mefistofele86
Newly Enlightened
"Submitted for consideration for the review forum "
Partner A1, A2 and C1 were supplied by Armytek for review:
Here's a new Armytek series of flashlights, the Partner series available in both xp-g and xm-l led. There is also the Partner mini series, caraterized by a twisty tailcap. I received the xp-g Partner series with clicky tailcap. This series includes the Partner A1, the Partner A2 and the Partner C1 which work respectively with one AA battery, with two AA batteries and with one CR123A battery.
I received pre-production samples so the package will be different. However i found all the extras, an holster, a lanyard, spare o-rings and button.
-Led Cree xp-g R5 5500k
-TIR optics
-Hotspot/spill: 20°/70°
-Stabilization type: SEMI
-Made of aircraft-grade aluminium with premium type III hard anodizing 400HV
-Advanced electronic reverse polarity protection
-IPX-8
Partner A1
-lenght: 97mm
-diameter: 24mm
-weight: 57g without battery
-$41.95
Partner A2
-lenght:148mm
-diameter: 24mm
-weight: 85g without batteries
-$42.95
Partner C1
-lenght: 80mm
-diameter: 24mm
-weight: 44g without battery
-$40.95
CONSTRUCTION
Armytek Partner are made of aluminium and there is the same Predator finish, a black, matt and almost rubberized finish. Without tools i can only remove the tailcap so every Partner is composed of two parts. I suspect that head and body are distincts parts glued together.
The head houses a xp-g R5 led and a TIR optics which focuses the beam. A glass lens anti-reflection coating protects the led.
Anti rolling design isn't very effective, you must pose carefully the flashlight or it can roll away.
The body fins increase grip a lot. There are anodized trapezoidal threads so you can lock the flashlights by unscrewing tailcap a little.
Tailcap has an hole for lanyard and includes a reverse clicky switch. It's small and very comfortable to use. Partner A1, A2 and C1 have different lenghts while head and tailcap are apparently identical.
Lettering on head is clear and sharp.
USER INTERFACE
The UI includes only two levels
Low 80 lumens (all models)
High 280 lumens (C1 and A2)- 230 lumens (A1)
All Partner turn on to low level. From on, you can press slightly the button to switch to high level. With another slight pressure you can return to low level.
Simple and comfortable UI. There isn't a true low level which i consider important especially in edc flashlights..
OUTPUT
Brightness
Partner flashlights are truly bright and each has its own peculiarity. The A1 with one AA nimh easily exceeds 200 lumens and keeps them for 15 consecutive minutes. The A2 breaks through the wall of 250 lumens and keeps them for 124 minutes with an excellent regulation. The C1 is small and powerful, equals the A2 brightness in a reduced format.
Tint
All Partner have a great cool white tint without blue or green hints.
Beam
TIR optics make a good job here, spot is large and intense. Spill is very low and not very usefull.
MEASUREMENTS
I estimate runtime and output by ceiling bounce test. I try to be accurate to have the same conditions for every test.
Used batteries: AA gp recyko 2100mah, Surefire CR123A.
Partner A1
Estimated lumens after 3 minutes
212 lumens
Lux at 1m after about 30s
2940cd
This kind of power requires energy. A1 brightnes goes below 50% after 35m and below 10% after 41m so it meets the specs.
Partner A1 becomes very hot after 41minutes but i don't use any cooling system.
The graphs shows how works the SEMI stabilization, typical of several Armytek product. This kind of stabilization extends runtime by slowly reducing brigtness.
Partner A2
Estimated lumens after 3 minutes
254 lumens
Lux at 1m after about 30s
3720cd
Almost flat regulation, the brightness decrease is negligible for 84 minutes. Brightness goes below 10% after 87 minutes.
