Ultrafire C3 any good?

[marcl]

I have been looking at this for my best friend. I gave him a Lenser P7 but it was stolen from his motorhome and he'd only had the Lenser for a week! Anyway I thought I would buy him another torch, but as money is tight for me, I can't buy him another Lenser.

So I have been looking at this. I know some people have had some problems but are they sorted now? Or am I wasting my time?

http://dx.com/p/ultrafire-c3-cree-1xaa-1x14500-flashlight-with-holster-1993?item=53

Thanks,

Marc.

[pounder]

I have a C3 and the output is really low on aa and is low on 14500's..good runtime though because of the low output..mine also has bad contact and took a lot of fiddling to get it to work reliably..it also has no o-ring at the glass..all in all there are better lights for 10$..

[marcl]

@pounder

I have a C3 and the output is really low on aa and is low on 14500's..good runtime though because of the low output..mine also has bad contact and took a lot of fiddling to get it to work reliably..it also has no o-ring at the glass..all in all there are better lights for 10$..

Any recommendations? It could do with running on AAs

Thanks,

Marc.

[pounder]

@marcl

@pounder

I have a C3 and the output is really low on aa and is low on 14500's..good runtime though because of the low output..mine also has bad contact and took a lot of fiddling to get it to work reliably..it also has no o-ring at the glass..all in all there are better lights for 10$..

Any recommendations? It could do with running on AAs

Thanks,

Marc.

this romisen is only 11.99 and from what I hear is a great light..won't run 14500's though..

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/romisen-mxdl-rc-g2-cree-flashlight-gray-1xaa-3609

this is also a nice light from what I hear..

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/trustfire-r5-a3-cree-xp-e-r5-3-mode-230-lumen-memory-led-flashlight-1-aa-1-14500-39062

[Lensman]

I got my R5 A3 from Manafont http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/trustfire-r5a3-3mode-memory-led-flashlight-1aa-p-5498 Seems to be well built, bright; it's very popular and I'd say you could do a lot worse for the money.

Can't go wrong with a good zoom, I think this one is excellent http://www.dealextreme.com/p/romisen-rc-29-cree-q5-wc-3-mode-180-lumen-convex-lens-led-flashlight-with-strap-1-aa-1-14500-50679

This one I have on order after reading good things http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/sky-ray-sa1-r2-5mode-memory-led-flashlight-1aa-p-5555

[kreisler]

the RC-29 is a zoomie like a lenser and i can really recommend it

[luvbelly]

I have two of the C3 each with the extender tube allowing use of two AAs. I would have to agree with previous posts. These lights have been finicky and require the occasional "love tap" to function. I am thinking my next budget light will be a romisen.

[Buwuve]

A few days ago, I have 4 different C3 (the SS 3 Mode of Manafont, a SS 5 Mode of Dinodirect, a grey alu C3 of Kaidomain, which I bought 1 year ago, but never used it and my first C3 in black alu of an ebayseller) and I will write a review for a german flashlightforum. All have a Cree Q5, which is brighter as a P4.

If you have any questions about them ask.

The 5 mode SS Version takes 1,26A of a 14500 and 1,63A of a AA eneloop. DX has it also, but they were out of stock 2 month ago (my orderdate). It has a o-ring under the lense (GITD and GITD tailcap). I made some measurements and send the SS versions to friends. I have the alu versions, but use them not often (I like bigger flashlights more).

Another nice flashlight is the Trustfire F20:

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/trustfire-f20-cree-q5-wc-5-mode-230-lumen-memory-led-flashlight-1-aa-1-14500-28544?item=2

Or a Sipik SK68 or a clone of it:

Sipik SK68 Clone - 3-mode. First impressions. (Picture heavy)

(Edit: post updated with information about the Ultrafire 3-mode after Update2) I received today the 3-mode Sipik SK68 clone from eletrading on Ebay. The light appears to be on par with my other Sipik clones (UltraFire from Manafont and one from tomtop_w on Ebay) in terms of build quality. So far I've only tested it with Eneloops. It appears to be almost as bright as the UltraFire Sipik clone, approx. 10% less light output based on ceiling bounce. I measured 1.11A on high with a fully charged E…

[Boaz]

Tank 566 My favorite cheap AA light ...It feels like no other .. smooth perfect adonization ,built solid like a tank ..and will run a AA or a 14500 or for 3 $ more you can get a extra body tube and run 2 AA's .

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/tank007-tk-566-3-cree-q2-wc-3-mode-95-lumen-led-flashlight-with-extension-tube-1-aa-2-aa-18626?item=2

Nicely spaced modes and good tints . i just saw a c-3 /non stainless steel the other day and it felt cheap and output was pretty lame

If you buy the c-3 .. buy the stainless steel version

[JohnnyMac]

@Boaz

If you buy the c-3 .. buy the stainless steel version

This!

[trooplewis]

I have two SS C3's, one is broken and the other is weak.

I love AA lights, but am not a big fan of the C3.

[marcl]

Thanks for all the replies. I will look at all of these, some I already have looked at. I think I will forget the C3, he's not a flashaholic so it must work all the time.

Thank you,

Marc.

[sandalian]

I had Ultrafire C3, and the cabling from emitter to driver wasn't very good.

Now I use its body for my Quark Mini 123's head.

[brted]

I just got a stainless C3 this week. It has been through a few variations, but the one I got seems pretty decent. It uses an older Cree XR-E Q5 LED, but the light seems to work just fine and is pretty bright on AA. I might do a full review of it, so I don't want to try a 14500 just yet since some of the lights burn out on li-ion. I don't mind burning it out, but would like to get some beam shots first. I bought the light to modify so I am planning on putting a new driver and LED in anyway eventually. $12.50 isn't bad for a stainless light.