Zebralight H501 Part 2

[Derek Dean]

Suggestions a better Zebra light:

Put the clicky switch on the tail cap completely recessed like the one on some of the River Rock lights. It's really in the way where it is right now. I activate the switch everytime i clip and unclip the light. That means it would get turned on unless the tail cap is loosened first. Having the clicky switch in the tail cap solves this problem.

Come up with an all metal clip that attaches to the head of the light with a hole for lanyard attachement.

+1
Yes, with those revisions I would probably buy one. I've been following this light closely and love how tiny it is,the excellent UI, and the wonderful beam. Now, just take care of a few small details and you will have my perfect backup EDC.

 

[Woods Walker]

I have a H50 on order (still haven't received - Ebay seller from HK) so not sure how I will like it, but I do have a newer 50 lumen variety Princeton Tec EOS headlamp that has a nice (assuming it is a neutral - cool tint) that I love. Wondering how this 501 or H50 for that matter compares to the EOS beam.

Well the H50 is pure flood and the H501 has a bit less flood and a little more throw. The H501 puts out more lumens than the Rebel EOS however the EOS has more throw. I am packing up for openning day trout fishing this weekend so can't do any beam shots yet. My H50 has less lumens than the H501 but still has more than the EOS however it is hard to judge 100% flood against anything else. Still ZL seems honest about the lumens.

 

[Woods Walker]

+1
Yes, with those revisions I would probably buy one. I've been following this light closely and love how tiny it is,the excellent UI, and the wonderful beam. Now, just take care of a few small details and you will have my perfect backup EDC.

For a headlamp I think the Clicky of the H501 is nice. Most headlamps have stiff switches to prevent accidental activation in a pack. This is a good idea as to lock out an EOS or APEX the batteries must be removed. The price for this is a stiff switch but a H501 can be locked out with something like 1/4-1/2 twist. Takes less than one second both ways. There is no other headlamp on the market that has both an easy lockout and very easy switch. For a switch to be packproof it must be harder to activate. The very fine Rebel EOS and Apex are a good examples of this. But for these non lockout lights I accept the stiffer switch for the pre stated reasons. If the H501 could not be locked out with such a small twist of the tail cap (the O ring is still covered) the switch would be a problem. However this is not the case. The easy tap to bump up modes is nice. Now for an EDC I would prefer a stiffer switch like on my Leatherman S2 flashlight but this is at heart a headlamp. This easy lockout information should be stated on the box and web site to elaborate on the value of the easy switch in my view.:twothumbs

 

[JB5]

For a headlamp I think the Clicky of the H501 is nice. Most headlamps have stiff switches to prevent accidental activation in a pack. This is a good idea as to lock out an EOS or APEX the batteries must be removed. The price for this is a stiff switch but a H501 can be locked out with something like 1/4-1/2 twist. Takes less than one second both ways. There is no other headlamp on the market that has both an easy lockout and very easy switch. For a switch to be packproof it must be harder to activate. The very fine Rebel EOS and Apex are a good examples of this. But for these non lockout lights I accept the stiffer switch for the pre stated reasons. If the H501 could not be locked out with such a small twist of the tail cap (the O ring is still covered) the switch would be a problem. However this is not the case. The easy tap to bump up modes is nice. Now for an EDC I would prefer a stiffer switch like on my Leatherman S2 flashlight but this is at heart a headlamp. This easy lockout information should be stated on the box and web site to elaborate on the value of the easy switch in my view.:twothumbs

Thanks for the info on the lockout method. Had'nt really thought to try that. Your right it is just a slight turn and it works perfectly.. I now have faith that it will not come on when in my backpack.

Peace

 

[bansuri]

If the H501 could not be locked out with such a small twist of the tail cap (the O ring is still covered) the switch would be a problem. However this is not the case. The easy tap to bump up modes is nice. Now for an EDC I would prefer a stiffer switch like on my Leatherman S2 flashlight but this is at heart a headlamp. This easy lockout information should be stated on the box and web site to elaborate on the value of the easy switch in my view.:twothumbs

Agreed. I got mine the other day and the lockout works with less than 1/8 turn, really as soon as it loosens up so the whole o-ring argument is dead in the water. Also, being able to switch straight to high or back to your previous mode is great.
It's a great light, I thought the the h50 was my favorite headlamp and along comes the H501. Now, do I sell the H50 and get some cash back or do I keep it for my wife when the electricity gets knocked out as it does annually?
Do any of you folks in the know or forward thinkers imagine we'll look back on these as clunky/inefficient relics in a few years? I've loved lights since I was a kid and can remember some clunkers that weren't worth the investment in batteries to run them, is it possible that we'll see improvements on the order of say,. 5 or 10X brighter in the next decade?
Pardon the thread-jack.

