Cheapest Cree Q5 Light

TickTack · Jan 16, 2008

I'm looking for a very cheap setup for a light for my girlfriend. I'd like to use the cree Q5. Ive got an idea for the housing, but not for the relfector/batteries/regulator. Post what you'd go with for the cheapest light with some serious brightness.

A single 123a?

Two 123as?

Gunner12 · Jan 16, 2008

MTE Seoul?

Not Q5 but relatively bright and AA powered.

Marduke · Jan 16, 2008

MTE Cree Q5 with 5 modes
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.10688

Or the venerable single mode Ultrafire C3 with a Q5
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.10727
can be used as either 2xAA or 1xAA

Gotham · Jan 16, 2008

I am not sure if this flashlight has been ever reviewed but I found it on the Cree website under 'logo items'. It uses a Cree XLamp XR-E LED and is only $30 US.

http://www.promorevolution.com/Cata...=69909&ProgramID=26300&SessionID=61255117&ref=

xevious · Jan 16, 2008

Cheap and bright alone are rather vague requirements... what about battery type, size, and functions?

TickTack · Jan 16, 2008

Looks like that ultrafire C3 might be the way to go. I'm really just looking for simplicity and good build quality. Something not too big, either.

Thanks a bunch for the ideas!

grnamin · Jan 16, 2008

How about a Surefire G2 with the Q5 drop-in of your choice?

konfusius · Jan 16, 2008

grnamin said:
How about a Surefire G2 with the Q5 drop-in of your choice?

TickTack said:
I'm looking for a very cheap setup for a light for my girlfriend.

Actually, I wouldn't call the SF G2 a "very cheap" light ...

grnamin · Jan 16, 2008

konfusius said:
Actually, I wouldn't call the SF G2 a "very cheap" light ...

At about $36 (shipping not included), it's cheap, IMHO, but not "cheap" in quality.

Ducati · Jan 16, 2008

grnamin said:
How about a Surefire G2 with the Q5 drop-in of your choice?

grnamin said:
At about $36 (shipping not included), it's cheap, IMHO, but not "cheap" in quality.

How is a G2 w/ a Q5 dropin $36? Where can you get this at that price? Please share.

Ducati · Jan 16, 2008

Gunner12 said:
MTE Seoul?

Not Q5 but relatively bright and AA powered.

Is it a forward clicky?

Art Vandelay · Jan 16, 2008

Marduke said:
MTE Cree Q5 with 5 modes

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.10688

Or the venerable single mode Ultrafire C3 with a Q5
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.10727
can be used as either 2xAA or 1xAA

Those look cool. Does anybody have experience with those, or a link to a good review?

Marduke · Jan 17, 2008

Art Vandelay said:
Those look cool. Does anybody have experience with those, or a link to a good review?

I have two of the C3's single mode, but in the P4 bin. Same light, just different emitter. It's a nice light for the price. I like the ability to take either 1xAA or 2xAA, and it's the same brightness either way, just different runtimes. I put a clip on one of mine, and shortened the rubber peg inside the switch boot so it's less touchy when turned on.

Review:
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/178942

I've heard good things about the MTE, but it's rather new so far. I've been toying with getting one, but I just got a NiteCore DI to play with, and I know it's way above and beyond the MTE, which is a knockoff of the DI.

Joshatdot · Jan 17, 2008

+1 for Ultrafire C3 w/Q5

grnamin · Jan 17, 2008

Ducati said:
How is a G2 w/ a Q5 dropin $36? Where can you get this at that price? Please share.

The G2 is around $36 (shipping not included). The drop-in of your choice is extra.

magic_elf · Jan 17, 2008

I think girls usually go for the looks first, functionality second.
Probably good to know her taste, and then get a light which u think she will find nice (or at least not ugly).

That way she will carry it around more, thus actually makingn use of it more too

Girls i know tend to like the looks of AAA sized ones such as the Fenix L0D or Arc AAA, and even the photon freedom.

Ducati · Jan 17, 2008

grnamin said:
The G2 is around $36 (shipping not included). The drop-in of your choice is extra.

okay....now how is that relevant to this discussion? :shrug: The OP asked for the "Cheapest Cree Q5 Light." In the world of flashlights, $36 + ($30 to $60) Q5 dropin is not cheap. $10-$30 is considered cheap.

I came to the light... · Jan 17, 2008

For all info below, I assume you are looking for a 1xAA light, as that's really the most convenient for a simple EDC.

The MTE 5-mode linked above is probably the best of the cheap EDCs, but may be pushing "cheap," at $26. (Marduke - I think MTE actually had this design first. But I wouldn't blame either company - it's the coolest EDC design out there

)

For a cheaper light (~$15), MTE has some products around there, and the SAIK A2 and A3 are pretty good. The A3 is supposedly an upgrade to the A2, but is much larger, so may not be as suitable.

MTE products: http://www.dealextreme.com/search.dx/search.mte

SAIKs: http://www.dealextreme.com/search.dx/search.saik%20a2

The cheapest quality light I know of is the MXDL RC-G2, at $10.90: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.3607

Marduke · Jan 17, 2008

I came to the light... said:
The MTE 5-mode linked above is probably the best of the cheap EDCs, but may be pushing "cheap," at $26. (Marduke - I think MTE actually had this design first. But I wouldn't blame either company - it's the coolest EDC design out there )

Supposedly MTE stole the design while the DI was in design and production. In an effort to keep up with NiteCore's "infinite variable brightness", they came out with the 20-mode Rebel design.

bspofford · Jan 18, 2008

Ultrafire 5-mode Q5 602C at DX under $20.

Cheapest Cree Q5 Light

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