Introducing the 4Sevens Quark MiNi AA and 123 - EDC Pocket-Rockets!

[4sevens]

No matter how useful and versatile a flashlight is, if you end up leaving it at home or in your car simply because it's a hassle to carry all the time that flashlight is useless to you - especially IF you need light that very instant!

There is a special class of lights called "EDC" lights or Every-Day-Carry lights designed to be unobtrusively carried all the time. However the challenge with EDC's is that compromises are made to make it desirable as an EDC.

Sometimes they use obscure and hard to find batteries in order to make it as small as possible - this limits the use of the light as the user tries to conserve it's battery. Or it's "lumen handicapped" and doesn't produce enough light therefore another bigger duty light needs to be carried to make up for the lack of "firepower" of your EDC.

Well, the Quark MiNi doesn't claim to solve all these EDC challenges, but what we have done is design a light from ground up with these challenges in mind. We've attempted to bridge or at least shorten the gap between small EDC lights and bigger and more powerful "duty lights." Ultimately it needs to be a balance between all the challenges by weighing in the more important points. We've started with these four:

1. Ultra-compact minimal yet ergonomic design

2. Commonly available batteries

3. As bright as possible and as efficient as possible

4. Dynamic output range



Size does matter. In our design of the aluminum bodies, we've shaved off every bit of material possible without compromising thermal transfer and ergonomics (grip in particular). The result is a uber-compact design not much bigger than the battery itself, yet retaining a shape that is pleasant to the eyes and functional. The Quark MiNi's sport ample knurling all over the flashlight - accented with subtle flares that enhance the grip of the body. This distinctive shape also contributes to easy identification of the head or tail by touch (for example inside a pocket)

We chose AA's and CR123A's. AA's for their universal availability as well as the various choices in battery chemistry with rechargeables as a viable option. (NiMH's have come a long way!) We chose CR123A's for their high energy density (both volume and weight) as well as their 10+ year shelf life and extreme operating temperatures. (For example this would be a good choice for including in an emergency medical kit).

To make the light as bright and as efficient as possible, we chose to incorporate the state-of-the-art Cree XP-G R5 LED. Currently it is the LED with the highest lumen-per-watt available. What this means is you'll get the most light our of your battery which translates into a greater maximum output as well as longer runtimes for each mode - both of which are very important for an EDC light. Just because it's a small flashlight doesn't mean we have to lower our expectations.

The Quark MiNi AA produces up to 90 lumens OTF (Out the front - for more info click HERE) and runs up to 60 hours at 2.7 lumens on low. (That's 30 days on one cell if you use it 2 hours continuous per day!)

The Quark MiNi 123 produces a whopping 189 lumens OTF and runs 150 hours at 3 lumens on low. (That's 2.5 months on one cell, continuous 2 hours each a day)

The output range is not as wide as our original Quarks. We decided not to incorporate a "moonlight" mode for various reasons. Since they are a twisty type interface, it needs to be simpler with less modes. However, we still spaced out the three modes - low, medium, and high - in a logarithmic scale with enough range to keep the levels distinct. The Quark MiNi AA offers 2.7, 25, 90 OTF lumens while the Quark MiNi 123 offers 3, 40, 189 OTF lumens. Imagine 189 lumens coming out of a device the size of your thumb!



Ok, enough of my design rants, without further ado, I present to you the new Quark MiNi AA and the Quark MiNi 123





Ironically, the bottoms of these MiNi's were bombarded with light! We used a high powered laser to carved out an embossed image of our logo!




