Maratac AAA Q5 (Part 2)

[lamarrk]

In comparing the low setting with my original Arc AAA, the output was nearly identical. My later Arc is actually quite a bit brighter.

I have an ARC AAA light (camo "standard" model) which is supposed to be a minimum of 5.5 lumens. The Premium Arc AAA light is rated at a minimum of 10.5 lumens. Wonder if that is the difference in your 2 Arc lights?

I'm almost ready to pull the trigger on the IPT AAA to replace my ARC AAA "keychain" light. I've had the IPT C7R (AA) about 2 weeks and am very pleased with it.

Lamarr

 

[JohnR66]

I was going to go ahead and buy a stainless steel one until I saw the shipping cost ($8). That stopped me, at least for now. I recently got two Akoray AA lights--they are bright and great, so I'm kind of invested in the AA/14500 format for now. Akoray is not as small, but definitely brighter. But this Maratac light looks really good.

So, I'll see how long I can hold off on the Maratac light...

The total $$ of the light is about $30 with shipping. It easily is a quality light in the $40-$60 range. It is so cute and tiny. I couldn't resist.

 

[slipe]

I was going to go ahead and buy a stainless steel one until I saw the shipping cost ($8). That stopped me, at least for now. I recently got two Akoray AA lights--they are bright and great, so I'm kind of invested in the AA/14500 format for now. Akoray is not as small, but definitely brighter. But this Maratac light looks really good.

So, I'll see how long I can hold off on the Maratac light...

My K-106 isn’t as bright as my Maratac. I suspect that I got a spare bin version of the Akoray, but mine is just OK with 14500s and not impressive at all with AAs. I confirmed that with ceiling bounce tests against both of my Maratacs. The Maratacs lost brightness quickly and if I let them run long enough they almost ended up at the Akoray’s level.

You could do like almost everyone else and severely punish CC for their unreasonable shipping by buying a bunch of other stuff with the order. They are probably reeling from the punishment meted out by CPF members and will change the policy any day now. They must be really tired by now from stuffing all that extra stuff in the orders.

 

[slipe]

This is what eventually evolved as the most practical way for me to carry my Maratac. My right pants pocket is reserved for the Gerber clipped there and pulling my keys from my left pocket would eventually leave the Maratec in a dark parking lot somewhere if I clipped it there. I buy shirts as thin as possible for Florida and some of my shirt pockets droop with the Maratac.

My cellphone is my only phone and it is always clipped to my side. So now my Maratac is also at my side. I’ve carried it this way for three days now and it seems I won’t have any problems. I do want to tape off a thin band of Shoe Goo to keep the clip from moving over it too easily. Otherwise I think it works well.

 

[r-ice]

anyway of making the high turns on first? or is that wishful thinking?

 

[Lynx_Arc]

anyway of making the high turns on first? or is that wishful thinking?

wishful thinking.... would take a redesign of the circuit and/or firmware

 

[Vikas Sontakke]

Maratac being a Cree seems to have pronounced hot spot. I personally prefer SSC smooth transition as I find it more useful for close range work. With harsh hot spot, the contrast is too much between the bright spot and the spill and is difficult to use as all around EDC. That is the only reason I have not pulled the trigger yet.

If there are other people who share my view, we might be able to pursuade CC to have an SSC version of this light 🙂

- Vikas

 

[Patriot]

anyway of making the high turns on first? or is that wishful thinking?

What Lynx_arc said, but also, if they do make a change in the future it would be low first, then med, then high. That seems to be the preferred step method among CPFers according the the most recent poll.

lamarrk
I have an ARC AAA light (camo "standard" model) which is supposed to be a minimum of 5.5 lumens. The Premium Arc AAA light is rated at a minimum of 10.5 lumens. Wonder if that is the difference in your 2 Arc lights?

Yes, exactly the reason. My oldest arc is from the first or second batch so it's the lowest output of the series. 3 lumens perhaps? The maratac is only slightly brighter...maybe 4-5 lumens, and my camo arc is brighter than either maratac on low, probably 6-8 lumens.

JohnR66
The total $$ of the light is about $30 with shipping.

He was referring to the SS version so add about $8 to that. 🙂

 

[tbenedict]

Maratac being a Cree seems to have pronounced hot spot. I personally prefer SSC smooth transition as I find it more useful for close range work. With harsh hot spot, the contrast is too much between the bright spot and the spill and is difficult to use as all around EDC. That is the only reason I have not pulled the trigger yet.

