I saw a short video from DEMA showing 2 new lights coming from Dive Rite. One is the CX3, replacing the CX2. The other was unnamed and looked very similar in size and shape to the LX20+. I don't see any threads here on SB about the CX3, so... here we go. 
There is no info on either light on the Dive Rite website. DGX has the CX3. I emailed them some questions and also asked about the other light. They said the other light is being shown around, but it is not released yet, so no info on it. So, the CX3...
I have put in an order for the CX3. I want to try one. Based on the specs, this is how it looks to me:
6.25" long, head diameter of 1.6", and body diameter of 1.4".
1900 lumens on High, with 4 total brightness levels plus a strobe option.
3 hours burn on High, roughly doubling at each lower brightness level (along with roughly half the lumen output)
NOT constant output
8 degree beam
5000 mAh, 21700 rechargeable battery
Magnetic charging
So, it is a decent amount shorter in length than the CX2. I like that. The length of the CX2 was my biggest beef with that light.
It is now basically the same length as the DGX 1000-6. Slimmer head, but fatter body than the 1000-6. I like that. My only major beef with the DGX 1000-6 is how wide the light head is (though I would also like it better if it was as short as the DGX700). It's okay, but at 1.9", it is bigger than I would *prefer*. The CX3 size/shape looks better, to me, than the 1000-6 even though they are basically the same length.
The CX3 and the 1000-6 are comparable in output. 1900 for the CX3 and 2000 for the 1000-6.
The 1000-6 is a 6 degree beam and is a dadgum laser beam in the water. I like that. It cuts through turbid water really well. The 8 degree beam on the CX3 may be fine. I'll have to see them side by side in the water to really form an opinion. I just know that I *really* like the 1000-6 beam.
The 1000-6 is a constant output light (amazing feature in an $89 light!). The CX3 is not constant output. The brightness of the CX3 will gradually taper down while it is turned on. Thus explaining why the CX3 quotes roughly double the burn time at the same "brightness".
Those are the similarities between the CX3 and the DGX 1000-6. But, I think the CX3 kind of slots in between the 1000-6 and the DGX700.
The DGX700 is a twist light, so only one brightness level. And it's only around 1000 lumens (my experience - specs say 700). The 700 is about 1/2" shorter in length than the CX3, at 5.8". The 700 is just slightly fatter (0.1") at the head and skinnier in the body than the CX3. Again, I think I prefer the shape of the CX3, being almost the same width over the whole length. But, I do like the shorter length of the DGX700.
The 700 is an 8 degree beam, just like the CX3.
The DGX700 is not constant output. It claims "a burn time of about 90 minutes, with gradually diming but usable light for another 90 minutes", which my experience suggests is reasonably accurate. So, call it 3 hours.
I am very curious how the CX3 can get 5.5 hours (claimed) at the same output level (980 lumens) as what the DGX700 puts out. And/or how it can put out double the output and get the same (3 hours) burn time. They use the same battery. If the specs are accurate, the LED emitter that the CX3 uses (a Luminus SST40) must be a lot more power efficient than the DGX700 (a Cree XM-L2 U2) at that output level - which I suppose could be possible. And, of course, it could also be a difference in how Dive Rite vs DGX decides when to say the end of the burntime is. When the light literally shuts off? When the light output is no longer bright enough to be useful? And if that, then who decides how bright that is? Or it could partly be that the DGX light is maybe really putting out 1100 raw lumens vs 980 of the CX3 (on Medium). Only some in-water testing will really reveal the answers...
The CX3's seeming "differentiator" is its magnetic charging. It comes with a charging cable that is a standard USB plug on one end and then a round magnetic connector on the other that snaps onto a round charging pad on the CX3 near the head end of the light. This allows you to charge the light without opening it. I.e. without breaking any O-ring seals that keep the light from flooding.
I really do not understand why Dive Rite thinks this type of charging is such a big deal on a cordless "backup" light. They had a similar idea designed into the CX2 and I think that was responsible for the extra length that kept me from ever buying one.
