Layman’s Flashlight Reviews

Nitecore has now begun to expand their EZ series of lights with new power options including this model utilizing the minuscule CR2 cell. This series drops the standard programmable, feature-rich user interfaces that Nitecore is known for in favor of a simple 2 stage light that requires no complex learning curve to operate.

Nitecore EZ CR2

Meat and Potatoes

The Nitecore EZ CR2 is an extremely small light designed for easy carry and use. The light itself is barely bigger than the cell powering it. I was extremely surprised when comparing the size of the EZ CR2 to the Nitecore EX10. Previously the EX10 was viewed as a nearly impossibly minute light when considering the power source. I had never conceived that I would see the day the EX10 would appear to be bloated and overweight. Next to the EZ CR2 it looks just that, due to the EZ series’ surprising compactness amplified by the significantly smaller cell. Nitecore has also done a fantastic job taking their existing high quality knurling and finish and applying it once again to this new light. The flawless black type III anodizing and the addition of the brass heatsink/threading/accent is a fantastic aesthetic treat that is a beauty to behold.

Nitecore has chosen a 2 stage twisty switch for the EZ CR2 in an attempt to make a much simpler, easier access light. This is realized in a basic to understand: tighten the head to turn it on and tighten more to switch to high. What really shines about this concept is that there is so little explaining to do if you ever have to hand your light to a friend or family member to use. You don’t have to run through any kind of preflight checklist before you are able to let them loose with your light.

The beam of the EZ CR2 is quite surprising actually. Since their introduction, the Cree XR-E based lights have struggled with a now infamous dark ring surrounding the central spot of light. In the EZ this ring seems to have been very drastically minimized. There is still a couple small artifacts in the beam but no where near what I expected with a very lightly textured reflector of this insignificant size. My own personal preferences for an EDC style light are for a wide smooth beam and the CR2 seems to fit this desired profile better than the other lights in the EZ series.

Nitecore has designated Low power to be 20 lumens and High to be 130 lumens, however I suspect that these numbers are strictly calculated numbers based on the current being provided to the LED rather than measurement of the torch itself. My own experiences, though less than scientific, have been that both numbers appear mostly accurate at least considering the numbers before optical losses from the reflector and lens. The 130 lumen High mode is nearly indistinguishable from the similarly rated full power setting on the Nitecore EX10, creating an incredibly small powerhouse of a light. The low power setting is an even more pleasant surprise. What Nitecore deems to be a 20 lumen low level presents itself as an extremely useful general brightness beam. I personally have found it perfectly adequate for the vast majority of my daily lighting needs.

Nitecore EZ CR2

Constructive Criticism

With the especially diminutive nature of the EZ CR2, it draws undue attention to one area of the EZ series that I have not taken exception to on any other model. When compared proportionally to the remainder of the light, the tail portion containing the standard tripod mount and keychain attachment points is a much larger portion of the light than it was with any previous variation. Since I do not see much demand for the ability to tripod mount a light this minute, and as of yet, I have not stubled across any accessories designed to mate with the threaded attachment point, I suggest that this “feature” is actually wasted space on this particular light. Nitecore could have seized the opportunity fo produce an even more amazingly miniature powerful pocket sized torch by redesigning this section of the body to better utilize the available space.

EZ CR2 Attachment Point

When running for any extended period on High, the EZ CR2 definitely gets quite warm rather quickly. With so little metal in use in the body of this light, heat dissipation becomes more of a challenge. Once again it comes to mind that Nitecore may want to consider the possibility of ever so slightly decreasing the top end output of their EZ series in favor of both increased runtime and better thermal management on the high levels. As it stands currently, I recommend this to be a short burst mode only. Thankfully the low level is, as previously stated, the low level is adequate for the majority of EDC lighting needs.

Conclusions

Nitecore EZ CR2

The EZ CR2 definitely shines as a capable light in a very diminutive space. It’s simple to use design, solid output, and extreme compactness come together in a very attractive package. This CR2 flavored EZ light is a worthwhile addition to Nitecore’s already impressive lineup, and finds itself routinely accompanying me in my daily treks.

Provided for review by: Nitecore

Nitecore has now begun to expand their EZ series of lights with new power options including this model utilizing the venerable CR123A cell. This series drops the standard programmable, feature-rich user interfaces that Nitecore is known for in favor of a simple 2 stage light that requires no complex learning curve to operate.

Nitecore EZ 123

Meat and Potatoes

The Nitecore EZ 123 is an extremely small CR123A powered light designed for easy carry and use. The light itself is barely bigger than the cell powering it. I was extremely surprised when comparing the size of the EZ 123 to the Nitecore EX10. Previously the EX10 was viewed as a nearly impossibly minute light when considering the power source. I had never conceived that I would see the day the EX10 would appear to be bloated and overweight. Next to the EZ 123 it looks just that, due to the EZ series’ surprising compactness. Nitecore has also done a fantastic job taking their existing high quality knurling and finish and applying it once again to this new light. The flawless black type III anodizing and the addition of the brass heatsink/threading/accent is a fantastic aesthetic treat that is a beauty to behold.

