etc
Flashlight Enthusiast
Amazingly I haven't had a 2xAA light in 15 years, in the early days of my hobby I had a Fenix and then some MiniMags which I never really used versus 18650-based lights.
I know I can load a 9P type with 2xAA, they kind of fit, if you wrap them around in something. About 6 "dollars" bills do the trick, the cells become tight and you have an emergency source of cash.
Then I have a FiveMega 3xAA host which is nice but not really the same thing as a dedicated 2xAA.
Finally decided it was time for a dedicated 2xAA host and here comes the 2xAA MDC in all its glory and warts.
Eneloops fit really well. Not loose inside which scores points for me, I hate noisy batteries that are loose inside.
The modes are very well spaced, at 3/50/300 Lumens (5700K is what it seems I have). I particularly like the 3 lumen mode, it's low enough to be frugal but high enough to be useful. I've used moonlight modes in other lights, found them useless and found myself often escalating to the next mode. Not so with light, it has high enough lux, the beam is throwy which makes the 3 lumens seem like a lot more.
It's as compact as any other 2xAA with Malkoff build quality. It's arguably the finest, end-of-the world 2xAA you can get.
A couple of WTF: No knurling is weird. It really needs some. It's a departure from other Malkoff lights. Even token Surefire-like knurling would be an upgrade.
The clip is very well made but I can't find any use for it and will remove it. I just don't have any way to clip the light to anything and when I EDC, it goes inside my cargo pants pocket anyway. And the clip interferes with how you hold it. Unless I am really missing the point here. I think I will give the clip a shot but none of my other lights have it and not sure why I need to make an exception for this one.
The tailcap is not removable, I wonder if an E-series TC could have been used, but anyway. You load it from the front.
Overall a solid hit like mostly everything else Malkoff-made.
2xAA versus 1xAA MDC:
IMO, 2xAA has several advantages:
1. It's easier to hold
2. 2xAA is more efficient than 1xAA
3. 1xAA has an unacceptable low mode, comes in a sub-1 lumen mode whereas 2xAA hits 3 lumens, this by itself is a deal breaker for 1xAA (for me).
It's closest competition (out of what I own) is an MD3 with M61 and a 2xAA cells, which works amazingly well with the low/high ring. Meaning that config on low is similar to MDC-2AA on low. But it's a bigger light and not AA-specific.
I know I can load a 9P type with 2xAA, they kind of fit, if you wrap them around in something. About 6 "dollars" bills do the trick, the cells become tight and you have an emergency source of cash.
Then I have a FiveMega 3xAA host which is nice but not really the same thing as a dedicated 2xAA.
Finally decided it was time for a dedicated 2xAA host and here comes the 2xAA MDC in all its glory and warts.
Eneloops fit really well. Not loose inside which scores points for me, I hate noisy batteries that are loose inside.
The modes are very well spaced, at 3/50/300 Lumens (5700K is what it seems I have). I particularly like the 3 lumen mode, it's low enough to be frugal but high enough to be useful. I've used moonlight modes in other lights, found them useless and found myself often escalating to the next mode. Not so with light, it has high enough lux, the beam is throwy which makes the 3 lumens seem like a lot more.
It's as compact as any other 2xAA with Malkoff build quality. It's arguably the finest, end-of-the world 2xAA you can get.
A couple of WTF: No knurling is weird. It really needs some. It's a departure from other Malkoff lights. Even token Surefire-like knurling would be an upgrade.
The clip is very well made but I can't find any use for it and will remove it. I just don't have any way to clip the light to anything and when I EDC, it goes inside my cargo pants pocket anyway. And the clip interferes with how you hold it. Unless I am really missing the point here. I think I will give the clip a shot but none of my other lights have it and not sure why I need to make an exception for this one.
The tailcap is not removable, I wonder if an E-series TC could have been used, but anyway. You load it from the front.
Overall a solid hit like mostly everything else Malkoff-made.
2xAA versus 1xAA MDC:
IMO, 2xAA has several advantages:
1. It's easier to hold
2. 2xAA is more efficient than 1xAA
3. 1xAA has an unacceptable low mode, comes in a sub-1 lumen mode whereas 2xAA hits 3 lumens, this by itself is a deal breaker for 1xAA (for me).
It's closest competition (out of what I own) is an MD3 with M61 and a 2xAA cells, which works amazingly well with the low/high ring. Meaning that config on low is similar to MDC-2AA on low. But it's a bigger light and not AA-specific.
Last edited:
