quark mini AA & CR123 users thread

[gbelleh]

My Mini 123 was waiting for me when I arrived back home today. I've had a chance to play with it for a while, and I have to say that I really like it! It is amazingly small, and the XP-G really does pump out a lot of light, with a large, bright hotspot. The light levels are well chosen, and nicely spaced. I also like having the strobe modes available.

But, I did notice some of the problems others have reported. The mode skipping can be a problem if twisting without a firm grip, or at a slowish pace. This doesn't seem to happen when twisting quickly and firmly with a good, solid grip. The tint is slightly green, but I don't mind green tints. It's less green than my LF3XT, but it's definitely not pure white. I'm just really thankful it's not blue! With the head loosened enough to not activate the light be pressing on it, the threads on my specific light are still pretty tight. I really doubt they're loose enough that it would easily unscrew in a pocket. But, I can see how this could be a problem on some examples. I like the idea mentioned earlier of head tightened being the off setting. These small issues are not a big deal to me, but hopefully, all this feedback will help make this light even better.

I don't plan to EDC this light because it doesn't have a pocket clip. So, I'm very happy with it for my intended purpose (general, occasional use around the house/yard). The quality seems high and everything is lined up and centered. Overall, this is a very nice light at a good price. It looks like I might have to go ahead and get the Mini AA in the near future too. Nice job 47s.

 

[get-lit]

Wow !



Let's hope no Government decides to tax Flashlights ! ! !





_

Didn't you hear? There's the upcoming omnibus luminance tax, the personal EDC tax with accompanying surcharge and annual mandatory registration fees, the environmental impact study fee, the renewable energy/photon transition tax based upon the standard of estimated annual light output, and of course the portable energy storage excise tax along with disposal fees. You will also have to complete your yearly personal carry course and pass your evaluation which will run you a few bills. Be sure to maintain your acquisition/disposition forms for yearly review and approval. Then all you have to do is get your official law enforcement EDC certification along with your completed approval form from your local public school, which will allow for you to certify for your federal H8-2-EDC stamp. And I almost forgot, mandatory EDC comprehensive and liability insurance, which if you don't pay, you have to pay a penalty fine with your tax return. But don't worry, you will get a free pen, just pay shipping, handling and tax.
This wonderful new bill is being heralded as the great new fair light use act. Against public support, it's now passing on a bare margin with the help of the permanent Nebraska exemption.

 

[windstrings]

Yep... .that sounds right... I remember when the gov was rewarding me a credit with one hand to buy a hybrid car and with the other trying to tax me more because I got such good mileage they weren't getting their gas tax from me per mile that they got from other people!......

 

[jorn]

They're in transit. They left the factory at 12/23 😀

Thank you, i have been searching for that comment

 

[Flying Turtle]

Seems like my 123 is loosening up some, or I'm just learning to drive it smoother. Really liking it for sure. I'm on the lookout for a small plastic red or orange lens cap/diffuser for night light work. I did find that the WalMart match case is a perfect fit.

Geoff

 

[recDNA]

Loews does...but I havn't gotten a straight answer about whether the flashlight will work with non-conductive tape wrapped around the threads.

If you try it and it works please pm me or at least be sure to post it.

I think there is some kind of grease that tightens it up a little too but I forget what it's called. I don't want to use the wrong grease and make it even looser.

Still hoping for an answer on this one....

 

[jorn]

Still hoping for an answer on this one....

easy, just pop out the spring and stretch it. that should give more pressure/friction on the the threads, making it harder to twist.

 

[diggity]

Seems like my 123 is loosening up some, or I'm just learning to drive it smoother. Really liking it for sure. I'm on the lookout for a small plastic red or orange lens cap/diffuser for night light work. I did find that the WalMart match case is a perfect fit.

Geoff

Geoff - does it fit snug?

 

[kwkarth]

Loews does...but I havn't gotten a straight answer about whether the flashlight will work with non-conductive tape wrapped around the threads.

If you try it and it works please pm me or at least be sure to post it.

I think there is some kind of grease that tightens it up a little too but I forget what it's called. I don't want to use the wrong grease and make it even looser.

I went down to Home Depot last week and picked up some plumber's tape to try on the mini's. In a word; awesome! It worked so well, I'm going to use it for every light for which it will work! Only lights whose threads are already anodized and therefore do not rely on current conduction through the threads will work.

On my M123, it pretty much solved the wobling problem, and on the MAA, it made the thread action smoother as well. I also stretched the spring on th AA model, and that coupled with another application of Caig Pro gold has improved the mode bounce a great deal!!

 

[Beamhead]

I went down to Home Depot last week and picked up some plumber's tape to try on the mini's. In a word; awesome! It worked so well, I'm going to use it for every light for which it will work! Only lights whose threads are already anodized and therefore do not rely on current conduction through the threads will work.

On my M123, it pretty much solved the wobling problem, and on the MAA, it made the thread action smoother as well. I also stretched the spring on th AA model, and that coupled with another application of Caig Pro gold has improved the mode bounce a great deal!!

So it worked for you?

 

[Flying Turtle]

The match case is a snug fit. If you force it in past a bit of knurling it holds very tight.

Geoff

 

[gbelleh]

These lights really are small. It's hard to believe that these two lights use the same battery configuration! 😱 And put out close to the same amount of light! :twothumbs

Nitecore SR3 and Quark Mini 123

 

[windstrings]

Mini CR123 verses Fenix PD 10 ti.....

I had to try out the Fenix PD 10 ti and mine just arrived.

My preliminary findings are good... although slightly bigger, a real performer.

The beamshots are "all" with RCR's.

Unfortunately the Fenix PD 10 ti does not have modes when using RCR's.... only high... I did try it with a non rechargeable and the modes do exist, however unlike the Mini 123, the rechargeables render it a really bright pocket light and nothing else.

BTW..I did put about 3 wraps of plumbers tape on my MINI and as others reported.. smoothed it right up, still works perfect and doesn't get loose.

Anyway.. back to the review.... the Ti looks like polished stainless... very pretty! Its a tad longer but also a tad less diameter.
I was concerned the brightness my suffer in comparison ever so slightly with the less diameter but I was wrong.

I haven't done across the yard backyard shots yet, but in my large livingroom, it appears the Ti is hotter and not quite as spread out as the Mini... also the Ti is a tad bluer... but only noticed with both are on at once to compare...it still is a very nice white.

Is it worth 2.5 times the cost?.... humm... well I think it is or I wouldn't have bought it... performance wise alone.. maybe no, but it looks like it will still look perfect 50 years from now.
The 216 lumens does not appear to be an exaggeration based on comparisons with the Mini..... it really does punch a hole out there.

Both use the same type of LED I believe and both perform outstanding.... I just think the Ti has more throw and condenses the light a tad more for distance.

Does it get hot?.. Oh yea!.. the Ti gets stinkin hot in not too much time... starting at the head. I never have these on for too long anyway... but I don't know if I should get concerned in an emergency when I really needed to leave it on or not?.. Maybe a dip in water since its waterproof!.... I wouldn't advise any bright ideas of sticking it in your mouth unless you like blisters!... LOL!

Here are some pics and beamshots...


First a few showing the size difference from the sides and top.

Now some beamshots.. about 25 feet shots....

First has Mini123 on Left and Fenix PD 10 ti on right

Second has Mini on top and Fenix PD 10 ti on bottom

Third the opposite... Fenix PD 10 ti on top and Mini on bottom

 

[Dude Dudeson]

Grrrrr, my mini 123 was delivered, and promptly stolen out of the mailbox by an ex roommate.

Worst of it - I have 100% proof of this to MYSELF, but zero proof that would suffice for anyone else (police, postmaster, etc).

Lesson learned - unless it's exclusively my own residence I'm never shipping to a house again. PO box for me from now on.

First time in 22 years of renting this has ever happened to me.

 

[da.gee]

Grrrrr, my mini 123 was delivered, and promptly stolen out of the mailbox by an ex roommate.

Worst of it - I have 100% proof of this to MYSELF, but zero proof that would suffice for anyone else (police, postmaster, etc).

Lesson learned - unless it's exclusively my own residence I'm never shipping to a house again. PO box for me from now on.

First time in 22 years of renting this has ever happened to me.

Nice roommate. Steal it back? Pound him? Hold his dog hostage? Confront him and he'll be reasonable? Probably not since he stole it in the first place.

 

[dive4air]

I received mine (CR123) on Christmas as a gift. I was told that when the person ordered, they were told it was on back-order but then an order confirmation came through that it was being shipped, so who knows what happened there. Anyway, I am lucky in that sense. In any case, he said that customer service at 4sevens was EXCELLENT.

Ok, as far as the light, I LOVE it. I have never had a tiny light like that so it's hard to compare to similar sizes, however it blows away some of my bigger ones like Pelican and a Surefire U2 Ultra. I have no doubt that it would also blow away the new Surefire Titan at a fraction of that cost.

The beam is clean and floods nicely. It doesn't throw but in this size, you really aren't buying it for throw. The size, oh the size, AWESOME!!! This light will never leave your pocket because it's so easy to carry. I do believe the 180 lumen OTF rating because next to my 180 lumen Cabela's XPG xenon, it held its own in flooding. I am using the battery that came with it.

Presentation was very nice. Good box, good package with lanyard and extra O ring. I think the lanyard is WAY to big and long unless you plan to wear this light around your neck. I chose not to use it. The laser engrave on the tailcap is classy. Instructions were good and acceptable.

My only suggestion is to introduce a tail cap switch/click or programming to keep on last setting. Also, introducing RGB filters would be nice. I use red and green a lot when i need subtle light.

Conclusion: Worth every penny and worth the wait. Makes your 5 inch 180 lumen other light look goofy. Buy one for sure, you won't regret it. I plan to get one for my dad and brother next.

 

[Strauss]

When is the next batch of Mini123's supposed to arrive? I am interested in ordering a pair of them but would like to know when to expect them.

 

[Joe Talmadge]

After playing with mine 123 for a week ... I have indeed found that it's pretty easy to hit the spot that causes the light to jump levels. Very easy to hit it one-handed, and occasionally I even hit it two-handed. Teflon tape on the threads has very much helped the action and thread looseness, and even seems to have somewhat mitigated the level jumping

I'm as thrilled as ever about the performance on rcr123, paying careful attention to the heat on high ... I'm rethinking whether I should switch to a lifepo4 rechargeable, or primary, though so far I haven't had to use high for long enough time for it to matter

 

[se4g4e]

When is the next batch of Mini123's supposed to arrive? I am interested in ordering a pair of them but would like to know when to expect them.

I asked 4Sevens that question on 12\22, and was told they'd be back in stock "next week".

 

[get-lit]

Your thumbnail looks painful! Let it be, you can do it.