Best C8 , Bang for the Buck

LED Flashlights – General Info 18650 Flashlights
1

I am on the never ending C8 Holy Grail budget search.
Yes, I know about the XinTd and have no doubt that it is a fine example. However I do not hear that is the end-all thrower. I will get one eventually or when/if they go on sale.

So far I have found some amazing things, number one is price does not matter.
Also I have a new respect for a properly driven Q5 when mated with a good reflector and battery.

Here are my results so far with comments and links for each.
Please note my DMM does not have thicker leads yet, so amperage readings are probably a little low, but all lights are tested with same DMM so comparison is legit.

First The XL-M’s

From America dealer;
http://www.ebay.com/itm/320967356437?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&\_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
Good light, not labeled Ultrafire even though shown that way in pictures, Underdriven, 1.3 amps on high, still nice output for $12.95 shipped.

Next are the ones from Citipower via dealer bestsupply888 , very nice finish, clean threads, flawless reflector and glass lens, these are nice lights for the money,2.5 amps average;
http://www.ebay.com/itm/110966653816?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&\_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

Now the Winner of T6’s so far, she is a U2 and I like it! This one is also a deep reflector C8 and pulls 2.8 amps average.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ultrafire-12W-1600-Lumens-CREE-XM-L-U2-LED-Flashlight-Torch-Lamp-Light-camp-C9-/251141220551?pt=US_Flashlights&hash=item3a792ee8c7
Incredible output and nice tone to the tint, more soft than the regular T6.
I need to order another of these for a backup.

Now the Q5’s

First one is a nice light but under driven
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=321013038511

Now the Q5 that has given me a new appreciation of what they can do;
http://www.ebay.com/itm/130740333208?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&\_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
This thing absolutely Rocks!
Yes, it has a small donut around the spot, but Dang that Spot is HOT! Almost as much throw as my Jacob A60.
And at $6.69 shipped, order more than one, but order them one at a time so they don’t get packed together and eat each other up in shipping.
If I was looking for a flashlight to mount on a rifle, this would be it. At 220 meters it is very bright and I am sure it will do more with good results.

So that is my testing so far, YMMV.
Have fun and please list Your experiences with cheap C8’s on this thread.
Later,
Keith

2

I ordered many of these cheap flashlights including C8s and some others for the price range between 10 - 19$ ; and later I understood that I wasted all my money with these cheap flashlights when I got XINTD C8 V3 from here.

3

I hear ya, but the thrill of the hunt is what does it for me.
What, other than the finish of that light, makes it better than the U2 I got for $14?
Mine pulls comparable amperage so it isn’t that. Not having the strobe feature is not a deal breaker either.
I understand it is nice to order the tint you want, that is great, but I do not like to give up output for tint, not that picky, Yet :slight_smile:

And what makes your previous purchases a waste if they still work?
Just because they are not as good does not make them worthless.
Gift them.

I will get the XinTd to have it to compare, but when I can buy 2 lights for the price of that one and still have the other one to gift away I will be happy.

4

WOW, now I just went to the intl-outdoor.com site and they are now listing the U3 as an option.
Now I am even more happy that I didn’t pull the trigger a few weeks ago.

Got to get one now.
Decision over.
Carry on,

Keith

5

I just got my XinTd C8 a couple days ago, and using it tonight for the first time (work). So far I love it. At first I wanted it single mode, but then I tried to use it up close for something and was seeing spots on high. (so 2 modes is ok for me) But I do appreciate the hunt that many of you enjoy. Only thing I would really love is a forward clicky to really make mine perfect, so if one of you run across that… I’d love to hear it.

I went with the Neutral and its warmer than I expected looking at grass and trees in near total darkness. Makes me wanna order another one with the U3 in Cool and de-dome it to warm it up slightly and tighten the beam ever so slightly plus the extra lumens… Might be perfect but would take a direct comparison just to find out.

6

Hmmm, I might just have to pick one up, but wish it was offered in U3 neutral. Funny thing is I got a Thrunite TN11 at full price before I was aware of these forums and the XinTd C8 just might be the better light at 1/3 the price ?

7

uh-oh, I see another XIN TD in my future.

<sigh> still addicted.

