BugoutBoys
Enlightened
Nitecore MH27UV
NOTE: The MH27UV looks identical to the MH27, so I will use the same images as the MH27.
Manufacturer specs
LED: Cree XP-L HI V3
Max Lumen: 1000
Uses one 18650 rechargeable battery or two CR123A batteries.
Output/Runtime (1x18650): Hi 1000lumens / 1hr – Med 250lumens / 6hr 15min – Lo 55lumens / 28hr – Lower 1lumen / 708hr
Output/Runtime (2xCR123A): Hi 1000lumens / 45min – Med 280lumens / 4hr 45min – Lo 50lumens / 20hr – Lower 1lumen / 505hr
Beam Intensity: 53,500cd
Beam Distance: 462m
Impact resistant to 1.5 meters
Waterproof in accordance with IPX-8 (two meters submersible)
Second generation 'Crystal Coating Technology' combined with 'Precision Digital Optics Technology' provide extreme reflector performance
Uses one 18650 for up to 708 hours of runtime
Equipped with unique tricolored (Red, UV, and blue) tactical/signaling lights
4 brightness levels and 6 special modes are easily accessible via dual side switches
Direct access to turbo and UV modes
professional grade UV light
Features advanced temperature regulation (ATR) technology
Spring-loaded impact absorption mechanism with reverse polarity protection
Intelligent Li-ion battery charging circuit (Via Micro-USB charging port)
A power indicator built into the side switch indicates remaining battery power (accurate to 0.1V)
Intelligent memory function for brightness levels and special modes (Besides SOS and location beacon)
Tactical lanyard enclosed
Toughened ultra-clear mineral glass with anti-reflective coating
Constructed from aero grade aluminium alloy with HAIII military grade hard-anodized finish
Stainless steel titanium-plated clip included
Tail stand capability
Dimensions: Length: 154mm (6.06"), Head Diameter: 40mm (1.57"), Tail Diameter: 25.4mm (1")
Weight: 170grams (6 oz)(without battery)
Accessories: Quality holster, clip, metal tactical ring, lanyard, spare tail cap, spare O-ring, spare USB cover
MSRP: ~$90
In the box
You get all of the usual Nitecore accessories. A belt clip, high quality lanyard, spare O-rings, spare USB cover and tail clicky cover, (Better than normal) quality nylon holster, and this time a full metal stainless steel tactical ring!
Here is the light inside the holster.
PROS
Tough nylon is trustworthy for holding onto your belt and this light
METAL D ring
velcro for your belt, as well as to close the holster
nice tight fit
CONS
flashlight sticks out the bottom a little
Appearance
The MH27UV has a black HAIII hard anodized finish over an aircraft grade aluminum body.
the body of the MH27UV has moderately aggressive knurling on the body and around the tailcap. There isn't much preventing the MH27UV from rolling other than the rubber mode selector switch. Once you add the belt clip and/or the tactical ring, the anti-roll is pretty effective. Without that, I would set the light upright using the front.
Overall grip is very good and comfortable. The light feels very solid, and is only slightly heavier than the P12 and P12GT.
The laser engraved markings are bright white and show up clearly on the body.
As with almost all other Nitecore flashlights, the finish is not Matte, but it isn't highly reflective either.
User Interface
The MH27UV is activated by the forward clicky button. If you half press the button, you get momentary. While the light is on, press the + or - buttons to cycle through standard modes. (+) cycles through modes in ascending order, with Hi being the final mode. (-) cycles through modes in descending order, with blue being the final mode. These are all of the standard modes in ascending order:
Blue, UV, Red, Moonlight, Low, Med, Hi
If you press and hold both the (+) and (-) buttons, you will enter the special modes. First is strobe. Press the (+) button to cycle from strobe, to beacon, and finally SOS. Press (-) to cycle through those modes in reverse order, and past strobe is blue/red flashing mode.
If you press both the (+) and (-) buttons simultaneously again, it will return to your last used standard mode. The flashlight also features a memory function that will remember each mode other than SOS and beacon. Once you turn the light off and back on, it will be in the same mode it was left in.
