Romisen RC-N3 R4 impressions (vs minimag rebel) (updated x3, new pics & impressions)
First the pics:
This is a poor quality romisen beamshot at 0.5 second, ISO 800, f2.8 running on 2.4v NiMH.
This is a MiniMag Rebel on alkalines.
A generic 2d cell on alkalines.
Romisen on lithium 3.0v CR123a.
All shots taken at 0.5 second, ISO 800, f2.8.,
Now compared to minimag rebel in size:
Now the impressions:
It seems at least as durable as the MiniMag Rebel, is a bit thicker and slightly shorter with 2AA batteries or much shorter with 1x123A. Brightness is approximately the same with all batteries, always very high. Its incredibly bright, not a great thrower but a great beam profile.
It has a fairly standard beam, which is very low on rings as far as i can tell and much better than the minimag beam, and it has a nice lanyard and clip. But it can not tailstand. It is available exclusively from shiningbeam.com.
Overall, a great light, very bright for the price and far exceeds the minimag from my point of view.
Update: More impressions:
Seems very durable, id like to emphasize this. Seems better built than the mag, because its thicker and the battery tube is maybe slightly less shaky (though still rattles a bit). The extension tube is ingenious and its nice that it doesnt require two seperate tubes, that way in 2AA mode you have all the parts necessary to make it a 1x123A flashlight, even in the dark, for instance: if you are running on NiMH AA and they go dead, you can turn it into a lithium light with just a spare 123A which is very small. I have not tested runtime, but ran it for about an hour on 2AA nimh and it did not get dimmer, so seems regulated quite well at the least, even on low voltage sources. I have not and will not test it on RCR123As, as i do not want to damage it nor do i want to worry about Li-Ions exploding or having fits. I like my supplier of $1.50 each Rayovac 123As with $2.75 shipping 🙂. I plan to use this light mostly in Rayovac 123A mode, i like the smallness of the package, its comparable to a Quark MiniAA, its THAT small (although thicker).
Downsides? the Beam hotspot isnt great (not too much throw, seems like maybe about 50-75 feet is the ballpark max for lots of illumination) Its quite a wide spill, which i like, but some may prefer a more concentrated beam. For me, as i enjoy 'floodlights' with a good hotspot and a wide spill, its perfect. If you want a light with intense throw and a concentrated hotspot and narrow but intense spill, you aren't going to find it here.
UPDATE 3: Just a quick note: it does have momentary "tactical" tailcap, so if you press lightly, it turns on but does not lock. Press twice lightly and it goes to low, which is nearly as bright as high. Press again and it goes to high. Etc.
also, 2 more images.
The romisen's beam.
The Maglites Beam
Both takes at ISO 400, f2.8, 1/15 shutter, on my A710.
UPDATE 2: Yay! More images.
Romisen, Cree 2C River Rock, and Minimag.
Romisen with 2AA body mounted vs Minimag and 2C Cree River Rock.
First the pics:
This is a poor quality romisen beamshot at 0.5 second, ISO 800, f2.8 running on 2.4v NiMH.
This is a MiniMag Rebel on alkalines.
A generic 2d cell on alkalines.
Romisen on lithium 3.0v CR123a.
All shots taken at 0.5 second, ISO 800, f2.8.,
Now compared to minimag rebel in size:
Now the impressions:
It seems at least as durable as the MiniMag Rebel, is a bit thicker and slightly shorter with 2AA batteries or much shorter with 1x123A. Brightness is approximately the same with all batteries, always very high. Its incredibly bright, not a great thrower but a great beam profile.
It has a fairly standard beam, which is very low on rings as far as i can tell and much better than the minimag beam, and it has a nice lanyard and clip. But it can not tailstand. It is available exclusively from shiningbeam.com.
Overall, a great light, very bright for the price and far exceeds the minimag from my point of view.
Update: More impressions:
Seems very durable, id like to emphasize this. Seems better built than the mag, because its thicker and the battery tube is maybe slightly less shaky (though still rattles a bit). The extension tube is ingenious and its nice that it doesnt require two seperate tubes, that way in 2AA mode you have all the parts necessary to make it a 1x123A flashlight, even in the dark, for instance: if you are running on NiMH AA and they go dead, you can turn it into a lithium light with just a spare 123A which is very small. I have not tested runtime, but ran it for about an hour on 2AA nimh and it did not get dimmer, so seems regulated quite well at the least, even on low voltage sources. I have not and will not test it on RCR123As, as i do not want to damage it nor do i want to worry about Li-Ions exploding or having fits. I like my supplier of $1.50 each Rayovac 123As with $2.75 shipping 🙂. I plan to use this light mostly in Rayovac 123A mode, i like the smallness of the package, its comparable to a Quark MiniAA, its THAT small (although thicker).
Downsides? the Beam hotspot isnt great (not too much throw, seems like maybe about 50-75 feet is the ballpark max for lots of illumination) Its quite a wide spill, which i like, but some may prefer a more concentrated beam. For me, as i enjoy 'floodlights' with a good hotspot and a wide spill, its perfect. If you want a light with intense throw and a concentrated hotspot and narrow but intense spill, you aren't going to find it here.
UPDATE 3: Just a quick note: it does have momentary "tactical" tailcap, so if you press lightly, it turns on but does not lock. Press twice lightly and it goes to low, which is nearly as bright as high. Press again and it goes to high. Etc.
also, 2 more images.
The romisen's beam.
The Maglites Beam
Both takes at ISO 400, f2.8, 1/15 shutter, on my A710.
UPDATE 2: Yay! More images.
Romisen, Cree 2C River Rock, and Minimag.
Romisen with 2AA body mounted vs Minimag and 2C Cree River Rock.
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