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

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.

Nope, it's instant on.

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.

Will that juggling become an official test in your reviews?... if so, I want videos... and inform us when you manage to juggle 3x6D Mags.

Is there a PWM frequency visible? Or do you suspect current regulation on the UF C3 SS?

Doubt it - I've comprehensively proved that I can't juggle :( and this guy will get out of hospital one day. I can't juggle 1 6D Mag...

You need to try those mad guys who juggle running chainsaws for that :)

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.

Would make sense and would also explain the price point.

Even the front O-ring isn't GITD? On the pictures on Manafont it is.

Ooops, I stand corrected Vectrex. How did I not notice that?

Ah, I think I know... it just kept running and running so that I hardly ever looked at it when it was recently shut off.

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. :frowning: 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.

P.S.: I almost forgot.. there is a 4th version with extension on DX.

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.

I can't guarantee that you receive the same lights, but to the best of my knowledge:

Don has the (old) 93 mm version.

DX has the 98 mm version. They used to have the 93mm but changed the product and not the pictures.

LT has the 93 mm. Confirmed by some members here in the forum and by Daniel of LT.

Manafont seems to be the only store with the 3 mode ( no strobes) which is tested here.

O-rings are normally 18mm ... at least on the aluminum C3s I had.

I don't like GITD parts on my lights ... I personally think they make a light look cheapish ... but that is a matter of taste.

If I wanted to have the option of 14500 in the future I would probably buy the Trustfire R5-A3. Very high outputs on AA and 14500s.

HERE is another thread that might fit your bill.

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.

For fans of SS the F25 might also be interesting.

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)?

(you should get used to my horrible english)

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.

I want one of these with an R5 in it. Heat issues won't bother me as I'd only be using it on full power with a 14500 for seconds at a time.

Come on Ultrafire, make one for me!

Given how bright it is on a Q5, I really want one with an R5. And am prepared to pay premium prices for it.

If it does better than the Q5 version with an NiMH that would be nice, but what I really want is a crazy bright nice light.

And if Ultrafire is reading this, please recess the tailswitch a bit more so that it can tailstand.