Partner C1
Estimated lumens after 3 minutes
257 lumens
Lux at 1m after about 30s
3750cd
Initially, the brightness decreases according to the SEMI stabilization but after 36 minutes there is a sudden drop from 235 lumens to 63 lumens(estimated), and therefore brightness iswell above the 10% of the maximum. It seemed strange that the primary had already given everything. In fact, brightness began to grow for more than half an hour to 71 minutes where it touched almost 80 lumens and then it started to decline. After 77 minutes the brightness has dropped below 10%.
BEAMSHOTS
First Set 32 from garage (18mm f/3.5 0,8s ISO 400)
control
Partner A1 gp recyko 2100mah AA
Partner C1 Cr123A
Partner A2 gp recyko 2100mah AA
Note: i taken following beamshots from other reviews of mine in different conditions. Reflex parameters are the same but Partner beamshots result darker. I post them to compare beam pattern, not to compare brightness.
Firts Set 32 from garage (18mm f/3.5 0,6s ISO 400)
I lowered to 0,6s in order to compre to other Armytek beamshots (they are coming)
Control
Partner A1
Partner C1
Partner A2
Second Set 48 from garage (18mm f/3.5 0,6s ISO 400)
Control
Partner A1
Partner C1
Partner A2
CONCLUSION and impressions
PROS
-Finish and design
The build quality and finish are excellent, i can say above average. Very good grip thanks to the fins and the particular anodizing. I like a lot the clean design.
-Beam
I appreciate throw. Xp-g led with TIR optics has a large (20°) intense hotspot. Partner flashlights are comfortable to use outdoor and they allow to see farther than usual (with xm-l edc for example). Hotspot become large already at short distances so the poor spill is not a problem.
-Simple and pleasant
The UI is simple and suitable for all; Switch button isn't too hard or too soft, it's just perfect so you can quickly change level.
CONS
-Low level
There isn't a true low level which i consider very important on edc flashlights. Partner flashlights are not good at home during night because of 80 lumens "low level". 80 lumens are too much for many situations.
-Tailstanding
Partner flashlights aren't able to tailstand because of prominent switch button.
-Clip
There isn't a clip and it seems difficult to mount one. I don't like clips so this is not a true problem for me.
Partner A1, A2 and C1 were supplied by Armytek for review:
Here's a new Armytek series of flashlights, the Partner series available in both xp-g and xm-l led. There is also the Partner mini series, caraterized by a twisty tailcap. I received the xp-g Partner series with clicky tailcap. This series includes the Partner A1, the Partner A2 and the Partner C1 which work respectively with one AA battery, with two AA batteries and with one CR123A battery.
I received pre-production samples so the package will be different. However i found all the extras, an holster, a lanyard, spare o-rings and button.
-Led Cree xp-g R5 5500k
-TIR optics
-Hotspot/spill: 20°/70°
-Stabilization type: SEMI
-Made of aircraft-grade aluminium with premium type III hard anodizing 400HV
-Advanced electronic reverse polarity protection
-IPX-8
Partner A1
-lenght: 97mm
-diameter: 24mm
-weight: 57g without battery
-$41.95
Partner A2
-lenght:148mm
-diameter: 24mm
-weight: 85g without batteries
-$42.95
Partner C1
-lenght: 80mm
-diameter: 24mm
-weight: 44g without battery
-$40.95
CONSTRUCTION
Armytek Partner are made of aluminium and there is the same Predator finish, a black, matt and almost rubberized finish. Without tools i can only remove the tailcap so every Partner is composed of two parts. I suspect that head and body are distincts parts glued together.
The head houses a xp-g R5 led and a TIR optics which focuses the beam. A glass lens anti-reflection coating protects the led.
Anti rolling design isn't very effective, you must pose carefully the flashlight or it can roll away.
The body fins increase grip a lot. There are anodized trapezoidal threads so you can lock the flashlights by unscrewing tailcap a little.
Tailcap has an hole for lanyard and includes a reverse clicky switch. It's small and very comfortable to use. Partner A1, A2 and C1 have different lenghts while head and tailcap are apparently identical.
Lettering on head is clear and sharp.
