Light and agile mouse with LED-based sensor, compared to its predecessor improved significantly

As many other mice in front of her, among other things from other series of the manufacturer SteelSeries (Xai, Sensei, Kana v1, v2 Kinzu) that Kana is v2 ergonomically inspired by the design of the legendary Intellimäuse Microsoft.

These served in its time many professional players as a precise input tool today but unfortunately no longer manufactured - real successors they have never received (presumably because Microsoft saw elsewhere greater potential for own resources and looks) and remainders are, among other things Amazon partners , only available to unacceptable rates. Add to this the low sampling rate of 400 dpi - which does the precision of the mouse (by the way, ironically, a remarkably imprecise term), contrary to popular (and false) belief although not detract from getting higher-resolution displays, however, lead to the fact that IntelliMouse Optical 1.1 and Explorer 3.0 relative to the covered on the virtual desktop distances, for many users would anyway be too slow.

As a result, manufacturers such as SteelSeries and Zowie have repeatedly brought designs on the market, which should build in particular on the success of the IntelliMouse Optical 1.1.

This requirement must also provide the Kana v2 therefore.

EQUIPMENT

At least packaging and delivery of Kana v2 reveal no special features. As usual with SteelSeries is no second pair of feet, the driver must (sensibly) be downloaded from the Internet.
Even otherwise reveals itself when you open the box, except for the mouse itself, is nothing more than something Zettelbeiwerk. Not so bad, after all, you pay here so mainly for the mouse itself.

This comes up with a total of six buttons on, apart from the standard buttons (left, right and scroll wheel as a middle button), a switch is attached to the profile change behind the wheel, each located on both edges of the rodent is a large side button.
Some would probably prefer two separate buttons - does not bother me whose absence continues, but that's taste and habit thing.

PROCESSING

Here remains not much to say. Haptic mouse looks quite valent, the gaps are even, it creaks or cracks nothing. The mouse wheel running smoothly in his leadership and not overly rattles (is saying: No more than, for example, for Logitech G400 mouse was the rule and is).
Main (Omron switches, 5 million clicks to life) and side keys respond crisp, the resistance of the side buttons, conveniently, is higher, which is to prevent the same from being activated.
The cable is fabric-coated, which appears to run clean. It is thus not optimally flexible, but appear less stiff than for example the cable a Logitech G5 it was.

ERGONOMICS

How well should already be clear from the product images, there is a symmetrically constructed mouse. Either hand can be used in each case without restrictions. Only the thumb each side remote switch is difficult to operate, and depending on how much you have mastered finger acrobatics. This is the necessary sacrifice that has to provide any symmetric computer mouse - a look at the market, SteelSeries Sensei, Razer Taipan or Mionix Avior high-end models, will suffice.
But entails also arises a potential problem: Depending on the way how the mouse is gripped, the remote key could be triggered accidentally - hardly desirable in heated-game firefights. I can report that I personally was spared that, but there remains a risk that the user must bear in mind - just because the remote key is very large. Especially people who hang up (so-called. Palm Grip) their whole hand, I advise to try on.
Overall, you get the Optical 1.1 in terms of form quite close, if you also, for licensing reasons is not allowed, to copy. The body has a slightly narrower waist, so that the mouse can be easily lifted at the same time it is shallow enough to allow your fingers a strong control.

My own experience has shown in any case that I could control the mouse well and was recorded neither slipping nor any other loss of control by unwanted keystrokes.
In addition, the mouse with less than 90 grams is very easy, fast movements at low speed, as they belong to my usage profile, the wrist fatigue absolutely not, any more than the lifting of the mouse. Those who think that weight makes no difference in this context, I would like to have hereby advised a 90 gram mouse with a model of the 110-120 gram weight class for direct comparison - the difference is quite noticeable.

TECHNOLOGY

On the technical side, the mouse with one of the best sensors in the market is waiting for - the LED-based ADNS-3090th This sensor is what most users, the term "optical" summarized (undifferentiated, because even laser-based sensors are optical in the sense of an optical scan), so does not unheard of high DPI values, but remains with 4000 dpi and in return better tracking linearity (for further reading in this regard, I recommend readers with knowledge of English, the mouse Forum of overclock.net).

As a consequence, it waives the extreme configurability of a laser model - instead of a relatively free scalability of the dpi values ​​can 400, 800, 1200, 1600, 2000, 2400, 3200 and 4000 dpi can be adjusted. In principle, should any user find what he or she needs, but "crooked" Intermediate stages such as 1550 dpi are not available here.
Of course, the polling rate, essentially, the communication clock with the PC can be adjusted: 125, 250, 500 and 1000 Hz can be. Personally I see in today's processors no longer any reason not to use 1000 Hz.

In my favorite games, Battlefield 3, and Quake Live CSGO the mouse finally rendered outstanding services. At 800 dpi and 1000 Hz polling rate, which are quite fast movements on the mouse pad to the rule, the sensor never skipped, even I could not feel any positive or negative acceleration. Also mouse lag exists in any noticeable degree, each Movement came very directly to the PC and in the game.

However, almost as usual for an LED-based sensor with standard lens, falls the lift-off distance, quite high, ie the mouse has to be relatively far lifted from the mouse pad so that the scanning exposing. This can be when you have to reposition the mouse while playing, may interfere with (depending on the perception).
Unfortunately, it is at this point a trade-off that is made in favor of the actual performance, because only one LED with high intensity can guarantee good tracking behavior.
Here I would like to issue a warning and a suggestion Try again - if this bothers you or not, as well as every aspect of ergonomic, highly subjective.

DRIVER

Here are a few brief words: Functionally the software, but not bug free. In addition, they could work delay-free.
Biggest gripe: It occupies a lot of RAM, namely, according to my measurements, up to 130 MB. Given a system memory of 8 GB in my case, this may sound to some, but you remember: This is a mouse driver. Here SteelSeries has simply unclean programmed.
Since the Kana v2 to "remember" a profile can (contains two dpi values, which can then be changed by Profile switch) but a Uninstall or permanent decommissioning of "SteelSeries Engine" is, according to the configuration possible.
After all: The manufacturer also provides a software tool for updating the firmware.

CONCLUSION

I'll stay with the Kana v2, since the above criticisms are not critical for me. Depending on the user this may vary.
For me, however, is quite a serious challenger to the legendary Intellimouse Optical 1.1 Microsoft. Presumably, they will never attain their reputation. However Technically it delivers a strong showing.
And also for FullHD, WQHD- or UHD display sizes up to 3840x2160 likely 4000 dpi is more than enough (probably too much for me) to be, so there is no need of criticism.