Review: Ultrafire C3 Stainless Steel XR-E Q5 1xAA 3-mode

And you were eventually correct! One of my co-workers, who uses a UniqueFire L2 XPG-R5 18650 torch daily, seen it and was impressed

He loves the L2 but sometimes needs a smaller torch, so he's told me to get a bulk order of these C3's as well as some more L2's and AA-S1's.

To make purchasing this light even more confusing, the Manafont page for it shows a 98mm body, and the DX page for the light shows a 93mm body.

I took a chance and ordered the DX (5 mode, OP reflector) will report back when it comes if it is really the 93mm body or the 98mm.

At 13 bucks, its pretty cheap, order 3 or more, $11.50 each.

If it is 93mm long it is (probably) a good 'un.

If it is 98mm long and has a metal switch cover it is (probably) good.

If it is 95 or 98mm long with a rubber switch cover is is (probably) not so good.

Unless anyone knows different.

I wonder just how long it would take to melt solder on one of these with an XP-G or XM-L driven equally hard.

Or set fire to your hands.

I'll let you know in 6 weeks when I have totally forgotten about the C3 and suddenly it shows up in the mail...

I've just received this from DX

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/ultrafire-c3-stainless-steel-cree-q5-wc-5-mode-190-lumen-memory-led-flashlight-1-aa-1-14500-26122

Works great on AA and 14500, it's a real Q5, it's 98mm, it has rubber GITD switch and can perfectly tailstand.

Yes, that is the same one I orderd today. If you like at the photos with the calipers in that ad, they clearly show it as a 93mm body, yet you received the 98 mm body. Hopefully everything else works well.

I have the 98mm one with a rubber switch boot from DX, and it's actually quite nice. No complaints whatsover except for the fact that it doesn't tailstand.

Tailstands huh? Lucky! Mine doesn't.

How do you know?

Which version?

If it died after 1-2 weeks you can probably get it replaced from Manafont?

My C3 SS is the one from lightake. It is the 93mm body. Tailstands very well. Didn't work when I first put a battery in. Discovered that the pill was not screwed in all the way. Tightened that and it worked fine. Definitely the Q5 version. Body is very well made. The pill has an awful lot of solder all over the place though. Doesn't seem much brighter than my ITP c7 on Nimh. It actually arrived within two week of ordering too.

I compared it to a sure Q5. Equal aspect and equal output (with same input obviously).

I finalliy got the C3 SS today from DealExtreme. It works fine, but it is indeed the 98mm long version, not the 93mm length that is shown in the photos on their website. Seems to work well with either AA or 14500 batteries, but the modes are strange.

When you first turn it on, it defaults to Medium, one click takes you to Lo, then High, then Strobe and then SOS.

Sort of makes sense to default to medium, I kind of like that.

Fit and finish and the seams were good. Not highly polished, sort of a satin finish to it, and it does tailstand.

I'd say well worth the $13 I paid for it.

Is quite strange. I have the DX version too. It has 5 mode: H-L-M-STROBE-SOS and it has memory. So when you turn it on, it starts from the last mode you used.

Today I got another SS C3, this one from Tmart, and it is the one-mode light.

It is 93.7mm long, go figure. Doesn't seem as well-made as the MF one, There is a small gap (line) where the headpiece should be totally flush with the body, Other than that and very dry threads, for $10 it's a steal.

Anyone used this light for more than a month? I love the Fullstainless steel body which includes a steel switch. Like to get one but wanted to know if its better than the ordinary stainless steel C3s in terms of quality, output and durability overtime. Have several budget lights that have faulty switch due to accidental drop. Thanks

Neither of mine have steel switches, they both have rubber tail clickys.

And they are brighter with a 14500 battery compared to the AA alkalines.

Your 3 mode C3 from Manafont has a rubber switch?

I have a 5-mode and a 1-mode, neither came from MF

I have the LT C3 prize over half a year and it gets used almost daily. No issues so far. 0 maintenance except switching batteries and lens cleaning.