I have never had such a feature on a cordless light and I have also never flooded a light. Personally, I:
- do not want to keep up with a proprietary charging cable. On the plus side, when you go diving for a weekend and forget the special cable, you can just take the battery out of the light and charge it as normal.
- would rather have a light that does not have any extra length or bulk due to built-in charging circuitry.
- would rather have a light that does not have any extra cost in its price due to built-in charging circuitry.
- will always have a conventional charger with me that can charge a 21700 as I use those same batteries in other things that I take diving, like strobes for my camera. And if I forget my regular charger, somebody else will have one. Or, I might even have a shot at buying one wherever I am. Unlike this special magnetic charging cable.
- have had corrosion form on external charging connections on my DPV and a wreck strobe after being exposed to salt water. I would rather not have such a thing on my light. Please, just keep it simple and leave the charger out of the light.
Also (side note), I would rather have a tail cap switch, to reduce the chances of accidentally turning the light on. No matter what kind of "lock" they have, I have never yet had a side button light that didn't get accidentally turned on occasionally.
Conclusions
DGX1000-6
2000 lumens
6 degree beam
Constant Output
1.5 hours on High
CX3
1900 lumens
8 degree beam
Tapering Output
3 hours on High
DGX700
700 lumens (claimed - comparable to other lights claiming 1000 or even higher)
8 degree beam
Tapering Output
3 hours on sole output level
My DGX lights have been absolutely rock solid reliable. I have 10 year old DGX600 lights that still work like new.
But, if the CX3 proves reliable and the extra length doesn't prove annoying in real life, I think it's going to replace the DGX700 as my "go-to, take on every dive" light. Not being constant output, I do not think it will replace the 1000-6 on the dives where I take that light. And really, that's fine because I don't use the 1000-6 very often. Usually, if I really want a constant output light, it's for a cave dive, where the 1000-6 burn time is not long enough.
The DGX700 is my do-it-all light that I take on every dive. Sometimes it's my only light and it's only there for "just in case". Sometimes, it's the backup to my primary. The CX3 promises to be brighter or burn longer. If it can replace my DGX700s, that will be great! I would be very happy to have the option for brighter and the option for much longer burn time all in one light.
There is no info on either light on the Dive Rite website. DGX has the CX3. I emailed them some questions and also asked about the other light. They said the other light is being shown around, but it is not released yet, so no info on it. So, the CX3...
I have put in an order for the CX3. I want to try one. Based on the specs, this is how it looks to me:
6.25" long, head diameter of 1.6", and body diameter of 1.4".
1900 lumens on High, with 4 total brightness levels plus a strobe option.
3 hours burn on High, roughly doubling at each lower brightness level (along with roughly half the lumen output)
NOT constant output
8 degree beam
5000 mAh, 21700 rechargeable battery
Magnetic charging
So, it is a decent amount shorter in length than the CX2. I like that. The length of the CX2 was my biggest beef with that light.
It is now basically the same length as the DGX 1000-6. Slimmer head, but fatter body than the 1000-6. I like that. My only major beef with the DGX 1000-6 is how wide the light head is (though I would also like it better if it was as short as the DGX700). It's okay, but at 1.9", it is bigger than I would *prefer*. The CX3 size/shape looks better, to me, than the 1000-6 even though they are basically the same length.
The CX3 and the 1000-6 are comparable in output. 1900 for the CX3 and 2000 for the 1000-6.
The 1000-6 is a 6 degree beam and is a dadgum laser beam in the water. I like that. It cuts through turbid water really well. The 8 degree beam on the CX3 may be fine. I'll have to see them side by side in the water to really form an opinion. I just know that I *really* like the 1000-6 beam.
The 1000-6 is a constant output light (amazing feature in an $89 light!). The CX3 is not constant output. The brightness of the CX3 will gradually taper down while it is turned on. Thus explaining why the CX3 quotes roughly double the burn time at the same "brightness".
Those are the similarities between the CX3 and the DGX 1000-6. But, I think the CX3 kind of slots in between the 1000-6 and the DGX700.
