Zebralight is going to come out with flashlights! part 2

[kaichu dento]

So now I'm wondering...is an SC30 short enough to use it in mouth-grip and switch modes with my lips?

:laughing:

 

[KDOG3]

The Zebralight website says its "American owned and operated". Thats' cool, but where are the lights actually manufactured?

 

[wapkil]

Well, there are so many oversees countries where flashlights are manufactured nowadays... They sell their products on taobao, they use some strange characters on their website - I think it means the lights must be manufactured somewhere in Europe :nana:

 

[dealgrabber2002]

I was told awhile back that there will be a sc30f... wonder when is it coming out.

 

[Shorty66]

Any news on the H51 or the SC30f?

 

[uplite]

I'm not sure I understand why zebralight would make an SC30f (side-click flood light).

I mean...the strength of a broad flood light is that it lets you get useful work done within a 1-10 foot radius without moving a narrow beam all over the place...and if you want to get stuff done, you probably want your hands free...so a headlamp/necklamp/chestlamp like the H30 or H501 makes more sense.

Plus you can already use an H30 or H501 as a handheld or tabletop light.

Am I missing something here, or is the SC30f just a collector-concept light? How do you guys plan to use it?

-Jeff

 

[Owen]

Why wouldn't they make it?
I would think the flood models would be the most practical of their handheld lights. Most use is close up, most lights have focused beams, and most people don't go around with flashlights strapped to their heads. For the car, house, basement, restaurant, movies, etc. you don't need a bright light with lots of throw, you need a dim flood so you can see where you're going, and read or find stuff.

 

[uplite]

Why wouldn't they make it?

I assume it is expensive & risky for a small manufacturer like ZL to design, produce, test, stock, and sell another product, especially when it competes with their other products. It only makes sense if they will sell more of all products combined. :shrug:

Just me, but I don't see the point. If I hold a flashlight in my hand, it is so I can point the light precisely to inspect something or search somewhere or spot at a distance. By definition, those are all focused-beam activities.

If you must use a flashlight in a restaurant or theatre for some reason, a dim narrow beam is more polite than a broad flood beam. Plus it uses much less power than a flood for the same surface brightness, and it keeps more of your dark-adapted vision intact, so it works even better.

Anyway, the side-emitter zebralights already work fine as handheld flood lights...and also on your head, around your neck, clipped on your chest, clipped to your belt, etc. They are far more versatile than any end-emitter flood light could be.

But that's just my opinion. If enough guys like you and dealgrabber are committed to buy an SC30f, then it makes sense for ZL to make it. :thumbsup:

-Jeff

 

[Egsise]

Actually, you can use overhand or underhand grip with any small cylindrical light. The nice thing about the new Zebralights is, you can use either grip AND turn it on/off, change modes, etc, without changing the grip. You can't do it with one of the generic cheap-to-manufacture tail-switch lights.

ymmv, of course. Everyone has to try the different grips themselves in the situations where they use their lights, and see for themselves.

-Jeff

Interesting point, usually I have very little or no need to switch modes or turn off/on the light when I'm outdoors hiking etc.

 

[uplite]

Interesting point, usually I have very little or no need to switch modes or turn off/on the light when I'm outdoors hiking etc.

Everyone's different.

FWIW, when I night-hike, I use an H501w (zebralight flood) around my neck for "horse sense" ambient ground lighting, plus a small throwy light (now Quark123w, soon SC50w) in my hand for trailfinding, orientation, and distance spotting.

The H501 is always on, providing just enough light for my feet to find their own way without thinking. Desert, beach, fire road, flat trail...I set it on Low. Bumpy trail with rocks, roots, etc...Medium. Scrambling, bushwhacking, creek crossing...High.

The handheld light I mostly use in quick bursts of High mode, a few seconds at a time, to get the lay of the land. Short bursts keep my dark vision adapted, so the diffuse flood is still enough to hike by. I only leave it on for critical scrambles & crossings where I need to see ~exactly~ what each handhold and foothold looks like.

The Quark123 does a pretty good job right now as that handheld light. My only complaints are that the mode switching is klunky (so I only use High) and the tail switch does not allow for quick bursts in a natural walking grip (underhand, waist level). That's why I bought an SC50w. I'm looking forward to giving it a workout in the mountains this spring!

-Jeff

 

[TooManyGizmos]

No SC-50 comments ?

Did nobody order that model ?

I'm still waiting on the BIG one .

 

[hazna]

the shipping date for the sc50 has been changed. I seem to remember it being the 18th march. Estimated shipping now seems to be the 26th of march.

The sc50w from memory, has always been the 26th of march. I hope it doesn't change again.

