NDI Q5 vs Quark AA, Nitecore D10?

[dracodoc]

I found that NDI Q5 will be at $60 with the new 4sevens sale, that put it in same price range with D10 and Quark AA.
Quark AA is nice and cheaper, but I'm not too into the style... Will it be much bright than NDI? The lumen ratings of them are not comparable...
I prefer the UI of NDI, but not sure about the crenalations if I put it in pocket.
I heard the newer batch of NDI have similar board with D10, so the reliability is improved.
One more question, will the DX 14500 battery (sku 3435) fit in NDI Q5? Somebody said it will not fit in D10 unless you mod the spring.

 

[hatman]

One more question, will the DX 14500 battery (sku 3435) fit in NDI Q5? Somebody said it will not fit in D10 unless you mod the spring.

AW 14500s fit and work perfectly in my D10.

 

[bagman]

I have both the NDI and the D10 and the D10 is much more pocketable, I only carry the NDI in a holster which sort of defeats the object

I also use AW's 14500's but dont know about any others?

 

[NoFair]

I found that NDI Q5 will be at $60 with the new 4sevens sale, that put it in same price range with D10 and Quark AA.
Quark AA is nice and cheaper, but I'm not too into the style... Will it be much bright than NDI? The lumen ratings of them are not comparable...
I prefer the UI of NDI, but not sure about the crenalations if I put it in pocket.
I heard the newer batch of NDI have similar board with D10, so the reliability is improved.
One more question, will the DX 14500 battery (sku 3435) fit in NDI Q5? Somebody said it will not fit in D10 unless you mod the spring.

I'd say the Quark tactical is slightly better than the NDI or D10, but the Nitecores look better and are a bit smaller (D10 especially). The crenelations on the NDI are very easy to grind off if you have powertools (sandpaper works as well).

 

[ThesaurZA]

D10 with clip is best for the pocket. Look at the D10 SP if you want strobe and SOS. It uses the same R2 LED as the Quarks and can take a 14500.

 

[Tremendo]

My NDI loves its 14500 and it's my EDC. I am awaiting 2 Quark Ti AA's, one may take it's place as my EDC.

 

[dracodoc]

OK, looks like NDI don't have a obvious advantage even in same price range. Then I don't have to catch this sale. I'll wait since there is no perfect AA EDC for me right now.
I like Quark's everything but its style, Jet I pro is cool but a thrower. From my experience with D20 in 1 year, I will not choose D10 if I have better choice.

Thank you all for your advice!

 

[flatline]

Hmm...if you're not interested in a thrower, how about the LF5XT? Currently available for less than $50 (natural only, no black left) from LEDcool (see CPFMP thread for details).

If you *really* don't care about throw, have you considered one of the Zebralight AA lights?

Now I'm confused because you said you liked everything about the Quark AA except the style...but the QAA is a thrower, so I must have misinterpreted your post somehow...

--flatline

 

[dracodoc]

LF5XT is also not too good looking to me...But I don't know it's less than $50 now, thanks!
Sorry I didn't realize QAA is a thrower although I saw some beamshots before... Actually if a light is not good looking to me, I already put it outside my choice a little bit, so I must didn't check the beamshots carefully...
I like the Jetbeam I pro's style (actually I prefer the 1.0 and 2.0 which is smaller), but many people specifically mentioned that it is a thrower, so I said I don't want a thrower for EDC. Maybe QAA is a thrower but not as Jetbeam?

 

[flatline]

From the reviews, it looks like the Jetbeam is the king of throwers in the AA category, but I don't think the difference between the Quark and JetBeam is enough to be noticed in real use.

I've never seen a JetBeam in person, so I may be wrong.

--flatline

 

[jblackwood]

Ok, I don't have the NDI, but I have two Quark AA's and two Nitecore D10's. First of all, to the gentleman who said the Quark is a thrower . . . it's not. Throwers have smooth reflectors in order to maximize throw at the cost of cree rings and a jarring transition from spill to spot. Though the OP reflector does create nice wall-hunting profiles!

As far as lumen ratings, be careful! I don't think it can be said enough here but most other manufacturers state lumen ratings AT THE EMITTER! 4sevens' Quark lights' lumen ratings are all OUT THE FRONT!

My Quark (standard tint) is brighter than both my Nitecore D10's (just barely brighter than my standard Q5 and way brighter than my GDP D10). So lumen ratings have to be weighed with that in mind.

To the mods, if my caps offend, I apologize, but I want the OTF ratings of 4sevens to stand out to the casual shoppers and newbs who don't know better. :welcome:

 

[flatline]

Perhaps my expectations are too low, but the Quark AA has more throw than I need from it.

It may not be optimized for throw, but it can send useful light 2 city blocks away (probably further if it weren't competing with street lights). Can the JetBeam, which is clearly optimized for throw, really throw noticeably further than the Quark?

--flatline

 

[alex_ny]

My latest edc is C2H deerelight perfect 3 levels for me with really good throw. also is upgradable and can wotk with AA size battery.

 

[alohasurftoad]

I have a clipped D10 modded with Q3-5A. I also have a Jetbeam Jet 1 Pro w/IBS V3, OP, Q3-5A also. The D10 form factor and full knurling is the best "in hand" AA to me. The JB UI is easy and good and is also one of the nicest looking AA lights, aesthetically speaking. JB makes throwers. per se, however this is a waste of time on an AA. The spot and spill are too narrow. If they could morph the D10 and the JB, it would be perfect. My bro has an AA neutral Quark. Functionally it is the best light out right now but I just can't care for the looks.

 

[WadeF]

While the Quark may not be a super thrower, it throws very well for it's size, especially with a 14500 installed.

 

[nanotech17]

i just got myself a D10 SP R2 it feels very solid compare to the Quark AA with generous knurling though the Quark is slightly brighter due to beam radiation pattern but the D10 SP R2 beam pattern is identical to the Novatac with SSC P4 emitter.The D10 SP R2 feels heavier vs the Quark,the UI is similiar to the Bitz but with both clicky and twisty with hidden sos & strobe :twothumbs

 

[dracodoc]

I also prefer the UI of the SP version, because from my experience of D20, the indefinite variable ramping cannot be accurate. Do your D10 have whining noise?

 

[B0wz3r]

Hi all,

I'm in this same boat right now... trying to decide between a NiteCore smart PD 1xAA vs the Quark AA. I'm trying to standardize on AA size (CR's and AAA's are just too expensive or oddball these days), and both these (as far as I've been able to tell) are fully regulated with 14500's.

Anyway, can anyone who owns both sum up the beam pattern of each? Which ever one I get will be my EDC light and as such, I'd like something that is floodier rather than a thrower.

Thanks in advance for any wisdom,

-B

 

[dracodoc]

There are lots of reviews, beamshots threads in forum, you can check these, they are for Quark AA, most of them have D10 as reference. I think different version of D10 have slightly different beam patterns too.

UnknownVT beamshots,
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=233925&page=5&highlight=quark
Neutral White 4Sevens Quark AA Comparison Review
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=240410&highlight=quark
selfbuilt
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=234960&highlight=quark
Lots of beamshots
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=240881&highlight=quark

 

[dracodoc]

It's interesting, I saw several people prefer NDI as EDC in another thread "which nitecore to EDC". Anyway, since D10 Q5 is in stock now, NDI don't have a price advantage any more.