People who own both, what do you think of the H501 vs H50?

[wingnutLP]

I have two H50's and recently bought an H501.

My feeling is that the H501 is a step backward especially in terms of the UI.

Sure, the electronics may be more efficient and the output may be higher but I find the clicky much harder to operate and the strobe mode is a complete waste of time. Maybe it is because I have not really got use to it but changing modes seems way harder to me.

What do other users that have both think of the new UI?

 

[Marduke]

UI is fantastic!! It reminds me very much of LRI's Freedom UI. You have instant access for both low and high, with ramping up from low. I REALLY with ZL would make a 1xAA EDC light with the same UI.

Who cares about strobe? It's hidden out of the way and practically impossible to accidentally activate.

 

[Zeruel]

Damn... I was on the fence about H501. And I think I've just been pushed over the edge...

 

[wapkil]

I don't have an H50 so I don't know if my impressions count in this thread but I use my H501 almost every day so I thought I'd share what I think about the UI.

I second Marduke's opinion that the possibility to instantly access either the high or the low mode is really convenient. Actually it's even more than that. When the light is off I can press for low, click for high and double click for med. When it is on, I can click for off, press for low and double click (the light goes off/on) for high.

It may sound a little complicated but after a short while became natural for me. This UI usage makes every mode (except med when the light is on) instantly accessible, no matter whether the light is on or off. If anyone finds it too complicated, there is also no need to use it that way. When I was giving the light to people who needed it at the moment a simple "you can press and hold until the output is ok" was sufficient for them to operate it.

Of course nothing is perfect. I would prefer click for low and press for high. I would also like double click to simply turn the light on and instantly off instead of going to med. It would also be great if the light had additional mode with even lower low but these are only wishlist items not complaints.

Until now I have also never accidentally activated the strobe mode or turned the light on in the high mode instead of low so the UI is also pretty safe for me.

 

[gunga]

I have both, though I have not done a direct comparison. The H50's beam is nice for reading but I find it too wide for most use. The H501 (and the rarely seen H50b, basically an H50 with narrower beam) has a more useful beam for me, abit more concentrated.

The UI is nice on the H501, no nonsense, works well. I just wish the switch was more recessed and not so easy to activate.

The twist UI on the H50 is basic and bombproof, a lot like a Fenix LD01 or L0D. It is hard to use 1 handed, but is very functional.

Overall, I like the UI and beam of the H501 better (also, I got the warm tint, which is awesome). The H50 is smaller and more bombproof.

Tkae your pick... They are both great headlamps.

 

[LowBat]

Had H50, added H501, sold H50 and kept H501.

Both great lights, but my preference is for one handed operation.

 

[YuccaPatrol]

I don't have the H501, but wouldn't buy it because of the strobe feature. The last thing I want to do is accidentally strobe my wife when I am getting ready to read in bed.

 

[wapkil]

For me the strobe is completely out of the way. I haven't also yet heard anyone complaining about turning it on accidentally. It's probably just not that easy to perform an accidental double click.

 

[Shorty66]

I don't have the H501, but wouldn't buy it because of the strobe feature. The last thing I want to do is accidentally strobe my wife when I am getting ready to read in bed.

In my opinion you would have to be really ham-handed to accidently switch the light to strobe.
It is possibe to accidently switch the light on on high if you are to impatient to turn it on though.
But if you are only using your zebralight in bed, you should not need one handed operation, a perfectly balanced beam pattern or more efficiency and you should go with the h50.
I prefer to use my h501 in the mountains and its perfect for this task.

 

[ichoderso]

I have both also ( not correct, I have all zebralights in all available tints:nana

You can see some pictures and beamshots in this thread:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=215426

But I can say, I like the 501 UI!

Jens

 

[Lite_me]

Not wanting to buy a 501 because you might accidentally turn On the strobe feature is a poor excuse in my opinion. It's out of the way and you have to think about how to do it. It's actually a 2-step operation.

I have both the H50 and the 501. I like the 501 the best for all the reasons they are different. I like the one handed push switch, and the brighter tighter beam. I like being able to turn it On in low or hi, each by a single press. I've noticed that it's a bit heavier but not that much. Nothing like the H60. :huh:

It's a great light! I'd like another one.

