First Impressions:
As with all the lights by 4Sevens you immediately notice the machining and finish quality. But the main thing that got my attention was how small the Quark Mini AA was. It is alot smaller than any other single AA light I have ever seen. Even smaller than the old Arc AA, but still packs alot more punch.
These lights are available with Aluminum or Titanium bodies.
Size/Weight:
As I said above, the Mini AA is just tiny for an AA light. The Mini 123 is pretty small for a single 123 cell light also. Which makes them both very light weight.
Grip/Handling:
I really like the knurling on these lights. It is a bit more aggressive than some others, but not overly rough. Which provides an excellent gripping surface for such small lights. the knurling on the head makes it easy to twist the head and operate the light with one hand. Though the Mini 123 can be a bit tricky due to its shorter length.
Build Quality:
Just like everything else that 4Sevens has put out, the Quark Mini lights are on par with the fit and finish. Threading seems very smooth and precise. The threading on the Titanium versions is slightly rougher and harder to turn. I believe this is a characteristic of the titanium though.
Features:
The Quark Mini lights use the same user interface as the Preon series, which I like alot. Plus if you own a few 4Sevens lights, you dont have to learn multiple interfaces.
Something I was disappointed in is the fact that neither light has a pocket clip. This is something I really liked on the Preon series. I would have liked to see something very similar, or at least a slip on clip.
Output & Runtime:
Quark Mini AA
Low: 2.7 lumens, 60 hours
Medium: 25 lumens, 8 hours
High: 90 lumens, 1.3 hours
Quark Mini 123
Low: 3 lumens, 150 hours
Medium: 40 lumens, 8 hours
High: 189 lumens, 1.2 hours
Quark Mini CR2
Low: 3 lumens, 91 hours
Medium: 40 lumens, 4.8 hours
High: 180 lumens, 40 minutes
Oddly, I found that the output of the single AAA Preon to be slightly brighter than the Quark Mini AA. This may have just been the case with the test lights I was supplied though. Even so, the Mini AA has a pretty good output, especially considering its a single AA light, and very small. The output of the Mini 123 is higher due to the higher voltage supplied by the 123 cell.
Heat Issues:
The Mini 123 and CR2 can get a bit warm on the highest setting, but I dont think its hot enough to cause damage to the light. The mini AA seems to stay pretty cool on any level.
Pros:
Smallest single cell AA light I have seen
Want even smaller? the CR2 is just tiny
Great Fit and Finish
Good features and output levels using a well thought out user interface
Cons:
There are brighter single cell AA lights out there, but the Quark Mini AA is still the smallest I have seen
No pocket clip
Conclusion:
I was impressed with these lights. They are good looking lights, very small, with just the right kind of knurling. The titanium versions look extremely nice, and I personally think that titanium just looks better with use. Once it gets lots of fine scratches and darkens a bit from oils off your hands. The Mini AA really impressed me with how small it was, especially for a full featured light. My only real complaint is the lack of pocket clip. I built in one like the Preon uses would have been fantastic. I would like to at least see a slip-on one made available later on.