Nitecore has chosen a 2 stage twisty switch for the EZ 123 in an attempt to make a much simpler, easier access light. This is realized in a basic to understand: tighten the head to turn it on and tighten more to switch to high. What really shines about this concept is that there is so little explaining to do if you ever have to hand your light to a friend or family member to use. You don’t have to run through any kind of preflight checklist before you are able to let them loose with your light.

The beam of the EZ 123 is quite surprising actually. Since their introduction, the Cree XR-E based lights have struggled with a now infamous dark ring surrounding the central spot of light. In the EZ AA this ring seems to have been very drastically minimized. There is still a couple small artifacts in the beam but no where near what I expected with a very lightly textured reflector of this minuscule size. More surprising is the fact that the beam is focused tighter than even my Nitecore EX10 that utilizes a wider reflector. This goes against conventional wisdom saying you need a larger reflector to create a tighter beam. My own personal preferences for an EDC style light are for a wide smooth beam however this is clearly a well designed decision rather than merely accidental.

Nitecore has designated Low power to be 20 lumens and High to be 180 lumens.  My own experiences, though less than scientific, have been that both numbers appear mostly accurate at least considering the numbers before optical losses from the reflector and lens. The 180 lumen High mode is noticeably brighter than the 130 lumen full power setting on the Nitecore EX10, creating an incredibly small powerhouse of a light. The low power setting is an even more pleasant surprise. What Nitecore deems to be a 20 lumen low level presents itself as an extremely useful general brightness beam. I personally have found it perfectly adequate for the vast majority of my daily lighting needs.

Nitecore EZ 123

Constructive Criticism

Some people have expressed concern about the amount of twisting required to step between Low and High modes. I do not see this as a problem, as the modes on my EZ 123 are spaced fairly close together. What I do take issue with is the amount of force required to traverse that last portion of threading before switching occurs. In my light, getting to the High output requires so much effort that it is nearly impossible to activate single-handed. It is definitely not a comfortable prospect to consider. I believe that this is caused by the anti-rattle foam used in the head of the light. When completely tightening, this foam seems to be compressed nearly to it’s full extent before High mode kicks in. Secondly, though this light is capable of handling the input voltage of 16340 Li-ion cells, this same foam induced pressure exerts so much force on the cell being used that I am worried about damage or displacement of the protection circuit on the bottom of the cell. The obvious solution is to merely wait until the foam looses some of its springiness, but it might be some time before that happens and a light should not have to have a “break in” period before it is useful. Perhaps some form of spring could replace the foam allowing for a more controlled anti-rattle mechanism that doesn’t exert quite so much resistance.

When running for any extended period on High, the EZ 123 definitely gets quite warm rather quickly. With so little metal in use in the body of this light, heat dissipation becomes more of a challenge. Once again it comes to mind that Nitecore may want to consider the possibility of ever so slightly decreasing the top end output of their EZ series in favor of both increased runtime and better thermal management on the high levels. As it stands currently, I recommend this to be a short burst mode only. Thankfully the low level is, as previously stated, the low level is extremely useful.

Nitecore EZ 123

Conclusions

The EZ 123 definitely shines as a capable light in a rather diminutive space. It’s simple to use design, solid output, and extreme compactness come together in a very attractive package. This CR123A flavored EZ light is a worthwhile addition to Nitecores already impressive lineup.

Provided for review by: Nitecore

Nitecore EZ AA

NOTICE: On 4/11/2009 Nitecore has announced that they are issuing a recall of all Nitecore EZ AA lights.  Please click HERE for my impressions of the revised “Ver: 1.1″ product.

The Nitecore EZ AA is the first light in the newly introduced EZ series of lights by Nitecore. This series drops the standard programmable, feature-rich user interfaces that Nitecore is known for in favor of a simple 2 stage light that requires no complex learning curve to operate.

Nitecore EZ AA

Meat and Potatoes

The Nitecore EZ AA is an extremely small AA powered light designed for easy carry and use. The light itself is barely bigger than the cell powering it. Nitecore has also done a fantastic job taking their existing high quality knurling and finish and applying it once again to this new light. The flawless black type III anodizing and the addition of the brass heatsink/threading/accent is a fantastic aesthetic treat that is a beauty to behold.

Nitecore has chosen a 2 stage twisty switch for the EZ AA in an attempt to make a much simpler, easier access light. This is realized in a basic to understand: tighten the head to turn it on and tighten more to switch to high. What really shines about this concept is that there is so little explaining to do if you ever have to hand your light to a friend or family member to use. You don’t have to run through any kind of preflight checklist before you are able to let them loose with your light.

The beam of the EZ AA is quite surprising actually. Since their introduction, the Cree XR-E based lights have struggled with a now infamous dark ring surrounding the central spot of light. In the EZ AA this ring seems to have been very drastically minimized. There is still a couple small artifacts in the beam but no where near what I expected with a very lightly textured reflector of this minuscule size. More surprising is the fact that the beam is focused tighter than even my Nitecore EX10 that utilizes a wider reflector. This goes against conventional wisdom saying you need a larger reflector to create a tighter beam. My own personal preferences for an EDC style light are for a wide smooth beam however this is clearly a well designed decision rather than merely accidental.

