The Titanium Sapphire AAA Light

[Rico801]

It's becoming my go to light around the house! I need a second one because I disconnect this one from my keys 10 times a day.

This light is a home run, Don. :thumbsup:

:thumbsup:

I finally got around to putting a McGizzy clip on my keyring. I have been using it often and got tired of taking it off the split ring each time. The clip makes it much more friendly. 🙂

The body of mine is scratching up nicely, thanks to my keys. Awesome light Don! 🙂

 

[kaichu dento]

Just received mine and it is great. I have to agree with all the praise this light is getting. I was a little surprised at how small it is compared to my other AAA lights. I saw the comparison pics but you appreciate it more when you actually hold it. I love the beam, the aesthetics and the material. Nice even flood and moonlight tint with just the right size beam IMO. I sold my Arc AAA last year because the beam really bothered me. I know the Arc is a great light but that ring around the beam just bugged whenever I used it. Something bothering you on a white wall is one thing but when it bothers you while using it then that something that has to be considered. Thanks Don. My PD and Mule are happy to have a baby brother.

Having just received my Sapphire/Arc I can't agree enough about the beauty of the beamshape, but also as the owner of numerous Arc's, wonder if you might have gotten a rare bad one. I hate the beam of most 5mm lights I've had, the Arc being the exception.

I don't have a Sundrop, but having read lots about them, I can't help but think that Don should have named this the Moondrop instead! Beautiful moonlight floods out with an incredible neutrality of position.

Can't wait for the 2 or 3 level version, please! 😗

 

[Oddjob]

....but also as the owner of numerous Arc's, wonder if you might have gotten a rare bad one. I hate the beam of most 5mm lights I've had, the Arc being the exception...

Maybe the CS version had a better beam? I had an Arc AAA with a DS emitter and an Arc AAA with some kind of white LED (can't remember what it was called..."snow" maybe?) Both of the lights had a bright ring separated from the beam by dark area. I found that if the emitter was recessed a bit more it would go away. I had the same problem with a Dorcy penlight someone gave me. I took it apart and pulled the emitter back and the ring was gone. I did really like the Arcs but it just really bothered me when I would use them.:shrug:

I think you are right it should nicknamed the moondrop!

 

[cy]

was fortunate in scoring both Sapphire and Ti Arc AAA.
both should have same name, as they are identical. except dab of solder on circuit board.

having the Arc kit with 5mm & 3mm light engine was a treat.
after playing with both LE... hands down, 3mm came out on top.

besides a super cool ti package, Sapphire delivers a nice usable amount of light. have not missed Titan at all... Sapphire makes the best neck lanyard EDC light yet.

 

[McGizmo]

Hi guys,
I am glad you like the flood beam pattern of the 310DS. I hav always preferred a flood pattern for a small light which is primarily used for in close work and have never been successful in convincing one of the manufacturers to use the 3 mm Nichias with the wider viewing angle. The first mod I think I posted about on CPF going back a number of years now was an Arc AAA that I modified into a flood version (got rid of any artifacts):

I just poured in a water clear, UV protected epoxy.

I considered the name of moon drop as well but for a number of reasons, elected to hold the name in reserve. I think a primary distinction for this AAA light over similar sized and 3 or 5 mm LED based lights it the sapphire window and so it was named.

 

[carrot]

I was just wondering... what should we do in the case of burning out the 3mm LED whenever it should actually happen? (Probably years from now...)

 

[gswitter]

Having just received my Sapphire/Arc I can't agree enough about the beauty of the beamshape, but also as the owner of numerous Arc's, wonder if you might have gotten a rare bad one. I hate the beam of most 5mm lights I've had, the Arc being the exception.

The outer ring in the beam of a bare 5mm LED definitely bothers me. I don't know if the latest Arc-AAA GS reduced/eliminated the ring when they fixed the protruding LED problem, but I bought mine before the "fix" and the ring is very pronounced. The same is true for my DS model, recent Proton microlights and Ti Killer. The lower output of the CS and earlier Arc-AAA's makes the outer ring in the beam less pronounced, but it's still there. Sinking the LED deeper into the body - as in the Fenix E01 and Ti Arc-AAA GS - appears to eliminate the ring.

I wonder how the beam from the GS would look in the Sapphire/Ti Arc-AAA body if you ground the dome, a la the SMJ LEDs?

 

[Oddjob]

The outer ring in the beam of a bare 5mm LED definitely bothers me. I don't know if the latest Arc-AAA GS reduced/eliminated the ring when they fixed the protruding LED problem, but I bought mine before the "fix" and the ring is very pronounced. The same is true for my DS model, recent Proton microlights and Ti Killer. The lower output of the CS and earlier Arc-AAA's makes the outer ring in the beam less pronounced, but it's still there. Sinking the LED deeper into the body - as in the Fenix E01 and Ti Arc-AAA GS - appears to eliminate the ring.

I wonder how the beam from the GS would look in the Sapphire/Ti Arc-AAA body if you ground the dome, a la the SMJ LEDs?

So it's not just me.🙂
I have to admit because of the pictures of the Mako I was hesitant to get one. The LED looked forward enough to create the ring so I held off on getting one.

