Preface
As shared in our prior Foursevens Mini MKIII series review, Prometheus Lights had acquired Foursevens back in Q1 2018.
The Preon P2 MKIII is the third iteration of the original Preon series. A post-2018 version of the Preon P1 that has been daily used by a TLR member is showcased alongside this latest Preon P2 MKIII in HAIII Java color (Year 2024).
Let’s check out the merits and demerits of this new generation Preon P2 MKIII model.
Packaging & First Impressions
This is what the lights will come with as shown below.
- The threads and o-rings were lightly lubricated. Threads were rather smooth and clean (no gritty feeling at all).
- Clips are not reversible.
- The clip has fairly good tension to ensure that the light will stay clipped to any material to prevent the light from falling out.
- Anodizing of the lights are uniform without any missing specs.
- No lanyard and/or holster is provided.
- Bump Protection which prevents the light from skipping to the next Mode is a rather useful feature for most lights that can tail stand but not so critical here.
- The provided non-proprietary GP ReCyko Pro AAA Ni-MH batteries will work in other flashlights.
- The battery compartment hold their AAA batteries with sufficient room for a slightly thicker battery width. There is some slight battery rattle (common for flashlights that are powered by more than 1 battery).
Notes:
- Before using the flashlights for the first time, remove the Insulation Film from the battery tube.
- Only Button Top Batteries can be used, Flat Top batteries will not work in this flashlight.
Front:
Specifications:
Sides:
Top:
Bottom:
Box Contents:
Removing Insulating Film:
Quick Overview (Manufacturer Specifications)
- Body Material: Java HAIII Aluminum (Black HAIII Aluminum and Titanium are some of the other options)
- LED: Nichia 519A
- LED Specification: 90+CRI 4000K
- Battery Format: 2 x AAA (1.2V NiMH rechargeable/1.5V lithium primary batteries/1.5V alkaline [not recommended]) ONLY
- Voltage Ranges: 0.9V to 3.0V
- Output & Runtime (with included 2 x GP ReCyko Pro AAA Ni-MH batteries):
- Low (1.5 lumens / 3days 18h)
- Mid (50 lumens / 5h)
- High (200 lumens / 1h 6min)
- Turbo/Burst (350 lumens / 1h 6min) → 30secs burst before ramp down to HIGH
- Strobe (210 lumens)
- SOS
- Beacon (2 blinks every 5 secs)
- Max Beam Distance: 80m
- Waterproofness: IP68 Standard (1m)
- Impact Resistance: 1m
- Dimensions: 129.54mm (length) x 14.47mm (head diameter)
- Weight (including batteries): 45.3g
- Bump Protection
- Accessories Included:
- 2*GP ReCyko Pro AA Ni-MH batteries
- 1*Pocket Clip
- 2*O-rings
- Optional Accessory
- USB Charger + 2 free NiMH AAA ($15)
- MSRP: ~$80
UI (User Interface)
UI for this light is suitable for Every Day Carry (EDC) as it is rather straightforward to use after the initial learning curve.
Switching ON and OFF is done with the mechanical forward clicky switch on the tail of the light, so momentary activation is possible.
Normal Operation
From OFF:
- 1/2 Press – Direct access to MOMENTARY Last Brightness Level (all modes except TURBO/BURST are memorized only).
- 1 Click – Direct access to Last Brightness Level (all modes except TURBO/BURST are memorized only).
- 2 * 1/2 Press – Direct access to MOMENTARY TURBO/BURST; depress switch entirely (1 Click) to get TURBO/BURST.
- Repeated 1/2 Press – Mode change (light cycles through LOW, MID & HIGH → LOW, MID & HIGH), mode changes are dependent on the current Configuration’s mode(s) availability. TURBO/BURST mode is not part of the mode changes.
From ON:
- 1 Click – Light will switch OFF.
- 2 Clicks (~0.5 sec between the 2 Clicks) – Light will switch to the next MODE.
Notes:
- These flashlights have a “hybrid” mode memory. After the Last Brightness Level is activated, the next mode change will cause the lights to revert back to Mode 1 of the current Configuration.
- To activate Strobe, SOS or Beacon modes, the Configuration must be changed to Configuration 6.
Configurations Options
There are a total of 6 Configurations options available and Configuration 3 is the default Configuration that all flashlights will come with, from factory.
The following are the 6 available Configurations to choose from.
- High – (Turbo/Burst)
- Max (100%) – Strobe
- Mid – High – (Turbo/Burst)
- Low – Mid – High – (Burst)
- High – Mid – Low – (Burst)
- Low – Mid – High – Strobe – SOS – Beacon – (Burst)
Note: There is no Turbo/Burst mode for Configuration 2, as the default mode is already at 100%.
Configurations Programming Mode
To change the Configurations, carry out the following from OFF:
- Cycle (OFF – ON) 10 times using 1/2 Presses within ~3 seconds, the light must be in the ON position for the last cycle.
