Nitecore SRT7 (XM-L2 White, 3xRGB - 1x18650 2xCR123A/RCR) Review: RUNTIME, BEAMSHOTS+

[evolution80]

great review!

i ordered the srt7 along with a sunwayman t21cs after reading this review! - and registered on cpf - this is my first post actually

i bought my last three flashlights in 2005/2006 nightops gladius, surefire L5, surefire e2d led defender - :duh2:


never thought so many new makers would come up with so many great innovations - thinking about a tiny monster or something similar now...

my new lights should arrive today - i cant wait to compare them to the old ones i got and see how flashlights evolved in the last years!

 

[selfbuilt]

i ordered the srt7 along with a sunwayman t21cs after reading this review! - and registered on cpf - this is my first post actually

:welcome:

I saw your post in my T21CS thread as well ... and I agree, SWM seems to be experimenting with a lot of different user interfaces these days. Personally, I much prefer the SRT7 and D40A interfaces over the T21CS.

 

[evolution80]

ok - i got both lights today - i will return the T21CS for another SRT7 or SRT6!!!

btw the light is AWESOME! i just compared the output to my older SF and nightops models

 

[ash9nine]

Thanks for the review. I just placed an order for one.

 

[InquisitiveInquirer]

In-depth review as usual! Thanks for taking the time, selfbuilt.

I was wondering how many lumens each of the red, green and blue modes have?

Do you plan on review any of the others in the series? SRT3 maybe or SRT5?

 

[Valmet62]

How many mA is the LED being pushed to get to 960 lumens ?

Valmet62

 

[Tatanka88]

Hi guys!
Could someone do a photo comparison between the beams of SRT7 and the new TD15X with XM-L2?
Can't decide between them, looking for the one which is closer to a thrower with more narrow beam!

 

[selfbuilt]

I was wondering how many lumens each of the red, green and blue modes have?

That's an interesting question. My lightbox calibration is based on white LEDs, so I don't know if the relationship holds consistently for the specific colors. But using my standard calibration, I get the following:

Lowest white level: 1.3 lumens
Red: 3.3 lumens
Green: 12 lumens
Blue: 6.1 lumens

I've just experimented with the light in a dark closet, and I would say these lightbox readings approximate what I see by eye. But again, take them with a big grain of salt, as I don't know if I can trust the relative calibration for specific colors.

Do you plan on review any of the others in the series? SRT3 maybe or SRT5?

Don't know yet. I typically leave it up to manufacturers to suggest lights, and I respond based on my availability at the time.

How many mA is the LED being pushed to get to 960 lumens ?

To determine that, you would have to measure current directly at the LED, which I have not done. Tailcap current draws would be misleading, since I know from experience my DMM introduces enough resistance at high drive levels to affect current and output.

 

[WadeF]

Got a SRT7. I love it, but wish there was a bit more range in the low. It's certainly over 1 lumen. Kind of wish there was 1 more click on the selector ring for an ultra-low/moon mode. Can't have it all I guess. Also wish the max output was available with a 18650 and didn't require 2 cells.

 

[Fulaeetoy]

Planning to get a diffuser cone on this one. Don't know which one to get aside from NDF40. My cigar grip ring used to be tight but now it's pretty loose. Overall the light is great.

 

[selfbuilt]

Got a SRT7. I love it, but wish there was a bit more range in the low. It's certainly over 1 lumen. Kind of wish there was 1 more click on the selector ring for an ultra-low/moon mode. Can't have it all I guess. Also wish the max output was available with a 18650 and didn't require 2 cells.

Hi Wade, it's been awhile - hope all is well. :wave:

I agree that a separate position for a true moonlight mode would have been great (e.g. as seen on my recent X40 review). But I guess that might have been tough to squeeze in with all the other modes.

As for the output, I'm personally fine with the slight drop on 1x18650 ... you can't really notice it in practice, and it does help extend the runtime.

Planning to get a diffuser cone on this one. Don't know which one to get aside from NDF40. My cigar grip ring used to be tight but now it's pretty loose. Overall the light is great.

As I mentioned in the review, I find the Olight M22 diffuser to be a better fit. They are available online for <$10.

But another option, if you want a flip-top style cover, is the Butler Creek Blizzard Scope Cover, size 5 (1.60-1.69" 40.84-42.92mm). It can be converted into a flip-top diffuser, as described in this post of my EA4 review. Also available for ~$10. One thing is that you may want to add a layer of electrical tape to the inside of this particular cover, to enhance the tightness of fit on the SRT7.

 

[Fulaeetoy]

Hi Wade, it's been awhile - hope all is well. :wave:

I agree that a separate position for a true moonlight mode would have been great (e.g. as seen on my recent X40 review). But I guess that might have been tough to squeeze in with all the other modes.

