It's here the Zebralight SC5C MK II H CRI
- Thread starter Nichia!
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I hope that's their next logical move: upgrade or introduce a whole hi cri line of lights.
eraursls1984
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gunga
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Seems pretty mild. I think I've seen stuff like that before.
snowlover91
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Doesn't look too bad to me, it's definitely not perfectly centered but not off by much either. If it affects beam pattern or you just don't like it, I would look at returning it or exchanging. How is the tint and UI on yours?
jon_slider
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I received my flashlight earlier this week and noticed the centering of the LED is a little bit off. What do you think? It is a little disappointing.
I resemble your disappointment, however it is not abnormal nor detrimental, purely cosmetic, it is quite common
try not to let it bother you
Build new and happy memories. Bond with your light, take it into the dark with you, build fond memories of things you have done with your light.
here is another example, different brand, chosen at random online.. looks similarly low on the left, and that may be partly due to camera angle
vadimax
Flashlight Enthusiast
I resemble your disappointment, however it is not abnormal nor detrimental, purely cosmetic, it is quite common
try not to let it bother you
Build new and happy memories. Bond with your light, take it into the dark with you, build fond memories of things you have done with your light.
here is another example, different brand, chosen at random online.. looks similarly low on the left, and that may be partly due to camera angle
Funny people. Manker E02 is $19.95, Zebralight SC5c is $69. Same quality issues. What does it say?
Zebralight, if you read this: you either drop your price tag or your QC should be forbidden to work with a hangover...
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Lumencrazy
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I received my flashlight earlier this week and noticed the centering of the LED is a little bit off. What do you think? It is a little disappointing.
With todays manufacturing techniques this is completely unacceptable.
Lumencrazy
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What does off by much mean? Anything measurable?
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snowlover91
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I've had other much more expensive brands exhibit off center LEDs. No company can have perfect QC on every single light. This is one example out of hundreds, or thousands, without any issue. There is a big difference between one light having a minor issue and dozens coming out with this issue. Even big companies like Apple, Samsung, etc have QC issues and the key is how they take care of their customer if it happens. The light can be returned to ZL no questions asked within 30 days for a full refund.
Lumencrazy, the LED is barely off center and I have to zoom in 200% or more to tell that it is. It's a very minuscule amount and I've seen it from every company, even have seen HDS and Malkoff exhibit this issue before too.
jon_slider
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Both are inexpensive lights Made In China? .. LOL
vadimax
Flashlight Enthusiast
Yes, they are both made in China I guess
But Chinese have 14 quality levels where the 14th is absolute perfection. I think Zebralight has too many orders and just relaxed on QC to make them all done. The only moment they did not take into account that some of those lights will end up in the hands of CPF members whose quality requirements are way above an ordinary user.
iamlucky13
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I think you should assume it would take several weeks, at a minimum, especially considering the back order.
The off-center LED would affect the beam shape, not the color. Since it doesn't seem like the beam shape is off enough that you've noticed it so far, it doesn't sound worth exchanging to me, but it's your call.
What quality issue? What is Zebralight's spec for LED tolerance relative to reflector centerline? Is it within that spec? If so, it's not a quality issue. If it is within spec, but still results in a bad beam, it would be a design issue, but I didn't see complaints about the beam shape.
Making some measurements from the image, it looks to me right around .010" from center, which is a pretty tight tolerance (about the same as the thickness of 5 sheets of printer paper)
Was this noticed because the beam was misshapen and 1980's discovered this trying to figure out why, or because as flashlight enthusiasts, we tend to notice and obsess over minute details?
jon_slider
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It is normal for a 4000k light to seem yellowish if you look at it when your brain is adapted to daylight
Try looking at the beam after sitting under 3000k incandescent light for an hour first. Then you will see that 4000k looks very white by comparison.Ambient light color temperatures, and our brain's white balance adaptation, vary over the course of a 24hour day, so a light that is too yellow at noon, might be too blue at midnight
A 4000k light is best suited for use after dark, and indoors with warm white ambient light
It will seem “too” yellow if you try to use it to work on your car, in the sun, where you would find a 6000k light more “white”, relatively speaking.
Its all about white balance
The 4000k is an excellent color temperature to learn to appreciate. notice how many people in this thread
Has Your "Taste" In Lights Changed With Time
mention migrating towards 4000k CCT from initially starting out on Cool White
You made a very good choice Imo. Learn to love all the awesome brightness options you have, learn how much more information the High CRI offers you. Notice what a pleasant and relaxing ambiance your Neutral White light has.
Enjoy your new light, don’t sweat the petty things, move past buyers remorse items, and use the crap out of your light. Its yours, you paid for it, its awesome, and its going to last a long time.
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snowlover91
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It is normal for a 4000k light to seem yellowish if you look at it when your brain is adapted to daylight
Try looking at the beam after sitting under 3000k incandescent light for an hour first. Then you will see that 4000k looks very white by comparison.Ambient light color temperatures, and our brain's white balance adaptation, vary over the course of a 24hour day, so a light that is too yellow at noon, might be too blue at midnight
A 4000k light is best suited for use after dark, and indoors with warm white ambient light
It will seem “too” yellow if you try to use it to work on your car, in the sun, where you would find a 6000k light more “white”, relatively speaking.
Its all about white balance
The 4000k is an excellent color temperature to learn to appreciate. notice how many people in this thread
Has Your "Taste" In Lights Changed With Time
mention migrating towards 4000k CCT from initially starting out on Cool White
You made a very good choice Imo. Learn to love all the awesome brightness options you have, learn how much more information the High CRI offers you. Notice what a pleasant and relaxing ambiance your Neutral White light has.
Enjoy your new light, don’t sweat the petty things, move past buyers remorse items, and use the crap out of your light. Its yours, you paid for it, its awesome, and its going to last a long time.
Well said, and I have noticed this actually. I did a test a few nights ago where I took an old 6500k Nitecore, a 4500K ZL SC5w (closer to 5000k in reality) and then my MK2 at 4000k. The 6500k light I turned on first and it was incredibly blue. I then turned on the 4500k Zebralight and it was a nice warm neutral by comparison. Next I turned the 6500k off and just stared at the 4500k a few seconds, then turned on the 4000k light. Now, my 4500k light looked like a cool white and the 4000k had the nice warm tint. It's amazing how one's perception can be influenced so easily and I find that 4000k is the sweet spot for me now.
