4Sevens Q-MiNi AA Titanium Neutral White Comparison Review

[UnknownVT]

Just before New Years Eve 4Sevens contacted me to tell me he had something for me to look at -
he sounded excited .....

So, I couldn't wait to see ....
well, they were gems of flashlights -
The new Q-MiNi in Titanium and Neutral White emitters
yes, I'm drooling just thinking about that combination -
and I have them at hand.

Size:

Heads:

These are "upmarket" not just because they use premium titanium - but even the knurling/checkering is better:

look carefully the regular knurling on the black Q-MiNi 123 is basically scored diagonal lines - whereas the Ti version has a 3-D knurling/checkering that has raised pyramid points.

This version uses the Neutral White emitter XP-E Q3-5A3 -
(corrected to XP-E as pointed out below by branespload - thanks for correction)

vs. Cool White regular 4Sevens Quark AA both Max NiMH

this is the older XP-G R2 version and they almost look about the same brightness - but I think it might be the way our eyes perceive the tints/colors, there is a tendency to see yellow bias as brighter....

If I remove the color by desaturation -

they still look about the same - so maybe I got a good 'un.

vs. Neutral White 4Sevens Quark AA both Max NiMH

very close in just about everything.....


The closest light that I know of is the NiteCore EZ-AA-W also Neutral White emitter

they both use bin Q3-5A3.
The Quark MiNi is the XP-E whereas the NiteCore is the XR-E.

vs. NiteCore EZ AA-W both max NiMH

the NiteCore seems brighter - but it also has a smaller more concentrated beam - so will also tend to look brighter too.

vs. Q-MiNi 123 NW Ti both Max -

well, it's pretty obvious the MiNi 123 NW ought to be brighter since it has a lithium CR123 at 3V driving the circuit vs a single AA NiMH at 1.2V

Next up the low levels.

INDEX to Follow Up Parts -

Low level comparisons - Post #2

Photo of packaging and scan of instruction sheet - Post #21

 

[UnknownVT]

Low Level Comparisons -

vs. Q-MiNi 123 - both on Minimum

these are close enough - the Q-MiNi 123 might be just a shade brighter?
I am really surprised that the beamshot even shows that,
because the regular cool white Q-MiNi 123 is rated at 3 lumens min
and the Q-MiNi AA is 2.7 lumens -
we can see a 0.3 lumens (or 10%) difference?
Either way this shows how well regulated these lights are....

vs. NiteCore EZ AA-W both on Min and NiMH

the EZ-AA-W is substantially brighter - this is not necessarily a "good thing" for a low,
although there is a good reasoning since for the NiteCore EZ-AA-W it is its only lower level
whereas the Q-MiNi AA has another medium level........

The difference is not surprising since the EZ-AA-W low is rated at 10 lumens whereas the regular cool white Q-MiNi AA is rated at 2.7 lumens

speaking of medium.... (like the way I set things up for myself? -
also notice how I like to congratulate myself... )

Q-MiNi AA NW on Medium vs. NiteCore EZ AA-W on Min both NiMH

the beamshot look close in brightness intensity - but the Q-MiNi AA NW has a much wider beam -
notice also how much smoother the 4Sevens beams are, with hardly any artifacts?
Q-MiNi AA regular cool white is rated at 25 lumens (but that's for the XP-G R5 version)

Minimum vs. Neutral White 4Sevens Quark AA on Level 2 "Low" (not the Moon mode) both NiMH -

The Quark AA (regular cool white R2) minimum Moon mode is rated at 0.2 lumens - so that would be much lower than the Q-MiNi AA.
I compared with the Neutral White 4Sevens Quark AA on Level 2 "Low" which is rated at 3.5 lumens (for the R2 cool white)
again I am surprised that we can see any difference in the beamshot - of 0.8 lumens or 23%....... but the Quark AA NW on level 2 "Low" is definitely brighter.

I am still somewhat taken with all the 4Sevens lights
that I just cannot gripe about any flaws in their beams......:wave:

 

[olrac]

Great looking lights I ordered the neutral 123 Ti. Is it my imagination or is the Ti Mini AA smaller in diameter than the listed .70 inch?

Also how is the twisty action these Ti versions, stiff, easy, gritty?

 

[Morelite]

Is it my imagination or is the Ti Mini AA smaller in diameter than the listed .70 inch?

I'm wondering the same thing, it sure looks smaller than .7".

 

[branespload]

This version uses the Neutral White emitter XP-G Q3-5A3 -

...

they both use bin Q3-5A3.
The Quark MiNi is the XP-G whereas the NiteCore is the XR-E.

wow, thanks for the review so far!

however, shouldn't this read XP-E? I don't think 4sevens used XP-G in the neutral runs.

also, +1 for commentary on ease of twisting out of the box with the ti threads.
Thanks again!!

 

[KarstGhost]

Those look awesome! I really like the neutral white color. I noticed the #36 on one of the lights. Are they a limited run?

 

[Morelite]

Those look awesome! I really like the neutral white color. I noticed the #36 on one of the lights. Are they a limited run?

The first 1000 will be numbered, but there is no guarantee on the neutral tint being available after that.
From the first post here.

