Led Lenser M Series

Failed after a few years of VERY light use – This torch failed. It started to flicker. Batteries were a bit low, so I replaced the batteries. This didn't fix the problem. I have had this torch for about 4 years. About 99%+ of the time this torch sits in the drawer until I need to use it in the back garden, when it is dark out. Less than a half a dozen times a year. It is now useless. … Read more

It shows no signs of damage, you would be hard pressed to find a mark on it. It has never been dropped, although I would expect the LED Lenser to survive normal wear and tear, which this torch hasn't even been put through.

I purchased this torch expecting it would out live me. Given the premium I paid. Sorry LED Lenser, you had your chance and failed miserably. Back to cheapo disposable torches.

Too good to be discontinued – After having H7R headlamps on which the on/off buttons eventually malfunctioned, we ended up buying a couple of M7R torches. We have had them for at least 3 years now. Very happy with them, they seem to last quite a long time before needing a charge, I have mine set so that it uses the battery offering consistent brightness and just does a… Read more

warning flash when it's about to run out (compared to gradually losing brightness as the battery runs out) I think it's great that you can choose regulated output.

The charging connection being magnetically coupled to the on/off switch is brilliant. And it can be charged by 240v or usb (usb charging is a definite must have for camping).

Only real negative is that it's pretty bright to have as a bedside night light haha.

Perhaps it would be nice if it had some faces on the body (so it doesn't roll around), although that problem is solved if you put the clip it came with on it. I don't keep the clip on it and it's probably not it's intended design but I did manage to mount it to my bike helmet so that if I need to ride at night I just clip the torch on and go.

The other thing I've found is that colour filter lenses are also available for this torch....the red colour is really handy if your kids do something like Airforce or Army Cadets, and I guess other colours could be good if you don't want bugs flying at you. Actually come to think of it the kit that the lenses come with would stop the torch rolling around too.

It's a shame they are discontinuing this line of torches but I guess their other models probably offer similar benefits. I'm confident my current one will serve me well for many years to come. It's a great torch for camping or around home and it's really bright.

over the 3 years of owning it from new it is deteriorating in light output – I have owned the led lenser m5 for 3 years. the first year I was really pleased and bought another as a gift. after the second year the flashlight begun to go through more batteries and the light output flickers from bright to dull for a short while at first then goes dull for the rest of the duration. I thought I'd have this light for a life time so I paid the high price for it, unfortunately I doubt that will be the case.

Quality torches but at a price – My M14 - 8314 (400 Lm out to 320m) is very bright with very good build quality. I added this model to my Led Lenser collection about a year ago - previously bought and still have a P7 (4 x AAA, 200 Lm out to 200m) for my work ute and the H14 for fishing or for anything that needs to be hands free.The M14 is short, fat and very bright (4 x AA… Read more

batteries) but still easy to hold with an exceptional range - the P7 is easier to handle and pocket (my favourite model). Both come with very sturdy belt pouches but the H14 can be removed from the head strap and easily clipped to your belt - very convenient. They all have quick zoom function (the M14 has additional light functions) and all have a burn time of about 50+ hours (on low setting - bright enough for general use) but significantly less if you want to spend all night scaring the local fauna or neighborhood cats. A quality product but at a high price - but worth it.

Lenser had their chance – I bought an M5 for a good price less than a year ago. It looks and feels stylish. But the poor built quality 'shines' through. The power button was always a little flakey but with tender pressing and the occasional "remove and replace end cap" it worked... okay. Until the switch failed completely and the torch sat in a drawer for 2 months. I… Read more

finally mailed the unit for a painless warranty repair.

Upon return the switch worked perfectly. For 3 weeks. The switch has again failed completely. No more. Since I can buy a reliable (so far) LED torch from Bunnings for $8 (less than the postage for LED Lenser warranty) I am now... enlightened.

Led Lenser M5 - ideal pocket torch that focusses, but should be cheaper – The Led Lenser M5 LED torch takes a single AA battery. It's a compact little unit that's just slightly thicker than an AA cell and a little longer. Either way it's small enough to put in a pocket. The model I have has three modes - low, high and strobe, selectable by repeated clicks of the rear switch. THE GOOD: nice, bright beam that… Read more

focusses and maintains an almost perfect brightness right through the beam without any major rings or other artefacts. This is something that Led Lenser does well and is a real strength of the M5.

Uses single standard AA battery, available nearly everywhere.

Compact unit.

Positive action click switch means it's unlikely to turn on inadvertantly.

THE NOT-SO-GOOD: lens is plastic and even though it's recessed, it can still accumulate dirt and dust (especially if kept in pocket) so is prone to scratching. Must be treated like your reading glasses - clean with soft microfibre only (better yet DON'T get dirty).

Led Lenser does not recommend rechargeable batteries, alkalines only.

Relatively expensive if bought online, ridiculous standard pricing in Australian camping stores.

On the subject of batteries - various torch sites (like Candlepower forums) suggest many have used Led Lenser M series with Eneloops without any ill-effects - I would suggest you do some investigation and decide for yourself.

In conclusion:

A high quality pocket torch with good performance, however it's very expensive at standard pricing and downright ridiculous in Australia. If you can find in online or on special, it's worth considering.

