Review - Nitecore SENS range of torches - AA, CR123, CR2

[TallNHairyDave]

The Zebralight uses a Cree XP-G to put out 200 lumens for an hour running on one AA battery. The head diameter is no bigger than this Nitecore. I think the 120 stated lumens is a bit optimistic too. I really like the auto dimming, but I'm put off carrying it because I have other torches with the same form factor and run on the same batteries that are nearly twice as bright. The torch is well built, the size and weight are nice and the auto dimming makes me really want to carry it, but every time I wanted to reach out on full power I was left feeling a bit 'meh' by it. Perhaps the CR123 version with it's higher output is more satisfying in use, but there is no need for it these days. I think they are on to a winner with the UI, but it wont be long before someone copies it.

The only other comment about the UI I would make, is I would like the auto dimming to be activated by pointing the torch straight down, so that it comes on in dim, rather than pointing it straight up and having it come on in bright.

I get the feeling they are deliberately underdriving it to get the most battery life they can.

Yes the CR123 version is a lot brighter!

I agree with you entirely about the autodimming by pointing straight down - I too would prefer it to be on LOW when you turn it on for dimming - only drawback then would be you could never have it on "fixed in low" mode... I guess Nitecore felt that having a fixed low outweighed the disadvantage of having to turn it on in high to get at ADT mode.

[Martyn]

I get the feeling they are deliberately underdriving it to get the most battery life they can.

Yes the CR123 version is a lot brighter!

I agree with you entirely about the autodimming by pointing straight down - I too would prefer it to be on LOW when you turn it on for dimming - only drawback then would be you could never have it on "fixed in low" mode... I guess Nitecore felt that having a fixed low outweighed the disadvantage of having to turn it on in high to get at ADT mode.

Yeah you could fix it in low by turning it on pointing straight up - the vacant slot left by moving auto to the down position. The same functions, you are just swapping how they activate. Maybe a bit counter intuitive, but worth the trade off to bring it on in auto/low by pointing down, which would be much more natural & useful.

Imagine walking in the woods and you want to check the time/your map. Pull the torch out, point it down at the map/watch and turn (or preferably click) the torch on and it comes on in low. You hear a rustle in the bushes and point the torch in at it. The torch jacks up to full power - it's nothing - back to the watch/map and the torch dims down. Much more useful & natural.

Also, the battery saving aspect is a damned good excuse to have a very high power turbo level. The battery will last longer than in a regular torch if you use auto, so you can put some of that saving into high output. In fact highly overdriven torches would benefit most from this auto-dimming UI, from both a power and heat management perspective.

If Nitecore don't do it, somebody else will and they'll lose the lead on it (the new maglite AA LED already uses a variation of it).

It also desperately needs to be a clicky. Nitecore claim it's one handed, and you can do it. But having to think about the orientation of the torch, while rotating the cap with one hand, is a bit like patting your head while rubbing your belly. You can do it - sort of, but you need to concentrate on it. It's really a two handed operation torch. A clicky tailcap would make it a lot easier to operate with one hand. Unless I'm missing something, the rotating head doesnt serve any function other than a simple on/off switch, so going for a simple clicky wouldn't be a big deal - and would also add momentary-on function to the torch.

I think the auto dimming is a great idea, but I cant help but think Nitecore have missed 2 or 3 really obvious tricks with this.

[Nyctophiliac]

Nice review, Dave.

One thing you haven't mentioned. My Sens lights have a soft start, actually taking a second or two to come on at full strength. Still haven't got used to that.

I like the AA version, basically this has the range of output I mostly like to use. The low is pretty good for a general purpose light (not a moon mode, but the lowest useful you might expect), the medium is a good step up from there (actually beating the outputs of several of my older single level led lights like the ARC LSP and SF E1L with KL1 v2) and the high is bright enough for almost anything you might want to do around the house and garden when its dark. Also the spacing between the levels seems very well thought out.

The variable level accelerometer mode, I don't know. Give me a few days to try it out - seems pretty good in general.

Is this the same technology that Maglite used in their XL lights? And also that is used in my mobile phone?

BTW - Dave and others, have a look at 'The Other Place' as a new meet is brewing.

Thank you and goodnight. (Yawn)

[TallNHairyDave]

Yeah you could fix it in low by turning it on pointing straight up - the vacant slot left by moving auto to the down position. The same functions, you are just swapping how they activate. Maybe a bit counter intuitive, but worth the trade off to bring it on in auto/low by pointing down, which would be much more natural & useful.

Imagine walking in the woods and you want to check the time/your map. Pull the torch out, point it down at the map/watch and turn (or preferably click) the torch on and it comes on in low. You hear a rustle in the bushes and point the torch in at it. The torch jacks up to full power - it's nothing - back to the watch/map and the torch dims down. Much more useful & natural.