The MH27UV also features direct access to Hi and red. Press the (+) and tail clicky at the same time to immediately access Hi while the light is off, or simply press and hold (+) if the light is on. Do the same but with (-) to immediately access the red light.
The MH27UV also features a battery voltage readout feature. From the off state, if you press both the (+)(-), and tail clicky, the blue LED under the mode buttons will blink with the battery voltage (accurate to 0.1V).
EXAMPLE:
4 flashes followed by a pause, then 2 flashes indicates full battery at 4.2V
Doing this will also activate "location beacon" mode. The blue LED under the mode buttons will blink every few seconds until the tail switch is turned off.
The MH27UV can be recharged with the USB charging port on the opposite side from the mode buttons. Open the flap, and you can plug in the included USB cable to charge the light from a computer, or USB wall adaptor. When you plug in the light, make sure to turn it on otherwise it will not charge, and the mode buttons will blink rapidly. When the light is charging, the mode buttons will blink once every few seconds. When the light is finished charging, the mode buttons will hold steady on.
Comparisons
(Left to right)
P10, P12GT, MH27UV
Here is the tail standing capability
The light tail stands well; however, the head is heavy and increases the chance of the flashlight being knocked over.
The MH27UV is waterproof in accordance with IPX-8 (submersible to 2 meters)
Physical Tests
I submersed the MH27UV completely in water while pressing the mode buttons and rear clicky switch. I did not find any water to have entered the light at all, even through the USB cover.
During usage on Hi, I still do not feel any significant increase in heat anywhere on the light. This is probably due to the larger head size, thermal "vents" and thermoelectric separation technology Nitecore has inside the light.
The MH27UV is completely current controlled, meaning that there is no PWM (pulse width modulation) on any of the modes.:thumbsup: (This results in no flickering at all, even when used with a camera or fan)
The MH27 includes Nitecore's signature physical reverse polarity protection. If the battery is inserted backwards, cannot make connection. This also means that the light can only be used with button-top cells. Flat tops will not work without modification. (which voids warranty)
Both ends of the battery compartment feature a spring to dampen impact of inserting batteries.
When the battery is at 50%, the mode buttons will flash every 2 seconds. When the battery is "low" it will flash rapidly.:wave:
The MH27UV also features a thermal regulation system instead of a timed step-down. The system will detect the light's internal temperature in real time and adjust the output based on the reading. This can be beneficial if you are using the flashlight in cold temperatures because the light can hold a higher output for a longer period of time!
Beam pattern
The Beam pattern on the MH27UV is similar to the P12GT, other than the hot spot being even smaller (more concentrated).The flood/spill is nearly identical to the P12GT's, with the P12GT's being just slightly larger.
The New CREE XP-L HI V3 Emitter is domeless, meaning that there is no dome over the diode, it is just flat.
It is also noticeably smaller than the P12's XM-L2 U2 LED
The MH27UV also features a smooth reflector which produces great throw, but the beam pattern have some hardly noticeable artifacts caused by the other 3 LEDs and the crenelated bezel. This is nothing unbearable even remotely though.
ISO 100, f/3.5, 1/60
ISO 100, f/3.5, 1/320
ISO 100, f/3.5, 1/2000
RGB LEDs
The Blue is the brightest, followed by red, then UV. The UV does not put out much visible light, but it will illuminate what it's supposed to extremely well. Anything white will glow a bright blue. Also hidden substances like invisible ink or even pee show up clearly as bright yellow.
The beam pattern is rather sloppy, but that is hard to correct because of the LEDs being put inside a corner of an already used reflector.
This is a painting I have that has a lot of white lines on it. Here is a comparison between the blue light (top) and the UV light (bottom). The UV light really brings out the white and leaves the darker colors alone. It's quite awesome to shine around in a dark space. It's interesting to see what gets illuminated and what doesn't!
Here is showing the illumination of a white piece of paper. You can see that it is almost glowing.
DISTANCE BEAMSHOT
The MH27UV has great throw. The first fence is around 30 meters away. The treeline is around 122 meters away (measured). The weather outside was rainy when I took this picture, so I did a long exposure that made the light seem ever so slightly brighter than it is to my eye. I did this to compensate for the rain which hinders throw. The image is almost exactly what my eye sees, though.
Personal Opinions
The MH27UV has incredible throw for it's class and size. The light is only 6.06 inches long and provides incredible brightness at incredible throw for being a light that can be pocketed. The size and weight make this great if carried in the holster on your belt or belt loop. This light would come in handy for so many situations ranging from simple night walks, to self defense and weapon mounting. There are nearly limitless uses for this flashlight because of it's size, brightness, throw, and durability. The runtimes are great, especially on moonlight and low.
The striking bezel on the front is great for emergency situations such as self defense or glass breaking. Partner that with the forward tactical switch, and this light can be used to momentarily blind someone and strike them or run.
The battery voltage readout feature is great to have. The Blue LED is bright and easy to see on my sample. I also like that the buttons show the (+) and (-) symbols so that it is easily understandable.
The overall feel of the light is great and comfortable in the hand. I trust this going underwater that I would still have a good grip on the light. Add on the metal Tactical ring and the belt clip, and the grip is even better; however I do not use these for every day carry of the light, as I find that they can get in the way. These would come in handy if the light was being used with a firearm and anti-roll.
The size is not bad, a little on the lengthy side but not unbearable. I could carry this light on my belt with no problem. I successfully fit this in jean pockets without too much trouble, but it depends on the jeans you wear. It is not the most comfortable thing in the world though to pocket this.
When I first started with Nitecore flashlights, I was somewhat opposed to the USB rechargeable feature that some lights had. I felt that it was just one more piece to break or one more cover to leak. Once I started trying out lights that had the USB rechargeable feature, I realized how useful it is. The cover on my sample is very well fitted and secure. I don't see the possibility of water leaking inside the dust cover at all. The Micro USB is a very common cable which means that if yours breaks, it will be easy and cheap to replace. This also means that it is able to plug into computers, laptops, and many other devices so that you can recharge your flashlight without even having to remove the battery
I love the red, blue, and UV LEDs. Although the shape of the beam is rather abnormal, in the woods it isn't too noticeable. I also am very pleased that the "special" modes are "hidden" and require holding both mode buttons in order to activate. This keeps them out of the way unless they are needed which is something I very much appreciate. There still is a Red and Blue "Police" strobe like on the regular MH27
Another great feature of this light, as I have mentioned before, is that it has a very low mode of 1 lumen. Many manufacturers overlook this feature that I find very valuable. If you are out walking your dog or walking in the woods or on a trail and don't want to kill your night vision, this is great to have because it is just enough to see your surroundings but it won't hurt your night adjusted eyes. Next is the extreme brightness and concentrated beam. This light will reach out several hundred meters giving you useful illumination, especially if using a rifle with a scope (tested). My backyard is 122 meters from the house to the forest start. This light reaches out there with enough brightness to clearly see what I need to see. The beam profile is great for long distance because it has a good tight hotspot, but also has enough flood to see around in front of you. This is a great light to be used outdoors; although, the beam is a little tight to be used indoors. If you point this light at the ceiling, it can provide nice illumination throughout a room, but pointing it directly at objects will result in not seeing as wide of an area.
I love the UV light. I have always found uses for a good UV flashlight and now it is built in to a light I can EDC or just have around. It's great having one light that does it all, and very well! Instead of having separate red, blue, UV, and white LED flashlights, I can just use this one and it does all that I need! The UV is also very good at illuminating what it's supposed to illuminate!
PROS
Brightness
Great Throw
Battery readout
Red, Blue, and UV LEDs
Grip
Low voltage warning
Rechargeable in-flashlight with USB
Good runtime on all modes with incredible runtime on low
Waterproof
Impact resistant
Thermal monitoring and step down
CONS
The only con I can think of is that the Red, Blue, and UV LED's have a messy beam pattern. This is understandable because of where they are placed in the reflector. This doesn't bother me much but I thought I would mention it!
IS IT WORTH IT?
I would absolutely recommend this to a friend and/or complete stranger. The features justify the price without a doubt.
