guncollector
Enlightened
Göncz M5 Review (Revised 10-22-02)
I received my Göncz Hi-Tech M5 light in the mail today (10-21-02), and as promised I wanted to get some pics up and a preliminary review.
Preface: This M5 unit was purchased from Mr. Goncz at full MSRP ($170.00), and shipped on an "expedited basis" in order to get it into another CPF'ers hands. As such, it came in a plain cardboard box (instead of the regular packaging), well-wrapped in bubblewrap, with instructions, charger, and extra Low-Output Bulbs (LOB). Also included were some color flyers, which have previously been posted here on the CPF.
[Note: I used "LOB", and not "LOLA" because you only replace the bulb in a Göncz unit, not the entire lamp assembly.]
I was a bit disappointed to receive only the LOB's (when I had ordered the High-Output Bulbs [HOB]), but just as I was thinking this Mr. Göncz called me on the phone (ESP?) and advised that at the time of shipping the HOB's were apparently not yet available but they'll ship soon he assured me.
Here's the first pic:
Upon picking up the M5, the first thing you notice is its nice heft--this is no flyweight flashlight. Silly me of course, I shake the light very hard anyways, but can discern no audible rattles or loose parts. That's always a good sign. I'd rate this as even more club-worthy than my Mag 3D.
The next thing you notice is the very fine machining that went into its production. Inside and out I can find no ugly toolmarks, or other major signs of "unfinished-ness". The only fault I can find with the finish is perhaps a barely visible 3/4" hairline-strip where the end cap meets the body of metal that didn't take to the annodizing process.
Disassembling the unit, I find the heavy aluminum reflector to be of particular interest. This is a serious heatsink, and nicely polished. The lens itself consists of a very thick piece of special temperature-resistent glass (per Mr. Göncz), 3.1mm by my measurement. The battery comes out after removing the end piece (as opposed to the "end cap"), and there are the NiMH batteries shrink-wrapped in a series with the Göncz designed end-ring on the bottom to facilitate the charging. Waterproofing is maintained by 4 visible O-rings that I can discern: 1 between lens and lens holder, 1 between reflector holder and focusing head, 1 between main housing and end piece, and 1 between end piece and end cap.
One niece touch I should mention is recessed lanyard tube in the end cap. This way you can attach a variety of lanyard options to your M5 for retention and/or storage (i.e. hanging) purposes. Also, I think with a little ingenuity I can make a simple "end cap" retention device out of a "Ranger Rubberband" (cut-up bike innertube) and some fine line. Furthermore, if I can find an appropriate small container, I could attach an extra LOB or HOB to the lanyard to have at hand for a quick-change in the field. Honestly, I think it would behoove other manufacturers to incorporate just such a lanyard tube in their designs.
Another design feature is the Göncz-designed quick-focusing head. This focusing head changes the beam pattern from spot-to-flood, albeit with a twist (pardon the pun). Twisting the focusing head in either direction will not remove/tighten the head unit, instead it continually alternates the beam's profile from spot-to-flood with about a 1/4- to 1/3-turn. This feature quick-focus is nice in that it limits the number positions--giving you positive "feel" for max-flood and max-spot.
Mr. Göncz says I can use alkalines in a pinch to power my M5 (perhaps underdriving the bulb), but hopefully I'll never have to. However, it is reassuring to know should I ever be prevented from charging, or temporarily be without my charger, I can utilize alkalines in the unit as opposed to having a paperweight.
Next, I plug-in the charger, remove the end cap, and insert the charger-plug into the recepticle for charging. The unit must have arrived with a pretty healthy charge, as within 15 minutes the charger light went intermitent ("flashing") green. The charger did get HOT, and there is a warning in the manual to this effect.
Here's a pic of the unit disassembled
.
I activate the light using the push-button located just below the bezel/focusing head. This push-button retains the same tactile feel of the now ubiquitous Maglite button. The operation is positive and requires a firm push (all the better to prevent accidental activation.) with the Göncz "Xenon 102" (LOB), I finally have light! While I am nowhere near blown-away by the light ouput, its definitely bright enough you don't want to stare directly into the beam. Remember, this is just the Low-Output Bulb (LOB).
