I just got the ZL SC600 based on comments I stumbled upon here at CP Forums. I already had a FourSevens MiniX123 (that I carry on my keychain) so I knew that LEDs were pretty awesome but, even so, I'm simply stunned by the SC600
. It's size, power, UI and the fact it's rechargeable is nothing short of amazing (to me). If this is what I could discover simply by poking around the forum I'm curious about what other great lights are out there and what people consider their flat out favourite compact pocket carry light?
I just got a Zebralight SC600 and a 3100mah Eagletac 18650 battery to go with it. But my 1st LED flashlight was my Jetbeam BC-10. It runs on one Cr123. It has a Cree XPG-R5 LED, which has a very small diameter emitter, which gives it a big advantage in the throw department vs the XM-L. A smaller LED emitter will throw farther in the same size reflector. The XP-G is so small compared to the XM-L, that it will throw a lot father in a smaller diameter reflector! Usually you hear that you need a larger diameter reflector for better throw, but the XP-G is so small it doesnt need that big a reflector.
So anyway, even though the ZL SC600 has an XM-L and a 50% larger reflector and over 500lu, my BC-10 still out throws it! The BC-10 has a much more refined beam, including more refined, more concentrated hot spot.
BC-10 only has 2 modes, and they are VERY simple to operate. You simply turn the bezel a little to go from low(30lu) to high(270lu). It has a rear clicky switch with on/off or momentary. On low it lasts 18 hours with 30lu, and high(270lu) lasts about 1.5 hours. I use Titanium Innovations CR123's, and only pay $1 apiece for them, and one of them lasts me over 3 months in the BC-10. So that about .30 cents per month!
But the BC-10 also has much thicker anodizing, which is much tougher than the SC600's, which is thin. The BC-10 is also about 1" shorter, about 1/2 the weight, and 3mm thinner. But it is built tough and fairly thick.
The greatest thing though is that the BC-10 costs only $38.90, whereas my SC600 was $95! I've had my BC-10 in my pocket every day for 5 months, with my keys and change, and it still has 99.5% of its anodizing on it! I've dropped it onto concrete from 15 feet, and it didnt do squat....
It's difficult to find many single CR123 lights that go up to 270 lumens on high. There are a few new XM-L lights that run on a 123, and they go up to 400+ lumens, but have half the battery life of the BC-10, or less than half, and the BC-10 still will out throw them!
So I honestly think the Jetbeam BC-10 should be the 1st light everyone buys, and maybe the next light everyone buys! I now have 4 different top quality LED lights, and I will buy more, but I can guarantee you that the BC-10 will be the one I use 95% of the time! Its the most portable and useful by far! Plus its cheap.....:thumbsup: