Manker GODMES
LED: 3x Cree XP-L (unknown bin) CW
Battery: 3x 18650
Modes: 5 + 4 strobe (fully customizable)
Switch: Digital, Head.
Date: June 2015
Links:
MankerLight.com · Banggood.com · ForoLinternas · RdL
PRESENTATION:
Manker is a new manufacturer that has recently entered the scene with some pretty worked models. It is an Asian firm, and it seems that its run by a former engineer of another brand, tired of his former company did not take his ideas or initiatives, has decided to start its own way from scratch. We have some reliable references from other models of the brand, such as Rambler Manker, although the model before us today is certainly different in spirit and form.
The flashlight comes in a telescopic carton box, which inside have the flashlight in a custom foam cut to size. In addition, the foam has three pre-cuts designed to accommodate three 18650 batteries.
Interestingly, the flashlight comes without any user manual or any accessory or spare. The only references we found are printed on the box.
EXTERIOR FINISH:
The external appearance of this flashlight is very curious and own. The orange color takes a special role, and is present in various body parts, combining very well with the polished steel and anodized aluminum in matt black.
The lantern has a length of 142mm long, a maximum diameter of 71mm in optics and 47mm in its tailcap. With no batteries have a weight of 474 grams, which rises to 612 with three 18650 batteries installed.
The lantern has a triple optics, which have three completely independent reflectors, each with an XP-L under a smooth reflector and AR coated lenses, topped by stainless steel bezels.
The centering of the LED emitters can be improved, but given the nature of this flashlight I think this detail will go unnoticed.
In the three planes that are at the head of the flashlight we find interesting details: We have a digital switch that is located on a steel frame, along a LED indicator of the state of the batteries. Onto this we have an interesting logo, which appears to be a character in a series of Asian animation show, which bears some similarity to the flashlight design.
In another of the planes we found a QR code which, when scanned with a device, will lead to the manufacturer’s website. In the last flat find a 3/8 ” thread to attach the flashlight to a tripod. The thread is in steel, and is inserted as a sleeve into a second thread, and is easy to take one out of the another while removing the flashlight from the tripod as there is no adhesive (at least in my unit).
The flashlight tube has inserted plastic bits in orange, in which after one there is the bluetooth antenna what will connect the torch to a smartphone or tablet.
We have a drilled hole located close to the tailcap joint to attach a wrist strap, which is fully integrated into the profile of the flashlight.
The body has machined housing for batteries directly into the aluminum, so the flashlight lacks any cartridge battery holder, although this slightly increases the total weight of the torch.
The only detachable part of the flashlight is the tailcap, as the head seems to be sealed.
Tailcap threads have a standard triangular finish, fully anodized as they are not conductive.
In the tailcap we found a contact plate which rotates freely on its axis. This disc has three springs for the negative contact of the batteries, and a position pin will prevent the springs become misaligned when we replace the batteries. I do not know why, but while the tailcap is being threated the flashlight emits a few flashes, possibly by the position pin lightly touching with no anodized aluminum in the tube.
The tailcap has a flat base that allows placing the flashlight in tailstand more than solid, and is capped at its edge by a pretty good knurling offering good grip to unscrew and screw.
USER INTERFACE:
This flashlight undoubtedly attractive is a customizable interface with an app for mobile devices (Android and Apple), that the flashlight will connect via Bluetooth.
- On: The flashlight is turned on by a simple touch on the single switch.
- Changing Modes: With the flashlight on, a simple click (within the first two seconds from activation) on the switch will toggle modes in ascending order.
- Off: To turn off the flashlight simply make a simple touch at least two seconds elapsed from activation, as otherwise the light will change modes.
- Memory: The flashlight has memory, and turns on in the last used mode.
- *Direct access to 100:* We found a shortcut to the maximum output mode by press and hold the switch with the flashlight on. Releasing the switch, the flashlight returns to the previous mode. We can customize it using the app to access rather than 100 is the percentage you want.
- Strobe modes: To access the hidden strobe modes is necessary to make a quick double press on the switch with the flashlight on. The first mode we find is the strobe (you can customize your frequency with the app), the following is a curious mode that makes a progressive 1% to 100% and vice versa, creating a “ramp” effect (also customizable by the app). The following is the beacon mode, emitting a flash each approx. 2 seconds (also customizable by the app) and the last is a (also customizable) SOS mode.
- Charge status of the batteries: Using the indicator above the switch the flashlight shows the status of charging our batteries for the first two seconds after turning on the lamp, where 4 dots means full and one the minimum charge status.
- Operation with 1, 2 and 3 batteries: The flashlight is operable with 1, 2 and 3 batteries, although it will only work with 1, 2 or 3 LEDs depending on the battery count.
