[Review] Nitecore MT06MD Penlight ... 180 lm w/ 4 lm low mode + high CRI

>Mobile Friendly Version<

Hi All, Nitecore sent me their new and updated penlight the MT06MD!This light features a brand new 4 lumen LOW mode and a new High CRI LED, Nichia 219B.

I'm a father of 3 and the family medic, so I've been looking for a good penlight to add to my kit and this fits the bill! Many penlights don't really have low mode but if they do, most are 1 lumen. The new 4 lumen mode works great of checking the kids eyes and can get a response in normal interior lighting. The addition of the CRI definitely helps and I can feel that my eyes are less strained.

Sound up your alley? Then say hello to the new MT06MD!

QUICK SPECS

Here is the specs from Nitecore’s website.

OUTPUT & RUNTIME

Very bright for about 45 min. Overall, it took 4 hours to completely drain the batteries starting on the high mode.

Max Output 180 lumens
Max Beam Distance 58 m
Max Beam Intensity 860 cd
Max Run time 35 h 0 m / 1.46 d
LED Nichia 219B LED
Reflector SMO
Battery 2 × AAA
Beam color High CRI (~5000K per packaging)
Length 128 mm / 5.04 in
Head Size 14 mm / 0.55 in
Weight 22 g / 0.78 oz

LED SPECS

One of the homeruns on this light is the Nichia 219B LED with CRI= 90 and is photo-biologically safe rated at RG0 (risk-free group). As many know already, CRI is a color render index which rates how well colors look under the subject light, where high CRI means better color rendering, and having good colors helps medical professionals a lot.

It’s sort of assumed for most flashlight LEDs, but the other part I didn’t realize, that the Nichia 219B LED is rated perfectly safe to be shined in someones eyes, and that there is no hidden radiation being emitted, which many doctors and their lawyers will like to hear. Here is an info sheet from Underwriters Laboratories on the subject: ul-lighting-sheet-fotobiologico-v2

OTHER FEATURES

  • Starts in low mode
  • Constant current (ie no PWM)
  • Can be sterilized after use
  • Uses 2xAA batteries
  • IPX8 water proof (2 meter submersible)
  • Impact resistant to 1.5 meters
  • Areospace grade aluminum
  • HAIII hard anodising

VIDEO OVERVIEW

www.youtube.com/embed/g4ksTV41BE4

LOOK & FEEL

The light appears identical to its predecessor MT06 with a black smooth body witha stainless steel clip and clicky switch. There is a very slight machined texture which at first feels like a cost cutting measure but it may have be done on purpose to try to add a bit of grip without cutting knurling which may have made it more difficult to clean.

BEAM PROFILE

The beam angle is not advertised but using a printed protractor I measured the main spot to have a total angle of about 25° and a total spill angle of about 80°.

Nitecore R40 w/CREE XP-L HI (left), Nitecore MT06MD w/Nichia 219B (right)

USER INTERFACE

The light uses a single button interface and has only three output levels; so I’d say this is one of the simpler UIs out there. You do a full press to click the light on, then you can either do quick half presses or full double clicks to cycle to the levels. Alternatively, you can also quickly loosen and tighten the head and it will cycle as well. You can lock out the light by loosening the head. Easy-peasy. I did notice that when holding the half press for a certain amount of time between high and low, when the light switches to low, there is a very quick bright flash before dimming to low; I’ve found that you can avoid this easily by more quickly half pressing to cycle the light.

BATTERY

The light takes 2xAAA which makes for a very slim and light form-factor. I’ve typically been against the use of AAA lights but since this has such a small form factor, it is very much worth it.

WARRANTY

Nitecore provides a 5-year warranty! Make sure you buy from an authorized dealer or you will waive your rights to the warranty. Also, take care to store your light properly, as the warranty does not cover damages caused by batter leakage. Check out their full terms of service.

PROS

  • Great color rendering! Really helps in observing patients or checking electrical wiring.
  • Optimal 4 lumen low mode PERFECT (imo) for checking pupil dilation; many pen lights don’t even have such a low level, and if they do, they tend to be only 1 lumen.
  • Very slim and light weight, fits great in pockets, and can be held between the lips if needed
  • Very professional look with stainless steel accents
  • Starts in low mode
  • Wonderfully smooth transisition between beam spot and spill
  • Has physical lock out for preserving battery
  • AAA batteries are very easy to replace and, for professionals, I’m sure most employers will provide these
  • IPX8 water proof and can be washed in the sink or sanitized
  • Hard anodizing will help prevent scratches and keep the light looking very professional
  • I like that you can half press the switch to cycle the modes and reduce clicky sounds when observing patients
  • Has constant current (no PWM) and great runtime; if left in the high mode it takes 4 hours to be fully drained!