 

[gollum]

waiting for my sc30w

I really liked my original H30 and this format looks great

I have noticed that over the years most non-flashaholics don't realise flashlight switches can be hiding on the tail (they are on most of my lights) this will hopefully stop the usual confused looks I get when I pass
one to a work friend or whoever needs lumens

hopefully an 18650 won't be too long away

 

[jblackwood]

Everyone's different. ...
Ain't that the truth?


The Quark123 does a pretty good job right now as that handheld light. My only complaints are that the mode switching is klunky (so I only use High) and the tail switch does not allow for quick bursts in a natural walking grip (underhand, waist level). That's why I bought an SC50w. I'm looking forward to giving it a workout in the mountains this spring!

-Jeff

I think the ideal light for your handheld use would be the SC50w form factor with an RA Tactical UI. It recognizes when you hold down the button as a momentary (on the highest setting) and turns it off when you release, but like almost all other lights we discuss on this forum has the button on the tail. I hear Henry is coming out with a headlamp soon.

I for one am really excited about these lights because of their form factor. In fact, that's the only reason I haven't cancelled my order since the money I have tied up in them could have been used for other endeavors.

 

[uplite]

I think the ideal light for your handheld use would be the SC50w form factor with an RA Tactical UI. It recognizes when you hold down the button as a momentary (on the highest setting) and turns it off when you release

Actually the Zebralight UI is the closest I have found to "ideal".

The switch only controls the microprocessor, not the current to the LED, so it is very light to press. It's nothing like the "hassle" of pressing a hard reverse-clicky tail switch once to turn on, and again to turn off. Plus it has the added benefit of jumping directly to the mode I want. Or holding it down to cycle modes at any time. Or double-clicking to access additional modes. :thumbsup:

BTW, I am NOT a Zebralight fanboy. I'm not the religious type. I just think that ZL has done a better job at this than any other light I've seen so far.

-Jeff

 

[jblackwood]

Actually the Zebralight UI is the closest I have found to "ideal".

The switch only controls the microprocessor, not the current to the LED, so it is very light to press. It's nothing like the "hassle" of pressing a hard reverse-clicky tail switch once to turn on, and again to turn off. Plus it has the added benefit of jumping directly to the mode I want. Or holding it down to cycle modes at any time. Or double-clicking to access additional modes. :thumbsup:

BTW, I am NOT a Zebralight fanboy. I'm not the religious type. I just think that ZL has done a better job at this than any other light I've seen so far.

-Jeff

Yeah, I have lights from both makers (RA and Zebra) and they're practically the same amount of pressure to activate with the same type of light click to activate.

 

[uplite]

Yeah, I have lights from both makers (RA and Zebra) and they're practically the same amount of pressure to activate with the same type of light click to activate.

Thanks JB.

Does the RA also jump directly to the mode you want (H or M or L) on demand, or cycle thru the modes when you hold the button, or provide additional modes/levels when you double-click?

-Jeff

 

[jblackwood]

Thanks JB.

Does the RA also jump directly to the mode you want (H or M or L) on demand, or cycle thru the modes when you hold the button, or provide additional modes/levels when you double-click?

-Jeff

Nope, you've got me on that one! (Actually, it does change modes when you double click after you click it on)
But you CAN program it to come on to one of 23 levels. Also, there are three levels that come on with discreet click codes (double clicks switch between the two when you first turn it on and three clicks gives you the third level, plus there's a press and hold level that is on strobe by default but I think you can change it if you get into programming).
Personally, I like having the momentary that's recognized with the long press and thought you might be able to appreciate that for your use even though the button is still on the tailcap so it's still not perfect for you. :thumbsdow

Zebralight and RA lights make the best mass-produced buttons on flashlights, IMO.

 

[Shorty66]

a Zebralight with momentary high level and click to cycle from low to high aswell as the double click to change and save modes would be awesome!

If you would like to still be able to access the high level fast without the need to hold the button ZL could have the option to click after momentary use to get to high mode.

In short:
from off:
Press and hold for momentary High
Click to low
(optional)Press and hold for momentary high, release and click again for high.
from on:
Click and hold to cycle through low, med, high
double click to change modes and reach strobe.

That way you could reach the high level either by three short clicks or by releasing the momentary mode and a short click if you realise you need the light to shine longer.

 

[NonSenCe]

About that PROTOTYPE. Any updates?

wishlist: warm tint also to that.

CLIP atleast switchable to other side of the light. (if not bezel up and down reversable is not possible.) because i would clip in on my rightside trouser pocket. and if the bezel is pointing up i would prefer the on/off button to be so that it would point to back when clipped into pocket. not front like it would be according to the design sketch.

if its set like that as its on the sketch i would be forced when pulling it out of the pocket to either turn the light on by my forefinger or turn it around in my hand before turning it on by my thumb. (and that is inconvinient manouver)