If you look after it (don't scratch the lens) it will last a very long time. Uses AA batteries, excellent brigth focussing beam, compact Relatively expensive at normal pricing, rechargeable cells not recommended by manucturer

Led Lenser the upper mid crust of the torch world – So I finally went and purchased myself a little gift - a Led Lenser MT7... After all these years of owning Maglites and other lights like Duracell 'Daylites' and others like Energizers Lithium 'CREE LED' which gave me 110 lumens - I thought to myself that the Led Lenser would be the next evolution in torch ownership. So after owning it for the… Read more

last 3 days and getting only a few hours per night to actively go outside and blind some native critters and stun some cats my thoughts of this torch from originally being "Overkill" and "A battery eating device" back in 2011 when a friend purchased the same torch; to now in 2012 where I am left feeling "Impressed and feel its a worthwhile purchase"!

The MT7 is a civilian and tactical torch which will scare the pants off most people for its diminutive size however monstrous performance, I do know that there are smaller torches out there that blow this torch away - however for the cost of them and the batteries that they use 'CR123's' make them too costly to own or a fart around to find and maintain!

My initial thoughts on this torch when I received it were great quality, when I opened the torch itself the threads were dry, like the Sahara in summer... Not one blob of silicone grease or oil to work between the threads of the torch - this can lead to galling and then stripping and then 'throwing out' the torch due to not working as it should! I cleaned and greased the threads all through the torch and silicone oiled the gaskets and the SLT mechanism which helps the user lock and unlock the torch a 'lot' easier single handed!

Installing the batteries is childs play, there are 4 AAA batteries supplied from Led Lenser however I chose to use Duracell Ultimate's for performance that I noticed in my other torches, and from that I went to Sanyo Eneloops due to the torch being battery hungry.

The SLT system which is the quick lock and unlock focus system that most Led Lensers employ these days is one of ease and comfort now, this is a quick twist and lock, unlock and focus and twist to lock. Simply there is a fair amount of adjustable focus on this torch, from flood and do I mean flood focus which bathes the area with a decent amount of light to a focus point which is so so. The focus at the furthest depth of reach seems to flood out too much for my liking - I cannot honestly say that it could reach 200 meters safety; however it does reach a fair way away and illuminate peoples houses to the degree that they come out to investigate what that flash was...

The programmable function with settings and lighting patterns is not too bad I must say - handy for the quick deployment of what you may need. There are 3 settings available and 2 battery use programmes, the 3 settings for light consists of 1 Tactical / Professional (Full strength, dimmable, intermittent blink, sos and strobe (epileptics beware!), 2 Easy (Full strength, Low power and dimmable) and 3 Defence which is great for security people and women that are in dodgy areas! This programme consists of (Full strength and strobe (epileptics beware!)... Basic operation to change these programs is follow the card that they supply in the box.

Overall use of the torch is what I would say handy, I would like to have seen that it starts up on dim and then change to full power rather than the other way, just to reduce blinding yourself and others in the vicinity!

I found out that I was missing the pouch in the box as someone it seemed to have changed the pouch with the Led Lenser smart belt clip - its something that suits one person's taste but not the other - great for security and law enforcement but not average Andrew! I wanted the pouch to keep the torch from being scratched up while on my side and rubbed against objects like walls and rocks while out. Never mind I have ordered the pouch and the anti roll bezel cap and light filter kit as after market items for this torch - these items will prove handy for sure! The Loop that is attached to the torch is a stainless steel contraption that feels and looks like it is a 'last minute ditch design' and doesn't work all that well when you attach the wrist strap to it - it manages to unaligne itself and flop to a side and start to rub off the anodising pretty quickly! I am going to replace this with a smaller stainless fishing 'O' ring which will work allot better than their oddly misshaped idea.

Waterproofing which I believe shows the quality of the torch itself, I found the Led Lenser is gasketed enough to make me feel safe if I were to be caught out in a rainy spell / shower; but the Led Lenser rating of IP54 suggests otherwise - that is dust protected and from splashes from all directions. I ensured that the gaskets got a good dousing of good quality grease and silicone oil to prevent as much water / humidity getting into the unit. I am thankful that all contacts of the torch are gold plated which will assist in corrosion resistance and efficient electrical transfer throughout the torch itself.

In my simple conclusion of the MT7, its well made (and anodised which is hard to find these days), and well put together with all things current in this worlds timeline. There would be a few things that I personally would have changed with the design however it has to please the masses rather than the minority flashlight enthusiasts. It seems that there is a lot of the same talk around Led Lenser when they sold out to Leatherman Inc, people suggest that they are getting weaker and that the MT7 in essence is or should not be classified as a tactical strength torch. I believe that to quiet a degree with all the parts of the LL* being aluminium - not even a crenellated bezel or steel window breaker at all - its all just aluminium which is soft?

If you are interested in buying a Led Lenser MT7 - don't be fooled into buying one off eBay that originates from Hong Kong or any other Asian sub continent, they will all be fakes or 99% of them - buy from a reputable Led Lenser importer and don't pay more than $100 for it - if your unsure about a Led Lenser you purchased online then email Zen imports about it and get it verified...

Edit 20140612: Since owning the MT7 series for a while, I would highly recommend that anyone wanting the MT7 should avoid this particular model and go for the M7 series - the T stands for 'battery hungry' & no great deal more than the M7... I seem to go through AAA Sanyo Eneloop batteries every second use with intermittent use of the torch, its getting to the point that I barely use the torch anymore due to the thirst of this torch compared to say my Nitecore EA4 - battery hungry LED torches are just a false economy... Avoid the MT7 series!!! Well made, solid user friendly design, good optics and light output. Can chew through batteries like no other!!! Even in general use. Heavy and will dent / bend certain areas if dropped! Did not come with its holster pouch. Also the LED is not regulated - which in the torch circles is not that great a feature...