Dereelight NM400 Review

firelord777

Enlightened
Joined
Jul 11, 2010
Messages
931
Location
USA
Hey guys,
Dereelight recently released the Night Master's little brother, the NM400. This is essentially like a "mini" night master shaped to conform to the standard 1X18650 flashlight class size, but designed to throw. The one reviewed here is equipped with an XP-G2. Here are the official specifications:
Features:

  • Cree XP-G2/IR emitter
  • Upgradeable
  • New 2MT-S engine-Two stage brightness level-Low 30%, 8 hours runtime; Hight 1.5h.
  • Throw: 36KCD with XP-G2 tested by TES1332A lex meter.
  • Battery type: single protected or unprotected 18650;
  • TT(Tactical & Tail standing) tailcap with forward clicky
  • Lock out function achieved by loosing the tailcap.
  • Type III hard anodized finish
  • Dimensions: 136mm(Length)x 34mm(Head)x 25mm(housing)
  • Material: Constructed of aircraft grade aluminum
  • Waterproof to IPX-8 standard.
  • Weight: 135-gram weight not include battery.
  • Lens: Aspherical lens.
  • Removable grip & lanyand ring, clip as optional.
  • Color: Black
  • Package: Giftbox
  • Accessories: Extra O-rings, switch cover. –[total price is ~$80]-
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The Dereelight comes with standard accessories: space o-rings and black tail boot.
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The NM400 has a smooth feel to it, the knurling is moderately grippy. The strike bezel tends to lean towards the sharp side, and on arrival it was kind of loose. It will be very difficult to properly fasten it by hand, so what I did was I took a shoe and pressed the bezel into the sole and tightened it.
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The threads arrived lubed and were smooth:
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Tailcap (the spring protrudes a bit, ensures contact with the negative battery terminal)
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Head positive contact (the gold ring is the mode selector, tighten for max output, loosen for low mode)
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The body of the NM400 is almost identical to that of the Night Master. The only difference is the bolded letters of "Dereelight" on the NM400 and the mode selection ring on the head is smaller.
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Here are some comparisons to the size of the aspheric lenses, from left to right – NM400, Night Master, XSearcher.
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Here went in the middle to better show the size comparisons:
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NM400 lens:
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I removed the head and if I am not mistaken, the LED has either been dedomed or I can't see the dome of the XP-G2:
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\
Size comparisons to other flashlights (from left to right – Fenix TA21, ArmyTek Predator V1.2, Fenix TK20, Olight M21, Dereelight NM400)
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You can modify the NM400 extrenally in two ways, throught the tailcap and cigar ring.
Here it is normally, in shipping configuration:
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Without tailcap tailstander:
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Without cigar ring and tailstander:
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Waterproof Test
I filled up my bucket with water a little over the midpoint.
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I noticed the beam changes from focused above-water to a complete flood light underwater.
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Booyah!!!
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Outdoor Beamshots
The moment you've all been waiting for. Is not here yet.
Just joking.
A bit of context, I have been waiting for the weather to clear up for almost a week and I finally got my chance. These beamshots were taken during a full moon right above.
Control:
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Olight M21 (XM-L2)
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ArmyTek Predator V1.2 (XP-G)
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Dereelight NM400
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Dereelight XSearcher
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Setting #2:
Olight M21 (XM-L2)
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ArmyTek Predator V1.2 (XP-G)
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Dereelight NM400
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Dereelight XSearcher
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Beam Profiles:
NM400
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XSearcher
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Setting #3:
Control:
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Olight M21 (XM-L2)
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ArmyTek Predator V1.2 (XP-G)
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Dereelight NM400
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Dereelight XSearcher
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Setting #4:
Control:
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Olight M21 (XM-L2)
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ArmyTek Predator V1.2 (XP-G)
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Dereelight NM400
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Dereelight XSearcher
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Setting #5:
Control:
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NM400:
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XSearcher:
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Setting #6
Control:
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NM400:
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XSearcher:
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Setting #7
Control:
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NM400:
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XSearcher:
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My Thoughts
My initial impression of the NM400 was that it was a good pocket able flashlight that could rival the throw of other flashlights in its class. Unlike the XSearcher, the NM400 larger beam meant that it was much better at scanning areas from a closer range than the XSearcher, which generally required you to limit its use to long ranges (it's practically a laser).
Also, it feels like a flashlight that you can take with you and deliver good throwing performance without the bulk and large lens, and consequently, large heads of the Night Master/XSearcher lights.
If you guys have any questions or requests, please feel free to post them or send me a PM,
Regards,
-Alain

---NM400 provided by Dereelight for review---
 
Last edited:

orbital

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Feb 8, 2007
Messages
4,256
Location
WI
+

I like this little NM400 aspheric,, gives throw of much bigger lights.
do you think 400 in the name is for throw in Meters??

Would like to see Alan (if he's still there @ Deree) use an XP-E2


Great pics by the way..:thumbsup:



________

also: the Deree box it came it could be a bit nicer, compared to older Deree stuff
 
Last edited:

firelord777

Enlightened
Joined
Jul 11, 2010
Messages
931
Location
USA
+

I like this little NM400 aspheric,, gives throw of much bigger lights.
do you think 400 in the name is for throw in Meters??

Would like to see Alan (if he's still there @ Deree) use an XP-E2


Great pics by the way..:thumbsup:



________

also: the Deree box it came it could be a bit nicer, compared to older Deree stuff

I think the 400 is for meters, but I'm not entirely sure...
 

langham

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Joined
Feb 9, 2012
Messages
441
Location
Tuscaloosa, AL
I haven't seen a company that is de-doming yet it is interesting that someone started. I think they did a good job of it from both the pictures and the beamshot. Great review, thank you for your time.
 

thejrod

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Nov 27, 2012
Messages
54
Was waiting for this - thanks!

Seems like the nm400 is a good practical thrower. The beamshots make the xsearcher seems completely useless, at least at those ranges. Obviously the xsearcher is designed for much longer ranges, but for most practical purposes, the 400 seems pretty good.

Now, should I spend $80 on one....
 

oKtosiTe

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Joined
Jan 7, 2012
Messages
974
Location
Sweden
call me stupid, but what exactly does 36KCD mean anyways?
cd is short for candela (a unit of luminous intensity), kcd would be kilocandela (i.e.: 1000 candela). In a way, throwy lights have more candela per lumen than floody lights.
So 36kcd (the SI abbreviation for candela should not be capitalized, nor should the metric prefix for kilo) would be 36000 candela.
 
Last edited:

mpec82

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Aug 31, 2012
Messages
12
I've bought a NM400, XR-E 2MT-M. Can I use with a single 18650 or should I use it with two 18350 or 16340? Because in the description of the Xsearcher and Nightmaster v2 I see this: single 18650 works but can't get full power. But it's not written in the description of the NM400.

Is the XR-E a good led? Or should I get one of the other two that are available (XP-G2, XP-E2)? I'm looking for the most throw.
 
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