MH27UV provided by Nitecore for review
NOTE: The MH27UV looks identical to the MH27, so I will use the same images as the MH27.
Manufacturer specs
LED: Cree XP-L HI V3
Max Lumen: 1000
Uses one 18650 rechargeable battery or two CR123A batteries.
Output/Runtime (1x18650): Hi 1000lumens / 1hr – Med 250lumens / 6hr 15min – Lo 55lumens / 28hr – Lower 1lumen / 708hr
Output/Runtime (2xCR123A): Hi 1000lumens / 45min – Med 280lumens / 4hr 45min – Lo 50lumens / 20hr – Lower 1lumen / 505hr
Beam Intensity: 53,500cd
Beam Distance: 462m
Impact resistant to 1.5 meters
Waterproof in accordance with IPX-8 (two meters submersible)
Second generation 'Crystal Coating Technology' combined with 'Precision Digital Optics Technology' provide extreme reflector performance
Uses one 18650 for up to 708 hours of runtime
Equipped with unique tricolored (Red, UV, and blue) tactical/signaling lights
4 brightness levels and 6 special modes are easily accessible via dual side switches
Direct access to turbo and UV modes
professional grade UV light
Features advanced temperature regulation (ATR) technology
Spring-loaded impact absorption mechanism with reverse polarity protection
Intelligent Li-ion battery charging circuit (Via Micro-USB charging port)
A power indicator built into the side switch indicates remaining battery power (accurate to 0.1V)
Intelligent memory function for brightness levels and special modes (Besides SOS and location beacon)
Tactical lanyard enclosed
Toughened ultra-clear mineral glass with anti-reflective coating
Constructed from aero grade aluminium alloy with HAIII military grade hard-anodized finish
Stainless steel titanium-plated clip included
Tail stand capability
Dimensions: Length: 154mm (6.06"), Head Diameter: 40mm (1.57"), Tail Diameter: 25.4mm (1")
Weight: 170grams (6 oz)(without battery)
Accessories: Quality holster, clip, metal tactical ring, lanyard, spare tail cap, spare O-ring, spare USB cover
MSRP: ~$90
In the box
You get all of the usual Nitecore accessories. A belt clip, high quality lanyard, spare O-rings, spare USB cover and tail clicky cover, (Better than normal) quality nylon holster, and this time a full metal stainless steel tactical ring!
Here is the light inside the holster.
PROS
Tough nylon is trustworthy for holding onto your belt and this light
METAL D ring
velcro for your belt, as well as to close the holster
nice tight fit
CONS
flashlight sticks out the bottom a little
Appearance
The MH27UV has a black HAIII hard anodized finish over an aircraft grade aluminum body.
the body of the MH27UV has moderately aggressive knurling on the body and around the tailcap. There isn't much preventing the MH27UV from rolling other than the rubber mode selector switch. Once you add the belt clip and/or the tactical ring, the anti-roll is pretty effective. Without that, I would set the light upright using the front.
Overall grip is very good and comfortable. The light feels very solid, and is only slightly heavier than the P12 and P12GT.
The laser engraved markings are bright white and show up clearly on the body.
As with almost all other Nitecore flashlights, the finish is not Matte, but it isn't highly reflective either.
User Interface
The MH27UV is activated by the forward clicky button. If you half press the button, you get momentary. While the light is on, press the + or - buttons to cycle through standard modes. (+) cycles through modes in ascending order, with Hi being the final mode. (-) cycles through modes in descending order, with blue being the final mode. These are all of the standard modes in ascending order:
Blue, UV, Red, Moonlight, Low, Med, Hi
If you press and hold both the (+) and (-) buttons, you will enter the special modes. First is strobe. Press the (+) button to cycle from strobe, to beacon, and finally SOS. Press (-) to cycle through those modes in reverse order, and past strobe is blue/red flashing mode.
If you press both the (+) and (-) buttons simultaneously again, it will return to your last used standard mode. The flashlight also features a memory function that will remember each mode other than SOS and beacon. Once you turn the light off and back on, it will be in the same mode it was left in.
