Manker E05 II Ti Flashlight Review
Here’s the Manker E05 II Ti flashlight, which runs an included 14500 and can also use an AA cell. It has a Nichia 519a with incredible color rendering, too!
Official Specs and Features
Here’s a referral link to the Manker E05 II Ti flashlight at killzoneflashlights.com.
Versions
The Manker E05 II Ti flashlight comes in two versions – one has this Nichia emitter and the other is a higher output 6500K version. I believe there’s also a few colors of aluminum, too. The original version is still floating around out there, too!
Price
The Manker E05 II Ti flashlight sells for a reasonable $49.95 at killzoneflashlights.com.
What’s Included
- Manker E05 II Ti flashlight
- Manker 920mAh 14500
- Lanyard
- Charging cable
- Spare o-ring
- Manual
Package and Manual
Build Quality and Disassembly
This Manker E05 II Ti flashlight is a fantastic little light. The build quality is good, especially for a titanium light under $50!
It’s technically a version 2 of the E05Ti, but the body has changed a good bit. The previous (maybe “original” version had ridges on the cell tube. This “II’ version is much more rounded.
Only the head comes off, but the tail does look like a separate piece. Possibly it’s glued.
You’ll very clearly notice that this is a titanium light by the threads, but they are beefy and smooth enough.
Size and Comps
• Size: 91.35mm (length) x ø17mm (min body dia.) x ø20mm (tail dia.) / 3.60″ x 0.67″ x 0.79″
• Weight: 79.3 g / 2.79 oz (included 14500 battery)
This is smaller than the previous generation!
If the flashlight will headstand, I’ll show it here (usually the third photo). If the flashlight will tailstand, I’ll also show that (usually in the fourth photo).
Here’s the test light with the venerable Convoy S2+. The version below is a custom laser-engraved Convoy S2+ host by GadgetConnections.com. I did a full post on an engraved orange host right here! Or just go straight to GadgetConnections.com to buy your Convoy S2+ now!
Also above is the light beside a TorchLAB BOSS 35, an 18350 light. I reviewed the aluminum version of that light in both 35 and 70 formats. I also reviewed that specific edition, the “Oveready BOSS FT Collector Vintage Brass” 35. I love it!
Retention and Carry
There are two main ways of carrying the Manker E05 II Ti flashlight. First, here’s the pocket clip.
This clip is a single screw deep carry clip, connected by a TORX screw. The clip is great. Easy to use, deep carry, and overall just very functional. Also noteworthy is that since the cell tube of this version is smooth, the light slides in and out of a pocket without any cheese-gratering.
The pocket clip is not reversible, so there’s no hat light possibility here.
Next is the lanyard, which attaches through the hole in the pocket clip.
Power and Runtime
A great feature of this little light is that it is (still!) dual-fuel capable. It’ll run on 1.5V AA-sized cells (Alkaline, Lithium, Eneloop/NiMH). But it’ll also run on 14500 lithium-ion cells. Whatever cell you do use, it’ll need to be a button top, though.
Manker includes this button top 920mAh 14500, which goes into the light with the button toward the head.
Below are a couple of runtimes with the included 14500 cell. Performance is fairly good. The claimed output is 800 lumens, and I see a peak of around 722. Once the light settles, output is very stable.
The light does shut off when cell voltage is low (around 3V).
Charging
The Manker E05 II Ti flashlight itself does not have charging, but the included cell does. It’s USB-C charging and the charge port is on the positive end of the cell.
A cable is included too – USB-A to USB-C.
Both A to C and C to C charging work just fine. This charge rate is around 0.5C, and plenty slow for good cell protection (and longevity, etc.)
Modes and Currents
| Mode | Mode Claimed Output (lm) | Claimed Runtime | Measured Lumens | Tailcap Amps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14500 High | 800-220-6.5 | 2m+1h+4h | 722 (0s) 661 (30s) |
4.26 |
| 14500 Medium | 220-6.5 | 1h30m-3h50m | 203 (0s) 196 (30s) |
0.51 |
| 14500 Low | 6.5 | 50h | 5.4 | [low] |
| AA High | 300-80-1.5 | 2m+2h+30m | 282 | 4.02 |
| AA Medium | 80-1.5 | 1h50m+3h3m | 72 | 0.63 |
| AA Low | 1.5 | 27h | 1 | 0.04 |
Pulse Width Modulation
None of the modes seem to use PWM. Maybe the highest mode with AA, but that doesn’t seem like PWM. The grouped photos below also use the order seen in this set.
For reference, here’s a baseline shot, with all the room lights off and almost nothing hitting the sensor. Also, here’s the light with the worst PWM I could find. I’m adding multiple timescales, comparing them to the test light will be easier. Unfortunately, the PWM on this light is so bad that it doesn’t even work with my normal scale, which is 50 microseconds (50us). 10ms. 5ms. 2ms. 1ms. 0.5ms. 0.2ms. In a display faster than 0.2ms or so, the on/off cycle is more than one screen, so it’d just (very incorrectly) look like a flat line. I wrote more about this Ultrafire WF-602C flashlight and briefly explained PWM.
User Interface and Operation
A single switch is used for controlling the Manker E05 II Ti flashlight. It’s a forward mechanical clicky.
This seems to be a change from previous, which used a reverse clicky.
The switch cover seems to also be titanium. And there’s a tritium slot here! This is a lot like the Reylight AA/AAA switches, both in look and action. The motion is better than Reylights, though. The switch is firm, with little play (and almost no slop).
Also, the switch is not proud at all – tailstanding is a cinch.
Here’s a user interface table! It’s the same for AA/14500.
| State | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Off | Click | On (Mode memory except strobe) |
| On | Click | Off |
| Off | Tap | Mode advance (click to select) |
| Off | Double tap | Strobe |
LED and Beam
My review copy of the Manker E05 II Ti flashlight uses one Nichia 519a emitter. It’s rated at 4000K and is “R9080.”
There’s an orange peel reflector, too.
This version has lower output but that is to allow high CRI and a pleasant CCT. If you need higher output you can go for the 6500K version. Or if you need throw, consider the original!
LED Color Report (CRI and CCT)
I can’t recall seeing better CRI and CCT reports. The R9 here is so high. CRI is so high. The red circle matches the black circle so nicely. It’s an exceptional emitter. I would say this is even a great example among other Nichia 519a emitters, too. It seems particularly great!
It comes in under the 4000K mark, at around 3800-3900K.
Beamshots
These beamshots are always with the following settings: f8, ISO100, 0.3s shutter, and manual 5000K exposure. These photos are taken at floor level and the beam hits the ceiling around 9 feet away.
Tint vs BLF-348 (KillzoneFlashlights.com 219b version) (affiliate link)
I keep the test flashlight on the left, and the BLF-348 reference flashlight on the right. These photos are taken around 18 inches from the door.
I compare everything to the KillzoneFlashlights.com 219b BLF-348 because it’s inexpensive and has the best tint!
Summary and Conclusion
I love the original version of the Manker E05 II Ti flashlight and I like this version a whole lot too. It’s nice that the light is smaller and still uses a reflector. The beam profile is great. And again, this specific Nichia 519a seems extra fantastic! I’m pleased that the cell is included, and for $50, it’s hard to beat!
The Big Table
| Manker E05 II Ti Flashlight | |
|---|---|
| Emitter: | Nichia 519a (R9080) |
| Price in USD at publication time: | $49.95 |
| Cell: | 1×14500 |
| Runtime Graphs | |
| LVP? | Yes |
| Switch Type: | Mechanical |
| On-Board Charging? | Yes |
| Charge Port Type: | USB-C (on cell) |
| Charge Graph | |
| Power off Charge Port | – |
| Claimed Lumens (lm) | 800 (14500) 300 (AA) |
| Measured Lumens (at 30s) | 14500: 661 (82.6% of claim)^ AA: |
| Candela per Lumen | 5.15 |
| Claimed Throw (m) | 14500: 120 AA: – |
| Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s) | 14500: 181lux @ 4.791m = 4155cd |
| Throw (Calculated) (m) | 14500: 128.9 (107.4% of claim)^ |
| Claimed CCT | 4000K |
| Measured CCT Range (K) | 14500: 3700-3900 Kelvin AA: 3800-3800 Kelvin |
| Item provided for review by: | killzoneflashlights.com |
| All my Manker reviews! | |
^ Measurement disclaimer: Testing flashlights is my hobby. I use hobbyist-level equipment for testing, including some I made myself. Try not to get buried in the details of manufacturer specifications versus measurements recorded here; A certain amount of difference (say, 10 or 15%) is perfectly reasonable.
What I like
- Titanium construction
- Exceptional version of the Nichia 519a
- High CRI
- Dual fuel – 1.5V and 4.2V cell option
- Tritium slot in switch!
- I think strobe is easier to avoid than the previous version
What I don’t like
- Mode memory
- Does not hit output specification
Notes
- This content originally appeared at zeroair.org. Please visit there for the best experience!
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