Im thinking , maybe a C3 for the collection , but there are so many to chose from , and apparently there are the good ones [ 93mm ] and the not so good ones ....
SO who has there finger on the pulse ? If I want one , which one do I want ? , and whats wrong with the other ones ...
This one: http://budgetlightforum.cz.cc/node/699
It just feels high quality, has great runtime, and has a nice beam. But then again, I also have the 98mm "new" version from DX that everyone hates, and I actually find it to be a high quality light as well.
Single mode aluminium ones. Avoid the multimode aluminium ones they have given a lot of grief.
The R5 one from Manafont is essentially a different beast from the earlier P4 ones - it is rather better made and looks less likely to have the contact issues that have plagued earlier versions. It has no interchangeable parts with the other aluminium ones.
The Q5 version from DX which comes with an extension allowing for 2AAs is the same design as the earlier C3s but is rather better made.
Stainless steel ones:
These are essentially completely different lights from the aluminium ones and have no interchangeability of parts.
The one I got from DX which was when the Q5 one was introduced is a very good light though it gets very hot on a 14500. It is 93mm long. I can hold it for just over 4 minutes on high before it becomes painful to hold. Lightake have been supplying the 93mm good one recently. DX now supply the 98mm not as good one.
The <a href="http://budgetlightforum.cz.cc/node/257?page=1">Aurora SH-035</a> which is a clone is not nearly as good a light and is 98mm long. My one goes blue with a 14500 but runs for an appreciable portion of forever on a NiMH on low. On the whole, I'd not recommend it.
The Manafont one with the metal switch cover is another variant which seems to be pretty good but will likely also get very, very hot on a 14500. I don't have one of these but with no disco modes it is quite appealing though it costs 30% more than the LT rubber switch cover model which is the usual Chinese 5 mode.
There are earlier models with P4s in them which are expensive (Twice the price of the Q5 model) and not very good - Jayki reviewed one of these.
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.10727 this one - Or
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.7938 maybe this one ?
These are the two Im looking at ...
The record of the multimode C3s has not been great - this may be a better circuit design as it is 5 mode, the original multimode ones were 6 mode. I'd go for the first one, the Q5. DX do sell the extension tubes separately should you feel the need.
Manafont has a nice all stainless steel C3, I don't have it personally but I've heard much good stuff about it from multiple sources. Maybe there is a review of somewhere?
Basically, go with the SS ones. All others are a crapshoot, and these are better anyway.
There's the $13 LT with the LONG mode memory. Get that if you don't mind that issue or you can fix it via bluebeam's solution of bleeder resistor that supplies Vcc.
and the $20 Manafont one which has working mode memory. Appears to me to be otherwise the same thing with metal button.
Hello I am A Danish Newbie 
in the LED flashlight world ,
and as the first buy , was some Ultrafire C3 from DX and lightake 2 pcs. in black and one in SS
the one in SS
The one in SS worked perfect , but the 2 Black ones had problems with partial bad contact between the tube and the led housing ,but after some measuring I found that the front was too long for the pill could make contact with the tube
therefor I made 2 rings of installation wire 1,5mm2 single core , that made the tube to contact with the pill , and since there was No problems at all
You just gave me an idea for my C8.
Most Alu C3 with contact issues miss a O-ring at the front lens, I put a GITD in and eveything works fine.
The stainless one from DX is nice for modding as it got a nice heavy brass pill that takes a 17mm driver.
Modded mine with a XM-L and a solarforce 0.8-4.2V driver pushing 2,2A on high from a 14500 :-)
Nice little handwarmer for the winter.
I made my ultimate C3 it's a stainless C3 XPG R5 3 mode low, medium, high with no flashies it pulls 1.09 amps on a 14500 Flame and 1.95 amps on a Duraloop on high.
I bought this Trustfire SA-2 from DX.
I did the strobe delete mod on the SA-2 pill.
I purchased a stainless C3, this one from DX is fine.
I removed the pill from the stainless C-3, cleaned up the threads and installed the SA-2 strobe deleted XPG pill and it fits perfectly. I then tied a green tritium tube on it with fishing line and I have my version of the ultimate C-3.
Interestingly enough the bad connection the stock C3 had suffered from went away with the installation of the SA-2 pill.
Next install the old C-3 Q5 pill in the SA-2, it also fits perfectly and sell it.