I have a lot of interest in these single cell lights because simply put, they're what I use the most. They're the ones that I always have attached to my car keys and always expect to have work. They also eat readily available & cheap alkaline AA or AAA batteries although I prefer to run them on Eneloops as I don't much care for using any kind of primary battery where I don't have to, and Eneloops obviously aren't going to drain if left unused in my pocket (admittedly not that likely, but still).

I've been carrying the Fenix LD01 on my keys for a while now and it has served me very well. Run time is good considering it runs on a single AAA. I don't run it on high a lot but the amount of light coming out of it on high is more than adequate for a great many things. The build quality of the LD01 is fantastic, with smooth but snug threads that have never once led me to worry that the head might plop off in my pocket. The anodizing is a nice semi-flat finish which i prefer to the glossier finishes of lights like the Quarks.

That said, I've had two main complaints about it: it starts on medium (M>L>H) and the low isn't that low.


IlluminaTi, Mini AA, LD01 with my 16gb Cruzer on my trusty old Stinkpad (the faint ring on the laptop lid behind the lights is a bonus left behind by a cold beverage)

I recently have been trying two lights to replace it with. The Titanium Innovations IlluminaTi (left) and the 4Sevens Quark Mini AA (middle). The IlluminaTi runs a cool white XP-G R5 (1B tint bin) while the Quark runs neutral white XP-G R4 (4C0 or 4D0 tint bin).

In terms of size it's obvious that the IlluminaTi is the smallest. It's about the same as the LD01 in diameter but is quite a bit shorter (just over 7mm shorter). The Mini is 2mm taller than the LD01. Considering the size of the batteries the IlluminaTi is the one that stands out the most. The Fenix adds the most in length to its battery and the IlluminaTi the least. The Fenix does have a deeper looking reflector than the IlluminaTi but I haven't taken it all apart to measure the differences.

One thing I knew would be different between these lights is the beams they throw. The Fenix LD01 uses a Cree XP-E and the other two use XP-Gs. Thanks to the larger reflector the Quark has a similar spot size to the Fenix whereas the IlluminaTi is quite a bit larger. The IlluminaTi and Fenix have a similar amount of spill whereas the Quark spills over a larger area. I had initially expected the Quark to fall between them on spot size, rather than lining up so closely to the Fenix.


IlluminaTi, Quark, Fenix on top of a mildly scratched but now much cleaner Thinkpad

Tint wise if you compare the three the Quark looks warmer, the Fenix looks a bit blurpleish and the IlluminaTi looks like a fairly neutral white. On its own the Quark is notably warmer or even less-white looking than you are used to LED lights usually looking but in use it's very nice. The IlluminaTi's tint is good too though, for a cool-white LED.

The IlluminaTi feels the warmest the fastest around the head. Compared to the aluminum bodies of the other two, the heat gets trapped in the titanium and it doesn't get a chance to spread as easily. Something I'd possibly be concerned about if I had to run it on high for long, aluminum is a better material for drawing heat away from the LED.

In terms of operation the one thing about the Fenix that has always been a pain is using it one handed. It just doesn't have aggressive enough knurling to make that easy to do. The IlluminaTi is better but the Quark wins by far. The Fenix does seem to be the least likely to flicker on and off due to sideways pressure on the head as you try to tighten or loosen it though but I'm not 100% certain there's that much difference.

I haven't yet switched them around to see which I prefer carrying with me. While the Fenix has the most confidence inspiring attachment point for a keyring, the Quark seems to provide plenty and I've never heard of any issues. I've seen people talk about the attachment point on the IlluminaTi being weak but I won't know until I try it, it looks fairly similar to the Quark to me on my sample. My main curiosity is whether the Quark will wind up seeming like too much going on in my pocket most of the time or if the slightly bulkier light will go unnoticed. I'm not expecting it to be an issue, which in conjunction with the longer runtime and better power settings (a low low, and starting on low vs the Fenix) means it will probably become my preferred pocket light.

