4Sevens Preon 2xAAA Blue
Provided by 4Sevens.com
I will admit that I have been avoiding 2xAAA flashlights, since they can achieve relatively little output for their length. However, I was pleasantly surprised by this Preon. I learned that this category is quite valuable for its around-the-house ergonomics, and besides that, the Preon does all the little things right, and then some.
The packaging is a bit nicer than normal, and has an unusual rubbery finish.
Ergonomics
4Sevens has drawn attention to their proprietary "rubber-like" finish used on the non-titanium Preons. I don't know if it feels like rubber, but it is certainly a nice touch. I believe the method is microtexuring, since you can detect a slight squeal when rubbing it at some angles. The resulting effect is more satin-like, and does in fact improve grip slightly, as well as feel great when you care to notice.
The flashlight may look slick, but that is not an issue. This flashlight is intended primarily for use in calmer conditions, and I can attest that around the house the microtexture-enhanced grip is perfect, as well as the 2xAAA form factor.
As befits any flashlight comparing itself to a pen, the Preon is very thin. However, the head and tail do bulge a few millimeters, which could possibly make it less convenient to carry when the thinnes of a pen is needed. The bulge to the head is as smoothed out as it gets, but the tail's is fairly abrupt, probably because it rests above the clip.
The clip is quite short, but works well for the light purposes I've tested it in. The clip can be removed; my package included a lanyard ring to go in its place, but as the ring was taped to the outside, I am not sure if this is part of the standard package.
Build Quality
The first impression the preon gives it of a flawless fit and finish. Closer inspection reveals it isn't quite perfect, but pretty darn good. The colors are just a tiny bit off - after five minutes of inspection I'm still not quite sure it's not just the light. Also, the tightening tool appears to have left some small marks around the tailcap.
The included alkaline batteries rattle a little bit, but only when you shake the light, and as I said before, this strikes me as a flashlight best suited for calmer use anyway. I don't know if this is because of tolerances or if some NiMh AAAs are slightly thicker.
I am trying to find every fault, but the fact remains that the quality is impressive - certainly above what you usually get for the price. The threading is perfectly smooth and well lubricated, with square threads on the tailcap and regular in the front. 4Sevens' method for centering the emitter worked perfectly as always.
Interface
The Preon and MiNi families uses a simple, straightforward interface: 3 modes switched by turned the light off and on quickly, with the blinky modes hidden behind six quick mode switches. The reverse clicky shared by the Preon series makes this a breeze, and the metal tailcap is a nice touch. The switch iteself feels solid and provides good feedback.
The light always comes on in low, which is quite well chosen for the purpose. It is not an ultralow, but then again, fractions of a lumens are inadequate for most purposes. Instead it is high enough to use to walk around or read a book or map, but low enough to preserve night vision at any distance greater than a foot or two.
Output
The Preons are a series that focuses more on ergonomics than a blinding beam, yet they make good use of their XP-G R5 LED.
| Lux at 1m | |
|---|---|
| 4Sevens Preon 2xAAA | 838 |
The hotspot is massive, providing a nice flood, while the corona and spill are bright, if not very large. The beam is quite smooth with no hint of a donut hole, although rotating it in place does reveal that there are a few that are smoother.
Verdict
The 4Sevens Preon 2xAAA is a flashlight more suited for indoor or light use, but excels at that purpose. The nearly flawless fit and finish make it a pleasure to behold, and the well designed and well executed interface make it a pleasure to use. For a nightstand light that doesn't need to tailstand, it's going to be tough to beat.