8

Sorry to further derail the OP thread (…I may order one of those $6.69 specials for modding, thanks)

The XM-L T6 3C emitter I ordered from Intl-Outdoor has quite a bit more yellow tint than the XM-L T5 3C I got from Illumination Supply (which is quite the neutral tint)
Another comparison, the XP-G2 R5 3D from Intl-Outdoor is a wonderful neutral tint, …well almost ‘white’.

Watch out on the dedoming; if you remove all of the dome, it is a significant shift towards yellow. (unless you take some phosphor off with the dome, then you will get a more dramatic shift to blue….) Lower overall lumens, tighter brighter hotspot.

9

Thanks so much for sharing. Love the focus on very modestly priced lights.

Could you say which of the lights you’ve listed have a spring on the positive end (actually both ends), if any? Do any have a protection circuit to protect against over-discharge?

10

Call me a sucker, but I’m in for the second Q5. I’ll risk $6.99.

But against my better judgment. Nothing against Keith, but the seller’s feedback is +NASTY+. Negative at 538 a month and 515 for neutral. That — my friends — is ONE THOUSAND dissatisfied customers in one month alone. Hoofah. Many many “never received item.” Either a drunken ordering dept. or he plain doesn’t ship some items. Even Chinese mail couldn’t possibly lose that many items.

Good example why I never go below 99.5% feedback with these big sellers. And 99.5 might even be too much.

We shall see!

Thanks for the tip! Sounds like an interesting light.

11

I hear ya on the feedback. But that figure is against 28,825 total feedbacks in one month. Negative rate of approx. 1.8 %.
One thing that humors me about negatives (This goes for most sellers, not just this one), look at the price paid on most negative comments and they are Really, Really cheap items. Sorry but if you buy a Shirt/Blouse for $4 on an auction site, don’t act all surprised that it isn’t top shelf quality, or it runs small. Clothing should be bought locally

But I digress.
I have gotten 4 items from ouyou2010 so far and they always come through eventually.
This particular Q5 C8 light came before another light I ordered that is still in transit. Shipping time was only 17 days on this order.
I think a lot of the Chinese dealers got caught in the big crackdown of shipping lithium batteries and the shipment of flashlights themselves were also affected.
I am seeing more negative feedbacks given to a variety of dealers as of late, not just this one dealer.
Some times they have tracking sometimes not.

Anyway, Paypal’s got your back so no risk other than time really.
Best $6.69 you will spend if your’s works as well as mine. I am going to order another to compare.

12

I would buy from this seller, at ebay, after 300k transactions it is very normal to dip a bit under 99% regardless of the quality of your service.

Muto, can you confirm if the reflector is aluminium or plastic?

If this C8 is anything like mine (which was recommended by lumatic who bought 15), it would be a very good bang for the buck. My stock driver drives EZ900 XR-E Q5 at 2.2+Amp, very nice.

13

Reflector appears to be plastic but looks good.

14

Quote Muto:

“Now the Q5 that has given me a new appreciation of what they can do;
http://www.ebay.com/itm/130740333208?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&\_trksid=p3…
This thing absolutely Rocks!”

The auction lists working voltage 3.6-9volts…

Have you tried it with lithium primarys?

15

No, didn’t even notice that in the listing, Have to believe it is a mistake.

16

You mean you’re not willing to take one for the team? lol :slight_smile: just kidding,but it would be nice if also worked on primaries.

17

I meant I just think, Best C8 , Bang for the Buck is xintd. Instead of buying 2 cheap C8 I would buy Xintd, :slight_smile: some of these cheap lights still work well but some started to flicker. By the way, I still buy these cheap flaslights just for the fun.

Note: u3 option adds ~60 more lumens to xintd :slight_smile:

18

I too have a couple of cheap ebay C8’s and just now ordered up my first XINTD C8 V3. The U3 option is what sold me, although I have been meaning to pick one up for a while. :slight_smile:

19

Thanks for posting this info! It’s very helpful. I’ve ordered the 12w CREE light. Thanks for reviewing it.

20

Hi all, what about this one:

http://www.tmart.com/CREE-LED-XML-T6-1200LM-5-Modes-LED-Flashlight-Electric-Torch_p129252.html

Has anyone order this one before? It’s got UltraFire labeled on it and it’s got a ~6 bucks discount for total of 17.88.
Or should I just order the XinTD like everyone is suggesting and be safe with it?