Thanks for posting this, it was pretty helpful.

No problem, if you have any questions or want to know something else let me know.

I had to throw the Eneloop in the LD01 on the charger today, first time it's needed a full charge in months. Couldn't say how many hours i have on it in the various modes but I'm definitely happy with how long that lasted. It definitely got much more blurple as the battery faded and I don't know how far I'd have to take it before it just dies on me.

If you've seen the iTP EOS A2 or A3 (I believe that's the name) I think the IlluminaTi is pretty similar aside from being in titanium obviously. I like the IlluminaTi for starting in low mode whereas those turn on in medium like the LD01.

"IlluminaTi" is the best name for a flashlight. Ever.

Great review CB. Thanks.

I have to say that I'm a fan of the MiNi AA - I've had a neutral white one for a few months now, and anytime I'm wearing pants I have it, or someone's using it in an explore. The battery life is pretty good, and it's about as small as a AA flashlight can be. It's larger than a AAA light, but not by much. Without going to Li-Ion it's the most light (lumens and runtime) in the smallest size. Low is plenty for walking around in drains, and Medium and High are good for brighter work.

The twisty is pretty easy to work, and I've added a magnet to mine under the spring. But I hear that the MiNi123 threads are less gravy, as larger threading is harder to get right at a given price point.

Nice writeup! I've had a few keyring lights in my time, from a 10-lumen Fenix E01 (which was great), to those cheap button cell ones (which were great), to my current 4Sevens Preon (which I love). I find, though, that they all do the same job for me. Much as I think my $37 Preon is awesome, I can't genuinely say the 10-for-$4 plastic button cell lights didn't serve just as well for the times I end up using a keyring light.

That said, I thought I'd lost the Preon a while back, and was quite prepared to buy a new one

I've got a bunch of those button cell ones but I don't much care for them. They tend to be too unreliable, turn on unintentionally too easily and run off batteries I don't like using. But you can't argue against the price when you can get them tossed in for free at a lot of places.

Actually, where I really like those button cell lights is camping with friends with kids. They're plenty bright, and last a good few hours, and it doesn't matter if a seven-year-old leaves it somewhere outdoors and can't find it.

But I digress...

I tried out one of the Photon lights, which look like all the other button cell units, but cost $30 or $40 or so. The adjustable brightness was novel, as were strobes, but really, I just couldn't see it as that much of a step up from the 40 cent jobs

$30 or $40 for a button cell? Whaaa!? I got my Quark Mini AA for around $34 with the UER discount. I would never buy a button cell thingy for that much.

Posted by Colorblinded $30 or $40 for a button cell? Whaaa!? I got my Quark Mini AA for around $34 with the UER discount. I would never buy a button cell thingy for that much.

I know, seems crazy!

http://www.legear....hoton-php2-wks.htm

Posted by metawaffle I know, seems crazy! http://www.legear....hoton-php2-wks.htm

You got swindled. I received one of these as a gift. http://www.inovalight.com/microlight/ Its got low, high and strobe. Not bad for about $7.

Posted by bonnie&clyde You got swindled. I received one of these as a gift. http://www.inovalight.com/microlight/ Its got low, high and strobe. Not bad for about $7.

Oh god no, I didn't buy one! I just played with it at the camping shop

Posted by metawaffle Oh god no, I didn't buy one! I just played with it at the camping shop

OK I feel better now. I was questioning ur judgment.

Posted by bonnie&clyde OK I feel better now. I was questioning ur judgment.

To be fair I'm pretty sure the one he and I were talking about does a lot more than the Inova one.

Posted by Colorblinded To be fair I'm pretty sure the one he and I were talking about does a lot more than the Inova one.

But do you really need infinitely variable brightness in a not-very-waterproof package that delivers up to about ten lumens?

Posted by AnAppleSnail But do you really need infinitely variable brightness in a not-very-waterproof package that delivers up to about ten lumens?

No, I still think they're stupid obviously... but at least they give you something for too much of your money, regardless of how useless it all is.