Swedpat
Flashlight Enthusiast
A few days ago I received my new package with flashlights from 4Sevens and EagleTac. I am not going to be more specific about all the functions or technical specifications but just share my simple impression of them.
Because I have been more and more "biten by the warm LED bug" two of the lights are in a, so called, neutral white version: Quark AA2 and EagleTac M2XC4. Apart from these I ordered a Quark123 cool because this model is outsold in the neutral white version, and a Zebralight H501. The both Quarks I chosed the regular version because I want it simple and tailstandable.
When I first read about the new 4Sevens Quarks models my expectations became high. And when I had received them it didn't take long time before I could state that they are an improvement compared to Fenix corresponding models. Though still not perfect, in my opinion. The better knurling is good, though I still wonder why the AA2 version has to be narrower in the mid section. When pressing the button with the thumb I have to quite hardly pinch the tube to prevent the light gliding forward. The narrower midsection combined to a quite large demanded force to press the button complicates the procedure. Nitecore D10 is a dream in this matter! Personally I would also prefer a slightly more aggressive knurling of the Quarks.
The beam profile of the new Quarks is just great, in this matter in par to my Fenix TK10. Practically no noticable artifacts or rings like with Fenix LD/PD models, just a bright hotspot with an even illluminated spillbeam. The beam width is slightly wider than Fenix which may be positive or negative depending of the personal opinion and usage. This makes the spillbeam to be slightly less intense than Fenix with narrower beams.
The very low modes of Quark I consider as a true advantage, who during some occations are very useful! For an example 9 lumens (of Fenix LD20), though it's a low output, is dazzling for reading a text at close distance with dark adapted eyes! Actually the lowest mode of Quarks of 0,2 lumens is fully adequate with dark adapted eyes for locate your self in a room when you don't want to draw attention. A runtime of weeks also may be useful in some case of emergency somewhere.
Colour rendition is something I have learned to appreciate. It's well known that the ability to see details of dark objects of , for example, brown, green and red colours, is superior with a warm tint than a cool one. Fenix TK20 has a nice and comfortable tint compared to the cool tints. But I don't really experience it as neutral, rather warm. I find the tint to be to the brown side, or more specific beige. But in the same way cool tints who alone seems to be very white, instantly when compared to an incan light are revealed to be bluish, I find Fenix TK20 to be like rose in comparison to as well Quark AA2 and EagleTac M2XC4.
Quark 123 is a very nice and small light, very similar to Fenix PD20, and it's the same as with PD20: I will not stop to be amazed of the light output such a small light produces. The handling is similar to PD20, but with the advantage of knurled bezel.
When read through 4Sevens site some day after I received the order I found that they offer 0,9-4,2V head in natural white, so I ordered it. Soon I will have as well the 123 model with the warm tint!
EagleTac M2XC4 is an impressive light with a beam profile reminding of a flower, because of the three reflectors. When comparing beamshots at a white wall this is very ugly and not at all in my liking. This light is designed for throwing with an intense hotspot, though the spill beam is very bright as well. If you can stand the beam profile design you will have a very useful beam, and I think the flower-like beam is not an issue at all out in the field and forest.
About the handling I find it's stable to hold though it could have been a slightly longer handle, I think persons with large hands can find it far to small. Changing between the brightness modes is easy done with a one hand operation with the rotary switch. This function could be much better, however. The rotary switch has no steps and you just turn it until you see the brightness changes to the prefered level. The space between the levels are not equally divided, and when turning from 300 to 665lm level it's very easy to pass it and accidently get the strobe, which is very close placed. The rotary switch I find is a very good idéa, but I wish it had been with distinct clicks to prevent accidently changing. And also with marks like Fenix TA models so you can see the brightness level before you turn it on when use the included tactical clicky. This clicky also could be better. It has a momentary on function, but when I want to use it momentary I find it easy to accidently turn it on constantly. You have to press quite long way until it turns on, and the step between momentary and constantly is quite close. At first I actually thought it lacked momentary on function because I missed it.
About the beam I prefer a perfectly rounded and even illuminated beam with a warm tint. I could not get both in this case, so therefore I chosed the M2XC4 in neutral white version instead of the M2C4. And I think I did the right choice. When shining with the highest brightness I just become amazed, so pleasant bright "milk-white" tint, I am sold! The neutral white is the future...:thumbsup:
Zebralight H501 is a new experience for me, which surely will be a light I bring with me wherever I travel. An easy operation, perfect flood light with three well suitable brightness levels of 3,3 - 18 and 96lm. And I reacted of how small it actually is. I don't find anything serious to complain about with this light.
After I received it I became aware that it's available in a neutral white too, with slightly lower output, but unfortunately not from 4Sevens, then I had of course chosed it instead of the cool white...
I hope these my personal impressions may be valuable though my somewhat faulty english. I will also post some comparison beamshots.
Regards, Patric
From left: Zebralight H501, Fenix PD20, Quark123, Nitecore D10 GD, Quark AA2 neutral white, Fenix LD20, Fenix TK20, EagleTac M2XC4 neutral white, Maglite 3D/Malkoff P7, Maglite MagCharger:
Nitecore D10 GD low vs Quark 123 moon, 1s vs 1/5s:
Fenix PD20 turbo vs Quark 123 max, 1/100s vs 1/500s:
Quark AA2 neutral white max vs Fenix TK20 turbo, 1/100s vs 1/500s:
Fenix TK20 turbo (150lm) vs EagleTac M2XC4 neutral white at 125lm setting, 1/100s vs 1/500s:
Fenix TK20 turbo vs EagleTac M2XC4 neutral white at max, 1/100s vs 1/500s:
The initial brightness of MagCharger is around 300lm, and therefore it could be interesting to compare it with EagleTac M2XC4 neutral white at the 300lm setting, 1/100s vs 1/500s:
And the same as above but with EagleTac M2XC4 at max:
Maglite 3D/Malkoff P7 vs EagleTac M2XC4 neutral white at max, 1/100s vs 1/500s:
Because I have been more and more "biten by the warm LED bug" two of the lights are in a, so called, neutral white version: Quark AA2 and EagleTac M2XC4. Apart from these I ordered a Quark123 cool because this model is outsold in the neutral white version, and a Zebralight H501. The both Quarks I chosed the regular version because I want it simple and tailstandable.
When I first read about the new 4Sevens Quarks models my expectations became high. And when I had received them it didn't take long time before I could state that they are an improvement compared to Fenix corresponding models. Though still not perfect, in my opinion. The better knurling is good, though I still wonder why the AA2 version has to be narrower in the mid section. When pressing the button with the thumb I have to quite hardly pinch the tube to prevent the light gliding forward. The narrower midsection combined to a quite large demanded force to press the button complicates the procedure. Nitecore D10 is a dream in this matter! Personally I would also prefer a slightly more aggressive knurling of the Quarks.
The beam profile of the new Quarks is just great, in this matter in par to my Fenix TK10. Practically no noticable artifacts or rings like with Fenix LD/PD models, just a bright hotspot with an even illluminated spillbeam. The beam width is slightly wider than Fenix which may be positive or negative depending of the personal opinion and usage. This makes the spillbeam to be slightly less intense than Fenix with narrower beams.
The very low modes of Quark I consider as a true advantage, who during some occations are very useful! For an example 9 lumens (of Fenix LD20), though it's a low output, is dazzling for reading a text at close distance with dark adapted eyes! Actually the lowest mode of Quarks of 0,2 lumens is fully adequate with dark adapted eyes for locate your self in a room when you don't want to draw attention. A runtime of weeks also may be useful in some case of emergency somewhere.
