Quark regular vs tactical?

[nathan225]

I would get the tactical because you program it

[Wiggle]

Tactical for me. I run a Quark AA-Tactical on 14500 with modes set to med and max. For me, that is an ideal combination. I love that I always know what mode it will come on in and that I can use the momentary function intermittently without worrying about accidental mode change. It's also much easier to explain to a flashlight noob if someone wants to borrow it. Its also not a huge deal to reprogram. If I want moonlight for some situation I'll just turn the light on with the bezel aiming right into my hand so my night vision isn't spoiled, twist back and forth few times and let it sit there till programmed. However, if you use those other modes for than rarely, it might be too much of an inconvenience.

[funkymonkey1111]

For my camping needs, I mostly use a low and high. Low for reading at night and going to the bathroom and not waking everyone up. High for running off the bears, so my wife will stop waking me up in the middle of the friggin night to chase off the bears. The regular UI offers easy access to both by lossening and thightening the head, and easy access to other modes if needed.

is the quark an effective bear repellant?

[carrot]

is the quark an effective bear repellant?

If nothing else, it'll help you see better when you're running from one!

[Chevy-SS]

I have a number of quark tacticals and a number of quark regulars and I ended up deciding that the Tactical was best of them because it offers momentary and one doesn't have to scroll through multiple levels to get to where you want. I was happy enough with the Tactical UI except for the fact that I felt I needed a third mode sometimes.

Then I discovered the P20c2/A2 MKII eagletacs and their versatile UI and now I've been seriously spolied and no longer really like the Quark tactical UI at all.

The eagletac gives you momentary, tight head for bright, loose head for medium and you can access a third really low mode by a twist-untwist. It even has some blinking modes hidden away with some extra twist-untwisting. Wonderful tactical style momentary multi mode UI torch and never a mistake about what mode you're going into.

I also have both lights mentioned: Quark tactical (123*2 XP-G R5) and EagleTac P20C2 MkII (123*2), and I must say, I prefer the Quark tactical interface - it allows you to select two default modes, either of which is available at the first press of the forward clicky.

The EagleTac P20C2 forces you to make two presses to get to tactical strobe, which might be difficult under high-stress situation.

Both of these are nice EDC tactical lights, both with momentary on feature too.

My vote for best tactical UI goes to Quark.

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[JaguarDave-in-Oz]

I also have both lights mentioned: Quark tactical (123*2 XP-G R5) and EagleTac P20C2 MkII (123*2), and I must say, I prefer the Quark tactical interface - it allows you to select two default modes, either of which is available at the first press of the forward clicky.

The EagleTac P20C2 forces you to make two presses to get to tactical strobe, which might be difficult under high-stress situation.

yep, different strokes for different folks.

I don't even get to strobe wiht two presses on my eagletac. That's actually a good feature to me. I have the torch programmed so that I have to do two twist-untwist to get strobe because I have strobe turned off from the pushbutton because strobe's of no use to me, especially if I were ever to "go tactical" (which would all be a bit silly anyway since I live a nice relaxed life and frankly none of these torches are really suitable for real genuine "tactical use", just for pretending).

The biggest stress situation I ever get into with a torch is when I'm shining it into the eyes of a Tiger Snake at night as I creep up on it and frankly I do it so often during summer here that it no longer makes my heart rate rise. I have the quark turbo sitting on my gun safe but find that I don't bother grabbing it anymore, the P20C2 in my pocket can do all that it can and more.

[John_Galt]

I voted tactical. Having a Quark AA, I've found that I do not really like/use the extra flashing modes (as compared to a Fenix light). They just seem like a pain to switch through. I now wish that I had purchased the tactical instead, and would definitely recommend it, if you have found that you really only use one or two of a lights outputs.

[Roger999]

I only have a regular quark 123, and I absolutely recommend the tactical, 70% of the time I'm using high, 25% of the time I'm using low, the other 5% is playing with the disco mode .

[Charles L.]

