Zebralight headlamp options

[Trazom]

Hello all;

First i would like to say sorry if this has been talked about before. I did a ton of reading but there is a lot of info and its spread out its hard to keep track.

Id like to ask about a headlamp type. First of all I have a ZL h502d and a fenix ld12. While the 502d is nice for close up stuff, like others have said I don't feel it throws enough for night hiking or lighting up a tree line 10-15 yds away and i realize its not for that.

I'm looking for a headlamp hopefully another ZL that i can either combine with the h502d or use alone . For example, be used to inspect a roof of a house for damage from the ground or light up a fence 30 - 50 ft away give or take. Or on a trail where i need to know what's 30 ft away not just 10 or 20. I do want a headlamp because i already have the fenix ld12.

Hopefully one of the ZL's will fit the bill . I'm wondering if I'm describing the h51f or maybe the h51 with the option to defuse with tape etc. I just don't know how far or bright the h51f will throw.

Thanks for reading.

 

[yellow]

the 502 features no reflector, so is pure flood with just a few meters of reach, but I still wonder why it should not be "enough" for night hiking.
Even the high CRI should not reduce the output so much.
:thinking:


The 51w will be more than adequate for night hiking, but not the other uses You are thinking of.

Here You will have to upgrade to the much stronger H600 (imho the perfect headlamp atm), which also is more flood with its floodier led and floodier beam reflector.
I think You should switch to 1*18650 handheld and H600 as headlamp, or at least to a 1*AA light that can be run with an 14500 for higher output ...

 

[Trazom]

Thanks for the info. I should have mentioned i want to stick with aa eneloops. Maybe a compromise would be to use something like the fenix headband with 2 aa handheld mounted but that sounds like a lot of added weight compared to your suggestions.

 

[markr6]

I use an H51 with d-c-fix diffuser film for night running and find the throw/spill combination to be excellent. It would also be decent for running/hiking without the diffuser film, but then it's not a very good lamp for upclose activities. With the film, I find it to be a great multipurpose headlamp. I'm certain I will never remove the film. I imagine the H51f version would be similar to the H51 with film, but can't comment based on personal experience. I would like to get some beamshots in my back yard sometime to compare it with/without the film and compare with some other torches.

 

[markr6]

I took some beamshots of my H51 with diffuser film vs. a few other lights. Photos were taken about 10' away from the house, somewhat centered on the plant.

These are raw images from my Canon 50D without any adjustments. They are very close to what I saw in person. All lights were on their highest settings.

Link to larger photo here: H51_comps

You can really see why I don't use the H502 for running or hiking.

I'm new to taking beamshots, so if there is anything you would prefer to see (distance, subject, etc) just let me know and I'll see what I can do.

 

[Wtlj]

I took some beamshots of my H51 with diffuser film vs. a few other lights. Photos were taken about 10' away from the house, somewhat centered on the plant.

These are raw images from my Canon 50D without any adjustments. They are very close to what I saw in person. All lights were on their highest settings.

Link to larger photo here: H51_comps

You can really see why I don't use the H502 for running or hiking.

I'm new to taking beamshots, so if there is anything you would prefer to see (distance, subject, etc) just let me know and I'll see what I can do.

Thanks very much for doing that for us! It's amazing just how floody the 502 is. The LD22 looks really blue.

 

[markr6]

Thanks very much for doing that for us! It's amazing just how floody the 502 is. The LD22 looks really blue.

Yes the H502 in insanely floody. I'm not knocking it because it does have it's uses...but for me, it's the H51 99.9% of the time so it's currently for sale in the CPF Marketplace.

And yes, unfortunately I got screwed bad on the LD22 tint. Actually it's the head from an LD12. I ordered another one to replace it, but then it was GREEN. So I ordered a third one (LD12) and swapped heads since I use the LD12 more. I hate the lotto.

 

[Wtlj]

Yes the H502 in insanely floody. I'm not knocking it because it does have it's uses...but for me, it's the H51 99.9% of the time so it's currently for sale in the CPF Marketplace.

And yes, unfortunately I got screwed bad on the LD22 tint. Actually it's the head from an LD12. I ordered another one to replace it, but then it was GREEN. So I ordered a third one (LD12) and swapped heads since I use the LD12 more. I hate the lotto.