I can't but help to want to compare even the LOB to something, so I pull out the nearest light here in my office, a Surefire 9P (P90 Lamp Assembly). Additionally, I compare it to a Surefire 9AN (N90 Lamp Assembly), and a Maglite 3D (with Carley Xenon-Star #713 aftermarket bulb).
At a range of 1.5m, you'll notice the M5 (X102 LOB)'s hotspot is bigger than the Maglite (Carley XS#713), and about the same size as the Surefire 9P (P90) and 9AN (N90). The Surefires 9-series both have brighter coronas. Note that the image coloration is not a photo-trick, the 9-series and Carley XS#713 are definitely whiter in appearance.
According to factory specs, with the 9P (P90) I'm going to get 50-60 minutes of lithium-powered light (as we all know along a diminishing curve). With the 9AN (N90) I'm supposed to get 40-50 minutes of NiCad-powered light, but only with a battery hot-off-the-charger (Surefire B90 NiCads have proven incapable of holding a charge more than a few days). If Göncz's factory-specs hold true, then I should get about 2.5 hours of NiMH-powered light at full output for 90% of the discharge curve with the M5 (LOB) and (HOB)--which will be a major step forward in battery design.
Drop test. With a bit of trepidation I take my M5, turn it on, and drop it bezel-first from about waist high (1m) directly onto the carpeted office floor (sorry, no concrete drop-test unless you provide me with the M5). A big thud, and the light is still on. Thank goodness, and my heartrate starts to return to normal.
Summary: The Göncz M5 appears to be a well-manufactured, high-quality type rechargeable flashlight using the next-step forward in rechargeable batteries (NiMH). With the LOB, it is probably not going to enter my quiver of "user lights", but with the HOB we'll definitely see (hurry and send them to me Mr. Göncz!). It's price point puts it in the Surefire 9AN-range. In that area, this M5 will not win in the compactness arena--but will most likely win in the battery-design/run-time and (hopefully) output arena (with HOB).
I will perform some run-time test as my schedule permits, as well as some waterproofing tests (hopefully I'll get out diving soon). In the meantime, Mr. Ted Bear and Kenshiro have done an excellent job of much the same with their M5 & M7, as well as a performed comprehensive beamshot test and photos in another thread.
I received my Göncz Hi-Tech M5 light in the mail today (10-21-02), and as promised I wanted to get some pics up and a preliminary review.
Preface: This M5 unit was purchased from Mr. Goncz at full MSRP ($170.00), and shipped on an "expedited basis" in order to get it into another CPF'ers hands. As such, it came in a plain cardboard box (instead of the regular packaging), well-wrapped in bubblewrap, with instructions, charger, and extra Low-Output Bulbs (LOB). Also included were some color flyers, which have previously been posted here on the CPF.
[Note: I used "LOB", and not "LOLA" because you only replace the bulb in a Göncz unit, not the entire lamp assembly.]
I was a bit disappointed to receive only the LOB's (when I had ordered the High-Output Bulbs [HOB]), but just as I was thinking this Mr. Göncz called me on the phone (ESP?) and advised that at the time of shipping the HOB's were apparently not yet available but they'll ship soon he assured me.
Here's the first pic:
Upon picking up the M5, the first thing you notice is its nice heft--this is no flyweight flashlight. Silly me of course, I shake the light very hard anyways, but can discern no audible rattles or loose parts. That's always a good sign. I'd rate this as even more club-worthy than my Mag 3D.
The next thing you notice is the very fine machining that went into its production. Inside and out I can find no ugly toolmarks, or other major signs of "unfinished-ness". The only fault I can find with the finish is perhaps a barely visible 3/4" hairline-strip where the end cap meets the body of metal that didn't take to the annodizing process.
Disassembling the unit, I find the heavy aluminum reflector to be of particular interest. This is a serious heatsink, and nicely polished. The lens itself consists of a very thick piece of special temperature-resistent glass (per Mr. Göncz), 3.1mm by my measurement. The battery comes out after removing the end piece (as opposed to the "end cap"), and there are the NiMH batteries shrink-wrapped in a series with the Göncz designed end-ring on the bottom to facilitate the charging. Waterproofing is maintained by 4 visible O-rings that I can discern: 1 between lens and lens holder, 1 between reflector holder and focusing head, 1 between main housing and end piece, and 1 between end piece and end cap.