As for the output, I'm personally fine with the slight drop on 1x18650 ... you can't really notice it in practice, and it does help extend the runtime.


As I mentioned in the review, I find the Olight M22 diffuser to be a better fit. They are available online for <$10.

But another option, if you want a flip-top style cover, is the Butler Creek Blizzard Scope Cover, size 5 (1.60-1.69" 40.84-42.92mm). It can be converted into a flip-top diffuser, as described in this post of my EA4 review. Also available for ~$10. One thing is that you may want to add a layer of electrical tape to the inside of this particular cover, to enhance the tightness of fit on the SRT7.

I meant a diffuser cone for tailstand mode. I much prefer xeno's diffuser but they don't have for 40mm heads. I think NDF40 is the only option for now.


_______________________________________________
••• Sent from GT-P6800 using Tapatlak HD •••

 

[selfbuilt]

I meant a diffuser cone for tailstand mode. I much prefer xeno's diffuser but they don't have for 40mm heads. I think NDF40 is the only option for now.

Ah, sorry. Nitecore didn't do itself any favours when it called the cone the NDF40 and the diffuser the NFD40.

Something like this might fit and work well, but I don't know off-hand of a Xeno-style diffuser for 40mm, sorry.

 

[lancerobbins24]

I believe it was touched on, but want to clarify. The forward clicky does have momentary on if you don't engage the click all the way? I've been looking at the SRT3 and would imagine all the functions translate down to the smaller model? Thanks for the awesome reviews you do...incredibly informative!

 

[bokeh]

I believe it was touched on, but want to clarify. The forward clicky does have momentary on if you don't engage the click all the way? I've been looking at the SRT3 and would imagine all the functions translate down to the smaller model? Thanks for the awesome reviews you do...incredibly informative!

Both SRT7 and SRT3 will give momentary light for any selected mode. (So on the SRT7 you could use momentary standby )

 

[Average Joe]

ok - i got both lights today - i will return the T21CS for another SRT7 or SRT6!!!

btw the light is AWESOME! i just compared the output to my older SF and nightops models

Get the SRT6 (or 5). I got the grey version of the SRT6 and it's terrific. I took an immediate liking to it the moment I turned it on.
If things go well for me I might get the 5 as well. It's slimmer and should be a bit more floody (for indoor use)

 

[Fulaeetoy]

Ah, sorry. Nitecore didn't do itself any favours when it called the cone the NDF40 and the diffuser the NFD40.

Something like this might fit and work well, but I don't know off-hand of a Xeno-style diffuser for 40mm, sorry.

Never heard of that site before. I hope it's a good diffuser. Thanks!


_______________________________________________
••• Sent from GT-P6800 using Tapatlak HD •••

 

[lancerobbins24]

Both SRT7 and SRT3 will give momentary light for any selected mode. (So on the SRT7 you could use momentary standby )

Thanks Bokeh...I've been thinking about picking up a pair of SRT3's. One for EDC and one for mounting on an AR-15. The momentary on is ideal for clearing rooms in a tactical setup on a rifle.

 

[rickypanecatyl]

I played with one for a while today at a "flashlight store"... compare it to about 20 other lights.

I really liked the feel of the magnetic control ring on the variable output... I just didn't like that that really cool section of control ring was sandwiched between the "mall cop wanna be" strobe mode and the colored modes.
We spent a while seeing how low it could go... comparing it to the Army tech predator's 3 firefly modes etc. My thought was yes it can do .1 lumen BUT that was holding the control ring with 2 hands and trying our darndest to not let it jump up to the lowest mode it felt comfortable resting in which was about 1-2 lumens.

I really liked the beam and though it would make the perfect "XL EDC" light for me if:

1.) It really went down to .1 lumen comfortably.
2.) It didn't have the colored LED's or strobe and the control ring was just an uber simple all the way left is lowest low and all the way right was highest high with no counting or memorizing.
3.) To make it super duper uber cool... put some some THUMB size notches in the control ring, shrink it and move it to the very back of the light!

 

[rickypanecatyl]

I just checked out the SRT6 as it doesn't have the colored modes which I don't need but has this same control ring that I love!

I was so frustrated looking at the specs on that light... I know I must be in the minority in my UI desires otherwise manufactures wouldn't make their UI's the way they do but I do wonder why? Why do people want a simple, logical, intuitive control ring sandwiched between SOS and other funky modes on one end and strobe on the other end?
When setting up a control ring light to turn on in the dark, TO ME, the positions of all the way left and all the way right are the easy/most reliable to access. Who needs SOS as the easiest mode to access?