 

[McGizmo]

I was just wondering... what should we do in the case of burning out the 3mm LED whenever it should actually happen? (Probably years from now...)

Deal with it then if it should come to pass? Stock up on an extra(s) LED now and set it aside in a safe place? :shrug:

 

[Oddjob]

...I considered the name of moon drop as well but for a number of reasons, elected to hold the name in reserve...

Hmmmm. Does this mean Don is planning yet another light? What a subtle tease. 😉

 

[cy]

that's one of the neatest part of this design... light engine comes right out.

fast as LED development is progressing... in 3 years time... no telling what will be on our plate.

hopefully by then Arc will come out with a two stage light engine driving a P4 for Sapphire

I was just wondering... what should we do in the case of burning out the 3mm LED whenever it should actually happen? (Probably years from now...)

 

[kaichu dento]

Maybe the CS version had a better beam? I had an Arc AAA with a DS emitter and an Arc AAA with some kind of white LED (can't remember what it was called..."snow" maybe?) Both of the lights had a bright ring separated from the beam by dark area. I found that if the emitter was recessed a bit more it would go away. I had the same problem with a Dorcy penlight someone gave me. I took it apart and pulled the emitter back and the ring was gone. I did really like the Arcs but it just really bothered me when I would use them.:shrug:

I think you are right it should nicknamed the moondrop!

The outer ring in the beam of a bare 5mm LED definitely bothers me. I don't know if the latest Arc-AAA GS reduced/eliminated the ring when they fixed the protruding LED problem, but I bought mine before the "fix" and the ring is very pronounced. The same is true for my DS model, recent Proton microlights and Ti Killer. The lower output of the CS and earlier Arc-AAA's makes the outer ring in the beam less pronounced, but it's still there. Sinking the LED deeper into the body - as in the Fenix E01 and Ti Arc-AAA GS - appears to eliminate the ring.

I wonder how the beam from the GS would look in the Sapphire/Ti Arc-AAA body if you ground the dome, a la the SMJ LEDs?

This may be a classic case of one user being a bit more sensitive to artifacts and I may be just less bothered by the ring. I guess it doesn't bother me too much being as far as it is to the side, but I can understand differences in tastes and I would really prefer to have zero ringiness in any of my lights, which is where I think you guys are coming from.

Just before writing my response last night I took both the Sapphire/Arc and a regular Arc and compared their rings and without a doubt the standard Arc is slightly worse. I think we're lucky to be seeing these little lights made better and better in leaps and bounds lately! :twothumbs

 

[kaichu dento]

that's one of the neatest part of this design... light engine comes right out.

fast as LED development is progressing... in 3 years time... no telling what will be on our plate.

hopefully by then Arc will come out with a two stage light engine driving a P4 for Sapphire

I had a little fun swapping emitters on mine and I can't wait for the two (or even three) stage P4! 😱

 

[Bullzeyebill]

Interesting. I pulled out my old Arc AA LE and it does not have that outer ring. I think the LED was a BS and it has a narrow beam. Nice little light.

Bill

 

[gswitter]

I carried a Arc-AAA CS for years and never noticed the outer ring either, until I got the DS. I've seen some diagrams that illustrate why the outer ring is there in the beams of 5mm LEDs. It's not a flaw in the design of the lights - just a "feature" of the LEDs.. And I don't think it's that big of a deal. I still use a recent Photon Freedom almost daily in spite of ring. But on the brighter emitters (CS Snow, DS and GS), the ring seems to frequently be in that spot of my peripheral vision that's difficult to ignore.

All that said, I very much like the design of the Sapphire head, because it recesses the LED far enough back that the outer ring is eliminated (or at least not discernable on my Ti Arc-AAA GS).

 

[kaichu dento]

I have a bunch of Arc's but don't know which are which, only that some are brighter, but for the most part I really like them for what they are.

If I'd had an Arc anytime before a couple years ago I would have been very happy. As it is my Draco is probably my very favorite, although that is subject to change at any time! 😗

 

[Oddjob]

I wanted to add that I find this light perfect for walking my dog. Lights up the area in front of me and the dog quite nicely. I'll sometimes just let it hang form a my neck lanyard while on so I can have a brighter light in my hand for spotting objects in the distance. Still loving this thing.

 

[carrot]

I admit the inclusion of the Arc driver was a bit of a concern for me but the overall package was too compelling to miss!

However, in actually using the light I find that everything is perfect and the drive level provides for a very nice bright flood that is a pleasure to use and the actual light itself is quite well-suited to neck carry and lovely to behold. Despite my original misgivings I really like this light and am convinced that (the) Don has created another masterpiece.

The fact that this light is seemingly going to be put into production by Arc is even better, as the overall design is just far too good to be limited to a single run.

 

[scout24]

I missed the wave of these, and could only drool as the reviews came in...Just picked one up on B/S/T and couldn't agree more. the 3mm is wonderful. Nice, even flood, wide angle of view, no hotspot, just beautiful. Thank you Don! Now to wait for wave 2 to hit to get one for backup!

 

[McGizmo]