USER INTERFACE
The UI includes only two levels
Low 80 lumens (all models)
High 280 lumens (C1 and A2)- 230 lumens (A1)
All Partner turn on to low level. From on, you can press slightly the button to switch to high level. With another slight pressure you can return to low level.
Simple and comfortable UI. There isn't a true low level which i consider important especially in edc flashlights..
OUTPUT
Brightness
Partner flashlights are truly bright and each has its own peculiarity. The A1 with one AA nimh easily exceeds 200 lumens and keeps them for 15 consecutive minutes. The A2 breaks through the wall of 250 lumens and keeps them for 124 minutes with an excellent regulation. The C1 is small and powerful, equals the A2 brightness in a reduced format.
Tint
All Partner have a great cool white tint without blue or green hints.
Beam
TIR optics make a good job here, spot is large and intense. Spill is very low and not very usefull.
MEASUREMENTS
I estimate runtime and output by ceiling bounce test. I try to be accurate to have the same conditions for every test.
Used batteries: AA gp recyko 2100mah, Surefire CR123A.
Partner A1
Estimated lumens after 3 minutes
212 lumens
Lux at 1m after about 30s
2940cd
This kind of power requires energy. A1 brightnes goes below 50% after 35m and below 10% after 41m so it meets the specs.
Partner A1 becomes very hot after 41minutes but i don't use any cooling system.
The graphs shows how works the SEMI stabilization, typical of several Armytek product. This kind of stabilization extends runtime by slowly reducing brigtness.
Partner A2
Estimated lumens after 3 minutes
254 lumens
Lux at 1m after about 30s
3720cd
Almost flat regulation, the brightness decrease is negligible for 84 minutes. Brightness goes below 10% after 87 minutes.
Partner C1
Estimated lumens after 3 minutes
257 lumens
Lux at 1m after about 30s
3750cd
Initially, the brightness decreases according to the SEMI stabilization but after 36 minutes there is a sudden drop from 235 lumens to 63 lumens(estimated), and therefore brightness iswell above the 10% of the maximum. It seemed strange that the primary had already given everything. In fact, brightness began to grow for more than half an hour to 71 minutes where it touched almost 80 lumens and then it started to decline. After 77 minutes the brightness has dropped below 10%.
BEAMSHOTS
First Set 32 from garage (18mm f/3.5 0,8s ISO 400)
control
Partner A1 gp recyko 2100mah AA
Partner C1 Cr123A
Partner A2 gp recyko 2100mah AA
Note: i taken following beamshots from other reviews of mine in different conditions. Reflex parameters are the same but Partner beamshots result darker. I post them to compare beam pattern, not to compare brightness.
Firts Set 32 from garage (18mm f/3.5 0,6s ISO 400)
I lowered to 0,6s in order to compre to other Armytek beamshots (they are coming)
Control
Partner A1
Partner C1
Partner A2
Second Set 48 from garage (18mm f/3.5 0,6s ISO 400)
Control
Partner A1
Partner C1
Partner A2
CONCLUSION and impressions
PROS
-Finish and design
The build quality and finish are excellent, i can say above average. Very good grip thanks to the fins and the particular anodizing. I like a lot the clean design.
-Beam
I appreciate throw. Xp-g led with TIR optics has a large (20°) intense hotspot. Partner flashlights are comfortable to use outdoor and they allow to see farther than usual (with xm-l edc for example). Hotspot become large already at short distances so the poor spill is not a problem.
-Simple and pleasant
The UI is simple and suitable for all; Switch button isn't too hard or too soft, it's just perfect so you can quickly change level.
CONS
-Low level
There isn't a true low level which i consider very important on edc flashlights. Partner flashlights are not good at home during night because of 80 lumens "low level". 80 lumens are too much for many situations.
-Tailstanding
Partner flashlights aren't able to tailstand because of prominent switch button.
-Clip
There isn't a clip and it seems difficult to mount one. I don't like clips so this is not a true problem for me.
Last edited:
but why not post it directly on the review-section? :shrug:
