What is the difference in illumination between the led mini maglite that uses two aa batteries and this one that uses two aaa batteries.

Both the AAA and AA LED Maglite flashlights are good in different ways. One is for up-close, the other is for mid-distance illumination. They're both made in USA, which is a big selling point. Unfortunately, there are durability issues with the AA Maglite. The AAA LED Maglite, model SP32106, has been in my service for about 6 months. It makes not just an excellent chest-pocket sidekick, but a very bright & durable inspection light. The beam is good from right up close to about 15 feet away. The correct rating for this torch is 111 lumens. The AA LED Maglite, model SP+P11H, is a light that I have owned for 2 years. It's beam is good for longer range, perhaps 25 feet. Unfortunately, this model has durability issues. I spoke with 2 other SP+P11H owners who both had intermittent LED problems. It lasted about 5 months before I started having problems with it. The LED got loose with light-duty use, and the light was only dim when it worked at all. It should have been putting out 245 lumens but only produced around 40 lumens when it turned on at all. The light was never dropped, immersed in H2O, or any other fluids. My bic lighter was much brighter. The nice thing about Maglites are that they are an American product, with top-notch warranty support. I sent the AA light, 1 week USPS shipping, to Maglite's warranty department, from Michigan to California. Maglite replaced the LED assembly, the lens, and an LED insulator for their flat-rate warranty service charge of $3. The turnaround time, from mailing the light to receiving it back fully repaired, was 5 weeks. My Streamlight Strion HL (a 500 lumen, professional, industrial, $140 torch) had a 7 week turnaround. It is made in China, and should have lasted longer than the 1.5 years that it took to fail. I expect more from an expensive industrial-grade flashlight. It's in a completely different league than Maglite, but Maglite has better warranty support. I sent both the Streamlight and the AA Maglite for repairs at the same time, and the AAA Maglite did both their jobs with durability and grace. At 111 lumens, it was brighter than I thought an AAA light could be. It provides more light than necessary for working on cars, the batteries last at least 4 hours, and it is light-weight enough to hold in your teeth. Sometimes a mechanic needs light and 2 hands. The pocket clip is strong enough to keep it from falling out of my chest pocket, but is still detachable.Between the AA 245 lumen Maglite and the 111 lumen AAA Maglite, I choose the smaller AAA. It is bright, durable, and light-weight. The repaired Streamlight is my main torch, but I suspect that my backup AAA Maglite would stand up to my industrial use if not as well, than better than the Streamlight. The AAA is now my industrial backup while the AA Maglite stays home. If you don't need to shine a light more than 15 feet, buy the AAA Maglite. It's light, durable, has a rock-solid warranty, and is made in USA.

The title says this is a 2 cell aaa but the description says it requires 2 c cells. which is it?

2 AAA batteries. It is about the length of a large pen. Diameter on shaft is 1/2 inch. Worth the money.

Can I use this in candle mode? Can I expand and refine the beam?

you can widen or narrow the beam but no candle mode.

How good is the spot to flood feature?

So you have to think of this as a different beast compared to the Maglite's we grew up with. This one is LED and alot more powerful in the light department. So with that said, the flood is superior to the non LED but the focus of the spot is not the same as the incandescent light bulb. still very bright and well worth it.

Special Feature	Shock proof
Color	Black
Power Source	Battery Powered
Light Source Type	LED
Material	Aluminum
White Brightness	100 Lumens
Included Components	MagLite - 156-000-017
Product Dimensions	5"D x 0.75"W x 0.75"H
Battery Cell Composition	Alkaline
Item Weight	0.02 Kilograms
Number of Batteries	2 AA batteries required. (included)
Water Resistance Level	Water Resistant
Warranty Type	Lifetime
Brand	MagLite
Brightness	100 Lumen
Battery Description	Alkaline
Style	Tactical
Finish Type	Metallic
Mounting Type	Handheld
EU Spare Part Availability Duration	1 Years
Recommended Uses For Product	Everyday use, outdoor activities, professional settings
Global Trade Identification Number	00038739560076
Manufacturer	MagLite
Size	One Size
UPC	617407583434 038739560076 803982947628 634392944842 012304675839 387395600764 100076921305 012301924213 795871542024
Light Output Maximum	100 Lumens
Part Number	MagLite - 156-000-017
Item Weight	0.704 ounces
Item model number	SP32016
Batteries	2 AA batteries required. (included)
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer	No
Finish	Metallic
Shape	Cylindrical
Item Package Quantity	1
Number Of Pieces	1
Special Features	Shock proof
Usage	personal
Batteries Included?	Yes
Batteries Required?	Yes
Description Pile	Alkaline
Warranty Description	Limited lifetime.

Mini AAA 2 Cell LED Flashlight Blister Pack Black

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