quickly back 3 to 5 steps and go on high again. Sometimes it occurs, sometimes not. As it seems, it doesn't occur, when you wait a few seconds before going on Max again.
I will keep the light, but it won't probably serve outdoors, I can't have the possibility of unplanned strobing when I need output. I wouldn't recommend the light at this stage, but it could be that not all lights have this bug.
Fact is, that the genius ring is now reduced to an unsure UI. :sigh:
After testing it thoroughly, it is sure that the strobe modus can sometimes be activated by turning the ring quickly back 3 to 5 steps and go on high again. Sometimes it occurs, sometimes not. As it seems, it doesn't occur, when you wait a few seconds before going on Max again.
I will keep the light, but it won't probably serve outdoors, I can't have the possibility of unplanned strobing when I need output. I wouldn't recommend the light at this stage, but it could be that not all lights have this bug.
Fact is, that the genius ring is now reduced to an unsure UI. :sigh:
JAG, I tried to replicate your problem.
The first and single time I was able to (should have taken notes but did not), I just lost the strobe setting.
It did not return to strobe by rotating to another position.
Do you get the bug consistently? Can you post a detailed sequence?
I did notice 2 other things though.
1: When the strobe mode is enabled, turning the ring slowly through level 4 and 5 will get the
light to strobe.
This is only when you twist very slowly and steadily which should not occur under normal switching.
2: When the strobe mode is disabled, turning the ring slowly through level 4 and 5 (going back and
forth to find the 'sweet spot') will get you into strobe.
As long as you use the clicking detents in a normal manner, you will just notice the light blinking
to high for a brief moment (as mentioned in some posts above).
My light was set to non strobe when I recieved it and I did not notice these issues until now.
No biggie for me.
selfbuilt mentioned some quirks with the stobe mode in his extensive review too:
NiteCore SR3 (1xCR123A/RCR) Review + 18650 Extension: RUNTIMES, BEAMSHOTS, & More!
(scroll down to the final segment 'General Observations').
The first and single time I was able to (should have taken notes but did not), I just lost the strobe setting.
It did not return to strobe by rotating to another position.
Do you get the bug consistently? Can you post a detailed sequence?
I did notice 2 other things though.
1: When the strobe mode is enabled, turning the ring slowly through level 4 and 5 will get the
light to strobe.
This is only when you twist very slowly and steadily which should not occur under normal switching.
2: When the strobe mode is disabled, turning the ring slowly through level 4 and 5 (going back and
forth to find the 'sweet spot') will get you into strobe.
As long as you use the clicking detents in a normal manner, you will just notice the light blinking
to high for a brief moment (as mentioned in some posts above).
My light was set to non strobe when I recieved it and I did not notice these issues until now.
No biggie for me.
selfbuilt mentioned some quirks with the stobe mode in his extensive review too:
NiteCore SR3 (1xCR123A/RCR) Review + 18650 Extension: RUNTIMES, BEAMSHOTS, & More!
(scroll down to the final segment 'General Observations').
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FlashlightsNgear.com
→Formerly d1live←, Flashaholic
The light has a strobe bug forsure but I still like it but Iam hearing from dealers that they wont get anymore till the bug is fixed 🙁 Hopefully Nitecore does something about this soon. Fix the strobe and offer a extension for a extra 10 bucks and they would have a winner in my book.
problemchild200
Banned
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2009
- Messages
- 110
If only this light had an MC-E or P7. Any way to upgrade it or would the driver not handle it?
LGCubana
Enlightened
Heat and short runtime would probably prevent this from being possible
Henk_Lu
Flashlight Enthusiast
I only saw this posting yesterday evening and tested my SR3 immediately.
Indeed, between level 4 and 5 you'll find the strobe if you search very carefully. Once it has appeared, the light will definetely strobe on Level 8.
Unfortunately, it was already late and so I hadn't got the time to seek for teh strobe between other levels, but a short test revealed that the strobe won't be activated if I don't go lower than level 5, no matter how fast I switch levels, while it randomly appears if I use all the levels.
So, my non-scientific conclusion is, that there is some sort of error between level 4 and 5 and that the strobe is activated if this error occurs while changing levels while it doesn't make any difference if you pass those levels at normal speed or faster (very slow raises the risk).
I see no remedy than either staying above level 4 all the time or accept that the light may strobe at level 8 and turn back to level 7 immediately. In real life conditions, you don't count levels, you just change accordingly to your needs... :sigh:
HKJ
Flashaholic
The problem is related to the way the ring position is read, it uses some sort of coding and this coding will give a false value between some positions. This can easily be seen when turning the ring slowly, the light will not change 3-4-5 but might add some unrelated levels between some settings (i.e. 3-x-4-y-5).
It is probably not possible to avoid it completely, but a software change might prevent it from changing strobe mode.
euroken
Flashlight Enthusiast
Hey all,
I got my SR3 today...well, I couldn't replicate any of the strobe bugs that was metioned in this thread...no matter how much I've tried, following the posts...so far...none (crossing my fingers).
The light has a flawless finish, the clicky feels great, the build seems fantastic...except for one BIG disappointment...
My SR3 practically has no 'click' feel to the selector ring. Only when I'm turning it quick to turn the strobe function on or off, you hear a faint 'tab' noise at each level...it's not even a 'click'. It doesn't even feel like click. In fact, I over shoot the turn and stop the ring in between the 'stops' half the time. 'Easy' to change levels is an understatement.
How are everyone else's SR3's? I've played with the light for about 10 minutes and already contacted the dealer to see if I can exchange it for a SR3 with better selector feel. Definitely NOT happy with the version I have.
I love the light but this is one aspect I don't think I can ever be happy with. The light actually 'feels' cheap.
I got my SR3 today...well, I couldn't replicate any of the strobe bugs that was metioned in this thread...no matter how much I've tried, following the posts...so far...none (crossing my fingers).
The light has a flawless finish, the clicky feels great, the build seems fantastic...except for one BIG disappointment...
My SR3 practically has no 'click' feel to the selector ring. Only when I'm turning it quick to turn the strobe function on or off, you hear a faint 'tab' noise at each level...it's not even a 'click'. It doesn't even feel like click. In fact, I over shoot the turn and stop the ring in between the 'stops' half the time. 'Easy' to change levels is an understatement.
How are everyone else's SR3's? I've played with the light for about 10 minutes and already contacted the dealer to see if I can exchange it for a SR3 with better selector feel. Definitely NOT happy with the version I have.
I love the light but this is one aspect I don't think I can ever be happy with. The light actually 'feels' cheap.
