Review: Mac Light Micro 1x14500 Mini Mag (PICS AND BEAMSHOTS)

Mac Light Micro Mag Torch!

https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/2724

And it is a torch! I know exactly how bright it should be, but it still surprises me every time I see this much light coming out of such a small package.

Easy to hold and easy to carry.

I had Johnny ship it with the TIR lens. With the XML T6 you get great spill through the TIR clear tight lens for everyday use. Definitely not a thrower (A thrower is obviously not what I wanted out of this light of course.).

Sorry for the horrible photography. My camera is not good at macro shots by any means, and I'm no good at taking them.... Good clean threads... Smooth turning and all that good stuff.


Good tight soldering on the emitter and driver. Well centered emitter. All looks good to me.


Solarforce L2T with E1320 custom P60 XM-L T6 driven at 2.8A

Mac Light Micro Mini Mag XM-L T6 neutral white driven at 2.0A Beamshot


The beamshots aren't quite as informative as I would have liked. I think the weird auto exposure on my camera pretty well eliminated most of the noticeable differences between the two. The L2T is noticeably brighter with the cooler color and tighter hot spot. The L2T has much more spill with a tight hot spot. The TIR lens in the Mac Light concentrates most all of the light into a slightly larger hot spot with less spill. Overall the mac light's less spill makes it pretty comparable to the useful light in the p60 shown.

Here's a closer shot that shows the square-ish spill of the TIR lens. Pretty cool.


Price: 3.5/5 I'd say the price of $68 shipped including a flame 14500 and a custom case with reflector and TIR included would be pretty high if this were a production light, but that is not what I got or what I was looking for. This is a time consuming, custom hand-made flashlight that not many people have. I'm quite certain I won't run across any locally. I'm also certain I will surprise the heck out of anyone with how bright this little light is. I've already done so quite a few times....

Quality: 4.5/5 Overall the light is very well built and machined. The threads are all smooth and well lubricated. The light functions well. Mode switching is easy and solid. I noticed some flickering on high, and I have to twist the head in pretty tight to get what seems like the maximum brightness out of it. This isn't a problem or a malfunction. I feel it's just the nature of the design. It's a very small thing, but I dig the Glowing O-Rings!!

Battery Life: Well... It's a 14500 running an XML T6 at 2A... Come on... I don't have any firm numbers, but my math says it should get around 30 mins on high. I know that it is at least still crazy bright after about 20 mins of usage here and there throughout the day.

I'm a big fan of this light, and I would recommend it to anyone. You get what you pay for, and you get a good custom quality light for a not too crazy price. I'm happy with my purchase.

Let me know if there are any other shots or information you'd like to know.

GO GIVE JOHNNYMAC SOME BUSINESS!!


Also wanted to mention that I got the MAC Light in the neutral emitter. A little less intense, which I think in this case is good. Love it.

Very nice, rocks! I dig the gunmetal color and this is such a nice size for a Mag.

Johnny - you have found your calling. Someday, my friend... I will get one of these.

I'm a fan. It's getting plenty of pocket time!

FYI I was corrected on some of the technical information on the driver in this light by Johnny. Information updated.

this light is worth a video review (youtube) imho!

Might have to do that! Anything specific you would like to see?

Ok, makes sense now as I expected it to be running at 2A. Nice review nonetheless.

-Garry

P.S. Did Johnny put you up to this? You raving about the light to drum up sales???? Just kidding!

Hey, hey, hey!! Watch it, brother! :P Just another extremely satisfied customer. Haven't had one yet that didn't rave about the lights! I'm just thrilled that Devin took the time to post a review and some pics. Especially thrilled that he likes it so much! :)

Johnny

the light in action! :D ( if you have 2 reference lights, e.g. the Sipik clone (zoom out), Xeno E03 (floody) or Quark (EDC) or similar, then we could get a grasp of the beam difference )

white wall, and non-white wall (whatever you would like to flash it against, e.g. outdoors).

it's time to show off and demo Johnny's work :)

Ooh. Available as a drop-in?

I've got several mini-mini-m@gs already, using BadBoy and MadMax (Shoppe) dropins from the old days.

Nice looking light!

Always love the shortys!

Old-Lumens and Biggie Smalls, brothers from another mother....

Unfortunately milling is required on the heads to accomodate the p60 pill.

I'll probably give it a shot tonight if I can get my work done!

His initial design was actually based on a 3.5A driver. I knew before hand what I was getting. I just absent mindedly copied information from his original thread. DOH

If Johnny was trying to put me up to it I'd think I would have at least gotten a discount or something! ;)