Romisen RC-C8 flood to throw // high, med, strobe // 3xAAA

[MojaveMoon07]

As I mentioned in the RC-27 thread, I would prefer a multi-stage all-flood budget-priced flashlight. While I couldn't find any feedback about the RC-27, I found a smattering of comments about the RC-C8. However, due to my limited experience and knowledge about flashlights, the comments about the RC-C8 gave me a mostly incomplete understanding of the it.

I would be grateful if any (past or present) owners of it could comment about it; the version of it that I am interested in is what Shiningbeam.com is selling. Also, approximately what runtime can I expect for the high and medium modes ? Since my recharger is the one that came with the package of Sanyo eneloops sold at Costco, I can't recharge one battery at a time. If the runtime is too short for the RC-C8, then maybe it'd be (too) inconvenient to be regularly recharging the batteries for it.

Also, I don't understand what the commenter (below) is trying to explain when he spoke of a "massive darker circle of light surrounded by a brighter circle of light".

- WC tint Cree XR-E R2 LED
- High, medium and strobe, about 30% brighter than the regular model
- 5.1" x 1.1" x 1.3"
- 3.5 oz

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Light has mode memory, it starts always from previously used mode.
Modes are 100-50-slow strobe.

I would say theres a noticeable difference with 100% to 50%, yet you cannot call 50% a "low" mode by any means. It still is relatively bright and usable with 50% but runs very long

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The RC-C8 has a bigger lens and tighter beam, so it should throw better, although mine never quite brings the image of the die to focus.

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I have the rc-c6 and rc-29 and like them both alot but the rc-c8 didn't get very good reviews. Still worth checking out though.

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i have three Romisen adjustables that i purchased through Shining Beam. they're great little lights but produce this massive darker circle of light surrounded by a brighter circle of light if its anywhere within "mid-range"....its been driving me nuts because thats generally the most practical setting. i bought their RC-C8-II rather recently hoping this larger one might be better but it has the same pattern...and its not really any brighter than my 3V Romisen (RC-C6 i believe) [...]

 

[Tuikku]

If I remember correctly, RC-C8 has (when Zoomed for throw) more "corona" around the spot compared to smaller RC-C6.
I would say RC-C8 is brighter than RC-C6 in FLOOD MODE. It is harder to say which throws better.

RC-C8 has bigger lens but it also has longer threads for zooming a throw spot. I think it loses some of its lumens while lens goes so far away from emitter :shrug:

I tested runtime on 50% med. In floodmode, I found it quite useful.
I left it on for night, it went ~8 hours with "Trustfire flame, 2400".

I would say it´s a good light if you use the flood most. For thrower I found it a bit frustrating to turn its head quite many times to zoom... Slideable flood-to-throw lghts are more convenient.

On the other hand, this has the greatest versatility batterywise.
Size is quite compact IMO, also.

 

[Tuikku]

Also, I don't understand what the commenter (below) is trying to explain when he spoke of a "massive darker circle of light surrounded by a brighter circle of light".

Forgot to answer to this.
I believe he means, that that somewhere between maximum throw and maximum flood, the beam is not even in brightness.
I mostly use the full flood, very rarely that "somewhere in between" -mode.
But it is true, beam is ringy or not perfectly smooth and balanced.

 

[MojaveMoon07]

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Thank you very much for your detailed and thorough reply

 

[MojaveMoon07]

I tested runtime on 50% med. In floodmode, I found it quite useful.
I left it on for night, it went ~8 hours with "Trustfire flame, 2400".

My Sanyo AAA eneloops say 750 mAh on the label. Since that's approximately 30% of the capacity of your battery, does that mean I should expect a runtime of 30% of your runtime, i.e., a runtime of approximately 2.6 hours on three 750 mAh eneloops ?

 

[Tuikku]

My Sanyo AAA eneloops say 750 mAh on the label. Since that's approximately 30% of the capacity of your battery, does that mean I should expect a runtime of 30% of your runtime, i.e., a runtime of approximately 2.6 hours on three 750 mAh eneloops ?

I´m not a pro in calculating or estimating runtimes but because of different chemistry and different voltage. Maybe there´s info in battery & electronics section, how to calculate it.
I would guess though, that something around 2h would be expected.