The MH27UV also features direct access to Hi and red. Press the (+) and tail clicky at the same time to immediately access Hi while the light is off, or simply press and hold (+) if the light is on. Do the same but with (-) to immediately access the red light.
The MH27UV also features a battery voltage readout feature. From the off state, if you press both the (+)(-), and tail clicky, the blue LED under the mode buttons will blink with the battery voltage (accurate to 0.1V).
EXAMPLE:
4 flashes followed by a pause, then 2 flashes indicates full battery at 4.2V
Doing this will also activate "location beacon" mode. The blue LED under the mode buttons will blink every few seconds until the tail switch is turned off.
The MH27UV can be recharged with the USB charging port on the opposite side from the mode buttons. Open the flap, and you can plug in the included USB cable to charge the light from a computer, or USB wall adaptor. When you plug in the light, make sure to turn it on otherwise it will not charge, and the mode buttons will blink rapidly. When the light is charging, the mode buttons will blink once every few seconds. When the light is finished charging, the mode buttons will hold steady on.
Comparisons
(Left to right)
P10, P12GT, MH27UV
Here is the tail standing capability
The light tail stands well; however, the head is heavy and increases the chance of the flashlight being knocked over.
The MH27UV is waterproof in accordance with IPX-8 (submersible to 2 meters)
Physical Tests
I submersed the MH27UV completely in water while pressing the mode buttons and rear clicky switch. I did not find any water to have entered the light at all, even through the USB cover.
During usage on Hi, I still do not feel any significant increase in heat anywhere on the light. This is probably due to the larger head size, thermal "vents" and thermoelectric separation technology Nitecore has inside the light.
The MH27UV is completely current controlled, meaning that there is no PWM (pulse width modulation) on any of the modes.:thumbsup: (This results in no flickering at all, even when used with a camera or fan)
The MH27 includes Nitecore's signature physical reverse polarity protection. If the battery is inserted backwards, cannot make connection. This also means that the light can only be used with button-top cells. Flat tops will not work without modification. (which voids warranty)
Both ends of the battery compartment feature a spring to dampen impact of inserting batteries.
When the battery is at 50%, the mode buttons will flash every 2 seconds. When the battery is "low" it will flash rapidly.:wave:
The MH27UV also features a thermal regulation system instead of a timed step-down. The system will detect the light's internal temperature in real time and adjust the output based on the reading. This can be beneficial if you are using the flashlight in cold temperatures because the light can hold a higher output for a longer period of time!
Beam pattern
The Beam pattern on the MH27UV is similar to the P12GT, other than the hot spot being even smaller (more concentrated).The flood/spill is nearly identical to the P12GT's, with the P12GT's being just slightly larger.
The New CREE XP-L HI V3 Emitter is domeless, meaning that there is no dome over the diode, it is just flat.
It is also noticeably smaller than the P12's XM-L2 U2 LED
The MH27UV also features a smooth reflector which produces great throw, but the beam pattern have some hardly noticeable artifacts caused by the other 3 LEDs and the crenelated bezel. This is nothing unbearable even remotely though.
ISO 100, f/3.5, 1/60
ISO 100, f/3.5, 1/320
ISO 100, f/3.5, 1/2000
RGB LEDs
The Blue is the brightest, followed by red, then UV. The UV does not put out much visible light, but it will illuminate what it's supposed to extremely well. Anything white will glow a bright blue. Also hidden substances like invisible ink or even pee show up clearly as bright yellow.
The beam pattern is rather sloppy, but that is hard to correct because of the LEDs being put inside a corner of an already used reflector.
This is a painting I have that has a lot of white lines on it. Here is a comparison between the blue light (top) and the UV light (bottom). The UV light really brings out the white and leaves the darker colors alone. It's quite awesome to shine around in a dark space. It's interesting to see what gets illuminated and what doesn't!
Here is showing the illumination of a white piece of paper. You can see that it is almost glowing.
DISTANCE BEAMSHOT
The MH27UV has great throw. The first fence is around 30 meters away. The treeline is around 122 meters away (measured). The weather outside was rainy when I took this picture, so I did a long exposure that made the light seem ever so slightly brighter than it is to my eye. I did this to compensate for the rain which hinders throw. The image is almost exactly what my eye sees, though.
