I decided to finally upgrade my very handy H51w to the newer H52w. I've been so excited about it I decided to take a bunch of pics. I was very happy with my H51w, but there were so many new features and small upgrades that I couldn't resist.
Some new features compared to the older H51...
+14500 Li-ion support (allowing a 1 minute burst of about double the lumens too)
+more programmable sub-levels
+beacon and additional strobe mode
+XML-L2 more efficient
+XML-L2 has a bit better spill and slightly wider hotspot (for those who like it more floody)
+ever so slightly smaller and lighter
+battery capacity check
+all levels current regulated (no PWM)
+low battery alert
+strobe modes not in main group but easier to get to
+power switch stiffer, and smaller, no more problems with accidental activation
Can't think of any of the new changes I don't like, except for maybe the switch being a bit too hard to activate. I never had any problems with my H51w though, but I'm not going to complain too much about it. I also noticed the groove for the pocket clip wasn't as deep (or the ridge beside it not as high) and a few times I've noticed it wasn't properly seated. Still work fine, but I like the deeper groove on the H51w not sure why that was changed.
Here is how the power levels compare, and physical comparison (H52 left, H51 right):
I read right at spec, 32g. For backpacking I would most likely use the ZL headband and L91 primary, at 70g, very light compared to most other backpacking oriented headlamps.
My first time using my macro filter for flashlight... looks pretty centered but I noticed a bright streak in the first photo and zoomed in a little more. It appeared to be a reflection of a fiber of some sort along the side of the LED. I marked the hair like piece and its reflection with a ">". I'm not to worried about and it would not have ever noticed had I not been zoomed in so much.
On my computer table, H51w left, H52w right. First shot AWB second shot I set the white balance to 4300k which should be the average of the two (4200k & 4400k). The later looks closer to the eye, the beam centers are very similar slightly yellow, but the H51w is fairly consistent throughout the spill with the same color whereas the H52w has a much more rosy / magenta spill. I like the more consistent color of the H51w, but I do love the tint of the H52w as well, its just slightly annoying that it varies a lot more from center to spill.
Oh and disclaimer, when comparing tints your own monitor plays a huge role viewing the picture. I have three monitors on this computer and one looks perfect but the other too make it look nothing like it does to my eyes. So your warned.
Beamshots up next:
All above shots 1/50sec f/3.5 ISO 400 AWB. Eneloops except for 500L mode with EagleTac 750mAh 14500.
I can hardly tell much difference, so I took some side by side shots:
H51w left, H52w right...
172 lumen vs 172 lumen
172 lumen vs 280 lumen
172 lumen vs 500 lumen
These were all shot with L91, except 500 lumen w/ 14500. In that last shot it looks like the H51w on the left got brighter, not sure whats up with that unless its the spill bleeding over from the 500 lumens sitting next to it, or the very bright H52w messing with the AWB. Above shots are all 1/10 f/4.0 ISO 400 AWB.
Since ZL seems to be a bit overrated, and 47's underrated I put my Quark-X AA2 (280L turbo that supposedly is closer to 400) up against the 500 lumen H52w. To the naked eye they seem much more similar but on the pic the ZL clearly does outpower the Quark using 14500. I like the tint of the H52 so much better too, the Quark is more yellow/green at the center and even cooler in the spill.
And lastly, a more natural setting:
H51w 172L
H52w 172L
H52w 280L
H52w 500L
Above taken at 1 sec f/4.6 ISO 800 AWB. Eneloops except for 500L mode on H52w (EagleTac 14500).
So far I really like this light. I'll be gone the next several days out to 'the camp' for deer season. I might get some usage out of it then, though I'll probably be sporting my H600 instead.
Some new features compared to the older H51...
+14500 Li-ion support (allowing a 1 minute burst of about double the lumens too)
+more programmable sub-levels
+beacon and additional strobe mode
+XML-L2 more efficient
+XML-L2 has a bit better spill and slightly wider hotspot (for those who like it more floody)
+ever so slightly smaller and lighter
+battery capacity check
+all levels current regulated (no PWM)
+low battery alert
+strobe modes not in main group but easier to get to
+power switch stiffer, and smaller, no more problems with accidental activation
Can't think of any of the new changes I don't like, except for maybe the switch being a bit too hard to activate. I never had any problems with my H51w though, but I'm not going to complain too much about it. I also noticed the groove for the pocket clip wasn't as deep (or the ridge beside it not as high) and a few times I've noticed it wasn't properly seated. Still work fine, but I like the deeper groove on the H51w not sure why that was changed.
Here is how the power levels compare, and physical comparison (H52 left, H51 right):
I read right at spec, 32g. For backpacking I would most likely use the ZL headband and L91 primary, at 70g, very light compared to most other backpacking oriented headlamps.
My first time using my macro filter for flashlight... looks pretty centered but I noticed a bright streak in the first photo and zoomed in a little more. It appeared to be a reflection of a fiber of some sort along the side of the LED. I marked the hair like piece and its reflection with a ">". I'm not to worried about and it would not have ever noticed had I not been zoomed in so much.
On my computer table, H51w left, H52w right. First shot AWB second shot I set the white balance to 4300k which should be the average of the two (4200k & 4400k). The later looks closer to the eye, the beam centers are very similar slightly yellow, but the H51w is fairly consistent throughout the spill with the same color whereas the H52w has a much more rosy / magenta spill. I like the more consistent color of the H51w, but I do love the tint of the H52w as well, its just slightly annoying that it varies a lot more from center to spill.
Oh and disclaimer, when comparing tints your own monitor plays a huge role viewing the picture. I have three monitors on this computer and one looks perfect but the other too make it look nothing like it does to my eyes. So your warned.
Beamshots up next:
All above shots 1/50sec f/3.5 ISO 400 AWB. Eneloops except for 500L mode with EagleTac 750mAh 14500.
I can hardly tell much difference, so I took some side by side shots:
H51w left, H52w right...
172 lumen vs 172 lumen
172 lumen vs 280 lumen
172 lumen vs 500 lumen
These were all shot with L91, except 500 lumen w/ 14500. In that last shot it looks like the H51w on the left got brighter, not sure whats up with that unless its the spill bleeding over from the 500 lumens sitting next to it, or the very bright H52w messing with the AWB. Above shots are all 1/10 f/4.0 ISO 400 AWB.
Since ZL seems to be a bit overrated, and 47's underrated I put my Quark-X AA2 (280L turbo that supposedly is closer to 400) up against the 500 lumen H52w. To the naked eye they seem much more similar but on the pic the ZL clearly does outpower the Quark using 14500. I like the tint of the H52 so much better too, the Quark is more yellow/green at the center and even cooler in the spill.
And lastly, a more natural setting:
H51w 172L
H52w 172L
H52w 280L
H52w 500L
Above taken at 1 sec f/4.6 ISO 800 AWB. Eneloops except for 500L mode on H52w (EagleTac 14500).
So far I really like this light. I'll be gone the next several days out to 'the camp' for deer season. I might get some usage out of it then, though I'll probably be sporting my H600 instead.
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