Review: Nitecore NFD40 Diffuser for EA4/W

LED Flashlights – General Info Multiple AA / 14500 Flashlights
1

I thought I’d write a quick review as I just got this diffuser from FastTech.

First impressions:

+ nice smooth diffusion, turns beam into full flood with no hotspot

  • good value for price paid (5.56 USD)
  • rubber is soft, making diffuser easy to fit and remove
  • has a handy lanyard attachment hole

- diffuser lens is not glass, as described on packaging

- noticeable loss of lumens

- has a faint rubbery smell (not really noticeable unless up very close)

  • rubber attracts “bits” very quickly

I really like this diffuser. It’s like having a whole new light. I’ve always found the EA4W far too bright for indoor use, unless using it pointed at the ceiling. The diffuser transforms the light into a more friendly beam for indoor use.

On the back of the packaging, it says “toughened ultra-clear glass lens”. I think if I had saw this in a shop and bought it partly on this basis I might have been unhappy. Since I bought it online I did not expect a glass lens. It does make me wonder how a glass lens would perform in comparison.

Lens pops out:

The two retaining lips can be seen:

Fitted to light:

Now, some beam shots.

Sipik SK-68 clone, beam shot for comparison:

EA4W, turbo mode, no diffuser:

EA4W, turbo mode, with diffuser:

Lastly, a note about sheath and storage. Whilst the flap of the sheath that came with the EA4W is thick and padded, it only provides protection to the lens if you store the light in upright position. With the diffuser fitted the light will only fit into the sheath upright.

A snug fit:

Here you can see, with some force the light can be pushed sideways, exposing the edge to possible knocks and scrapes:

If you are really concerned about possible damage whilst in sheath, the filter provides additional protection:

2

Thanks for the review Chloe. I was looking at this the other day undecided whether to get it or not. How do you think that this would perform in an outside environment camping with the flat lens instead of the diffusers that extend outwards in a dome shape?

3

Great review Chloe, thanks very much for sharing.

That just reminded me, I still haven't taken any comparison shots of the diffuser I made for the TN31 :)

The material they have used looks very much the same as what I used.. White smoked Acrylic sheet.

One thing they did do which was sensible is recess the diffuser lens slightly because the entire thing glows incredible bright from ALL angles LOL. You won't believe how many times I've blinded myself with mine :D

4

Thanks for the beamshots, I was thinking about this and that dongle lantern thingy ever since someone pointed out they exist on fasttech yesterday. Now if only one would buy the other one and do some shots to show how it works, compared to the regular light, then I could take even longer on how I decide to spend $5. And which one to get.

5

Great review Chloe. I’ve been thinking on getting this for camping though.

6

Thanks for the review Chloe! You did a good job!

-Garry

7

I don’t have the other kind to compare, but with this diffuser the whole room is lit when on high. It’s not as bright as say a 40W bulb, but still produces a lot of light.

The wand might be better for outside use as I expect it would be more like a lamp (also harder to look directly at it). FastTech also sell this one.

8

You can get very similar results for ANY flashlight with this:

Just cut some of the foil into correct size and put it in front of the lens. There is a smooth a a rough side, put the rough onto the lens.

Yeah, it´s not detachable that fast, but you can get any beam super soft for like... no money.

Here is an example:

mouse OUT for Ultrafire 504b with smooth reflector,

mouse IN for Ultrafire 504b with smooth reflector, foil added:

And no, there is no tint shift and brightness loss . That´s my crappy camera...

edit: looks like I took the wrong pic for the undiffused beam, but the real beam looks just like that (from what my pictures tell. Forget the text in the pics- just look at the beams)

9

I have some similar plastic folders and notebooks but it really doesn’t compare. With the diffuser there is zero hotspot. There is also frosted D-C-Fix if you want a more permanent solution.

10

Hm, “my” beam is completely linear.
And I have the smaller version of that Fenix diffuser and I prefer the DIY version for its linearity (is that even a word?).

I know about the frost fix, but the foil can be easily removed.