Colour rendition is something I have learned to appreciate. It's well known that the ability to see details of dark objects of , for example, brown, green and red colours, is superior with a warm tint than a cool one. Fenix TK20 has a nice and comfortable tint compared to the cool tints. But I don't really experience it as neutral, rather warm. I find the tint to be to the brown side, or more specific beige. But in the same way cool tints who alone seems to be very white, instantly when compared to an incan light are revealed to be bluish, I find Fenix TK20 to be like rose in comparison to as well Quark AA2 and EagleTac M2XC4.
Quark 123 is a very nice and small light, very similar to Fenix PD20, and it's the same as with PD20: I will not stop to be amazed of the light output such a small light produces. The handling is similar to PD20, but with the advantage of knurled bezel.
When read through 4Sevens site some day after I received the order I found that they offer 0,9-4,2V head in natural white, so I ordered it. Soon I will have as well the 123 model with the warm tint!
EagleTac M2XC4 is an impressive light with a beam profile reminding of a flower, because of the three reflectors. When comparing beamshots at a white wall this is very ugly and not at all in my liking. This light is designed for throwing with an intense hotspot, though the spill beam is very bright as well. If you can stand the beam profile design you will have a very useful beam, and I think the flower-like beam is not an issue at all out in the field and forest.
About the handling I find it's stable to hold though it could have been a slightly longer handle, I think persons with large hands can find it far to small. Changing between the brightness modes is easy done with a one hand operation with the rotary switch. This function could be much better, however. The rotary switch has no steps and you just turn it until you see the brightness changes to the prefered level. The space between the levels are not equally divided, and when turning from 300 to 665lm level it's very easy to pass it and accidently get the strobe, which is very close placed. The rotary switch I find is a very good idéa, but I wish it had been with distinct clicks to prevent accidently changing. And also with marks like Fenix TA models so you can see the brightness level before you turn it on when use the included tactical clicky. This clicky also could be better. It has a momentary on function, but when I want to use it momentary I find it easy to accidently turn it on constantly. You have to press quite long way until it turns on, and the step between momentary and constantly is quite close. At first I actually thought it lacked momentary on function because I missed it.
About the beam I prefer a perfectly rounded and even illuminated beam with a warm tint. I could not get both in this case, so therefore I chosed the M2XC4 in neutral white version instead of the M2C4. And I think I did the right choice. When shining with the highest brightness I just become amazed, so pleasant bright "milk-white" tint, I am sold! The neutral white is the future...:thumbsup:
Zebralight H501 is a new experience for me, which surely will be a light I bring with me wherever I travel. An easy operation, perfect flood light with three well suitable brightness levels of 3,3 - 18 and 96lm. And I reacted of how small it actually is. I don't find anything serious to complain about with this light.
After I received it I became aware that it's available in a neutral white too, with slightly lower output, but unfortunately not from 4Sevens, then I had of course chosed it instead of the cool white...
I hope these my personal impressions may be valuable though my somewhat faulty english. I will also post some comparison beamshots.
Regards, Patric
From left: Zebralight H501, Fenix PD20, Quark123, Nitecore D10 GD, Quark AA2 neutral white, Fenix LD20, Fenix TK20, EagleTac M2XC4 neutral white, Maglite 3D/Malkoff P7, Maglite MagCharger:
Nitecore D10 GD low vs Quark 123 moon, 1s vs 1/5s:
Fenix PD20 turbo vs Quark 123 max, 1/100s vs 1/500s:
Quark AA2 neutral white max vs Fenix TK20 turbo, 1/100s vs 1/500s:
Fenix TK20 turbo (150lm) vs EagleTac M2XC4 neutral white at 125lm setting, 1/100s vs 1/500s:
Fenix TK20 turbo vs EagleTac M2XC4 neutral white at max, 1/100s vs 1/500s:
The initial brightness of MagCharger is around 300lm, and therefore it could be interesting to compare it with EagleTac M2XC4 neutral white at the 300lm setting, 1/100s vs 1/500s:
And the same as above but with EagleTac M2XC4 at max:
Maglite 3D/Malkoff P7 vs EagleTac M2XC4 neutral white at max, 1/100s vs 1/500s:
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