Manker MK36 Review

Andrew_Debbie · 2019-11-26T11:08:27.000Z

Disclaimer: I won this flashlight in a contest here on BLF. Manker did not request a review and I’m not getting any other consideration from them. This is my first formal review of a flash light.

TLDR; Insane on turbo. Well made. Compact. Expensive.

The Manker MK36 is a very bright, compact flood light. Six XHP50.2 emitters sit behind a TIR optic. Power comes from 3 18650 cells. Manker recommend high drain unprotected button tops. I used a fresh set of –30Qs for the review. Flat top batteries do not work. I tried. I did not try protected batteries. The MK36 has built-in low-voltage protection.

The MK36 comes with a carrying case, two USB leads, a lanyard, a spare o-ring and bilingual instructions. The english instructions are clear and well written. There is a diagram of the lights two mode groups.

The lanyard is higher quality than any of my other lights. A deep slot at the base of the light allows it to tail stand with a lanyard attached.

Nothing in my collection is as bright, floody or expensive as the MK36. I’ve picked a few lights to assist with the review.

At first glance, people might want to a compare the MK36 to a Q8. They aren’t even close. The Q8 a lot bigger, heavier and not as comfortable to hand hold. The MK36 is brighter on high and much brighter on turbo. The MK 36 output is a more even flood while the Q8 has a bright centre area.

The MK36 is shorter than an S2+:

Weight, with batteries:

Q8 596g
MK36 416g
D4S 223g

Turbo
Q8 5000lm
MK36 12,000lm !!!
D4S 3,000lm to be fair, mine has 219C emitters. XP-L HD is 5100lm.

12,000lm is insane and potentially dangerous. 12,000lm boarders on too bright to be useful. Inside, it is painfully bright to be in the same room. Outside it is maybe useful but yikes. Runtime on full turbo is 50 seconds.

Andrew_Debbie · 2019-11-26T15:22:08.000Z

User Interface

The MK 36 UI has two groups and a hidden “Engineering” mode.

A single click from off enters the left hand group at moonlight. From there single clicks advance low-medium-high. From high, single clicks step back down medium-low-moonlight.

A long press from off enters the left hand group at the last used brightness setting.

A double click from off or the left hand group enters the right hand group at turbo. Single clicks step through the blinkies in the right hand group, exiting to moonlight. A double click also returns to the left hand group.

Fine print:

The hidden engineering group allows adjusting the moonlight brightness only.
Right hand group Battery indicator turns the light off but leaves the power switch light on. There is not a blink code for voltage.
The illuminated power switch shows battery level. Blue > 50. Purple 20-50. Red <20%

Use
In practice the left hand group works well although I’d prefer 5 steps or a ramp to high. The right hand group is problematic. A single click from turbo takes the light to a 12,000lm strobe. The next click is a 12,000lm s.o.s. That makes battery check unusable. Turbo is usable as long as you remember the double click to exit.

If there was one thing I could change, it would be the right hand group. I would modify the “engineering mode” to allow blinky disable.

There a large difference between high and turbo. It would be nice if we could have a something between the two. Better yet replace the left group with an adjustable top of ramp group.

Charger and Power Bank

The MK36 includes a built-in charger and power-bank. The kit includes USB leads for charging and using the light as a power bank. I check tested the built-in charger. The power light illuminates in red during a charge. I haven’t tried the power bank mode yet.

Andrew_Debbie · 2019-11-26T11:08:52.000Z

Reserved for part 3.

1stein · 2019-11-26T17:46:30.000Z

Thanks for the review. I had once Manker MK34. Very floody. But it got hot within seconds, I let it go. But a sentiment to maker remained…

Mankerlight · 2019-11-28T09:29:48.000Z

thanks for review.

aginthelaw · 2019-11-28T10:56:14.000Z

That’s a fine looking light!

djozz · 2019-11-28T11:04:10.000Z

I’m hoping for some outside beam shots in part 3, not so much to see the beam of the MK36 (big wall of light I assume) but to see some pics of your beautiful island

Andrew_Debbie · 2019-11-28T11:09:55.000Z

aginthelaw:

That’s a fine looking light!

It is. Fit, finish and quality are first rate. Ergonomics are very good too.

The D4S will continue to be my everyday light. The MK36 is my new number two. A bright flood light is useful in so many situations. It is so bright that I don’t really need a dedicated thrower.

My Q8 is going into a drawer along side the L6.

Andrew_Debbie · 2019-11-28T11:32:19.000Z

djozz:

I’m hoping for some outside beam shots in part 3,

That is the plan. The weather is not helping. I’m also not really set up for beam shots. I have to figure out how.

I also plan to review the power bank mode and internal charger.

not so much to see the beam of the MK36 (big wall of light I assume) {

That is correct. Big wall of light.

but to see some pics of your beautiful island

Menai Bridge.

Britannia Bridge. This is a short walk from home.

Beaumaris Castle looking towards mainland.

djozz · 2019-11-28T11:42:32.000Z

Hmm, maybe next summer…

AlexGT · 2019-11-28T11:50:56.000Z

Thank you for the review

I would love if Manker could make lights with Anduril, USB charging AND power bank, it would be a first in the flashlight industry to combine all 3 features!

Andrew_Debbie · 2019-11-28T14:37:27.000Z

AlexGT:

I would love if Manker could make lights with Anduril,

I agree. This light would be even better if it had ramping and configurable blinkies. A 12,000lm strobe is not for everyone.