Review: Olight H1 Nova (XM-L2 [Neutral White], 1x RCR123A/16340)

Olight H1 Nova



Summary:

Battery: 1x RCR123A/CR123A/16340
Switch: Electronic Top Switch
Modes:

Moon - Low - Medium - High - Turbo

+ SOS

Mode Memory:

Last mode memorized to a single click from off.

SOS is not memorized.

LED Type: XM-L2 (Neutral White)
Reflector: TIR Optic
Provided by: Olight

Function:

The H1 Nova functions very similarly to the S1R and S2R with a few small differences.

From off:

A single press turns the flashlight on in the last used mode (Turbo is only memorized for 10 minutes, SOS is not memorized).

A long press turns the flashlight on in moonlight mode.

A double press activates Turbo.

A triple press activates SOS.


To enter lockout mode, Press and hold the switch for 2 seconds. Moonlight will first come on within the first second, continue holding for another second and the light will turn off. The light will not function until lockout mode is exited by either unscrewing the tailcap or pressing and holding the switch for about a second and will turn on in moonlight mode. While in lockout mode the light will flash momentarily when the switch is pressed.



While on:

Press and hold to cycle through modes Low, Medium, High.

A single press will turn the flashlight off.

A double press will activate turbo mode.

A triple press activates strobe. A single press to turn off the flashlight. or press and hold to exit into the last used mode.

The last mode used will be memorized when the light is turned off. Turbo and Strobe will not be memorized, instead high mode will be memorized if it is turned off in turbo and the last used mode will be memorized if it is turned off in strobe.

The H1 Nova also behaves similarly to the S1R in regards to the fast ramping when entering or exiting Turbo mode.

Activating turbo from off will cause a subtle, yet noticeable fast ramp up to the desired brightness. This is a lot less harsh on the eyes than instantly blasting out 500 lumens in pitch dark.

The feature is also present and more noticeable when turning off the H1 from Turbo. The light rapidly ramps down until off. It takes about 750 milliseconds to go from Turbo to off.

Data / Measurements:

All throw measurements are lux values taken at 7ft and calculated back to 1 meter (Rounded to the nearest hundred). Estimated Max Output (Lumens) values are calculated based on measurements taken 30 seconds after turn on and are obtained through a DIY 'pvc lumen tube' in an effort to achieve diffusion of dissimilar beam profiles. As such, these values should be taken as "rough approximations."

The following tests took place in 65°F Ambient temperature, indoors, with very little air movement. The flashlight sits head facing down on a piece of glass that is recessed inside a 4" PVC pipe.

The H1 Nova holds about 600lm in Turbo for 3 minutes and then begins slowly decreasing output for around a minute until it reaches about 200lm. This is maintained until the 75 minute mark when output drops to 70lm. The protection circuitry on the Olight RCR123A tripped at the 85 minute mark and light output ceased.

On a non-rechargeable CR123A the H1 behaves somewhat similarly. It gets a little hotter during the initial 3 minutes despite having lower output than the RCR123A. When the drop is approaching the light began heating up again, presumably due to the driver. Output begins dropping at 110 minutes eventually down to around 9 lm at 180minutes. This emergency level output is more than enough to go find another battery.

Pictures:

The Olight H1 Nova arrived in the standard Olight retail packaging. A box with a plastic window to reveal the contents within; however, this time the contents were concealed within this nifty little carry pouch.

Contained within the pouch is the manual, a little brochure of Olight flashlights, a neatly stowed clip, and the Olight H1 Nova preinstalled in the blue headband.

The manual has all the pertinent info translated to many different languages.

Here is the H1 Nova in the unfolded headband. The mounting location is soft rubber and provides enough friction to hold the H1 at whatever angle you adjust it to. It has a little tab to help with removing the light from the mount. The light can be flipped to whichever side you desire for ease of switch activation.

Here's the very sturdy clip.

The H1 Nova has the same great quality I've come to expect from Olight flashlights. The machining is superb and the anodization is great.

The H1 has a teeny tiny little Blue PVD coated bezel surrounding a honeycomb TIR. This textured TIR greatly diffuses the beam. There are some tiny ridges on the tailcap to allow for easier grip in removing said tailcap.

The backside. Tiny heatsink fins.

This is the bottom of the tailcap. Mostly flat, with a very strong magnetic embedded within.

This is the electronic switch at the top of the head, opposite the tailcap. The switch is quite different from the S line offering an almost immediate activation upon pressing.

Inside the tube. Negative end of the battery goes in first.

The thin, square, anodized threads. Very smooth.

This is the included Olight CR123A non-rechargeable lithium battery.

The yellow plastic is the insulator installed prior to shipping out. You may note the slight defiance of gravity... The magnetic is quite powerful.

A little closer to that pretty little bezel. :)

And in moon mode... PWM can be seen by the camera, but I can't see it otherwise.

Comparison:

From left to right: Olight H1 Nova, S1R, S1A, Astrolux S3, Convoy S2+.

The S3 is a small 14500 flashlight....

Left to Right: 18650, AA, RCR123A, H1 Nova, S1R, S1A, S2R.

Barely bigger than an AA cell!

Had to put the big brother in there.

One of the family. :)

Beamshots:

The central tree trunk is about 50 yards away. The water line is about 35 yards away. The hanging tree limb in the upper left quadrant of the pictures is about 10 yards away.

My collection is kind of lacking in flashlights comparable Olight H1 Nova. The Nitecore HC50 has very similar output and throw. The S2+ and S1A have comparable output, but quite a bit more throw than the H1.

The H1 Nova has an extremely floody beam. It is very difficult to discern the 'hotspot' from the spill. Outdoors it seems like a very uniform, floody beam. The NW tint is also exquisite.

The HC50 is a very floody 18650 headlight, but the H1 is far floodier.

Olight H1 Nova modes Medium - High - Turbo.

Conclusion:

The Olight H1 Nova is yet another great Olight flashlight.

The Nova is a floody headlight/flashlight that excels in short range (Less than 50 yards). The Neutral White tint is a fantastic attribute that makes it fantastic for point blank illumination as well. Its surprisingly small, yet emits over 500 lumens. The attention to detail, machining, and fit & finish is excellent.

If you're looking for an ultra-compact, floody headlamp/flashlight with a great Neutral White tint the Olight H1 Nova may just be the light you're looking for.

Runtimes added.

Again, über cute.

Indeed. Cute is an excellent word for it. It’s so tiny. :slight_smile:

OP updated. Beams added, all that jazz.

:+1: Great headlamp/flashlight.

After I was done taking beamshots the other night I spent about 10 minutes walking around holding the H1 similar to how you may hold a short lighter. Index finger around the tailcap and thumb resting on the switch. It feels really crazy to be holding a flashlight that’s about the size of a thumb, emitting so much light that it illuminates the entire yard. :slight_smile: