Ultrafire C3 Cree XP-G R5 1 Mode (AA/14500)... nice price

Manafont has some interesting lights these days and from the pictures it really appears to be an XP-G R5, making it the cheapest XP-G light with 14.90... too bad it's single mode... care to review? ... someone?

That's a pretty decent price compared to the Trustfire R5-A3. It can also use 14500.

I already changed the topic, got confused by the warning: Do not use 2 x 14500 battery + extension tube

By looking at the threads, it appears to be the old, problematic body with the short threads. I already had a bad C3 (P4) once, so I wait for the DX order with the grey/silver (XR-E Q5) one to arrive.

Wow, nice job on the photography, they actually took a closeup of the LED so we can buy with a bit more confidence. Well done, Manafont!

Yeah I'm impressed with that closeup pic of the LED.

I realized that we didn't have Manafont in our budget dealer ratings section.

http://budgetlightforum.cz.cc/node/719

The closeups of the LED were a suggestion that I gave them when they asked if I had any tips for them to improve in their customer relationship. And here they are doing it. They are really aiming to please. In fact I am working with them on some custom BLF flashlight mods right now.

I'd be on this one like a shot if I hadn't bought quite enough lights this month. The multi-mode C3's in the past (other than the stainless steel ones) earned an evil reputation and are not recommended, hopefully they will come up with a 3-4 mode driver with this LED and no £$%^&%^* flashing modes. That I'd buy in a heartbeat.

Sounds like a good project for a custom BLF mod. You might try contacting Manafont, they are very accommodating. Of course it also depends on Ultrafire's willingness to cooperate with the custom driver, but I bet they could do it. Maybe the 3-mode super-efficient driver from the Manafont Ultrafire C3 SS?

I have very mixed experience with Ultrafire - 3xC3 (P4) all flickered, 504b - great, 501b - bad switch, 3xC3 SS - 2 were (old 93mm) great - one (new 98 mm) bad. I would rather see someone like Tank007, Romisen, Hugsby or Solarforce do some nice custom BLF mods. If the main body of the flashlight isn't reliable.... the brightest LEDs and the best drivers (current regulated, 4-mode with 3 fixed and one infinite ramping mode with adjustable memory ) are worthless.

Very interesting this light. Pity the old desing (threads)

Why DX doesnt bring us the Ultrafire U20 and this new C3 xpg R5?

I would also like to see this. But I think some of these companies are rather distant and monolithic, sort of like DealExtreme. Manafont asked Ultrafire about their availability for custom mods, but they haven't received any useful reply yet from Ultrafire. I would also like to see some custom Tank007 models, they have some really nice products. Maybe they'll be able to work something out with them.

Tank007 would be nice.

Like you say, they already have some very nice lights. Two of the three I have have given no problems at all, the third was a cracked solder joint which was easily fixed once I got in there.

http://www.jayki.com/5538

My dream-light with already available components Hugsby P31/P32 Body / neutral XP-G R4 LED / Shiningbeam 3-mode 900mA low voltage no strobes driver. But that MrLite J4 is also very promising .. I'm just not sure about those TIRs... I need the sidespill.

Shiningbeam gets custom Romisens ... why can't we?.... I think we must recruit some Chinese members as translators.

Mine would be a fully sorted C3 - the new aluminium ones come close enough, with a driver that can ramp from 2mA to 1500mA to the LED - like the Solarforce Skyline 1 but starting on low.

Also a reflector designed for the R5 and enough mass in the head to heatsink an R5 at full power. Make the head out of copper, chroming it if necessary for hardness.

I want a good beam and colour, a little wider than the Romisen RC-G2 whose beam is too narrow, but with throw numbers better than the Hugsby P31/32. This should be perfectly feasible due to the sheer output of an R5.

Oh yes, and I want it to run from a single NiMH - which means an AA NiMH that doesn't sag like crazy at 6A - Eneloops are good for up to 8A.

For under $25!, preferably under $20.

And then we make a BLF meeting in the cloud-castle.

ArcMania would make one for me with HA3 and bells and whistles but it would probably cost 20x as much. It is perfectly feasible, just not at the price I want to pay....

:(

I counted the threads - this has the same threading as the new body though it has the same exterior finish as the old ones (I have 6 of the old ones - on a good day 4 of them will light up without fiddling). The Manafont one has 2 or 3 more turns on the tailcap end. the tailcap end on the old ones was the biggest problem. Which makes me want it more.

Pity only 1 mode, however the price is good for what it offers

Worth a try....