I have a H51FW coming for Christmas. Hope I made the right decision! Depending on what tint the OP wants I think the H51F or H51FW would make a good choice. Not sure if it will throw as far as he wants but will be glad to comment in a few days!

 

[Wtlj]

Hello all;

First i would like to say sorry if this has been talked about before. I did a ton of reading but there is a lot of info and its spread out its hard to keep track.

Id like to ask about a headlamp type. First of all I have a ZL h502d and a fenix ld12. While the 502d is nice for close up stuff, like others have said I don't feel it throws enough for night hiking or lighting up a tree line 10-15 yds away and i realize its not for that.

I'm looking for a headlamp hopefully another ZL that i can either combine with the h502d or use alone . For example, be used to inspect a roof of a house for damage from the ground or light up a fence 30 - 50 ft away give or take. Or on a trail where i need to know what's 30 ft away not just 10 or 20. I do want a headlamp because i already have the fenix ld12.

Hopefully one of the ZL's will fit the bill . I'm wondering if I'm describing the h51f or maybe the h51 with the option to defuse with tape etc. I just don't know how far or bright the h51f will throw.

Thanks for reading.

What did you decide on???

 

[B0wz3r]

I have a H51FW coming for Christmas. Hope I made the right decision! Depending on what tint the OP wants I think the H51F or H51FW would make a good choice. Not sure if it will throw as far as he wants but will be glad to comment in a few days!

IMHO you made the best choice. I've got several headlamps from many companies (Princeton Tec, Black Diamond, Brunton, Energizer, Spark, and Zebralight) and the only ones I ever use anymore are my Zebras and Sparks.

I have an H51w that I put diffusion film on, thinking I might want to go back and forth between the diffused beam and the standard beam, but I never have take the film off. It's my dedicated hiking/camping headlamp, as I love the very small size and the moonlight modes it has.

I also have an H502d which lives on my bicycle helmet as my off-bike light, and an H51Fr which I use as a tail light for my bike as well.

My most used headlamp though is my Spark ST5-190nw. I keep it in my desk drawer and use it at least 2 - 3 times a week. I use the frosted lens in it. It has some advantages over the Zebras I have, in that it has a "T" body shape where the emitter housing protrudes forward from the center of the body of the light, which works much better for wearing the light on a hat or cap, or under a hood. Less of the beam is cut off that way, like with the Zebras. Try as I might, I just haven't been able to find a good way to mount one of my Zebra headlamps to the bill of a cap and feel like it isn't going to just fall off if I move my head too quickly. The disadvantage of the Spark is that it doesn't have the very low moonlight modes the Zebras have, although some of the newer Spark models are coming with moonlight modes in their drivers. It's also slight heavier than a Zebra, and its form factor makes it awkward in a pack or a pocket.

 

[markr6]

I'm dying to get an H51w (or Fw). They are supposed to be in stock soon. I just got the H600w last night, and to be honest I'm just not sure about it. I think it's because I'm addicted to Eneloops!

 

[Trazom]

I decided I need to sell my 502d and get something brighter that uses 1 aa eneloop. Im guessing from the h51 family but am open to suggestions still

 

[B0wz3r]

I decided I need to sell my 502d and get something brighter that uses 1 aa eneloop. Im guessing from the h51 family but am open to suggestions still

An H51x model will be about the same brightness as the 502d in terms of lumen output, it'll just have a traditional torch beam profile with a hotspot and spill area. So, you might want to consider the Fw. If you want more output and/or run time, you might want to consider one of the H600 models though.

While I like my 502d, it's usefulness for me is somewhat limited. I have come to prefer a reflector with diffusion film or a frosted lens for my headlamps. It makes a center weighted flood, depending on the amount of diffusion, with the brightest area at the center of the beam profile getting progressively dimmer towards the edges. I find this beam pattern much more useful for my needs and preferences.

 

[markr6]

I have come to prefer a reflector with diffusion film or a frosted lens for my headlamps. It makes a center weighted flood, depending on the amount of diffusion, with the brightest area at the center of the beam profile getting progressively dimmer towards the edges. I find this beam pattern much more useful for my needs and preferences.

I agree! It's hard to beat a nice flood-throw mix. Covers a wide range of applications.