OBSERVATIONS

  • Pocket clip not as resilient, but you can fix it if it bends too far; wish the clip was titanium plated even if it didn’t look as professional
  • Clicky switch cover feels a little wobbly so I packed it with some tissue for a little more stability
  • Very, very, slight machined texture on the body
  • Would have like a little traditional knurling near the switch end for increased grip
  • The light gets a little warm, but not really hot, if left on for extended amount of time, which is unlikely for a penlight

IN-USE

Even with all the promotion for use in the medical field, I still don’t think you wanted to see in my throat, or any other body part or that matter, so I figured I’d stick with some outdoor beam shots.

Pull box markings (high mode)

Steel plate covers on asphalt (high mode)

Tree tops (high mode)

Glove box (low mode)

Checking the CRI on our toddler art (mid mode)

PRICE

Currently the penlight is around $30 USD on amazon. If you appreciated my review and would like to support my work, I’ve provided an Amazon affiliate link to the featured product.

Nitecore MT06MD 180 Lumen Nichia LED Medical Penlight Flashlight For Doctors, Nurses and EMTs with 2x AAA (affiliate) (non-affiliate)

THANKS FOR READING!

DISCLAIMERS:

  • CivilGear received this product for testing and honest review.
  • CivilGear is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com

Thank you for the review. I happen to love 2xAAA lights, and I have been waiting for this one to start hitting the retailers for a while. It has all the features and specs I want and need in a penlight. I’m just waiting for a code to become available and I will get two or three of them.

Your welcome! Yeah I'm really like this one too and might pick up another so I can have one at home and one in my car :-). I'm sure the deals will start soon ;-)

What he said, almost. I really prefer simple single AAA lights, but was looking for a 2AAA light that had a bit more of a focused beam and further throw than my single AAAs. This light was recently recommended to me as the solution that had descent throw, neutral emitter (at least not cool white) and a fairly low mode as well. The fact that it has Nichia is very nice. Like tantrik77, with the right code I would snap one of these up for sure. Just wish it was copper or brass . . .

Yeah, I could have gone for a little tighter angle too. I think someone posted a code over on my review at CPF maybe give that a go.

I just noticed that my Nitecore MT06MD works with a single Eneloop NiMH cell and a spacer. Output was significantly reduced on all three modes, but still worth having.

The cell I used was close to full charge. I don’t know how long the MT06MD would run for as the cell voltage dropped, but NiMH has quite a flat discharge curve, so there’s a decent chance the light would have a reasonable runtime.

I couldn’t find an official working voltage range, but I did find this comment in a rather good ZeroAir review:

There’s a runtime chart for high mode in there, too.

So: operation to very low voltage, but may reverse-charge a cell in the process. For non-LiIon lights like the MT06MD, I like being able to run right down to the dregs, so I’m willing to accept the risk of damaging a cell, but clearly not everyone sees it that way.

Yep, just unwittingly reverse-charged a white AAA Eneloop to the point where it outgassed and I couldn’t click the switch because of the internal pressure.

The Eneloop doesn’t seem to be any the worse for it, though. It’s amazing how robust those cells are.

Having said that, those two Eneloops are now earmarked for that light, so I can only kill one cell if I keep reverse-charging them by mistake.

Almost forgot: I shoved a bit of kitchen roll down the tube to make sure there hadn’t been any liquid leakage from the abused Eneloop. There hadn’t, but I did get a little smear of red liquid from the far end, right next to the rear spring and switch.

I suspect that was uncured Red Loctite, which would explain why I can’t get the back end off. Red Loctite, as many of us know, is virtually impossible to shift. I can’t say I’m impressed; I hate it when a manufacturer makes their products literally impossible even for them to repair. When that switch breaks, my light is dead.

I’ve read somewhere that the MT06MD head legos onto a Lumintop Tool AAA, and so does the head from the Lumintop IYP365, so I’ve ordered an IYP365 Nichia version to see if the MT06MD head will lego onto that. That would give me a 2×AAA MT06MD I can open at both ends.

I also plan to get a Lumintop Tool AAA Nichia version; that way, my MT06MD head will at least have a 1×AAA tube it’ll work with, even if the IYP365 one doesn’t work out. The MT06MD has significantly reduced output on one AAA, but medium mode still falls nicely into my preferred range.

Thank you, Nitecore - you’ve given me an excuse to buy two new lights from one of your competitors and indulge my curiosity about 4000K Nichia 219Bs in the process :+1: