Romisen RC-C3 review.

[kramer5150]

I just got one of these last week...
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6103

Heres my video review:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tortA0rocjE

And some detailed comments about single handed operation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1dkgjkDqAc

WONDERFUL little torch. I love the simplicity of a twist-cap switch. No clickies to foul you up, fail, and leave you in the dark. I have a surefire 6P that is my main light on the job, but the robust switch design of the RC-C3 follows similar suit to the 6P, and is now my best EDC light... by a significant margin.

I find that it works admirably with either RCR123 cell or Primary. On the RCR123 it emits about 90 Lumens, over a 40 minute span. With a Primary it only spits out about 65 Lumens for about 80-90 minutes. So, depending on which cell you choose, you can custom taylor its output. 90 Lumens is nice, but I find that much light can blind the user when used in complete darkness.

Very nice beam quality with a smooth transition from spot to flood. Much better than my other Cree-based lights in this regard. Very good flood quantity too. Color tint is pretty nice too, pretty white overall, and turns yellow as cells deplete.

This light has replaced my Eveready 1AA (Target) and Ray-O-Vac Sportsman Extreme as my main EDC. The fact that it only costs $13 makes it a real winner.

Pros:

-Cheap (very).
-Reliable simplicity if a twist cap, no clicky switch to fail.
-Very good DC-DC regulation.
-Good color tint.
-Durable, I dropped it a couple times on the concrete already and it scratched, but it still works fine.
-Smooth threads and firm O-ring engagements throughout.
-Aluminum reflector + glass lens
-Small & easily pocket-able.
-Splash/rain-proof
-Removable clip
-Tail stands
-Very good beam quality, from spot to flood, perfect for an EDC.
-Runs great with Primaries (65L) even greater on RCR123 (90L).
-You can adjust the head all the way out for lock-out mode, or just slightly rotate it off for momentary forward activation.
-Boxed nice with bubble wrap from Romisen, would make a GREAT gift.

Cons:
-Gets warm fast on RCR123 cell, although temps are much cooler with primary cell.
-Low mode would have been really nice.
-Definitely NOT submersible. I tail-standed mine in about 2 inches of water and after 15 minutes water managed to work its way into the tailcap.
-Anodize coating seems a little fragile.

 

[gallagho]

Good review

I have 6117, these are really good for the coat pocket, you forget it's there.

 

[TONY M]

Looks like a decent enough light, thanks for the review.

 

[streetmaster]

Thanks for the review. I really like Romisen lights. Machining is always good. Overall quality is great considering the price.

 

[moondog049]

Great review, I have the HAIII and love it. I clip mine in my pants pocket and the clip has help up, as well as the HAIII, for over a year now.
There is a clickie version but I don't think it has a clip and its a bit longer

 

[h.g.trunnion]

Hi folks,

can't find the HA-III version on DX. :huh:

Could you please give a link?

Regards,

Norbert

 

[kramer5150]

BUMP for my video review:twothumbs

I don't think we are allowed to post direct URL links, just type 3379 in the product search.

**EDIT** THAT 3379 IS AN ULTRAFIRE LIGHT, AND WHILE THEY LOOK IDENTICAL, THERE IS NO WAY TO REALLY DETERMINE IF THEY ARE COMPLETELY IDENTICAL INSIDE AND OUT, without opening up each light and comparing the DC-DC boards inside.

I am going to edit my review comments, and remove that speculative comment about the HAIII version.

You should also note that shiningbeam has a q5 version that should be around 30-40 Lumens brighter than the light you see in my review.

 

[streetmaster]

BUMP for my video review:twothumbs

I don't think we are allowed to post direct URL links, just type 3379 in the product search.

You should also note that shiningbeam has a q5 version that should be around 30-40 Lumens brighter than the light you see in my review.

Thanks! VERY useful video review. Well planned video, perfect. Your real world beamshots are especially good.

 

[kramer5150]

Thanks! VERY useful video review. Well planned video, perfect. Your real world beamshots are especially good.