 

[Woods Walker]

I say keep the h50 and use the cord loop thing they gave out with it for a geneal purpose hangling area camp light for times when you go away from camp. Sure makes finding a camp so much easier when going out for fire wood. I do this now with the E01 however the ZLs are so UL that this would be perfect for that and the low runs forever. Plus I have a backup. I do think the lock out should be on the ZL web page. Kinda turns the nice easy clicky into the true positive that it is.

 

[Yapo]

Just opened my package...the box was smaller than i thought it would be n the zebralight feels great and light. great annodizing! the threads seem abit short and the clicky is a lil senstive as others have mentioned but its not too bad. The tint is a lil on the cool side n would liked a a lil warm but i can live with it. The strobe seems pretty annoyin to look at stuff with...seems faster than the strobes on my other lights.

Other then that... a Great light!:twothumbs
Cant wait till its dark!

 

[fleegs]

I noticed on my H501 headlight that from off the following works: 1 click high, 2 clicks medium, 3 clicks low. All starting from off.

Anyone else experience this? I click fast.

It's kind of cool.


Rob

 

[kwieto]

There is no other headlamp on the market that has both an easy lockout and very easy switch.

Petzl headlamps have good locks (achieved by lamp rotation to the maximum up position), but the buttons are too small for me.
Also Mammut Lucido (X-zoom, TX1, etc) have similar type of lock (in TX1 locking system also protects light lens), both TX1 and X-zoom (and as I think, other models too) have big, easy to press buttons.

 

[wapkil]

I noticed on my H501 headlight that from off the following works: 1 click high, 2 clicks medium, 3 clicks low. All starting from off.

Anyone else experience this? I click fast.

I believe all H501s should work that way. A double click is treated as a single click for high and the second one to start cycling through the modes. I was also surprised when I noticed that, although it's described in the Operations section on the package and the ZL website.

They have now H501w and h60w officially listed on the website (out of stock). No H50b yet though.

 

[Woods Walker]

I guess easy to press is in the finger of the user. This one is by far the best to my finger but don't own every headlamp on the market. Do have a Petzl and never knew there was any lock out at least on my Tikka Plus. Gotta mess around with it.

 

[Shorty66]

There is no lockout on the single piece petzls. I think only the Myo (r)XP has lockout.

 

[Marko]

Petzl Myo XP lock out system

Open

Close

Back to topic,

They have now H501w and h60w officially listed on the website (out of stock).

Thats nice, now its easier to order Q3 5A version. 🙂

 

[Yapo]

I noticed on my H501 headlight that from off the following works: 1 click high, 2 clicks medium, 3 clicks low. All starting from off.

Anyone else experience this? I click fast.

It's kind of cool.


Rob

heh yeah i found that as soon as i turned it on n kept on clicking...thought it was somthing cool i had discovered until i looked at the back of the box and u know the rest lol...

After a bit of use i found the 80 degree beam is pretty wide and useful and when i hold it in my hand and click it with my thumb i find that my index finger can somtimes cover the edge of the beam. I'm glad they changed from the 120 degree to 80 degree beam as i cant see y u would want anything wider...

And i find the strobe more annoyin when its pointed to at somthing than lookin into it directly. It feels weird looking at it like its flashin out a funny pattern/spotty beam. Anyone else experience that?

 

[ToTo]

They added a warm withe H501 and H60 on der HP
but its out of stock atm

 

[f22shift]

i'm not sure why they chose strobe. it's not a tactical light. i think a flashing(bike, warning etc) or beacon( to find) would be better.
i guess it's better than nothing. it's hard to accidently start it.

 

[PhantomPhoton]

i'm not sure why they chose strobe. it's not a tactical light. i think a flashing(bike, warning etc) or beacon( to find) would be better.
i guess it's better than nothing. it's hard to accidently start it.

I agree. Locater blink or double blink would be best imho. Strobing yourself with a high frequency from the headlamp isn't fun, and your buddies won't appreciate it either.

 

[StandardBattery]

I agree. Locater blink or double blink would be best imho. Strobing yourself with a high frequency from the headlamp isn't fun, and your buddies won't appreciate it either.

Ya, strobe :thinking: I don't know what they were thinking and how this got past design review, let alone testing.

I love how it's tucked away... but I must say Zebra really missed the mark on this one. A locator beacon, maybe 2 sec., would be useful. Damn... now I'll need a 502... maybe we can get them to change this before the warm tint versions appear again.

 

[AvPD]

In my opinion strobe or beacon is unecessary on a headlamp, a very fringe use if any. Thankfully Zebralight had the foresight to not include it in the main sequence.

 

[StandardBattery]

In my opinion strobe or beacon is unecessary on a headlamp, a very fringe use if any. Thankfully Zebralight had the foresight to not include it in the main sequence.

While I agree the beacon is not strickly required, I'm thinking that it could be used as a type of location marker. One would not use it when the light was being used as a headlamp. Well maybe if they wanted to keep track of their buddies drinking in the dark or by the fire when they wonder into the woods for... 😉