Here are some basic specifications:

Quark MiNi AA:
- Weight: 0.67 oz w/o battery
- Diameter: 0.70 inch
- Length: 3.0 inch
- Low: 2.7 OTF lumens, 60 hours
- Medium: 25 OTF lumens, 18 hours
- High: 90 OTF lumens, 1.3 hours
- Special (hidden) modes:
- SOS: 12 hours
- Strobe: 4 hours
- Beacon (high): 20 hours
- Beacon (low): 100 hours

Quark MiNi 123:
- Weight: 0.62 oz w/o battery
- Diameter: 0.80 inch
- Length: 2.3 inch
- Low: 3.0 OTF lumens, 150 hours
- Medium: 40 OTF lumens, 8 hours
- High: 189 OTF lumens, 1.2 hours
- Special (hidden) modes:
- SOS: 7.2 hours
- Strobe: 2.4 hours
- Beacon (high): 12 hours
- Beacon (low): 60 hours

Both MiNi's:
- Uses the Cree XP-G R5
- 6060-T6 aircraft grade aluminum
- Hardcoat annodized
- IPX-8 waterproof standard

Here are the instructions for the Preon I which has the same UI as the MiNi's. Sorry we don't have the manual for the MiNi's finished yet.



And here's the best part - the price!
Both models are $39 (that includes free shipping anywhere on earth)
Pre-order is now open - they are projected to ship from our warehouse November 25th in the order that the orders are placed!

Quark MiNi AA $39

Quark MiNi 123 $39



If you are still undecided, take a look at some more pictures

Here is a youtube video of the morph between a Quark 123 and the Quark MiNi 123 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pQH6nbK9WY

Quark MiNi 123 in the middle of a lineup of CR2 lights


Quark MiNi 123 in the middle of a lineup of CR123A lights


Quark MiNi AA in the middle of a lineup of AA lights


Quark MiNi AA next to it's big brother the Quark AA


I think the laser emboss is the neatest thing. It looks like it was chiseled out of rock!








Important Update 12/24
Hey everyone,

Couple important clarifications concerning the Minis:

1. The manual incorrectly specifies RCR123 compatibility. Actually, the thermal design of the Mini only supports 3V. The circuit is okay for lithium-ion but temperature becomes a problem. Typically, on low and medium modes it is okay, but the thermal design is not meant for more than 3V batteries on high. Future manual batches will reflect this (i.e., they won't state RCR123 compatibility).

2. The manual incorrectly specifies that the Mini AA runs for 18 hours on medium. This is a typo. The correct runtime is 8 hours on medium.

Sorry for the confusion everyone. These will be corrected on our next run!

Peter

[Jaybird]

Sweet looking lights, well done 4Sevens !

Order placed!

[hydrou]

Great!

Finally I found the right presents for my non-flashaholics relatives! Thanks! Just hope they will arrive before x-mas over here...

[flæshaholic]

The feature to size ratio on these things is simply incredible. The only thing stopping a is me trying to wait for a neutral/warm run of these once XP-G's in that tint become available.

really great stuff from 47s once again!

[4sevens]

Originally Posted by flæshaholic

The feature to size ratio on these things is simply incredible. The only thing stopping a is me trying to wait for a neutral/warm run of these once XP-G's in that tint become available.

really great stuff from 47s once again!

It may not really a wait because it may never happen. I just don't want you to anticipate in vain

[flæshaholic]

in that case, now I'm trying to justify needing ANOTHER 1x123 XP-G R5 cool white light... :|

EDIT: just sayin', a neutral tint option is all that's missing for the MiNis to one-up the other guys' "easy" series of lights..

[mr.snakeman]

I´m in for one of each , trans. ID: 24149039XE7521534. Thanks, and now it`s time.

[hoongern]

Originally Posted by 4sevens

Both MiNi's:
- Uses the Cree XP-G R2
- 6060-T6 aircraft grade aluminum
- Hardcoat annodized
- IPX-8 waterproof standard

I think it's supposed to be an XP-G R5?

These look awesome - even though I'd love clicky versions if they were available (Although it would probably be larger).

Questions:
1) Are li-ons supported?
2) If yes, are the circuits in both lights the same - i.e. would the 14500 lions in the AA give the same results as the 16340s in the 123? I'm guessing there's less heatsinking in the AA version since it's narrower?
3) Since the AA version is narrower, is the beam floodier?

[coolperl]

Looks awesome
Is the '123' compatible with RCRs ?
Is the spill is as wide as in normal Quarks ?