 

[HCaul]

I own both and definitely prefer the simpler, less fussy interface of the H50. If the H501 could be carried without being locked out (e.g., if it had a better recessed or stiffer button), I'd probably like it better, but as it is the H50 is the one that lives in my day pack. The strobe isn't the problem with the H501 -- I can't see how you could turn it on by mistake -- but rather the button, which is just too sensitive and easy to hit by accident, especially when it's not in the headband and on your head.

I had had both the H50 and the H501, and ended up ordering an H50b as well. Although the H50b is less bright and less efficient than the H501 and doesn't have quite as nice a case (it doesn't stand on its end as well as the H501 does), the UI makes it a winner for me.

 

[Woods Walker]

I like both the UIs on the H50 and H501. I find the H501 easy to change modes but also have a soft spot for a twisty. The H501 must be locked out when packed but this is easy. Just a 1/4 to 1/2 twist on the tail cap will do this. All lights that can be locked are when packed so I don't find needing to do this an issue. A stiff switch would take away from the easy use of the H501. Now if I EDC the H501 the switch could be an issue as I don't lock out EDC lights. But this is a headlamp. The UI takes a bit of time to master (maybe 15 minutes) but then again I let a buddy use the H50 during a fishing trip and he kept messing up the modes for a short time so even a twisty can be a bit hard for someone that never used one.

 

[AusKipper]

I don't have the H501, but wouldn't buy it because of the strobe feature. The last thing I want to do is accidentally strobe my wife when I am getting ready to read in bed.

Yeah, I have ordered a H501, and i am certainly going to have to be careful not to strobe my girlfriend, I have killed my last 3 girlfriends and the neighbors pet cat by accidentally strobing them while getting ready to read in bed.....

Seriously, there are some very anti-strobe people on these forums lol, if you dont like the strobe feature, there is always the option of not using it, and if it accidently goes on strobe, I am sure in 99% of circumstances nothing drastically bad is going to happen!!! and with a couple of clicks of the button it will be back on the setting you wanted...

The H501 will be my first zebralight, and I have to wait another couple of weeks or so before I get it... so I cant really comment before then..

Regards,
Kipper

 

[Qoose]

The strobe does seem out of the way. I could see how one could mess up, but it's usually the case where getting to the level you want is a case of clicking off and on, but that not the case though.

But does someone want to tell me how disorienting having a strobe light mounted to your head is? I can only imagine what it would be like having stop motion tunnel vision.

 

[Marduke]

The 501 strobe is so out of the way, it's difficult to activate intentionally even. Half the time I just click the light off or cycle down through medium and low.

Definitely a non-issue for strobe haters.

 

[bansuri]

I have both, no problems with the strobe or UI on the 501. Keeping the H50 for my wife in the event of a prolonged electricity outage.
The easier one-handed use, tighter pattern, and, (believe it or not!), the strobe mode make it a useful upgrade from the H50.
These lights are so good and the single AA philosophy is so important you won't go wrong with either. We've had some insanely long power outages around here and if you don't have a nice supply of CR123's you'll be in the dark.
I have never entered Strobe mode unintentionally and am glad it's there if I ever need to stand out.
Both so light you forget that they're on your head, fit and finish is fantastic, included accessories are a great bonus.
If you've got the extra $ get the H501.

 

[StandardBattery]

I have both and I currently don't have a huge preference for 1 or the other. I think depends on the situation that you're using them in.

The clicky is easier to change modes and can be done single handed... it can also be done accidently.

The Twisty requires two hands on mine because it will twist in the holder, but usually I set the level and I don't need to adjust it again until I'm turning it off.

So interms of reliability I like the Twisty UI, flexibility, and for easy of use (when I need ease of use) I like the clicky.

That said I'm getting myself a 501 with a Neutral/warm emitter as soon as they are available, because they are not offering it in the twisty. If they did I'd get one of those.

I do think it depends alot on individual's usage patterns... and that's probably true of all UIs.

 

[StandardBattery]

Forgot to mention: did you see the UI poll?

More people prefer the H501 over the H50, and it does come with a very nice tint generally. Although maybe not all the people who answered the poll have both.