mrlysle
Enlightened
For me, it's either my Fenix LD10 with the R4, or my Zebralight SC51.
What's your favorite 1xAA LED light?
- Thread starter HIDblue
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LED_Thrift
Flashlight Enthusiast
When CPF went down new registrations from about mid Feb through early March were lost. Welcome back.
B0wz3r
Flashlight Enthusiast
Zebralight SC50w+, hands down. My Quark AA XPGnw is a distant second.
This
HIDblue
Enlightened
The SC51 and SC51W seem to have quite a following. It's on my short list...along with the H51F.
It's an excellent little light and I've been getting a lot of use out of it since I got it, but unless you're willing to fiddle with the tailcap to prevent accidental activation, it's unsuitable for EDC. I've taken to carrying it in the Quark AA holster so I can play with it during the day, but even in there, I've had one accidental activation. In over a year of carrying my H501w, I've only ever had one accidental activation, so clearly the side-clicky is the reason that the SC51w is so much more prone to accidental activation. Knowing this, had I intended the light for EDC, I would have instead purchased the H51w (and I still may).
Fortunately for me, I never intended to EDC the SC51w. I bought it to be my nightstand light and with the ability to go directly to Low or High from off, it is ideal for this.
I know it must seem unreasonable (at least to some) that I'm completely unwilling to use tailcap lockout with this light since, really, this is the light's only flaw, but I hate having things loose on my lights (I'm the guy who disabled Max and Strobe on my Quark AA so that I could tighten the head and still have the regular modes). Also, I already have a superb EDC light (high CRI HDS Clicky), so a small functional strike against a light is all it takes to knock it out of the running.
So, the SC51 is the perfect EDC light if you're willing to use the extremely simple workaround for its one flaw. I guess I just happen to be unreasonable in this regard.
--flatline
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jacktheclipper
Enlightened
Right now my favorite is a UniqueFire SS-A1 with a 3 volt AA lithium primary .
Very bright , smooth beam , and it tailstands perfectly .
Very bright , smooth beam , and it tailstands perfectly .
HIDblue
Enlightened
No, it's understandable. I had the same problem with my ZL SC30 accidentally activating in my pocket on several occasions and seeing the faint glow of the light's beam through my khaki pant's pocket. And I agree, I'm not a big fan of having to lockout the tailcap for EDC pocket lights. It's probably a non-issue for most, but it's just seems like a nuisance since none of my other pocket EDC lights have this problem. I thought that ZL may have remedied this with the SC51 but it looks like the accidental activations can still occur with the side mounted switches.
That's why I was leaning towards the H51 series...but I'm waiting to see if ZL will throw an XM-L in their H51 series lights...
Sometimes when you need your EDC light, you need it in a hurry. While a twist-only light will take a bit of time to switch on, one with a tailcap switch should be grab & use with one hand. Having to carry such an EDC light with the tailcap locked out is like having to carry a single-action pistol in Condition 2. Just plain silly.
DHart
Flashlight Enthusiast
Yes, I'm with Monocrom on this... having to twist to operate is relatively slow and cumbersome and for most people would typically take two hands. This is why the lights I use daily are all clickies... they're faster and much more convenient. If a clicky light requires a tailcap twist to prevent accidental activation in the pocket, I'd say it's not an EDC use light. HOWEVER, I do think the SC51 is an awesome light, and very much worth having. Great build quality, fantastic UI, wonderful runtimes, many great levels, versatile for handheld, headlamp, and tail standing. I think it would make a fantastic emergency use light. AA powering makes incredibly good sense. Just because it isn't great for pocket carry doesn't make it any less of a great light for general use.
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DHart
Flashlight Enthusiast
flatline... great use for the SC... it's a wonderful around the house, nightstand light. Almost every night either my wife or I stays up a little longer than the other surfing the web or reading in bed... and having a nice, neutral tint, long running light that can tail stand giving a soft, low level, ceiling bounce room illumination is wonderful. I think the SC is perfect for this.
coolcamden
Newly Enlightened
I like my TrustFire S-A2 from China Knockoffs Inc. 🙂
Well made, 230 lumens for cheap. Works for me.
Well made, 230 lumens for cheap. Works for me.
bondr006
Flashlight Enthusiast
I have been carrying both the SC51 and SC60 clipped bezel down in my right and left front pockets for going on two months now and as of yet have not had either of them come on accidentally in my pocket. These are two of the best lights I own, and carry them both EDC. That may change with the arrival of my 2 HDS lights, but they will still be two of my favorite lights regardless.
It only take one hand to twist the tail cap while it is clipped to the pocket, very easy and quick. Like any sequence once you have it down it is natural and fluid.
And my SC50W is my favorite AA light.
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Currently my SC51w is my No. 1 favorite. It's compact and keeps a lot of light in case it's needed. Followed by my Quark MiNi AA and closely thereafter my trusty LT1-V2.0, not the most impressive, but my first 1 AA LED light and still love it.
DHart
Flashlight Enthusiast
My favorite AA lights were the D10 and the Quark AA... and now that I've received my SC51w, I will have to say that this light is definitely right up there with the others. The fact that ZL was able to squeeze so much performance out of the relatively tame voltage of the AA Eneloop, AA lithium, and AA alkaline is amazing. Certainly the fit and finish, the switch, the UI, the beam characteristics and the tint are wonderful as well. I can't say that the SC51w has replaced by D10's or my Quark AA's, but it certainly is right up there in every way.
The single AA flashlight is arguably the most sensible general purpose flashlight platform on the planet and Zebralight has really contributed to the capability of such a platform. With the D10 no longer available and the Quark AA "iffy" lottery-wise and spotty availability-wise in terms of emitter and emitter color tint, the SC51 could well be the reigning single AA light available today.
The single AA flashlight is arguably the most sensible general purpose flashlight platform on the planet and Zebralight has really contributed to the capability of such a platform. With the D10 no longer available and the Quark AA "iffy" lottery-wise and spotty availability-wise in terms of emitter and emitter color tint, the SC51 could well be the reigning single AA light available today.
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