Personal Opinions
The MH27UV has incredible throw for it's class and size. The light is only 6.06 inches long and provides incredible brightness at incredible throw for being a light that can be pocketed. The size and weight make this great if carried in the holster on your belt or belt loop. This light would come in handy for so many situations ranging from simple night walks, to self defense and weapon mounting. There are nearly limitless uses for this flashlight because of it's size, brightness, throw, and durability. The runtimes are great, especially on moonlight and low.
The striking bezel on the front is great for emergency situations such as self defense or glass breaking. Partner that with the forward tactical switch, and this light can be used to momentarily blind someone and strike them or run.
The battery voltage readout feature is great to have. The Blue LED is bright and easy to see on my sample. I also like that the buttons show the (+) and (-) symbols so that it is easily understandable.
The overall feel of the light is great and comfortable in the hand. I trust this going underwater that I would still have a good grip on the light. Add on the metal Tactical ring and the belt clip, and the grip is even better; however I do not use these for every day carry of the light, as I find that they can get in the way. These would come in handy if the light was being used with a firearm and anti-roll.
The size is not bad, a little on the lengthy side but not unbearable. I could carry this light on my belt with no problem. I successfully fit this in jean pockets without too much trouble, but it depends on the jeans you wear. It is not the most comfortable thing in the world though to pocket this.
When I first started with Nitecore flashlights, I was somewhat opposed to the USB rechargeable feature that some lights had. I felt that it was just one more piece to break or one more cover to leak. Once I started trying out lights that had the USB rechargeable feature, I realized how useful it is. The cover on my sample is very well fitted and secure. I don't see the possibility of water leaking inside the dust cover at all. The Micro USB is a very common cable which means that if yours breaks, it will be easy and cheap to replace. This also means that it is able to plug into computers, laptops, and many other devices so that you can recharge your flashlight without even having to remove the battery
I love the red, blue, and UV LEDs. Although the shape of the beam is rather abnormal, in the woods it isn't too noticeable. I also am very pleased that the "special" modes are "hidden" and require holding both mode buttons in order to activate. This keeps them out of the way unless they are needed which is something I very much appreciate. There still is a Red and Blue "Police" strobe like on the regular MH27
Another great feature of this light, as I have mentioned before, is that it has a very low mode of 1 lumen. Many manufacturers overlook this feature that I find very valuable. If you are out walking your dog or walking in the woods or on a trail and don't want to kill your night vision, this is great to have because it is just enough to see your surroundings but it won't hurt your night adjusted eyes. Next is the extreme brightness and concentrated beam. This light will reach out several hundred meters giving you useful illumination, especially if using a rifle with a scope (tested). My backyard is 122 meters from the house to the forest start. This light reaches out there with enough brightness to clearly see what I need to see. The beam profile is great for long distance because it has a good tight hotspot, but also has enough flood to see around in front of you. This is a great light to be used outdoors; although, the beam is a little tight to be used indoors. If you point this light at the ceiling, it can provide nice illumination throughout a room, but pointing it directly at objects will result in not seeing as wide of an area.
I love the UV light. I have always found uses for a good UV flashlight and now it is built in to a light I can EDC or just have around. It's great having one light that does it all, and very well! Instead of having separate red, blue, UV, and white LED flashlights, I can just use this one and it does all that I need! The UV is also very good at illuminating what it's supposed to illuminate!
PROS
Brightness
Great Throw
Battery readout
Red, Blue, and UV LEDs
Grip
Low voltage warning
Rechargeable in-flashlight with USB
Good runtime on all modes with incredible runtime on low
Waterproof
Impact resistant
Thermal monitoring and step down
CONS
The only con I can think of is that the Red, Blue, and UV LED's have a messy beam pattern. This is understandable because of where they are placed in the reflector. This doesn't bother me much but I thought I would mention it!
IS IT WORTH IT?
I would absolutely recommend this to a friend and/or complete stranger. The features justify the price without a doubt.
MH27UV provided by Nitecore for review
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