Re: Zebralight H51 details/preorder!!!
Zebralight H50 Vs. H51
First off, compared to other reiews, I know this isn't up to scratch in terms of metrics and hard facts, these are just my impressions and observations. So with that in mind...
I have been using my H50 regularly, probably every day, since I got it a couple of years ago. It's my principal way of reading at night, and during the autumn winter months I use it around the house to avoid switching on lights and waking little ones. I didn't buy it realizing that I would come to use a floody light so much, (light purchases are not governed by rational thought processes). As I grew to appreciate its benefits it's become the nearest thing I have to an EDC for about the house.
Mainly because I liked the H50's quality I ordered an SC50 when they came out, but when I got wind of the existence of the H51, I emailed ZL to change my order, which they obligingly did back in February. So to say that I was anticipating the arrival of this light would be an understatement: I practically ripped open the box when it arrived.
I wasn't disappointed. My first impression was: that it is so solid. Even though it isn't that much bigger than the H50, it gives the impression that it is. It reminds me a little bit of the Fenix TK1 in terms of build quality: like it's three times stronger than it needs to be – but that's a good thing.
It is a little bulkier in terms of width and height than the H50, but again, I expected that: you can't have that switch without taking up a little more room, right?
Photos here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/diarcon/20100820?feat=directlink
I'm not a sure of the engineering rationale for those 'gills' that wrap around the back of the head , but I'm guessing they are there to help make a bigger surface area for heat dissipation? I would think there's nothing on those lights that doesn't serve a purpose.
When I turned on the light, it didn't disappoint either. It is very very bright and has a good deal of throw (considering its reflector size). Up to 10-15 meters it is indistinguishable to me in terms of brightness copard to my FenixL2D which is rated at 180 lumens I think. In fact, at those distances I think the beam is actually more useful on the H51 because it is as bright (marginally brighter) but has a larger hotspot diameter. The deeper reflector gives the L2D more focus/throw on longer distances obviously, but for a single AA battery headlight I think the H51 is punching above its weight. It's amazing really how much light the H51 produces using a single AA battery.
I used it while cycling last night and on Medium (higher level) it was bright enough for me to cycle in an urban area. High would be more than enough on a dark road.
I do think my H51 has a very very slight green tint (compared to the L2D) but I am not overly concerned about that.
I've often wondered why ZL don't do an AAA light? Granted, the run times would be shorter on higher settings, but my Fenix L0D has stayed on my key-ring because it's a tiny AAA. If I saw a manufacturer advertising AAA light that produces ~200lm I'd be at their door (website at least) in the morning trying to shove my money in.
The UI is simple enough to use. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the High-high setting is saved when you turn it off. I thought the ZL website had originally said it wouldn't be?
To be honest I don't really mind what the mid range settings are. I use max or min power usually and the UI lets me access either of those instantly. A quick click turns it on high a longer click and hold starts it off on low.
It takes a little practice not to release too soon and end up blinding yourself (or the missus) or too late before it continues up to the mid setting. You have about one second to release on low before it goes on to the mid setting. It jumps to the high setting pretty quickly though, so you have to be quick to release on mid. The only thing I notice when I click and hold, sometimes (I'd say about once in every five uses) there's a tiny little bit of pre-flash before it stays at low. It's nowhere near a full strength flash – probably not much more than the low-low strength - certainly not enough to bother me. The clickie switch is easy to switch on accidentally but a short twist of the tail cap locks out the power. Again, this to me only indicates good design, because I don't want a stiff switch, and they have provided a solution to an obvious possible problem.
One thing not mentioned in the instructions for the UI was that when you do a quick click to get the high setting, if you follow this up (within a second I'd say) with one or two further clicks, it cycles down from H to M to L. If you wait any longer than a second, the double click action switches you between H1 and H2 or M1 M2, depending on where you stop. This is something I like, because you have the option of quickly moving down through the levels from off, or you can use the click and hold to cycle up from L-M-H by clicking and holding. I had originally thought I'd like a fully programmable UI, but the more I think about it, the more I realize that this is how I would have probably set it up anyway.
The very low setting (0.2 lm I think), is enough for me to read by in complete darkness.
The L2 setting might be brighter, but the hot spot is too bright for my liking.
The clickie switch feels good quality and is quiet (its about the same loudness as my mouse click).
If I could change things I would do the following:
Add a removable steel clip like the SC50
Add a ring anchor point for a lanyard etc.
After mine arrived I saw ZL had changed the accessories to include a removable clip. I contacted ZL to see if I could buy one, as I knew there wasn't one when its details were first announced, and they wrote back saying that they'd post me one for free when they were available. 'Can't say fairer than that', as we say in this part of the world.
My only whine would be that it lacks a ring anchor point that would allow me to put it on a lanyard. The same was true of my H50, but it hasn't stopped me from loving it or finding it so useful.
Actually, it's a bit unfair of me to complain about that, because you don't expect someone to carry something that has been designed as a headlamp in another way, do you?
If size/technical constraints didn't matter I'd like the following:
Have a momentary on action for the switch
Have some kind of built in diffuser that could be used for close up work.
In summary then, I think this is just about the perfect light for my EDC (if only it was more carry-able/wearable). It's small, it has power, many levels, plenty of throw, can be used hands free, works on AA. That's all I need. On the other hand, I don't think my H50 will surrender its place as my 'around house light' just yet. I love its flood and it is a very symmetrical aesthetically pleasing light.
