Preon impressions

[Incidentalist]

Burgess,

Do you still have the clip installed on your Preon?

I took them off immediately as I am generally not a fan of clips on 1XAAA lights. I just put one of the clips back on and it works fine with the lithium battery. 😕

 

[Burgess]

Yes, my clip is still installed.


Is that part of the problem ?


😕
_

 

[Incidentalist]

Yup,

No clip, lithium doesn't work.

With clip, lithium works fine.

😕

 

[da.gee]

Posted this in CPFMP but thought I would repost here:

Got my Black Ti today. Initial thoughts, impressed. This is going to please a lot of people at Christmas.

The switch: I think they must have done some adjustments on the switch or maybe I'm lucky. Not gritty, feels just like a pen clicky. Seems centered well too as in you can't click it from off center and operate it. It doesn't tilt if you depress more from the side if that makes any sense. Works very well.

Beam profile excellent as reported. Floody. Should be good close work light. Throw is not going to knock your socks off but not its purpose. Still somewhat impressive for a penlight.

Modes work as expected. Head does get warm on extended high use. Great hand warmer.

Only (minor) issue I've found is some battery movement/rattle using the supplied Duracell alkalines. Haven't tried Eneloops or ELs yet.

Very attractive packaging and the light is gorgeous in the black Ti configuration IMO. I was considering satinizing the TI parts but I think I like it just how it is. The shiny Ti is not overwhelming to me as it is on the all Ti Preons.

Dark now so I'll play some more with it and follow up if I have additional comments. Really think this one is a winner if AL finish proves durable.

 

[Dan FO]

Anything on the light that is black is anodized aluminum and not titanium.

 

[Rexlion]

...The UI is perfect and with the clicky now broke-in, I can get to any mode in less than 2 seconds. Right handed or left handed, and I am not a particularly coordinated person. I needed both hands at work today and held the flashlight between my teeth and found that I could easily turn it off and on and switch modes with my tounge. It apears to be designed to click straight down to click it off and on, then soft tap it towards the edge to change modes. I have shown this light to several people and have given them these instructions and they have been able to operate it right away without any problems...

Uhhh, sure, let me try operating your Preon with my tongue after you've done so. :sick2: Not! :laughing:

 

[da.gee]

Anything on the light that is black is anodized aluminum and not titanium.

Yes, I know. My first clue was the fact I ordered the Black Ti Edition with AL body, Ti head and clicky. Your clue may have been I specifically mention the Ti pieces and AL body in my commentary.

 

[BVH]

Yes I know. My first clue was the fact I ordered the Black Ti Edition with AL body, Ti head and clicky but thanks.

Got a good chuckle out of me!

 

[munkybiz_9881]

The light flickers on low no matter what battery I use in it.

Mine does this only with Nimh's, with alkalines there is no flickering. Sucks cause I only use Nimh's.

My switch is also not functioning well at all.

 

[fnsooner]

Uhhh, sure, let me try operating your Preon with my tongue after you've done so. :sick2: Not! :laughing:

I know, gross huh? I had to sacrifice a couple of non-enlightened for the cause. You didn't expect me to to use the clicky right after I slobbered on it. 😉

I recieved three more Preon II Ti's for gifts. I loaded them with eneloops and fired them up. No flickering and the clickies are smoother out of the box than my original was. My highest serial number is in the upper 800's. I bet all the ones with serial numbers are gone.

I am still using my original Preon II Ti daily, and loving it.

 

[kwkarth]

Madmook, guess you lucked out =) Link Archer, yeah - if I'm careful, I don't get the sticking issue. However, I've not had to be careful with a clicky before (for instance, SF clickies, as long as you push in the general down direction, it fires right up!). But, I spoke with David and he said that the Ti doesn't 'rub' as smoothly with itself as other materials. I guess I'll just be a little more careful.

Don't want to give the impression that I didn't like the light overall -- it's a good light. For the lack of memory mode, I think I just have to change my expectation of how I'd use the light -- as a nice form-factor and classy backup penlight. For a penlight, the low mode is really great, and what we'd expect. It just happens to have much brigher modes (which I can get to via taps). So, if I use it as that kind of light, around the office and at home, I think it'll be alright.

