Andrew-amanda.com has it for 28 bucks and change with code aa4sept. I ordered one yesterday. Curiosity got the best of me! 
Same here, I figured for $28 why not. Should be here Wed.
Man, you guys got me again! I also ordered one from andrew-amanda. Thanks for discount code! The discount code and free shipping was too much to pass up.
I think it is safe to use LiFePo4 and a dummy instead of 2xAA.
Couldnât pass up trying this at $28 thanks guys
Okay mine came in today and I just tried it out in the backyardâŠgotta say Iâm diggin this light
Sorry I canât do all the fancy testing but I compared it to the throw on my Mini Maglite AA Pro (very similar sized reflector), with the Mag focused for best throw, the MT21A probably beats its but not by much it also puts out more lumens so its brighter. I am quite pleased I didnât think this would throw quite as well as it does, for a 2*AA in this form factor I think the throw is pretty impressive. That said though the flood in very narrow as to be expected with the XP-E2.
Tint is very cool but not blue just a very cool white.
I like the modes as well, with the head fully tightened you get max output which is stated as 260 lumens, I think thatâs relatively accurate because my Minimag Pro is supposed to be like 220 or so and the MT21A was definitely brighter. With the head loosened you get âUser Defined Modeâ, with this you can switch between High/Med/Low/Strobe/SOS, it also has memory so it will remember which ever you last used on user defined mode, which is very nice.
Construction felt good to me, anodized threads at least in the rear I didnât check the front.
Weâll see how battery life is, Iâll leave the specifics of that for people who do the testing, as well as whether or not there is PWM (there might be on low Iâm not sure but if it is its definitely not bad).
I really like this light, at the $28 I spent on it I think its a really good buy. Probably gunna get a second just because of the price
Mine also finally came today. It is a bright light and as throwy in nature as a E21. Bright throwy lights canât show themselves indoors but I tried to make a comparison at 3 meters anyway.
47s Quark AA2 in XP-G S2 (greenish) version
Fenix E21, 150 Lumens version,
Nitecore MT21A, XP-E2, 260 Lumens
MT21A is just in between Quark and E21. Shiny anodization like a Quark and best part is HEADS and TAILS MATCH WITH QUARK.
The emitter is an XP-E2, next to an XP-G and an XP-E.
MT21A at 3 meters:
E21 at the same distance and settings
Quark AA2 S2 at the same distance and settings
Low modes are nice and low enouıgh for me.
Do any of you know how much of an upgrade this MT21A is over the MT2A?
How much further it throws and brighter is it over the e21?
I received mine from andrew-amanda.com yesterday which was my first order from them. Before I say anything about the light, I just have to say that andrew-amandaâs service is first rate! They shipped super fast and kept me informed of my orderâs progress. Doesnât get any better.
Now on to the MT21A. Build quality is excellent and the shiny HAIII anodizing on my example is flawless and looks wonderful. Feels good in hand and is smaller than I expected. Beam quality is good and very white but I do perceive just a very, very slight hint of green in the middle of the hotspot but nothing to complain about. Itâs throw is very good as advertised and like Kokopelli said, the low mode is fine with me.
Tail activation is okay and takes a firm push to activate. Like all lights, I wish this had a side switch instead of the tail switch which is much more intuitive to me and I donât intend on using this light in a tactical application.
My only complaint with this light is being that Iâm an older guy and donât like complexity just for complexityâs sake, Iâm not a fan of todayâs UIâs.
I like simple and even though this lightâs UI isnât anything as complex as some lights nowadays, I wish it was just click on, half press to cycle through, (and starting with), low/med/high and then turbo and remember where you were when clicked off. This âhead tighteningâ for turbo to me is just complexity for complexityâs sake.
I have no use for strobe or SOS modes but itâs okay I guess as there are some folks who like those modes.
All in all, itâs a nice light and worth the money I paid for it, ($28.00 with free shipping), so I canât complain too much!