 

[kaichu dento]

...shouldn't this read XP-E? I don't think 4sevens used XP-G in the neutral runs.

I'm pretty sure the xp-g isn't available in neutral yet.

The beamshot comparison with the EZAA shows why I'm so excited about these with their wider coverage pattern.

Got two of them on the way!

 

[UnknownVT]

Is it my imagination or is the Ti Mini AA smaller in diameter than the listed .70 inch?

I'm wondering the same thing, it sure looks smaller than .7".

According to my digital caliper the diameter is 0.693" - so that's close enough to 0.7"

Also how is the twisty action these Ti versions, stiff, easy, gritty?

also, +1 for commentary on ease of twisting out of the box with the ti threads.

As twisty action it is reasonably firm - which is the way I like it.

Starting the thread for screwing on the head there does seem to be a bit of grittiness - but once on the O-ring the action seems to smooth out with a bit more resistance toward firmness.

however, shouldn't this read XP-E? I don't think 4sevens used XP-G in the neutral runs.

I'm pretty sure the xp-g isn't available in neutral yet.

Thank you for the correction it should be XP-E -
I've corrected it in the OP.

 

[defloyd77]

Wow, the neutral's beam looks almost identical in shape as the regular Quarks. Thanks for the review and shots!

 

[olrac]

According to my digital caliper the diameter is 0.693" - so that's close enough to 0.7"

Just an optical delusion on my part


As twisty action it is reasonably firm - which is the way I like it.
Starting the thread for screwing on the head there does seem to be a bit of grittiness - but once on the O-ring the action seems to smooth out with a bit more resistance toward firmness.

No accidental pocket turn ons or head falling off with these :thumbsup: (if they are a bit gritty a little bit of lapping compound worked into the threads will smooth them out)

 

[kts]

I wonder why they use reflectors in the Quarks with such large holes for the LED, they look like they were made for a larger LED, such as a XR-E Q5, you can almost see the circuit boards below, looks cheap to me :thumbsdow

 

[HKJ]

I wonder why they use reflectors in the Quarks with such large holes for the LED, they look like they were made for a larger LED, such as a XR-E Q5, you can almost see the circuit boards below, looks cheap to me :thumbsdow

The circuit board you can see is the led.
Here is a closeup of a Quark 123-2 led:

 

[UnknownVT]

The circuit board you can see is the led.

What he said -
it's part of the LED assembly as from Cree (just like that silvery metal ring is on the XR-E) -
from the Cree XP-E page:

Notice on HKJ's close up picture above the four black plastic tabs around the outside of the LED pcb -
that's the 4Sevens elegant LED self-centering -
that's why the 4Sevens lights have really close to flawless beams -
because unless there is a manufacturing anomaly -
all LED emitters ought to be well centered in their respective reflectors.

I personally think this is a very worthwhile incremental improvement in flashlight design.
I am sure other manufacturers may eventually adapt something like this
and it may then become commonplace -
just remember who to thank for this elegant solution....

 

[kts]

I just think that a smaller hole, that fits around the LED itself would look better, and throw better too.

But anyways, the light looks nice and I hope we will see a lot more TI in the future :thumbsup:

 

[UnknownVT]

I've added the Low level comparisons follow up in Post #2

 

[HKJ]

I just think that a smaller hole, that fits around the LED itself would look better, and throw better too.

It would look better, but I am not sure it would throw better, that depends on the radiation pattern for the led.
And next question are: Do we want good throw with these light, or do we want more of a flood light? (I know: the answer depends on who you ask).
For general purpose light I think it is wrong to request more/less throw, because that depends on opinion of the user and if the light does not fit you requirement, you have bought the wrong light. With light dedicated for a specific purpose, it is another case.

 

[HKJ]

I am really surprised that the beamshot even shows that,
because the regular cool white Q-MiNi 123 is rated at 3 lumens min
and the Q-MiNi AA is 2.7 lumens -
we can see a 0.3 lumens (or 10%) difference?
Either way this shows how well regulated these lights are....

Do not assume that the low levels ratings are correct, in many of my test they are very far off.
To say that, I have not measured the lumen, but the ration between the levels (That is possible to measure with acceptable precision, even with cheap meters, because it does not depends on calibration or filters only on linearity) and 50% to 100% difference is seen on some lights. I have not received the mini's yet, but the Preons (That is supposed to use the same driver), does not match the specified low setting

 

[UnknownVT]

I just think that a smaller hole, that fits around the LED itself would look better, and throw better too.

It would look better, but I am not sure it would throw better, that depends on the radiation pattern for the led.

HKJ is right we do not know the radiation pattern or reflector recommendation/design -

BUT as they say the proof of the pudding...
just look at the beam of the Q-MiNi AA
(or any other 4Sevens light for that matter) -
it's as close to flawless as one can get (for now).

Anyway who looks down the business end of flashlight?
oh, you do? -
... let me just turn it On
to Max High....
can you now see how "ugly" it is?

Happy New Year!

 

[UnknownVT]

Do not assume that the low levels ratings are correct, in many of my test they are very far off.

LoL! I was not assuming anything - that's why I posed it as I did -
we should not be able to see such small differences and a photo just does not have enough dynamic range/differentiation to show it either......
ipso-facto there is a discrepancy in the lumens ratings