I've had Surefire clickies fail on me before, so, even they are not immune.

 

[applevision]

Hey guys,

It's been quite a day: I arrived home to find 2 packages from 4sevens waiting! One was my Quark MiNi 123 (with which I am in love! See here: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showpost.php?p=3195275&postcount=86) and the other was my black and blue Al-Preon kits!

I wanted to add to the tide of opinion about these little lights. First off, the build quality is magnificent. I am really impressed! I just love that slightly rubbery feel to the finish and my blue is a nice deep blue--not the turquoise depicted on another thread.

I have to say that now I get what 4sevens (David) meant when he raved about the clicky--it's addictive! So small and compact yet satisfying! I love it. I am finding myself REALLY digging the 2AAA mode. It's really bright and the clicky just makes it so fun! The beam color is creamy white and the beam itself is perfect, smooth and non-ringy.

In the single AAA mode it is super cute, but a little more bulky than the Maratac AAA and the Illuminati. I found that on my samples, the Preon is brighter than the Illuminati (or at least appears to be; this may simply be a feature of the beam shapes and throwiness). I have to say that I actually, against my pre-conceived notions, prefer this as a 2AAA light! I think I will keep it in my pocket from now on that way...

In sum, these are amazing little lights. My gut is that the IlluminaTi in particular stole their thunder a bit and for a single AAA only, I could see myself choosing the IlluminaTi over this in some ways... or even the good old Maratac AAA, which by virtue of the fact that it is 1/2 price of these bigger boys still holds incredible value.

As always, I'll be curious about what experts such as HKJ think about this light, especially in relation to the many outstanding lights that have recently been released.

The older I get, however, the more I find myself trusting my gut and seeing what I actually use/reach for/carry.

For now, my new "keychain" light is actually the Quark MiNi123 which for its very reasonable price represents one of the best-built, brightest, and most useful lights in my collection.

The Preon as a 2AAA light will now ride "shotgun" in my shirt pocket, a testament to 4sevens' foresight and quality.

Well met! What a time to be a flashaholic!

 

[kwkarth]

I received the Blue Preon kit tonight. Nice piece of kit!

This is the first opportunity I've had to actually see a Preon 1. Do you know, my sample Preon 1 is brighter than my sample of Illumina Ti!!

Amazing job!!

The texture of the HA head is grippier than I had imagined it could be. Makes one handed twisty operation very easy and I actually like the twisty in the P1 better than the clicky in the P1. amazing!!!

 

[DigMe]

my blue is a nice deep blue--not the turquoise depicted on another thread.

Can you please post a pic so I can compare my blue to yours?

brad

 

[applevision]

Can you please post a pic so I can compare my blue to yours?

brad

Will do asap! Probably tomorrow afternoon, if that's okay.

 

[OfficerCamp]

Preon1 Ti is absolutely my favorite light right now. I hit the body with a Brillo pad and dulled the shiny finish and slapped on a reverse clicky. This light rides in my left brest pocket and is great on duty for small lighting tasks where the M3 is too much (which is often 😀).

 

[Olef]

Received my Preon II Titanium today serial #367.

Great engineering, superb bright light off a couple of AAA's.

For anyone reading here who may be put off by reading about those unfortunate souls who have had issues (my commiserations), my light has no gritty threads, the clicky is smooth and works every time, the PWM is unnoticeable, the beam is pure white and I cannot detect a whine on any setting.

Spot on!

My only (minor) annoyance is is was shipped with a black keyring ring in the spares bag. On an all Ti light? Hm. I have contacted 4Sevens.pl about this, hopefully I can get the correct silver ring.

Anyone on the fence, get one. Seriously quality piece of kit :twothumbs and it took just five days to get to me here in England from Poland.

Olef

 

[Zeroignite]

Does anyone have photos of the yellow preon kit? I'm pretty set on getting one of the light, but don't know which color I'd like the most.

 

[greg_in_canada]

Two nice photos here http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showpost.php?p=2414014&postcount=266

Greg

 

[kaichu dento]

I just got my titanium Preon I the other day and although it has one of the nicest clips ever, I don't really like the light as much as I'd hoped to.

Not sure what will happen to it, but I would have preferred the moonlight mode of the Quarks, although I know many will find the low to be perfect for them.