- The light will start to blink repeatedly in sets to show the current Configuration it is in (e.g. 3 blinks in sets will indicate that it is in Configuration 3).
- 1/2 Press again, to engage the next Configuration option (e.g. if previous is Configuration 3, the light will have 4 blinks in set to show it is in Configuration 4 option).
- Repeat Step 3 till the desired Configuration option is selected.
- Switch OFF (~5 secs) the light, to select the current Configuration option.
Form Factor
For flashlights that are intended to use on a daily basis (EDC) and for possibly a long period of time, form factor is extremely important.
This light resembles very closely as a slim penlight. It feels well balanced in a medium sized hand (not head/tail-heavy). Switching between overhand and underhand holding method is easy with its form factor. The grooves, “flats” and attached pocket clip on the light enable it to be “grippy”, even with wet hands/gloves. There is a smooth section on the body (till where the pocket clip ends) to enable easy ingress/egress of the flashlight on the clipped material.
For those who are wondering, yes, the Preon P1 (1 * AAA battery) and P2 (2 * AAA batteries) head and body are interchangeable.
This flashlight will not be able to be tailstand with the protruding switch.
Foursevens Preon P1 and Preon P2
Beam Style/Beamshots
The spill, corona and hotspot is somewhat predictable due to the relatively shallow Orange Peel Reflector. With the LED used, the beam is mostly “floody” but sufficient for recognizing items in the up-close and near distance.
The above beam profile is a rough interpretation of what is seen when white wall hunting, with a fairly soft hotspot with some slight corona and a fairly wide usable (somewhat circular) spill. It also helps that the LED is perfectly centered in this sample. There is a slight ring in the beam when white wall hunting but not visible in real world usage.
All of the beamshots taken below are done so with the following camera settings – LOW: 3.2sec, F3.5, ISO100, 5000K WB, MID: 1sec, F3.5, ISO100, 5000K WB, HIGH: 0.5sec, F3.5, ISO100, 5000K WB and TURBO/BURST: 1/3sec, F3.5, ISO100, 5000K WB.
Some pictures have been adjusted slightly to depict as close as to what is seen in real life. The distance of the light from the door is 4.6m.
Control shot:
LOW (1.5 lumens):
MID (50 lumens):
HIGH (200 lumens):
TURBO/BURST (350 lumens):
Mode (Output) Spacing
Mode spacing appears to be progressively brighter to the eye and the modes are well spaced enough to be able to know which mode one is currently in. With that in mind, TLR tend to view mode spacing as battery life indicators (amount of runtime left) rather than the specific output (lumens).
There is no true moonlight level (sub-lumen or 1 lumen) option available. However, it is still fairly acceptable for night-adjusted eyes and midnight snack runs (might need to squint slightly at first).
It will be nice if Foursevens (Prometheus Lights) selected the MID output to be in the 30 to 40 lumens ballpark to have a slightly longer runtime and the difference in output is not as visibly different.
Tint & CRI
Foursevens (Prometheus Lights) used the Nichia 519A LED that has a tint (color temperature) of 4000K and 90+ CRI (Color Rendering Index), enabling colors pop rather vividly.
There is a slight tint shift in the beam profile. The hotspot has a slightly yellowish tint with the corona and the spill possessing a slight purplish tint.
This is not noticeable in real life usage.
Waterproofness
The lights were subjected to warm water submersion, followed by cold water submersion and left under room temperature running water tap whilst running on TURBO/BURST.
No signs of water intrusion in the head, body or tail was seen.
Lockout Capability
There is no electronic lockout but there is mechanical lockout available when needed. Quarter turn the head anti-clockwise to activate mechanical LOCKOUT.
Scale Comparison (Ruler)
Summary
To sum up, we believe that the most important part of any review is if given the chance to purchase the same lights for our own EDC usage or to gift to our loved ones out from one’s pocket (wallet), would we still do it?
For these lights, it is a YES, if the lack of a tailstand option is not an issue for your usage.
The high CRI LED, straightforward configurable (6 options with “hybrid” memory) UI with quick Access to TURBO/BURST, included rechargeable batteries, modularity between P1 and P2 model and pocket clip are all plus points for this flashlight. The showcase of the Preon P1 that has been seen through quite a fair amount of abuse, just shows how well made these Preons were made.
Here are bonus size comparison with some of the other flashlights.
From Left to Right: Armytek Prime C1 Pro, Foursevens Preon P1, Olight I5T EOS, Malkoff MDC 1AA, Foursevens Quark QK16L and Foursevens Preon P2 MKIII.
As with all gears, two is one and one is none.
Stay safe,
The Lite Review
Disclaimer: Light was provided for by Foursevens – Prometheus Lights (manufacturer) for this review. No other compensation was provided.
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Foursevens Quark MKIII
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