[Lite_me]

Originally Posted by hoongern

Questions:
2) If yes, are the circuits in both lights the same - i.e. would the 14500 lions in the AA give the same results as the 16340s in the 123? I'm guessing there's less heatsinking in the AA version since it's narrower?

This was going to be my question as well.

[glockboy]

Do the Quark MiNi AA and 123 come in other color?
Make a great Christmas gift.

[Henk_Lu]

Order placed!

These are really the EDC lights that were missing. The Fenix P1D was small, but the Quark MiNi 123 is a dwarf next to it. I really wanted to skip these two lights, but especially at the prices they sell (and there's still a discount...) I had to!

My uncle will be happy as well if he gets one for christmas.

[Haz]

I thought the Fenix P1D was small already and couldn't possible get any smaller, but this Quark Mini 123 is so much smaller!!!

[kimck99]

Question:

How long could you have the mini 123 on high before it got too hot to hold?

Thanks

[Tixx]

SOLD on the miniQ 123! Order placed. Thank you!

[adirondackdestroyer]

47's,

Do you think you could take a pic of them beside an LOD or E01? I'm wondering how the AA version would work as a keychain light, but I want to see how large it is compared to other keychain lights I have. Thanks!

[yuk]

Just ordered a Mini 123!

[NonSenCe]

ehh.. isnt there a slight mistake in this "Quark MiNi 123 in the middle of a lineup of AA lights"

i thought that that is the miniAA in that picture with other AA lights..

-So there will not be a warm tint leds in your lineup?

-man they are small indeed!

-any chance of getting the preon coating on these?

[DigMe]

Why haven't we had beamshots for any of the new 4sevens lights yet??

brad

[radiofreq]

(Hand hovering over PayPal button)...where's the clip? Nitecore never came through with one for the EZAA, and a clip would make the mini QAA just about perfect.

[damon]

wondering will there be a Quark Mini AAA or Mini cr2..??

[Yapo]

Gaaahhhh...i haven't even made up my mind on ordering a preon 2 yet and now there's a AA twisty the about the same length as my fenix LOD and an even smaller and brighter version of my old favourite fenix P1D CE.

Ive got a couple spare AAA's lying around for the pen sized preon 2 which has a nice 160 lumen max but at a relatively short runtime.

The mini AA is nice and small with better runtime than the preon 2 but it has no clip which ive grown fond of for pocket carry or a clicky(i havent edced a twisty in a long time) and the 90 lumen max isnt as high as i would have liked(120+ lumens would've been good) but having a 2hr runtime isnt bad!

The mini 123 is again nice and small with a monster 189 lumen makes it a true pocket rocket!
The fenix P1D CE was my first cree led light which lit me up with excitement when i 1st turned it on as it outshined and outsized everything i had and i feel this light might also do the same!
But i havent been using my rcr123's in a long time as only high mode worked in the P1D which after edcing for a long while, led me back to multimode AA cree/seoul/rebel lights(as there were few single rcr123 compatiable lights) so now i prefer to stick with AA's.

Too many lights...too many decisions...and too little money!

[Crenshaw]

189 OTF lumens really IS whopping from a light that size...

look like ill have to get one

Crenshaw

[LordNorth]

Originally Posted by hoongern

Questions:
1) Are li-ons supported?

My question as well. If RCR123s are supported, I'm in for one as fast as I can get to PayPal

[Nitroz]

Ohhh no not again! I don't think I will be able to resist the mini.

[Nitroz]

Dang it! I bought one. That's how long I was able to resist.

Great price BTW!


David,

Will these come in other colors other than black?

[patycake57]

Originally Posted by LordNorth

My question as well. If RCR123s are supported, I'm in for one as fast as I can get to PayPal

Me too!!!

[Illumenaughty]

123 rocket for Me

[Tremendo]

Awesome lights! As we know the 14500 will work in the Mini AA, although get hot fast, I'm hoping it will be about as bright as the CR123 Mini. Either way, I added one to my cart with my Turbo 2xAA Quark and Prism and now .

[yuk]

1.2 hours means 1h + 20min or 1h + 20% of an hour?