Nitecore has designated Low power to be 15 lumens and High to be 130 lumens, however I suspect that these numbers are strictly calculated numbers based on the current being provided to the LED rather than measurement of the torch itself. Independent testing has placed suspicion on both the high and low beam brightness’. My own experiences however, though less scientific, have been that both numbers appear mostly accurate at least considering the numbers before optical losses from the reflector and lens. The 130 lumen High mode is extremely close to the similarly rated full power setting on the Nitecore EX10. The low power appears extremely familiar brightness-wise when compared to the Fenix E01, though the drastically different beam profiles do make such comparisons difficult.

Nitecore EZ AA

Constructive Criticism

One of my biggest concerns the last time I had experience with Nitecore is that the EX10 was susceptible to a very high pitch whine on nearly all settings. The EZ AA is not completely immune to this phenomenon in spite of it’s far humbler aspirations. On low mode the light the silence of the night remains undisturbed as far as I am able to tell (I have even consulted family members possessing far younger auditory faculties just for certainty). On High mode however, the EZ AA begins to emit a rather disconsolate whistle clearly audible by the unaided ear.

Nitecore’s choice of brass for the threading of the light is very likely due to it’s inherent smoothness for such applications. I do see potential for improvement here however. I am unsure if it is just the extremely tight tolerances that Nitecore runs their manufacturing to or what, but my EZ AA was not nearly as buttery smooth as I expected in this regard. When I first saw their strategic use of brass here I fully expected it to spin with unparalleled ease. This is not the case. After a thorough thread cleaning and liberal application of lubrication it was marginally improved but remained heavily abrasive. When I looked for the reason I discovered that there was a buildup of what appeared to be aluminum shards accumulating on the brass threading. This has occurred a number of times in just a few days and it makes me believe that something here requires a redesign. Possibly having brass on both halves of the threading would be the best solution.

The source of the rough twisting.

Also concerning the switch, some have expressed concern about the number of twists required to step between Low and High modes. I do not see this as a problem. What I do take issue with is the amount of force required to traverse that last portion of threading before switching occurs. In my light, getting to the High output requires so much effort that it is nearly impossible to activate single-handed. It is definitely not a comfortable prospect to consider. I believe that this is caused by the anti-rattle foam used in the head of the light. When completely tightening, this foam seems to be compressed nearly to it’s full extent before High mode kicks in. The obvious solution is to merely wait until the foam looses some of its springiness, but it might be some time before that happens and a light should not have to have a “break in” period before it is useful. Perhaps some form of spring could replace the foam allowing for a more controlled anti-rattle mechanism that doesn’t exert quite so much resistance.

The official lumen counts aside, the two levels of the EZ AA are unarguably spaced quite far apart. My opinion is that the distance is a little too great for ideal conditions if someone carries this light solo. Nitecore would probably have been better off closing the gap a little and concentrating more on battery efficiency over the long run than on both minimal output and a hot-rod high end in the same light.

Diminutive size

Conclusions

The Nitecore EZ AA released amid a flurry of hype and high expectations. Unfortunately, when the chips are down it doesn’t quite live up to all of those expectations. Its simplicity of operation, diminutive size, and availability of driving energy are its greatest strengths, and those it does well. There may be a few bugs to work out in the long run, but it is still worthy of consideration.

Revisions

Shortly after the initial release of the EZ AA, Nitecore issued a recall of their entire stock, citing unacceptable electronic efficiency as the underlying reasoning behind their decision. While they were at it, they also seem to have taken steps to revive consumer confidence by correcting some of the other concerns we have expressed as early adopters and reviewers.

Gone now on my sample are both the whine at either output and the shards of demolished aluminum threads. This unit is far smoother to operate, though it still retains much of its former tension while twisting. Nitecore also used this opportunity to revisit their switching mechanism and drastically reduce the distance of travel required for activation of High output mode. While still not able to occur in a single fluid motion all the way from off, the difference is noticable and definitely approved of by this particular user.

The electronic improvements performed by Nitecore manifest themselves in both brightness and efficiency. Without the equipment to accurately measure runtime, I am limited to observational comparisons. The literature included in the revised EZ AA specifies a change from the previous 15 lumen rating on low to a new 10 lumen rating, however the net result is a beam that is noticably brighter than its predicessor. If the high beam has been affected in any way by the alterations, the effect is negligable. I can not see any discernable difference between the high beams of either light.

In all, Nitecore has significantly improved upon the usability of this first light in their EZ series along with solidifying their reputation as a company that is willing to go the extra mile to make things right to their customers. I see the EZ AA as a much improved backup light now, providing adequate illumination for occasional everyday tasks while still having the power to really light things up when needed. I believe that the EZ AA has finally come into its own.

Provided for review by: Nitecore