Thanks for the positive feedback. Sometimes I think my reviews are too detailed. I had to edit out a good 6-7 useless minutes of me blathering on and on :sleepy: .

Yeah I am lucky, my inner courtyard is pretty good for outdoor beamshots. To the left is a white wall of my house. There are some trees hanging overhead about 6 feet in front and at about 15 feet down to the right is an ivy patch that only a really floody light (EX: Lowes task force with Fraen optic lens removed) will illuminate.

 

[h.g.trunnion]

@Kramer5150:

Thank you very much; got it! :thumbsup:

I do have the non-HA-III gray version since about half a year and use it as my EDC, when I wear jeans.
Always an eyecatcher to non-flashaholics, cause this little lamp really produces an astounding output.

A must-have-little-light.

Regards,

Norbert

 

[Phaserburn]

Anyone know the current draw on a primary and/or rechargeable battery?

 

[kramer5150]

Anyone know the current draw on a primary and/or rechargeable battery?

Primary = .59A
RCR123 = 1.19 (!!)

no wonder it runs so warm off the RCR123 (my only real complaint). Is it dangerous running an RCR123 cell at that high of a discharge rate?

I'm thinking the shiningbeam Q5 running off a primary would be pretty sweet.

 

[alfreddajero]

ShiningBeam has a Q5 version of that light.....just letting you know.

http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-65/Romisen-RC-dsh-C3-Cree-Q5/Detail

 

[Phaserburn]

Primary = .59A
RCR123 = 1.19 (!!)

no wonder it runs so warm off the RCR123 (my only real complaint). Is it dangerous running an RCR123 cell at that high of a discharge rate?

I'm thinking the shiningbeam Q5 running off a primary would be pretty sweet.

Thanks for the info. I don't think there would be a current problem with the R123 as you can usually run them at least to 1.5C. The problem would come in the form of heat, with high temps being problematic for the cell and the led itself. This, to me, is a primary only setup, unless you intend to use it as a superbright couple of minutes at a time type of light (what I would term, "a flare").

Running the R123, all 1.19A's are probably going thru the emitter in direct drive. The primary 123 draw of .59A is being partially used to voltage boost, so the led is only seeing approximately 450-500ma (a guesstimate).

 

[kramer5150]

Thanks for the info. I don't think there would be a current problem with the R123 as you can usually run them at least to 1.5C. The problem would come in the form of heat, with high temps being problematic for the cell and the led itself. This, to me, is a primary only setup, unless you intend to use it as a superbright couple of minutes at a time type of light (what I would term, "a flare").

Running the R123, all 1.19A's are probably going thru the emitter in direct drive. The primary 123 draw of .59A is being partially used to voltage boost, so the led is only seeing approximately 450-500ma (a guesstimate).

Yeah its definitely a short burst only kind of light, which is OK by me. It gets very warm after 5 minutes.

Do you think a 3Volt RCR123 would run it cooler, and yet still retain the longer run times of a primary?

 

[Delta1067]

I am very interested in this light, but the switch is holding me up from buying it. How easy is it to use this switch with one hand? Is there a similar model that uses a clickie?

 

[alfreddajero]

Not that i know off........it is a good light though.

 

[kramer5150]

I am very interested in this light, but the switch is holding me up from buying it. How easy is it to use this switch with one hand? Is there a similar model that uses a clickie?

I dont know for certain. DX has a few lights with clicky switches that certainly look very similar... but I can't say for certain if they all use the same DC-DC driver.

For example the TR-803 looks vaguely similar, but it is direct drive.

I find the switch easy to operate with one hand. The O-rings are secure yet not so tight that they prevent one-handed operation.

 

[alfreddajero]

Thanks for your review, i also was checking this light out, but the Q5 version....might as well get it.

 

[kramer5150]

DEFINITELY NOT SUBMERSIBLE!!

Just for the heck of it, I tail-standed my light in the sink in about 2 inches of water and after 15 minutes water leaked into the tail-cap area. When I took the light apart to dry it, all the water had collected at the tail, adjacent to the spring plate. So... keep out of water. Evidently the O-rings don't engage as tight as I thought.