Next purchase: Quark AA or JetBeam BA10

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A

aimxplode

Enlightened
Joined
May 6, 2011
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Location
California
Hey all,

I'm planning on purchasing a 1xAA, but am stuck between the Quark AA or the Jetbeam BA10. I already have the BA20 (2xaa) and I love it. CPFers seem to love the quark, but I've seen some threads complaining about quark's AA battery rattle and other qc issues.

Both the lights are roughly the same size, but the BA10 is a bit brighter and ~$20 cheaper. Do the extra modes on the quark justify the price?




sidenote: I'm using eneloops.
 
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I have just ordered my third Quark AA(2 tacticals, 1 mini) The build on these lights is outstanding. The tactical has two modes like the BA10 but they are both programable unlike the BA10. There is a little rattle but not very noticeable. The extra modes are definitely worth the extra cash. The customer service is great if you ever have any trouble and the Quarks are Lego and that is so cool. As far as ENELOOPS they are good but try the new CRAA 14505 and the Quark AA come alive. The best light I have for ENELOOPS is the Zebra SC51 and 200 lumens is crazy! The BA10 would still be a good light but no extra modes would be a deal braker for me. You can't go wrong wil either but vote is for 4sevens. Since you already have BA20 I guess with the same UI in the BA10 would be A little more familiar but you can't go wrong with either. Good Luck! IMHO!!
 
Gah! Now I'm debating between the SC51 and the quark, but I'm leaning more toward the zebralight. 200lumens on an AA is amazing and the modes are cool too. Thanks for your input.
 
aimxplode said:
Gah! Now I'm debating between the SC51 and the quark, but I'm leaning more toward the zebralight. 200lumens on an AA is amazing and the modes are cool too. Thanks for your input.
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Here are two tips that will help you in the future:
1) Looking at one light or two will always turn up another and then another, and so on. You will get the itch to pick up the couple you didn't when you made your initial choice. So stop researching lights before it's too late.

2) Who are you kidding, it's already too late. As soon as you can accept that it will be a whole lot easier for you, although the same may not apply to the wife and pocketbook. 😉

As for your new plight, I own both a Quark AA and ZL SC51. They both offer a variety of modes and excellent runtimes.

Quark AA will allow you to run a 14500 should you choose. Can be lego'd with other bodies/heads in the Quark line. In box accessories: finger grip, holster, spare o-rings, lanyard, battery, pocketclip (installed); purchasable accessories: diffuser/prism/filert set, spare boot kit, deep carry pocket clip, sparebody/heads/switches. Available in two interfaces: regular and tactical. At the moment, Quark AA is not available in any tint other than cool white. Many suffer from preflash on the low modes.

ZL SC51 comes in a few flavors with cool white, neutral white, and now high cri. Excellent UI with direct access to low, medium, and high from off. Smaller form factor, feels solid in hand. Has an electronic side switch (may be prone to accidental activation in pocket depending on activity heh 😉). Optimized for primaries/NiMH's (14500 not supported) and is plenty bright. In box accessories: headband, spare o-rings.

I say get them both, as you will more than likely end up with the other one down the line anyway. 🙂
 
I like the Quarks a lot, but not the current emitter tint issues. Their Lego-ability and easy access to individual components is wonderful. I will not recommend Quarks with the current emitters/tints that they offer... Emitter quality and tint is too important to me to go with the present Quark offerings. When 4Sevens gets with some great tint bin emitters, I will recommend Quark again.

That said, the best Quark AA today is the Thrunight 1A Neutron with neutral tint XM-L. The Thrunight 1A is a fantastic AA light.... The light that 4Sevens should have offered. I run 14500 li-ion in mine and the output with the neutral tint XM-L emitter on 14500 is quite stunning. The squeaky low firefly mode on the Thrunight is really low as well!

If you plan on running Eneloops, I will cast another vote for the SC51 (neutral emitter my choice). Wonderful build quality, UI, and convenient side switch. The SC51 squeezes an amazing amount of light from an Eneloop. Beautiful beam, luscious clean neutral tint. Zebra light does a very good job of selecting good tint bins for it's emitters.
 
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The reason why i never got a Quark is because of the preflash issues. But i read that 47 is updating the lights and will probably get one later on.
 
You guys are killing me. All these lights look absolutely amazing. Because of the unanimous praise, I've decided to go with the ZebraLight SC51 (cool white).
 
aimxplode said:
You guys are killing me. All these lights look absolutely amazing. Because of the unanimous praise, I've decided to go with the ZebraLight SC51 (cool white).
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Good choice!

I've been very happy with my cool white ZL SC51 for quite some time. Battery life is also quite impressive.

Now when you're ready to look at MORE single AA lights...my vote goes to the Sunwayman V10A. With the ability to run on a 14500 (with increased lumens over a AA) and the variable control ring... it's quite a winner! :thumbsup:
 
RBWNY said:
Now when you're ready to look at MORE single AA lights...my vote goes to the Sunwayman V10A. With the ability to run on a 14500 (with increased lumens over a AA) and the variable control ring... it's quite a winner! :thumbsup:
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Oh yes! I have the V10R Ti and it is indeed a great EDC light but it runs on CR123. Wish the AA version V10A would be available in Ti too. Very nice light considering it is designed and manufactured in China.
 
After ordering the SC51, I've been reading on threads about it's reliability/durability with some lights breaking within a few months. Have these problems been cleared up, or are these lights still hit or miss?
 
nah dont sweat it.

afaik the problems have been cleared up.
they existed with 2 models, both of which have gone trough several updates since then, and i read somewhere
that when they fixed it, they sold off the old models at a discount, with a notice about the issues, and that that is why they were cheaper.

and if u do get a lemon, CS seems to be slow but good, and now that they are opening up CS centers in both the us and europe
it will become allot faster.
 
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