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The MiniMag is a Product of Mag
Instrument Inc. The Minimag AAA is the penlight
version of their original AA version. The Minimag models
are general all-around use lights and are very popular
due to their design and versatility.
Body: The body of the Minimag is anodized aluminum
and is grooved for grip around the body and bezel. The
finish is available in black, but some special versions
may be found. The tailcap is flat, allowing the light
to stand on its end, and has a hole for lanyard attachment.
Bezel/Reflector/Bulb: The bulb is a krypton bi-pin.
A spare bulb is found under the spring in the removable
tailcap. The reflector is smooth silvered plastic. The
bezel is focusable allowing the beam to go from a wide
flood to a narrow spot.
Output description: Output is OK. The beam produced
has rings, holes, and blotches, especially when focused
to "wide beam" which produces a distinct circle
of light. Generally good for close tasks. It won't light
up the side of a barn at 100 yards, but it'll help you
find a dropped screwdriver in the garage.
Beam at one meter at target center, narrow and wide
focus..
Runtime Plot: The runtime plot shows one of the Minimag's
major failings. Sure it can produce light for almost
3 hours, but the majority of that time the bulb is producing
less than 50% of it's starting output. The initial "wow,
that's pretty bright" impression disappears quickly
leaving the user with a sickly orange beam for most
of the life of the batteries.
Runtime
completed with Duracell batteries. More information
on runtime plots is available HERE.
Switch: The head also serves as the switch. Rotating
the head turns the light on and off, and changes the
focus of the beam. This means that every time you turn
on the light you need to adjust the focus. The head
can be completely removed and if placed face down, the
tail of the light can be placed in the head opening,
creating a stable base for the light. This is commonly
called "candle mode".
Seals: The light is sealed with O-ring at all access
points to the case. Water resistance is good. Use it
in the rain with no worries. Don't take it diving. Shake
it off if it is dropped in a puddle. I would call it
"very water resistant".
Ergonomics: Nothing to report here - same as a Minimag
AA, but smaller.
Size compared to a common 2AA aluminum light
Batteries: The Minimag uses 2-AAA alkaline batteries.
Unscrew the tailcap to change the batteries.
What I Liked: Water resistant,
Somewhat impact resistant, OK Brightness, Easy battery
change, Lightweight, Stands up
What I Didn't Like: Poor beam quality
but usable
Other Things I Noticed:
Conclusions: A good light, but
not spectacular by any means. The body of the Mag is
pretty tough and can take a fair beating, but the beam
and rapidly diminishing output puts the Mag behind many
lights out there. As long as people keep buying them
as-is, there is no motivation for the manufacturer to
change them at all, so the only improvements you'll
find will likely be from third parties.
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