I get this e-mail from 4Sevens saying he has one of each of the 4 Quarks for me to look at.
Before he's pressed the send button - I was knocking on his door
First thing I noticed was the packaging - WoW! what a great impression - the boxes were in an almost mole-skin/suede like matte black material.
There's a flap that's held closed actually by 2 magnets - to open up to a gatefold - revealing the flashlight.
In the box is an inner packaging - which means things don't just fall out of the box - they all are in place and easy to access (and even re-package) -
I'm impressed with this level of detail - even in the packaging.
A couple of shots of the Quark Series -
This comparison review is of the Quark AA - single AA model -
Size -
Head -
The 4Sevens Quark series is using the Cree XP-E R2 LED emitters.
More attention to detail - the threads on the Quark series are square cut both for better fit and less chance of mangling from cross-threading..... nice.
How does it compare?
vs. NiteCore D10 -Q5 both max NiMH
No, despite the Quark AA using a Cree XP-E R2 it is not as bright as the NiteCore D10-Q5 rated at 130 lumens - well, checking the Quark AA specs - it is rated at 90 lumens Max - perhaps 4Sevens has chosen to have a more conservative output for better life and runtime?
vs. Fenix LD10 both Max NiMH
Again not as bright as the Fenix LD10-Q5 (rated at 120 lumens).
BUT the one thing to notice is the beam - how artifact free the Quark seems -
this is due to self-centering of the LED to reflector - there is a special plastic piece that self-centers the LED dome to the reflector - very clever and effective. The beam is also much wider than either the Fenix or NiteCore which makes it perhaps more useful indoors......
How about the Minimum Low?
Quark's specs boasts 0.2 lumens - that's as lower than the NiteCore D10/EX10 that use high frequency PWM to get as low as 3 lumens -
vs. NiteCore D10 Min NiMH -
The Quark AA is definitely lower on Min than the NireCore D10's already examplary minimum low - this is really good for a quick close shot of light without disturbing anyone - and it is great to be the first level On.
All in all a pretty spectacular introduction - great attention to detail - really nice artifact free beam (due to clever self centering).
More to come on comparison of the lower levels.
INDEX to follow up parts -
Square threads clarified - Post #24
Accessories - clip and finger loop - Post #27
Operation/UI - Post #29
Lower light levels compared - Post #32
Beacon Mode - Post #34
Quark AA specifications - Post #38
Comparison with some really low output flashlights - Post #50
Comparison with Quark 123 - Max and Min levels - Post #55
Comparison on Li-Ion and Quark 123's min and Max levels - Post #62
Standardized Stairway beamshot comparison - Post #117
Showing Quark regulation by comparing Quark AA on 3.7V rechargeable Li-Ion 14500 directly with NiMH - on Max and lowest levels - Post #121
Standardized Stairway beamshot using 3.7V rechargeable Li-Ion 14500 - Post #122
Before he's pressed the send button - I was knocking on his door
First thing I noticed was the packaging - WoW! what a great impression - the boxes were in an almost mole-skin/suede like matte black material.
There's a flap that's held closed actually by 2 magnets - to open up to a gatefold - revealing the flashlight.
In the box is an inner packaging - which means things don't just fall out of the box - they all are in place and easy to access (and even re-package) -
I'm impressed with this level of detail - even in the packaging.
A couple of shots of the Quark Series -
This comparison review is of the Quark AA - single AA model -
Size -
Head -
The 4Sevens Quark series is using the Cree XP-E R2 LED emitters.
More attention to detail - the threads on the Quark series are square cut both for better fit and less chance of mangling from cross-threading..... nice.
How does it compare?
vs. NiteCore D10 -Q5 both max NiMH
No, despite the Quark AA using a Cree XP-E R2 it is not as bright as the NiteCore D10-Q5 rated at 130 lumens - well, checking the Quark AA specs - it is rated at 90 lumens Max - perhaps 4Sevens has chosen to have a more conservative output for better life and runtime?
vs. Fenix LD10 both Max NiMH
Again not as bright as the Fenix LD10-Q5 (rated at 120 lumens).
BUT the one thing to notice is the beam - how artifact free the Quark seems -
this is due to self-centering of the LED to reflector - there is a special plastic piece that self-centers the LED dome to the reflector - very clever and effective. The beam is also much wider than either the Fenix or NiteCore which makes it perhaps more useful indoors......
How about the Minimum Low?
Quark's specs boasts 0.2 lumens - that's as lower than the NiteCore D10/EX10 that use high frequency PWM to get as low as 3 lumens -
vs. NiteCore D10 Min NiMH -
The Quark AA is definitely lower on Min than the NireCore D10's already examplary minimum low - this is really good for a quick close shot of light without disturbing anyone - and it is great to be the first level On.
All in all a pretty spectacular introduction - great attention to detail - really nice artifact free beam (due to clever self centering).
More to come on comparison of the lower levels.
INDEX to follow up parts -
Square threads clarified - Post #24
Accessories - clip and finger loop - Post #27
Operation/UI - Post #29
Lower light levels compared - Post #32
Beacon Mode - Post #34
Quark AA specifications - Post #38
Comparison with some really low output flashlights - Post #50
Comparison with Quark 123 - Max and Min levels - Post #55
Comparison on Li-Ion and Quark 123's min and Max levels - Post #62
Standardized Stairway beamshot comparison - Post #117
Showing Quark regulation by comparing Quark AA on 3.7V rechargeable Li-Ion 14500 directly with NiMH - on Max and lowest levels - Post #121
Standardized Stairway beamshot using 3.7V rechargeable Li-Ion 14500 - Post #122
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