This is a minority view, but I prefer the regular Quark. 2 modes at any time feels limiting, and I prefer my lights to tail stand. I have no need for my few tactical lights, and in fact I rarely use them.

Different strokes...

[Hobbs]

Thanx for all the input. Just ordered the regular version.
Another question for those that have or have used both, how does the beam pattern of the Quark AA/2 compare to the Surefire LX2? Just tried to order a LX2 also, but REI is out of stock.

[PapaGary]

This is a minority view, but I prefer the regular Quark. 2 modes at any time feels limiting, and I prefer my lights to tail stand. I have no need for my few tactical lights, and in fact I rarely use them.

Me too and I have both a 123 2 regular and a 123 tactical.

Different strokes...

Yep.

[bodhran]

No...Quarks are not an effective bear repelent, they however provide enough light to keep me from falling over dead branches in the dark. I once did a spectacular foreward flip over a dead branch. I think even the bears got a good laugh with that one.

[Chevy-SS]

.... especially if I were ever to "go tactical" (which would all be a bit silly anyway since I live a nice relaxed life and frankly none of these torches are really suitable for real genuine "tactical use", just for pretending)........

Agreed, these lights may not be full-on 'tactical' lights, but they aren't far off. But the good news is they're so small, you'll likely have one with you when you actually NEED it, unlike your larger 'genuine' tactical lights which will be sitting home.

And even though these lights are small, if you strobe (at night) some creepy miscreant that's approaching for whatever reason, the bright flashes will absolutely give you a few seconds to get away (or prepare to take other action).

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[f22shift]

i can see the appeal of the regular. in some instances it's actually more tactical in that it can reach all settings quicker.
for me, the programming is smart and easy so it's not a chore to set depending on what task i'm using it for.

another thing i like is that if i were to lend the light, it would be simple. i can just program low/med or low/high and just hand it to someone and say twist low/high. i don't like the idea of lending someone who can access turbo and it overheats or they discharge nimhs to the bottom(from experience). on the otherhand, you can just not lend out

another consideration is that the tacticals can preflash harsher than the regular. not a dealkiller for me but may be for some.

[SoCalMan]

another consideration is that the tacticals can preflash harsher than the regular. not a dealkiller for me but may be for some.

Preflash is a sucky price to pay, but two set modes works for me, high and low.
It's somewhat assuring for me to know that when it's set to high, that's what I get if I need it NOW.

I also have an extra flat tail cap that I can install for tail standing if the need arises.

The Quark Turbo simply works for me. Extreme light output in a compact form factor that is ready at a moments notice.

[Hobbs]

Received my AA/2 today. Very nice light for the money spent, but the pre-flash is a real downer. Going to Yosemite next week and will see how bad the pre-flash is in actual use before deciding if I want to send it back. Maybe because it was my first quality light, but the Quark Mini AA impressed me more than the AA/2. Taking my new Surefire A2L Aviator along also, if it gets here before I leave. It will be interesting to compare the two.

[ti-force]

I don't mean this to be argumentative, but I really don't understand the big deal about pre-flash. I mean, I understand that a bright pre-flash would cause you're night vision to suffer if your eyes are already adjusted to complete darkness, and I can see where the pre-flash could bother someone else. The thing is, the pre-flash lasts how long? Milliseconds? Just cover the bezel with your hand for that amount of time. If you can't use two hands, hold the bezel down onto something like covers on your bed, or against your stomach and turn it on. If no one else is around, hold the light with your arm straight down by your waist with the bezel end facing behind you and turn it on.

If you're in a situation where you don't want to give away your location, well, if I were in a situation where I didn't want to give away my location, I wouldn't use a light at all. Again, I'm not trying to argue, I'm trying to understand. Would the previously mentioned suggestions not work? Are there other problems that I'm not considering? Pre-flash doesn't bother me, so it's hard for me to understand the problems it causes, especially problems that the previous suggestions don't cover.

[Hobbs]

It's not a big deal, but is a design failure. Maybe the description should be updated to (6) Current Regulated Output Levels: pre-flash, moonlight, low, medium, high & max.

[ti-force]

This brings me to my next question.

