I looked at that one and would have been tempted by it if I didn't already have one of the good older ones. Which does tailstand.
Does this one have the very odd quarter or half second delay before it comes on which the first of the Q5 stainless steel ones do.
One of my patients as attempting to teach me how to juggle this morning, first with apples then with stainless steel lights. Once they got turned on in disco modes, he wasn't able to juggle them as the flashing lights kept catching his eye. I can say that the original C3 stainless steel can tolerate being thrown all over my office in failed attempts to juggle with it. Likewise the Trustfire F22 and the R5-A3. No ill effects seen on them from failed juggling.
I think that the switch boot of the original cheaper C3 SS was always prone to manufacturing error. I imagine they're about 50/50 tailstandable, probably always have been. I get the impression that none of the Manafont ones are tailstandable though.
Hmm, I can't notice any PWM flicker. And isn't current regulation a lot more efficient than PWM? Something is drastically different to make this light approximately twice as efficient as other lights that I have. That could be the key.
My C3 from manafont.com arrived today. Finishing is very good, although mine got a litte dent at the front on which the light stands. It’s screwd tight together, no space between gaps. Excellent build quality.
The back switch is a little bit hard to press, compared to a rubber switch (Hugsby-P31). Because the cone protrudes slight off the back, i find it a litte bit hard to trigger it. Runtime on low 12h and running, very good for 1xAA.
I normally like stainless steel (for example from the Maglites) but this is a little different, after a while my hands have a typical steel odor. Is this normal or are there production residues?
Apart from this issue it is a great light and will be a perfect chrismas gift. :party:
I've seen than both this review and "Review: Ultrafire C3 Q5 Stainless Steel ★★★★★", appear to be related to the same flashlight, with a few differences, namely SS clicky, overall length, reflector (smooth vs. OP) and number of modes (3 vs. 5).
However there are some inconsistencies in the review data that made me doubt they are in fact the same or that they have equivalent performance. One of the factors is the runtime on low, over 48h in this review, but only 12.5h in the other one. The maximum brightness for DX C3 SS is also stated to be lower than that of the aluminum C3, but in the following table also made by Don, reviewer of the DX C3 SS (extracted from here), C3 SS has higher brightness than aluminum C3. Is he using the Manafont C3 SS instead for the data in that table?
Lightbox
Lightbox
Lightbox
Est. lumens
Est. lumens
Est. lumens
Light
Battery
Immediate
30 seconds
2 Minutes
sitch-on
30 secs
2 Minutes
Aurora SH-035 Low
14500
36
36
36
6
6
6
Trustfire F25 Low
14500
118
118
118
21
21
21
MX Power ML-310 Low
14500
216
211
208
39
38
37
Aurora SH-035 Med
14500
269
266
265
48
48
48
Ultrafire C3 (P4)
14500
457
438
444
82
79
80
Smallsun ZY-C85 full zoom
14500
581
542
498
104
97
89
Trustfire F25 Medium
14500
585
572
563
105
103
101
Ultrafire C3 (P4) No. 4
14500
865
819
740
155
147
133
Smallsun ZY-C85
14500
867
766
735
156
137
132
Aurora SH-035 High
14500
898
856
817
161
154
147
MX Power ML-310 High
14500
900
798
739
161
143
133
Uniquefire S10
14500
1112
1017
962
199
182
173
Hugsby P31 with P32 Gold driver
14500
1176
1084
1064
211
194
191
Ultrafire C3 (P4) No. 3
14500
1176
1099
977
211
197
175
Trustfire F22
14500
1254
1128
1030
225
202
185
Uniquefire AA-S1
14500
1255
1183
1162
225
212
208
Trustfire F25 High
14500
1347
1174
1090
242
211
196
Ultrafire C3 (P4) No. 2
14500
1347
1118
1089
242
201
195
Ultrafire C3 Grey Q5
14500
1359
1205
1149
244
216
206
Ultrafire C3 SS Q5
14500
1391
1259
1122
250
226
201
Trustfire R5-A3
14500
1630
1482
1416
292
266
254
I'm looking for a good budged flashlight that works well on AA (alk.) / NiMH, and if C3 SS does and the main differences between DX and Manafont ones are the few stated at the beginning I'll surely go for the cheaper one, but I'm still not sure that they have equivalent performance. Maybe the problem arises from the fact that one review is more focused on NiMH and the other one on Li-Ion. If anyone could clarify it a bit I would be very grateful. Thanks in advance.
The "Ultrafire C3"-line has so many varieties, that I have lost track how many models exists. The stainless steel ones have at least 3 different models: 93 and 98mm in length and GITD tailcap and the Manafont metal tailcap. The 98mm version is rubbish (DX), the 93mm version good (LT) and the Manafont version seems even better. The table you posted is for 14500 and not Alka / Nimh.batteries. C3 Stainless lights have a better track record when it comes to build quality, aluminum ones often have contact issues. If you want a Alka/Nimh-only light, there are better ones out there. THIS and THAT might be an interesting read for you. I have given away/sold all my C3s once I found the Hugsby P31/P32-line (look at the links in my sig) and I ordered that new 4-mode Eastward from DX. Ah and welcome to BLF.
The DX C3 is supposedly 93mm (not 98mm) according to the pictures, while there is another older, more expensive 94mm version (still another 94mm old version sold out). There was a 98mm version not available anymore or was that a mistake?
I know the previous table is for 14500 li-Ion, not NiMH. I expect about 50% maximum brightness with NiMH / AA, but at least one of the C3 SS versions seem to be quite good in that aspect. In the first thread you suggested I also found this table that somewhat confirms my expectations:
Lumens
0s
30s
2min
EastwardYJ J09 High
AA NiMH
916
750
706
164
135
127
Ultrafire C3 SS Q5
AA NiMH
718
620
574
129
111
103
Ultrafire C3 Grey Q5
AA NiMH
664
629
596
119
113
107
Hugsby P32 High
AA NiMH
650
597
554
117
107
99
Trustfire R5-A3 High
AA NiMH
650
117
0
0
Aurora SH-035
AA NiMH
644
116
0
0
Trustfire F22
AA NiMH
586
105
0
0
Uniquefire S10
AA NiMH
575
103
0
0
Uniquefire AA-S1
AA NiMH
565
557
531
101
100
95
Akoray K-106
AA NiMH
189
198
198
34
36
36
The key would be to know which one of the C3 SS versions is used in these tables. I guess is the Manafont one, but not sure.
There are other options on AA, but most of the bright ones are single mode, so short runtimes. It's also interesting to keep lithium option open just in case if that doesn't significantly compromise performance on AA. C3 SS makes also a good gift, which is the main purpose I'm considering, it's nice looking and I guess it seems high quality and probably durable.
New Eastward J609 4 mode seems also very interesting, if it looks good in addition of performing well it may be a very interesting option for AA/NiMH only light gift. It would be better with a GITD o-ring at the front; it seems that the one included is not. I guess a 16mm GITD o-ring will fit fine. By the way, I hope the new 4-mode version performs on high as well as the old 3-version does.
The C3 SS with extension you mention looks very good too as a AA option, unfortunately it's single mode.
I will appreciate any clues pointing to the right C3 SS, additional Eastward J609 hands on impressions or any other suggestions regarding good multimode lights (no strobes, SOS,...) that perform well on AA/NiMH. Thanks in advance.
My personal preference on multimode AA lights: clip, no strobes, 3-4 modes, NiMh-only if it brings me better output (on NiMH of cause), aluminum body (SS is a bad material for flashlights - adds weight - less heat conductive), coated AR glass lens, aluminum reflector (OP for XR-E, SMO for XP-G), reverse clicky
So the new Eastward comes very close to that wishlist.
I have the original (ordered the day DX announced it) Q5 C3 stainless - a 93mm long one. Actually there were more than one older C3 SS models - one older one with a P4 which cost more than twice as much as the Q5 one I have. One warning about it - on high with a 14500 I cannot take the heat for more than 4.5 minutes and my hands can take more heat then most people's. It is the only light I own that can make me drop it.
What I'd like is a no strobe version with the build quality of the Aurora SH-034 and an R5 in it. Preferably with a 3-10 lumen low.
Ive got a 98mm C3 SS with a theoretical XRE Q5. The tint is very greenish, and with the GITD oring was even more.. so i put a black one.
Now I am waiting for an XPG R5, and I dont know if put it in the C3 SS or in the 6 usd TR801 that I am waiting too.
Stainless Steel can't transfer the heat as well as aluminium, so it take its time to get hot, but when is hot enough, i have to drop it too (and lumens fall more than a 30%)
An XPG R5 will generate more or less heat than an XRE Q5 (at the same current)?
Less - it is more efficient. If you look at the light outputs at 350mA where the power consumption will be roughly the same, the R5 will run cooler for a given number of lumens than the Q5. Driven at full power (1.5A), it'll run hotter than the Q5.
I can absolutely guarantee that your English is better than my ability to communicate in your language!
OK, thanks Vectrex. That was a good deal of useful info.
I have also taken a look to Trustfire R5-A3, but for what I've seen it has no real low modes, it's more like high and very high, so poor overall runtime. I find useful to have a very bright light on certain occasions, but most of the time a lower output is perfectly fine if that improves runtime.
I agree that aluminum is a better material for high output flashlights, however great heat transfer is probably not that important in case of sticking to NiMH or using high mode for short periods of time, and usually SS looks nicer and it's sturdier. If you don't plan to carry the light around much a bit more weight is not so bad neither in my opinion.
I've considered F25 too. It seems quite good, but according to Don's data its performance on NiMH is quite far away from that on Li-Ion (242Lm vs. 81Lm) and its runtime on low mode (NiMH) is only about 8h, compared to about 48h reported for C3 SS on a not very different brightness level.
Lightbox
Lightbox
Lightbox
Est. lumens
Est. lumens
Est. lumens
Throw
Light
Battery
Immediate
30 seconds
2 Minutes
sitch-on
30 secs
2 Minutes
Lux at 1m
Trustfire F25 High
14500
1347
1174
1090
242
211
196
6870
Trustfire F25 Medium
14500
585
572
563
105
103
101
2930
Trustfire F25 Low
14500
118
118
118
21
21
21
590
Trustfire F25 High
AA NiMH
449
418
404
81
75
72
3530
Trustfire F25 Medium
AA NiMH
192
194
192
34
35
34
1570
Trustfire F25 Low
AA NiMH
47
46
45
8
8
8
335
I'm also interested in possible mods if they are worth it and not too difficult to put into practice. For instance, a good 3-4 mode driver (no strobe) that fits on Trustfire R5-A3, works with AA/NiMH too, and keeps about the same performance on high level would be great, but I don't even know which size it should be exactly. Any help will be much appreciated.
P.S.: By the way, the F25 at LT is the same or very similar to that at DX or significant differences do exist too?
The R5-A3 would not be an easy light to mod - most others would be easier. The Ultrafire U20 from Manafont would be easier and is even brighter on 14500 and the driver performs better with NiMH.
Those F25 results came from one I bought at LT - I don't have a DX one.