: P

11

Thanks thebigbadboss78 and Chloe. You are correct in that the cone diffusers are hard to look at. I’ll order the short one and see what its like.

12

Maybe your folders are thicker? I think I have a Paperchase diary with thicker plastic covers but it has bears and things on it as a design. :bigsmile:

13

Well, I took it from a soft CD case.

14

Thanks for the review Chloe.

I held off getting one of these because of some criticism about them being of low quality with the lens falling out far too easily. A thread in here (or was it the other site) suggested to avoid this one since the Olight M21 filter was a much better option that also fitted the EA4.

Would you say the filter is likely to come out easily or do you really have to make conscious effort? The rubber in the pictures doesn't look very rigid.

......

For those discussing the wand-type and the silicone bubble-type diffusers, I have a few of them and they work well. But as you have pointed out, they need to be out of your field of vision. Hung pointing downwards from a tree or the inside of a tent they are great but I find them plain annoying if just sitting on a camp table or the ground. The glare always seems to kill your vision. A lightweight headlamp is much better option if working alone but it can annoy others around you who may be looking directly at it.

15

Here is a shot with the light standing on the floor aiming at the ceiling . Thats a distance of ~2,50m (and you can imagine how big the beam is)
I took the pic with my mobile phone and due to the weak sensor, the camera generates a hotspot and does not capture the beam´s darker/outer parts.
What I see is a bit smoother.
I think you are right, Chloe. The beam is not as smooth as yours- but it is very smooth and linear.

Ok, that´s enough for now. Gotta work with some virtual light setups

16

I’m not sure what they’re doing with it to make the lens fall out. The rubber is thick and soft but putting it on and taking it off, I haven’t had this problem. I have to push on the lens to make it come out. With it fitted, I cannot push on the lens at all.

I did have the Olight M22 in my wishlist too but it appears to be made of thinner material (maybe firmer though?):

Judging by pics on the other forum, it looks like the M21 diffuser rubber is thinner too, overall (but you do get a nice Olight logo!).

17

Thanks for the nice review Chloe.
Nice pictures too. Dont stop doing reviews! :slight_smile: I like them!

18

Thanks for that confirmation Chloe.

It's always hard to know how to judge what others write on the web. I just found the comment in question

I bought the Nitecore NFD40 white filter just to compare with the Olight on my EA4. Bottom line, it's JUNK!

While the Nitecore filter fits tighter due to the "stickier" rubber material, it's:

1. Bigger and bulkier. Looks nowhere near as nice and sleek as the Olight filter.
2. Way too floody. The Olight gives a very smooth flood but still has a bright center so it has some good throw
3. The lens is cheap plastic and falls out of the rubber VERY easy. Olight lens appears to be much higher quality and tightly held in the rubber cap.

Unfortunately the NFD40 is going straight into the "junk box" never to be used again. I would sell or return it but it's not worth the postage.

It was worth $10 to try it out. Hoepfully this helps others make a decision when considering a filter for this awesome light.

From here: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?347951-**NEW**-Nitecore-EA4-Pioneer-(4*AA-860lm)&p=4172289&viewfull=1#post4172289

Actually the thread is worth a look to anyone who owns the EA4 as there are lots of useful posts, the above comments perhaps notwithstanding.

Cheers

19

It is interesting to read someone else’s opinion of it! I am glad that there is no hotspot, and I don’t mind the thick rubber even if it doesn’t look as sleek (Olight does look nicer in this respect). For me, this thick rubber means I will not worry so much if I dropped the light!

Oh, I forgot to say, but I will be writing to Nitecore about the lens material. I would also like to know if it is silicone rubber. Maybe their colour lens are made of glass and they are simply saving money by having one card printed for four products.

20

There’s a thread on candlepower forums comparing the NFD40 to the Olight 40mm diffuser, and the Olight diffuser fit’s just as well but uses a higher quality glass lense, doesn’t diffuse as much (IMO a good thing) with less lumen loss and maintains a hotspot and is better quality. I’ve also got the NFD40 diffuser for my P25, handy around the house at night as gives you an almost 180 degree spill so it lights everything around you, but does cut out a lot of lumens.