Also, the battery saving aspect is a damned good excuse to have a very high power turbo level. The battery will last longer than in a regular torch if you use auto, so you can put some of that saving into high output. In fact highly overdriven torches would benefit most from this auto-dimming UI, from both a power and heat management perspective.

If Nitecore don't do it, somebody else will and they'll lose the lead on it (the new maglite AA LED already uses a variation of it).

It also desperately needs to be a clicky. Nitecore claim it's one handed, and you can do it. But having to think about the orientation of the torch, while rotating the cap with one hand, is a bit like patting your head while rubbing your belly. You can do it - sort of, but you need to concentrate on it. It's really a two handed operation torch. A clicky tailcap would make it a lot easier to operate with one hand. Unless I'm missing something, the rotating head doesnt serve any function other than a simple on/off switch, so going for a simple clicky wouldn't be a big deal - and would also add momentary-on function to the torch.

I think the auto dimming is a great idea, but I cant help but think Nitecore have missed 2 or 3 really obvious tricks with this.

Excellent suggestions / thoughts Martyn. I've pointed Antony at this thread and I'm sure he'll be passing all this feedback to Nitecore, so who knows - maybe we'll see a clicky SENS UI torch that works like that in the future? I'd certainly buy one!

Nice review, Dave.

One thing you haven't mentioned. My Sens lights have a soft start, actually taking a second or two to come on at full strength. Still haven't got used to that.

I like the AA version, basically this has the range of output I mostly like to use. The low is pretty good for a general purpose light (not a moon mode, but the lowest useful you might expect), the medium is a good step up from there (actually beating the outputs of several of my older single level led lights like the ARC LSP and SF E1L with KL1 v2) and the high is bright enough for almost anything you might want to do around the house and garden when its dark. Also the spacing between the levels seems very well thought out.

The variable level accelerometer mode, I don't know. Give me a few days to try it out - seems pretty good in general.

Is this the same technology that Maglite used in their XL lights? And also that is used in my mobile phone?

BTW - Dave and others, have a look at 'The Other Place' as a new meet is brewing.

Thank you and goodnight. (Yawn)

Hi Nycto mate - I did mention the "soft start" but it was only in passing, so easy to miss.

I also like the AA version most of the three for the same reasons as you, but the Mrs has snaffled it. Suppose I'll need to buy myself one

The accelerometer mode is good when you get used to it... Yes it's the same sort of tech as in the maglites and your phone.

Will check out the next meetup over on CPF.

[qwertyuiop]

I'm having a weird problem with my SENS AA.

On NiMH/Alkaline batteries, the light performs fine, as advertised. Active dimming works flawlessly.

However, when running on a freshly charged AW 14500 cell, the ADT mode becomes inconsistent:

1) Activate the light in ADT mode. It works as advertised.
2) Point it at the horizon and let it ramp up to Max, and leave it there for 30 seconds.
3) ADT now no longer works; when pointing the light straight down it never ramps back down to Low.

My theory is either I've got a faulty one, or that it's a design flaw: the light gets so hot when running on a 14500, the accelerometer chip fails to work. Or perhaps the extra voltage of the LiON cell confuses the light somehow.

Can anybody else give this a try and see what happens?

[TallNHairyDave]

I'm having a weird problem with my SENS AA.

On NiMH/Alkaline batteries, the light performs fine, as advertised. Active dimming works flawlessly.

However, when running on a freshly charged AW 14500 cell, the ADT mode becomes inconsistent:

1) Activate the light in ADT mode. It works as advertised.
2) Point it at the horizon and let it ramp up to Max, and leave it there for 30 seconds.
3) ADT now no longer works; when pointing the light straight down it never ramps back down to Low.

My theory is either I've got a faulty one, or that it's a design flaw: the light gets so hot when running on a 14500, the accelerometer chip fails to work. Or perhaps the extra voltage of the LiON cell confuses the light somehow.

Can anybody else give this a try and see what happens?

Tested the Mrs one with a freshly charged Trustfire 14500 (as I don't have any AW cells) and it worked perfectly even leaving step 2 for about 50 seconds.

Got blooming warm though!

[TallNHairyDave]

Quick "longer term" follow up. The CR2 one in the passaround is exhibiting bad wear on the threads as is my CR123 one.

On/off position is pretty vague and the head has developed a bit of play in it to the point where with it "off" you can turn it on by pressing the side of the head slightly.

As a result, I'm no longer carrying it.

IMO The threads are cut too fine for a twisty - these should be a clicky.