Now we will review the application for mobile devices, which can be obtained from the manufacturer’s website. In this case we will see the version of this app for android.
We have a main screen called “Control” in which we can adjust various settings, such as the percentage of light output, with a slider that will allow us to adjust more or less precisely the amount of light we want in the time. In the “Strobe”, “Beacon” and “Rhythm” button you can adjust the frequency of the three strobe modes. “Rhythm” is the “ramp” mode, which creates a fade-in / fade-out effect and using this tool can be “synchronized” with the music tempo to create a truly portable disco mode.
The next tab, “Mode” there are three main options, the first “Single click” allows us to customize our tastes or needs the order of the modes, and the light output of each of them, we may even dispense modes with the switch Sliding located to the right of the bars. We can also customize the special modes in “Double click” where you can adjust the different frequencies of the different strobe modes. Finally, we have “Long press” where we set by sliding the bar the amount of light we want to have rapid access by the long press.
In the “Status” tab we find a virtual monitor that shows the temperature of the flashlight and the approximate charge as a percentage of the installed batteries.
In the last tab, “Settings” will allow us to change the password for the Bluetooth connection and also a software upgrade option, which I ignore it is simply for the application or also allow flashlight firmware upgrade.
Overall the application is quite complete, and runs stably in my Samsung Galaxy S4 (GT-i9505). This application allows us ample flexibility to customize the lantern, with which we can even get to leave it as a single lantern mode if desired.
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An interesting detail before interpreting the test data is that the absence of a user manual or any documentation on this light, beyond the printed on the box, does not clarify which is the method that has been used to get that “3000LM” number. After the usual test in the sphere, I get an outperforming figure, with just over 2000LM for maximum mode, with the other modes proportionally spaced within the theoretical percentage.
PERFORMANCE:
The curve of the maximum mode of this Manker Godmes shows a clear trend towards no regulation, in which the light output is closely linked to the state of battery voltage, and as this goes down, so does the amount of light the flashlight has to offer. We also note that the flashlight, given the clear lack of regulation, completely lacks any stepdown.
Compared to other compact multi-LED lights, the Godmes is quite discreet performance both over time and the number of minutes that is able to function without interruption. As we see flat regulation with timed stepdowns in the TK75 or thermal regulation SX25L3, it makes difficult any comparison between them.
BEAM PROFILE:
The flashlight has three independent optical, all identical in size, so you cannot expect a great trhow given the practicable diameter of each reflectors, around 24mm.
Having used completely independent reflectors, flashlight lacks the typical overlap effect created in flashlights that use a single reflector for various emitters, such as TK75 or LD75C.
The tint of the XP-L is cool white, with a slight tendency towards purple-violet, probably produced by the reflection of the orange o-rings or maybe by AR treatment glasses.
PERSONAL CONCLUSION:
As a new manufacturer, Manker gives us almost from the beginning a flashlight with very specific characteristics, with very elaborate user interface and the ability to afford always interesting sequence modes adjust to our needs or tastes more or less comfortable.
Fenix TK75 · Fenix LD75C · Manker Godmes
Negatives: As you’ll have guessed if you’ve completely read this review, the user interface of the light is a little rough and slow to use, and given how different it is with most similar flashlights to which we are accustomed is presented as a major challenge to memorize their different sequences. Although it sounds funny, it is very frustrated having to wait two seconds after activation to turn off the flashlight, because if we click before this time the flashlight switch modes instead of shutting down. In turn, if we want to change modes after having had the light on for a few minutes, we will be forced to turn off the flashlight and turn it on again to get done. The use of a single switch is causing this problem, other flashlights with similar modes count and sequences are much more comfortable to handle thanks to its double switches. On the other hand, I see totally unjustifiable that a flashlight with these features come without any documentation to lean to know their roles, and although we are in the digital age nor the manufacturer’s website provides many details. Also I think the torch should include at least a replacement o-ring, and for the price a holster more or less decent.
Positives: Undoubtedly, the flexibility offered by the app to customize and adjust the various functions and modes of this flashlight is the main trick when weighing the purchase of this new flashlight. You cannot imagine how comfortable it is this flashlight for studio photography … just have to mount it on a tripod, connect to our smartphone or tablet via bluetooth and without having to be physically manipulating it turn on and off and adjust the brightness level of the flashlight to look for the lighting effect you like best in any situation. The mechanical construction of the flashlight is more than decent, and although the plastic inserted bits in other colors tend to give a “toy” feeling, somehow, perhaps by combination of colors, this Godmes gives a good feeling of solid product.