One niece touch I should mention is recessed lanyard tube in the end cap. This way you can attach a variety of lanyard options to your M5 for retention and/or storage (i.e. hanging) purposes. Also, I think with a little ingenuity I can make a simple "end cap" retention device out of a "Ranger Rubberband" (cut-up bike innertube) and some fine line. Furthermore, if I can find an appropriate small container, I could attach an extra LOB or HOB to the lanyard to have at hand for a quick-change in the field. Honestly, I think it would behoove other manufacturers to incorporate just such a lanyard tube in their designs.
Another design feature is the Göncz-designed quick-focusing head. This focusing head changes the beam pattern from spot-to-flood, albeit with a twist (pardon the pun). Twisting the focusing head in either direction will not remove/tighten the head unit, instead it continually alternates the beam's profile from spot-to-flood with about a 1/4- to 1/3-turn. This feature quick-focus is nice in that it limits the number positions--giving you positive "feel" for max-flood and max-spot.
Mr. Göncz says I can use alkalines in a pinch to power my M5 (perhaps underdriving the bulb), but hopefully I'll never have to. However, it is reassuring to know should I ever be prevented from charging, or temporarily be without my charger, I can utilize alkalines in the unit as opposed to having a paperweight.
Next, I plug-in the charger, remove the end cap, and insert the charger-plug into the recepticle for charging. The unit must have arrived with a pretty healthy charge, as within 15 minutes the charger light went intermitent ("flashing") green. The charger did get HOT, and there is a warning in the manual to this effect.
Here's a pic of the unit disassembled
I activate the light using the push-button located just below the bezel/focusing head. This push-button retains the same tactile feel of the now ubiquitous Maglite button. The operation is positive and requires a firm push (all the better to prevent accidental activation.) with the Göncz "Xenon 102" (LOB), I finally have light! While I am nowhere near blown-away by the light ouput, its definitely bright enough you don't want to stare directly into the beam. Remember, this is just the Low-Output Bulb (LOB).
I can't but help to want to compare even the LOB to something, so I pull out the nearest light here in my office, a Surefire 9P (P90 Lamp Assembly). Additionally, I compare it to a Surefire 9AN (N90 Lamp Assembly), and a Maglite 3D (with Carley Xenon-Star #713 aftermarket bulb).
At a range of 1.5m, you'll notice the M5 (X102 LOB)'s hotspot is bigger than the Maglite (Carley XS#713), and about the same size as the Surefire 9P (P90) and 9AN (N90). The Surefires 9-series both have brighter coronas. Note that the image coloration is not a photo-trick, the 9-series and Carley XS#713 are definitely whiter in appearance.
According to factory specs, with the 9P (P90) I'm going to get 50-60 minutes of lithium-powered light (as we all know along a diminishing curve). With the 9AN (N90) I'm supposed to get 40-50 minutes of NiCad-powered light, but only with a battery hot-off-the-charger (Surefire B90 NiCads have proven incapable of holding a charge more than a few days). If Göncz's factory-specs hold true, then I should get about 2.5 hours of NiMH-powered light at full output for 90% of the discharge curve with the M5 (LOB) and (HOB)--which will be a major step forward in battery design.
Drop test. With a bit of trepidation I take my M5, turn it on, and drop it bezel-first from about waist high (1m) directly onto the carpeted office floor (sorry, no concrete drop-test unless you provide me with the M5). A big thud, and the light is still on. Thank goodness, and my heartrate starts to return to normal.
Summary: The Göncz M5 appears to be a well-manufactured, high-quality type rechargeable flashlight using the next-step forward in rechargeable batteries (NiMH). With the LOB, it is probably not going to enter my quiver of "user lights", but with the HOB we'll definitely see (hurry and send them to me Mr. Göncz!). It's price point puts it in the Surefire 9AN-range. In that area, this M5 will not win in the compactness arena--but will most likely win in the battery-design/run-time and (hopefully) output arena (with HOB).
I will perform some run-time test as my schedule permits, as well as some waterproofing tests (hopefully I'll get out diving soon). In the meantime, Mr. Ted Bear and Kenshiro have done an excellent job of much the same with their M5 & M7, as well as a performed comprehensive beamshot test and photos in another thread.