If there are other people who share my view, we might be able to pursuade CC to have an SSC version of this light 🙂

- Vikas

My natural one seems to have a smooth transition. I could not imagine a better beam for indoors and <50' outdoors.

 

[f22shift]

please do a natural finish with 5a tint with a low-med-high sequence.

 

[davidt1]

please do a natural finish with 5a tint with a low-med-high sequence.

+1 yes, l/m/h sequence. During a Maracta aaa light video the guy from Countycomm was saying that the low is good for situations such as in a movie theater. I was thinking yeah only after you blind and **** off other people with the medium setting first.

I get up early in the moring to go to work when it's still dark. I don't bother to turn on the light in the room. I just use the Maratac to see my way around. The low setting is just right for me. Have to turn off the medium everytime though.

an AA version of light will be well received also.

 

[Rexlion]

This is what eventually evolved as the most practical way for me to carry my Maratac. My right pants pocket is reserved for the Gerber clipped there and pulling my keys from my left pocket would eventually leave the Maratec in a dark parking lot somewhere if I clipped it there. I buy shirts as thin as possible for Florida and some of my shirt pockets droop with the Maratac.

My cellphone is my only phone and it is always clipped to my side. So now my Maratac is also at my side. I’ve carried it this way for three days now and it seems I won’t have any problems. I do want to tape off a thin band of Shoe Goo to keep the clip from moving over it too easily. Otherwise I think it works well.

Neat idea! I clipped one to each side of my cell holster, and now it looks like a rocket with boosters. 😀

R-ice, sure you can get high mode first. Close your eyes, twist it on-off-on-off-on... now look. :devil:

Hey, when do we get this light in P7 version anyway? :naughty:

 

[r-ice]

lol, eyes closed.. No seriously i would love it if the high turns on first sigh. too bad.

 

[upriver]

I may have missed it, but have there been any runtime tests yet?

 

[NeonLights]

Just got my natural and black Maratac AAA's today. I'm very impressed, as I was pretty sure I would be after all the glowing reports to date. I removed the clip and keyring holder from my black one, and it will replace the Fenix L0D with SL Microstream body/switch I've been carrying around in my little mint tin of goodies for the past year or so. Same functionality, maybe a little brighter, in a much smaller package without the annoying strobe and SOS modes. I lose the clickie switch, but the smaller size more than makes up for it.

 

[Patriot]

I may have missed it, but have there been any runtime tests yet?

No full charts yet but 26 hours on low from a NiMH. I think it was 1-2 pages back. I have some numbers for a review I'm doing but cpf reviewer Selfbuilt will likely beat me to it. If he doesn't post 10440 numbers then I'll add mine. 🙂

 

[Patriot]

Before a large number of people start posting for warm tints and low-med-high IU in order to share their preference with the CC staff readers, I've already sent an email to Nick at CC with links from the IU poll posted a week or two ago. My email also address the issue of centered LEDs and the info has been passed on to ITP. This doesn't necessarily mean that the IU is going to change since CC's largest customer by far is government contracts. If CC can convince the buyer that the best first stage is low, then we might have a chance of seeing it happen. It looks like the maratac AAA light is here to stay though since word is that certain government oganizations are stockpiling AAA batteries in incredible quantities as well as AAA lights.

Regarding tint, there's very little chance of this changing since reports back to them have been so positive about the current tint. You'd have to prove that a substantial number of people wanted warmer tints for them to even consider it. A spread out thread isn't the best analog for determining these types of results so please start a poll thread about tint if you'd like. That way we'll keep this thread as informational sharing instead of repetitive wishlisting. :thumbsup:

 

[LumenHound]

The lens on mine does not look to have any anti reflective coating whatsoever. It seems just as reflective as a plain old glass lens when I put them side by side and angle them to get a reflection of the ceiling light from each lens.
Could it be that just one side of the lens is coated and that it happens to be the side facing the emitter in my case?

 

[Patriot]

LumenHound, both of mine have a some type of magnesium-fluoride or calcium-fluoride based AR coating on them which is evident by the blu-ish reflection that I can see. Admittedly it's doesn't appear to be a super multi-coat like I'd see on fine optical equipment but there is something there.

Walk up to window in your house where the light comes in and look at the color of the reflection in the lens. If it's slight blue or green, it's coated. An incan lightbulb can also be used to see the effect.

 

[bob4apple]

My upgraded ITP from shiningbeam cost $19.26 (with "CPFUSER" discount code). Total price with NY tax and First Class Mail shipping= $23.72.

It works great and actually makes the Fenix LOD look large by comparison!