Sure, it’s not cheap for a 1x AA / 14500 light at $30, and the sliding diffuser would be the first thing to be removed i.m.h.o.
But i haven’t seen a review or a post or topic by Manker either here on BLF.
I don’t like that you have to click through the blinkys or shut the light off, to go from Turbo to the normal modes. If it didn’t have that, I’d buy one.
Even with the E02, if you double click from get to turbo, the next click takes you to strobe. next clicks are strobe, SOS, beacon, then low. Or, as Robert said, you can long press to off.
Looks like the E03 adds an additional “Medium” mode, as well.
There is something interesting going on here. It was discussed recently that manufacturers send out a dozen of the same lights for review. So you get a dozen threads of reviews of the same light in the non commercial section. This works as advertising, apart from whether the content of the reviews is unique or not. Manker sent a bunch of E02 lights not long ago, and there was a lot of discussion of this light. Now Manker did not send a bunch of E03 lights, and there’s practically no discussion. Of course other factors may play a role as well, nevertheless this is certainly an indication of the power of advertising (in whatever form).
In comparison to something like the Fenix MC10 that has a flip up diffuser attachment II think it is a pretty interesting idea. It allows for a diffuse beam if the situation calls for it. If not, it can be slid down for a more traditional beam pattern or removed altogether so it is not in the way. I'll agree with you that the UI is maybe not my favorite. I wish the mode sequence repeated from moonlight to turbo rather than reversed in order once turbo is reached.
In general angle head lights take a back seat to the straight shooters from a popularity standpoint. It seems like its always this way. A lot of people find them ugly and impractical. Depending on how you grasp them, they can be awkward to hand hold (IMHO)
Yeah IMHO they could have integrated the sliding diffuser a little better into the overall design. Looks kind of like an afterthought. Still though, an ad-hock diffuser is better than no diffuser. There are times when near-field flood lighting is very nice.
One thing I have found with headlamps is TIR, flood-beam and “mule” optics can be a hinderance when around other people, since you can’t effectively aim them away from peoples eyes. I used a zebralight for 7 years, and it was great… but I found it too blinding for other people when they caught a glimpse of it with night adapted vision. I switched to a TH20, and with its small parabolic orange peel hot spot I find it more practical. As a boy scout coordinator for my sons troop the last thing I want is the troop having to look away when I’m re trying to communicate at night. And we do a LOT of activities at night!!!
I still use the Zebra clipped in my tent as a lantern… where it really excels.
I’d still wait for a review to make sure you don’t have to cycle through the blinkys first. Even if it can go back and forth, it’s still looks strange. Lets say you’re in medium mode and want to go to Turbo. You double click and it takes you to strobe? then cycle through the blinkys to turbo? Or you shut it off, then double click to turbo? I don’t know, makes no sense to me.
Well Turbo has number one, if you switch it should start with Turbo. As I see it’s the same UI as the E02 with an added High mode.
You could ask manker for a review model