The DGX700 is a twist light, so only one brightness level. And it's only around 1000 lumens (my experience - specs say 700). The 700 is about 1/2" shorter in length than the CX3, at 5.8". The 700 is just slightly fatter (0.1") at the head and skinnier in the body than the CX3. Again, I think I prefer the shape of the CX3, being almost the same width over the whole length. But, I do like the shorter length of the DGX700.
The 700 is an 8 degree beam, just like the CX3.
The DGX700 is not constant output. It claims "a burn time of about 90 minutes, with gradually diming but usable light for another 90 minutes", which my experience suggests is reasonably accurate. So, call it 3 hours.
I am very curious how the CX3 can get 5.5 hours (claimed) at the same output level (980 lumens) as what the DGX700 puts out. And/or how it can put out double the output and get the same (3 hours) burn time. They use the same battery. If the specs are accurate, the LED emitter that the CX3 uses (a Luminus SST40) must be a lot more power efficient than the DGX700 (a Cree XM-L2 U2) at that output level - which I suppose could be possible. And, of course, it could also be a difference in how Dive Rite vs DGX decides when to say the end of the burntime is. When the light literally shuts off? When the light output is no longer bright enough to be useful? And if that, then who decides how bright that is? Or it could partly be that the DGX light is maybe really putting out 1100 raw lumens vs 980 of the CX3 (on Medium). Only some in-water testing will really reveal the answers...
The CX3's seeming "differentiator" is its magnetic charging. It comes with a charging cable that is a standard USB plug on one end and then a round magnetic connector on the other that snaps onto a round charging pad on the CX3 near the head end of the light. This allows you to charge the light without opening it. I.e. without breaking any O-ring seals that keep the light from flooding.
I really do not understand why Dive Rite thinks this type of charging is such a big deal on a cordless "backup" light. They had a similar idea designed into the CX2 and I think that was responsible for the extra length that kept me from ever buying one.
I have never had such a feature on a cordless light and I have also never flooded a light. Personally, I:
- do not want to keep up with a proprietary charging cable. On the plus side, when you go diving for a weekend and forget the special cable, you can just take the battery out of the light and charge it as normal.
- would rather have a light that does not have any extra length or bulk due to built-in charging circuitry.
- would rather have a light that does not have any extra cost in its price due to built-in charging circuitry.
- will always have a conventional charger with me that can charge a 21700 as I use those same batteries in other things that I take diving, like strobes for my camera. And if I forget my regular charger, somebody else will have one. Or, I might even have a shot at buying one wherever I am. Unlike this special magnetic charging cable.
- have had corrosion form on external charging connections on my DPV and a wreck strobe after being exposed to salt water. I would rather not have such a thing on my light. Please, just keep it simple and leave the charger out of the light.
Also (side note), I would rather have a tail cap switch, to reduce the chances of accidentally turning the light on. No matter what kind of "lock" they have, I have never yet had a side button light that didn't get accidentally turned on occasionally.
Conclusions
DGX1000-6
2000 lumens
6 degree beam
Constant Output
1.5 hours on High
CX3
1900 lumens
8 degree beam
Tapering Output
3 hours on High
DGX700
700 lumens (claimed - comparable to other lights claiming 1000 or even higher)
8 degree beam
Tapering Output
3 hours on sole output level
My DGX lights have been absolutely rock solid reliable. I have 10 year old DGX600 lights that still work like new.
But, if the CX3 proves reliable and the extra length doesn't prove annoying in real life, I think it's going to replace the DGX700 as my "go-to, take on every dive" light. Not being constant output, I do not think it will replace the 1000-6 on the dives where I take that light. And really, that's fine because I don't use the 1000-6 very often. Usually, if I really want a constant output light, it's for a cave dive, where the 1000-6 burn time is not long enough.
The DGX700 is my do-it-all light that I take on every dive. Sometimes it's my only light and it's only there for "just in case". Sometimes, it's the backup to my primary. The CX3 promises to be brighter or burn longer. If it can replace my DGX700s, that will be great! I would be very happy to have the option for brighter and the option for much longer burn time all in one light.