[quote=Gebe]
I like simple and even though this lightâs UI isnât anything as complex as some lights nowadays, I wish it was just click on, half press to cycle through, (and starting with), low/med/high and then turbo and remember where you were when clicked off. This âhead tighteningâ for turbo to me is just complexity for complexityâs sake. :)/quote]
I actually like the head twist UI for the same reasons that you donât. I find the fact that head tight = always max output gives a simple certainty about what you will get which you miss out with the scroll through mode interfaces of many cheaper lights. For the sake of simplicity I would also prefer head loose to be fixed to low mode so that you get the same certainly with that, but the extra modes could come in handy and max is probably the most used mode for a thrower anyway.
Even at 1000ma the XM-L2 puts out 450 lumens vs the XP-e2âs 240.
For a few $$ more they could upgrade the driver to accept 2xAA through 2x14500, simplify the modes (to suit the different battery types) and go XM-L2. Then you have a stand-out torch rather than just another contender in an already complex and over-crowded market sector !?
The build quality looks superb !!. I especially like the look of the checkering, with additional texture (aka rhombic knurling - apparently) on each pad, as it appears on the HD pics.
I think it would actually be much more difficult and costly to include a buck/boost circuit with such a broad voltage range, 2x 14500s is 8.4v max. The XM-L2 would offer more lumens but in such a small head wouldnât offer much throw at all. The idea for the MT21A was a slightly cheaper and mass-market 2xAA light than their main models, and also to specialise in throw, a corner of the market that is still quite open for 2x AAs. I would say that the choice of XP-E2 is really what makes the MT21A stand out as it is.
Iâm sure weâll continue to see 2xAA XP-G2 and XM-L2 âflagship modelâ lights released in the future with a bit higher output but in conjunction with a higher price point.
Guess it doesn't pay to live outside the USA.
This is the oddest method of finding out shipping I've ever seen. Buy the product, confirm payment and THEN we'll let you know how much it's going to cost you.
Sorry - no thanks
Quoted from their website.
International Customers
Shipping cost varies from country to country, it also depends on the package weight, size and shipping option and carrier chosen. We do not overcharge the shipping cost. Please go ahead to check out and pay for the cost of the products, we will process your order, contact you and bill you for the ACTUAL shipping cost. Thank you.
[quote=RedForest UK]
We can agree to disagree RedForest. I understand what youâre saying but I want to tighten the head and just leave it alone. However, if I do have to loosen the head, I really like your idea of âhead looseâ automatically defaulting to low mode.
Is the beam pattern pretty narrow and very tightly focused, or is there some useable spill for lighting up the 20-50 meter range ? I like the idea of being able to reach out into the distance, but am wondering if as a compromise you lose quite a bit of short range beam spread. Can anyone who owns the light speak to this ?
Thanks for your help.
Thereâs definitely some spill as itâs not as narrowly focused as some long range lights and other non-long range lights have more but Iâm satisfied with the beam. The hotspot is very large which I lalso like.
"Thereâs definitely some spill as itâs not as narrowly focused as some long range lights and other non-long range lights have more but Iâm satisfied with the beam. The hotspot is very large which I lalso like." - Gebe
Thanks Gebe ! I'm looking for a 2xAA to keep by the back door. I don't need to light up the whole neighborhood, but something with a bit of extra punch seems useful. I think the MT21A might work for me. I was concerned that it might have such a tightly focused beam that there wouldn't be any useful short-range spill.
Anyone else with the light have a comment ?
For your use phosphor, I think youâll like it but others can chime in here with their opinions.
As an aside, Iâve been trying to break loose the threaded insert inside the tailcap to get at the rubber boot cover and change it out with a GITD one. Man, Nitecore sure doesnât want you in there!
Iâve soaked it overnight with WD-40, heated it, and nothing will break it. Iâve used circlip pliers and angled needle nose pliers and can get a good grip on the insert but it just wonât break!
It milght be LEFT HAND THREADEDâŠ.Iâve run in to that before. Try Twisting the other way.