I think it's time to defer my search to the forum. I'm looking for a small aaa light (who isn't?). But I have some needy requirements. I'm not sure if it exists, but perhaps someone can point me to something close. I'm not new to flashlights by any means, but my last intense search that led me to the quark aa was years ago, and I'm sure things have changed somewhat since then.
If I had to summarize the light I want, it would be the Quark Pro QPA by four sevens in a smaller aaa form. You might say the mini or preon, but let me explain first...
Above all I value a low output high runtime mode. My quark AA neutral has a .2 lumen mode that runs 240 hours. So awesome. Next priority would be a low/med everyday mode. Something between 20 and 80 lumens here is fine. Last would be a high mode for when I need distance and illumination outdoors or something to spot something, etc. I'd prefer something above 120 lumens if possible. The quark AA is 105 I believe, and that's o.k., but that is on max and leads to a few issues. First, it doesn't ever seem to last much despite running at all the other modes for a very long time. I'd rather have the max mode available regulated until no battery is left. It seems it runs and then dims to the high mode brightness very quickly. It's almost as though it isn't regulated to use as much battery as it could before lowering to high mode. Not sure though.
I also prefer low >> med >> high activation order. Another feature I require is a pocket clip. I don't like using it on a key ring. I want to clip it to things. Lastly, I prefer a light more neutral than not. The perfect example is the neutral quark aa r5 I have, but it doesn't need to be "perfect" I just don't want obviously blue or red tinted lights. I want this in aaa form primarily for the size difference. I like my quark and will still be using it, but I'd prefer something along the size of the maratac aaa.
So to summarize again:
ultra low mode with long runtime
low/med all around mode
high spotting mode
low >> med >> high activation
pocket clip
small form factor
somewhat neutral led
somewhat affordable ($20-$40 preferably)
If anyone can point me to a light that fits these needs I'd be extremely appreciative. So far these are the lights I've been considering:
Maratac AAA R3
Quark Mini 1xAA
Preon P1 AAA
Each of these has some major flaws. The quark mini is either low or super high. That pretty much rules that out, because I don't want to carry it all day and not have a general use mode. The light wouldn't last long on high. The preon is a similar issue with modes and also not very good runtimes vs. the maratac for instance (23hrs vs. 55hrs on low). So of the three I'm leaning towards the maratac, and the rev3 seems the best, because it has a diffuser and reasonable modes. However, it starts on med and has glow in the dark diffuser and permanent gitd front o-ring. The 55 hour low is good, but I'd like more if possible.
I'm concerned that a) the gitd components will tint the light on low mode, which I use primarily to read at night. I don't want any green tinted pages. Not sure if that would happen or not. I've heard it might only tint the edges?
Second, it starts on med. This isn't the end of the world, but it sort of depends on how the other factors pan out. I'd prefer a longer low runtime. I even prefer lower lumens. So a maratac aaa with a .2 lumen output would be incredible, because it would extend the runtime more than 100hours I assume. Does that exist? Or is the maratac the best option? I saw a light a while back that had adjustable brightness with some special technology so it could be any brightness level between low and max, but at the time I don't think it was affordable or had a low enough low. Not sure if that exists now?
I'd take longer low mode runtime over the super brightest high mode, as it is the least used mode (although I still want it). And I'd possibly take a single AA light if the size wasn't much larger. The mini AA doesn't seem too bad, but the quark AA is far too large.
Wow. There ya go.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
If I had to summarize the light I want, it would be the Quark Pro QPA by four sevens in a smaller aaa form. You might say the mini or preon, but let me explain first...
Above all I value a low output high runtime mode. My quark AA neutral has a .2 lumen mode that runs 240 hours. So awesome. Next priority would be a low/med everyday mode. Something between 20 and 80 lumens here is fine. Last would be a high mode for when I need distance and illumination outdoors or something to spot something, etc. I'd prefer something above 120 lumens if possible. The quark AA is 105 I believe, and that's o.k., but that is on max and leads to a few issues. First, it doesn't ever seem to last much despite running at all the other modes for a very long time. I'd rather have the max mode available regulated until no battery is left. It seems it runs and then dims to the high mode brightness very quickly. It's almost as though it isn't regulated to use as much battery as it could before lowering to high mode. Not sure though.
I also prefer low >> med >> high activation order. Another feature I require is a pocket clip. I don't like using it on a key ring. I want to clip it to things. Lastly, I prefer a light more neutral than not. The perfect example is the neutral quark aa r5 I have, but it doesn't need to be "perfect" I just don't want obviously blue or red tinted lights. I want this in aaa form primarily for the size difference. I like my quark and will still be using it, but I'd prefer something along the size of the maratac aaa.
So to summarize again:
ultra low mode with long runtime
low/med all around mode
high spotting mode
low >> med >> high activation
pocket clip
small form factor
somewhat neutral led
somewhat affordable ($20-$40 preferably)
If anyone can point me to a light that fits these needs I'd be extremely appreciative. So far these are the lights I've been considering:
Maratac AAA R3
Quark Mini 1xAA
Preon P1 AAA
Each of these has some major flaws. The quark mini is either low or super high. That pretty much rules that out, because I don't want to carry it all day and not have a general use mode. The light wouldn't last long on high. The preon is a similar issue with modes and also not very good runtimes vs. the maratac for instance (23hrs vs. 55hrs on low). So of the three I'm leaning towards the maratac, and the rev3 seems the best, because it has a diffuser and reasonable modes. However, it starts on med and has glow in the dark diffuser and permanent gitd front o-ring. The 55 hour low is good, but I'd like more if possible.
I'm concerned that a) the gitd components will tint the light on low mode, which I use primarily to read at night. I don't want any green tinted pages. Not sure if that would happen or not. I've heard it might only tint the edges?
Second, it starts on med. This isn't the end of the world, but it sort of depends on how the other factors pan out. I'd prefer a longer low runtime. I even prefer lower lumens. So a maratac aaa with a .2 lumen output would be incredible, because it would extend the runtime more than 100hours I assume. Does that exist? Or is the maratac the best option? I saw a light a while back that had adjustable brightness with some special technology so it could be any brightness level between low and max, but at the time I don't think it was affordable or had a low enough low. Not sure if that exists now?
I'd take longer low mode runtime over the super brightest high mode, as it is the least used mode (although I still want it). And I'd possibly take a single AA light if the size wasn't much larger. The mini AA doesn't seem too bad, but the quark AA is far too large.
Wow. There ya go.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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