Manker developed a Zoom with NO MOVING PARTS (updated info)

Who’s going to take one apart?

If it’s smart glass, I’ll love it.

That’s what I was thinking - perhaps a type of “smart glass” lens like polymer-dispersed LCDs. Technically that would be diffusing like DC-Fix, not zooming.

I don’t know what the transmission efficiency would be, but if that is how it works, once these lights are on the market, I’m sure someone could test one in a homemade integrating box while zoomed, diffused, and with the lens removed to find out.

Very interested in seeing how their focusing mechanism works.

Years ago I saw a video of a prototype flashlight that used a deformable lens. It was a promo video for the company that made the lens. From their video it looked like a pretty neat concept. It appeared with it you could make a flashlight that was basically a normal reflector light, but with the added benefit that the lens could be deformed to produce a different beam. But since then I’ve seen nothing. I wonder if this new Manker uses something similar.

However, I note from the first video in this thread, the Manker appears to have the zoom controlled by buttons. That makes me wonder if this is just a motorized zoom light, just with the moving parts on the inside.

If that’s the case, I’m much less impressed. Flashlights are already bulky enough without having to carry around a motor you don’t really need. And if the manker is a conventional zoom light inside, then the light will be even more bulky since the casing must have enough room to hold all the parts at both flood and spot positions. There would be a lot of empty space inside the light.

This would make it much bulkier even than a similar conventional zoom flashlight, which can collapse down into a compact form when throw is not needed.

On the upside, the Manker’s beam from the video looks pretty nice. And zoom lights are a market sorely lacking in quality manufacture and creativity. I’m looking forward to seeing how Manker did this.

That was my first thought when I watched the video.

Only time will tell.

That’s my guess too, similar to the film used here:

I’d love to see a patent on this light.

M4DM4X says it does not use a motor as far as he knows.

I saw these videos a few days ago. Time will tell what they are doing, and if it is a practical/useful solution or just a gimmick.

nice……

Telephoto lens concept which has been around for decades.

i like it

no dust and better weather seal :smiley:

The only way to have no moving parts would be using that smart glass or some sort of dlp to change how the light scatters.
Even then there is still technically something moving, it’s just very very small.

It may switch between different emitters/optics like some Energizer lights?
Or maybe an internal moving lens (as per some camera lenses)?

Intriguing design indeed.

Would be happy to see this with Samsung LH351C or LH351D.

A COB that different parts are lit as the beam changes?

Ring COB/ angel eye LED array surrounding a central focused TIR/ reflectored LED with a dual channel driver maybe.

Liquid lens is the future, the shape of the lens can be changed with electrostatic pressure.

Any more info on this M4D M4X? I am very interested in this and I think others are as well. An adjustable beam width light that is optically efficient and has good beam quality would be popular I think. Maybe there is an LED lenser style light that has these characteristics, but the couple moddable ones I’ve seen lately have bad beam quality (like the Litesam E11Z).

Very interesting, can’t wait for teardown

And I can bet you will win in this “guess what” challenge. :beer: That Edmuntonoptics liquid lens at 400$ price but possible someone got cheaper deal elsewhere in China…

Fascinating technology! Although F 2.4 numbers are really not something to brag with. The lower F stop the more light it gathers.

So this technology maybe is still not the best for night vision settings… But! when combined with high quality laser VCSEL illumination and average night vision FHD camera sensor can give astonishing camera results.

Flashlight use…

Well I am not Enderman but I surely see from the video that this flashlight lacks performance vise. Simple T20 flashlight(38mm aspherics) would killed it performance/max lux/flood for sure, and not to mention larger 50mm aspherical lights…

But! If this will be combined with laser light than that will be different story. This could easily become light that in a small form factor (30-40mm head) could easily throw 500+ kcd and have very good flood mode.

It has potential for sure! We are looking at the future.

Bravo Manker!

Pretty sure they said only single emitter and no moving parts, internal or external.

That Endmunds lens looks neat.
I’ve seen Optotune lens before and Edmunds seems way more mature.