How much is a quality light, with nice features like the Quark, but doesn't have a pre-flash design flaw? Again, I'm really not familiar with which lights have pre-flash and which ones don't.

[JaguarDave-in-Oz]

No preflash on the P20C2. Sixty to seventy bucks. Maybe try that.

[ti-force]

No preflash on the P20C2. Sixty to seventy bucks. Maybe try that.

But the P20C2 doesn't have a moonlight mode. Or does it?

[Hobbs]

This brings me to my next question.

How much is a quality light, with nice features like the Quark, but doesn't have a pre-flash design flaw? Again, I'm really not familiar with which lights have pre-flash and which ones don't.

Not going there, but you might find the answer to your question here; http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/...d.php?t=267454

Don't get me wrong, I think the light is great for what it costs. I waited a while for this light because I would not support the 4/7s business model of send us money, we will use it to buy product, then we will then send it to you. I waited until it was actually in stock for shipment.

[BigBluefish]

Tactical for me, because:

1. I HATE clicking through modes, particularly the disco ones.

2. Two levels is what I need, and it keeps things simple. Simple is better. It's like carrying a bright light, and a dim light. Usually, that's enough.

3. I can pick whatever two modes I want. If I want a scorching turbo, or a moonlight low, I've got them. But usually a low and high works fine. IfI need a strobe as a warning light, or a beacon to find my way back to some spot in the dark, then there's a blinky mode I can use, in the very unlikley event that I'll need it.

4. Two words: Forward Clicky.

[JaguarDave-in-Oz]

But the P20C2 doesn't have a moonlight mode. Or does it?

My new MkII version has a much lower low mode than my older P20C2 model (despite the lumens levels written on their boxes indicating the opposite) but it's not as low as the Quark's lowest low mode. I don't have any mechanical means of accurately judging it but MkII's low seems, when compared with my eyes, to be a bit dimmer than quark's second low mode.

I actually prefer the slightly brighter low of my original P20C2 model because I find it a bit more useful for outdoor use (where I use it most) though for really dark indoor use the lower low on the MkII model is more suitable.

[ti-force]

Don't get me wrong, I think the light is great for what it costs.

[ti-force]

I actually prefer the slightly brighter low of my original P20C2 model because I find it a bit more useful for outdoor use (where I use it most) though for really dark indoor use the lower low on the MkII model is more suitable.

My feelings are the same as yours. I use my lights for outside use most of the time as well, and I find myself using the turbo mode most of the time and switching to the high mode when I need less light.

[tokerblue]

Deleted...

[Hobbs]

Finally got dark so I could play with the new toy. Maybe the output settings should be changed to pre-flash, moonlight, low, medium, high & oh my god!

[tokerblue]

I have a question on the operation of the Regular vs. the Tactical. Does the Tactical function just the the Regular AA?

The mode sequence is determined by whether the bezel is tightened or loosened:
Loosened Bezel: Moonlight -> Low -> Medium -> High -> SOS -> Beacon
Tightened Bezel: Max -> Strobe

I'm debating which version to get and would like the Tactical to also perform in this method. If it doesn't, can I simply buy a normal AA and buy a Tactical tail cap?

[brightasday]

I have a question on the operation of the Regular vs. the Tactical. Does the Tactical function just the the Regular AA?

The mode sequence is determined by whether the bezel is tightened or loosened:
Loosened Bezel: Moonlight -> Low -> Medium -> High -> SOS -> Beacon
Tightened Bezel: Max -> Strobe

I'm debating which version to get and would like the Tactical to also perform in this method. If it doesn't, can I simply buy a normal AA and buy a Tactical tail cap?

With the tactical, repeatedly pressing the switch just turns the light on and off. It does not change the mode. You tighten/loosen the head to switch between two modes of your choice. If you will be happy with two modes, the tactical lights are great. If you want easy access to more modes, you need the regular. If you have the tactical and want to access a third mode, you need to reprogram it (~20 seconds).

The tail caps only turn the lights on and off. They don't change the way modes are selected.