Zebralight SC30 Review (w/pics, runtimes & indoor comparo beamshots)

[Beamhead]

Re: Zebralight SC30 (Review w/tons of pics & indoor comparo beamshots)

What size are the screws? I put a special clip on mine and need longer screws.

 

[ZebraLight]

Re: Zebralight SC30 (Review w/tons of pics & indoor comparo beamshots)

What size are the screws? I put a special clip on mine and need longer screws.

M2.5 × 2.5mm

 

[Beamhead]

Re: Zebralight SC30 (Review w/tons of pics & indoor comparo beamshots)

M2.5 × 2.5mm

Thanks, is the thread pitch .45?

 

[ZebraLight]

Re: Zebralight SC30 (Review w/tons of pics & indoor comparo beamshots)

Thanks, is the thread pitch .45?

Yes, 0.45 pitch.

 

[EngrPaul]

Re: Zebralight SC30 (Review w/tons of pics & indoor comparo beamshots)

I love the way the clip is shaped ergonomically. When you hold the light in your fist with thumb on the button, your forefinger lands right where it should into the clip bend.

Good job on the light, and the customer support! :thumbsup:

 

[xevious]

Re: Zebralight SC30 (Review w/tons of pics & indoor comparo beamshots)

I haven't posted here for weeks, so I thought I'd chime in.

I just got my SC30w - First flashlight this year. 😗

EngrPaul, thanks very much for your take on the SC30. I'm also a bit taken aback by the inability for the light to fully utilize a CR123 as well as the competition. I am trying to use RCR123 more, but often keep fresh CR123 cells around to use when I don't have charged RCR123 cells ready. I need that flexibility to alternate between the two cell types...

Otherwise, I really like the appearance and functionality of the SC30! I'd consider this over a Novatac, factoring in the price. But I think I'll have to wait until the CR123 cell issue is addressed. :candle:

 

[ZebraLight]

Re: Zebralight SC30 (Review w/tons of pics & indoor comparo beamshots)

EngrPaul, thanks very much for your take on the SC30. I'm also a bit taken aback by the inability for the light to fully utilize a CR123 as well as the competition. I am trying to use RCR123 more, but often keep fresh CR123 cells around to use when I don't have charged RCR123 cells ready. I need that flexibility to alternate between the two cell types...

Otherwise, I really like the appearance and functionality of the SC30! I'd consider this over a Novatac, factoring in the price. But I think I'll have to wait until the CR123 cell issue is addressed. :candle:

It's an issue of CR123 cells, not the flashlight. Very few single CR123 light can output 193 OTF lumens. We started using OTF figures in 2007 with our first product, the H50. All measurements are done using an integrating sphere, not lightboxes, not guesstimates from LED current. I believe that other single CR123 lights with max OTF output close to the SC30, such as the quark 123 R5 (206 OTF 0.8 hours), will have similar or shorter runtimes. The SC30 has a very high overall efficiency in its optical, thermal paths, and driver circuit (all 6 sub-levels). For those flashlights not specified in OTF lumens, you may have to take 30-40% off from the output figures.

 

[applevision]

Re: Zebralight SC30 (Review w/tons of pics & indoor comparo beamshots)

I'm having a LOT of trouble resisting this awesome-looking light... trying to resist! But it's so compact and... well, CUTE, frankly! I just love my H501 and I want to keep ZebraLight cranking them out!

...I have a sickness...🤢🤢🤢

 

[ping-anser]

Re: Zebralight SC30 (Review w/tons of pics & indoor comparo beamshots)

I'm having a LOT of trouble resisting this awesome-looking light... trying to resist! But it's so compact and... well, CUTE, frankly! I just love my H501 and I want to keep ZebraLight cranking them out!

...I have a sickness...🤢🤢🤢

I just received mine and it has quickly become my favorite light. It is futile to resist.

 

[Lightcrazycanuck]

Re: Zebralight SC30 (Review w/tons of pics & indoor comparo beamshots)




lovecpf

 

[kiwicrunch]

Beam- transition between hotspot and spill

For those of you who have the warm version- can you describe the transition between hotspot and spill?

From the beamshots you guys graciously provided, it seems to be quite smooth which is what I'm after. The flood on my H501w has opened my eyes to the benefits of even lighting.

Thanks.

 

[xevious]

Re: Zebralight SC30 (Review w/tons of pics & indoor comparo beamshots)

It's an issue of CR123 cells, not the flashlight. Very few single CR123 light can output 193 OTF lumens. We started using OTF figures in 2007 with our first product, the H50. All measurements are done using an integrating sphere, not lightboxes, not guesstimates from LED current. I believe that other single CR123 lights with max OTF output close to the SC30, such as the quark 123 R5 (206 OTF 0.8 hours), will have similar or shorter runtimes. The SC30 has a very high overall efficiency in its optical, thermal paths, and driver circuit (all 6 sub-levels). For those flashlights not specified in OTF lumens, you may have to take 30-40% off from the output figures.

Thank you for clearing that up! :thumbsup:

Well, I think I've bumped the SC30 up to the top of my next light list. 🙂

Incidentally, what is the width in millimeters of the grooves in the head?

 

[ZebraLight]

Re: Zebralight SC30 (Review w/tons of pics & indoor comparo beamshots)

Thank you for clearing that up! :thumbsup:

Well, I think I've bumped the SC30 up to the top of my next light list. 🙂

Incidentally, what is the width in millimeters of the grooves in the head?

1mm

 

[Lightcrazycanuck]

Re: Zebralight SC30 (Review w/tons of pics & indoor comparo beamshots)

It's an issue of CR123 cells, not the flashlight. Very few single CR123 light can output 193 OTF lumens. We started using OTF figures in 2007 with our first product, the H50. All measurements are done using an integrating sphere, not lightboxes, not guesstimates from LED current. I believe that other single CR123 lights with max OTF output close to the SC30, such as the quark 123 R5 (206 OTF 0.8 hours), will have similar or shorter runtimes. The SC30 has a very high overall efficiency in its optical, thermal paths, and driver circuit (all 6 sub-levels). For those flashlights not specified in OTF lumens, you may have to take 30-40% off from the output figures.

+1:thumbsup:

lovecpf

 

[kwarwick]

Re: Zebralight SC30 - RCR123 issue

I received my SC30w last week and fell in love immediately. Pictures really don't do justice to just how small this flashlight is. Despite the small size the ergonomics even in my XL size hands is perfect. I did have to take some tension off the clip so that it wouldn't rip my pockets to pieces, but that was a relatively easy fix.

Anyways, there does appear to be a much more significant problem with using this light with RC123 cells. I tried a cell that reads 2.98V and when powered on in high (with level 6 memorized) the light will flash briefly and then turn off. Levels 1-5 work fine. Problem is the light remembers what that you were in level 6 and with an RC123 the light doesn't stay on long enough to double click it down to level 5. If I pop in a 16340 and double-click to level 5 then I can pop in my RC123 and it high works. Problem is the moment you make the mistake of double-clicking back to level 6 you are toast again. :thumbsdow

I think this the logic needs to be redesigned here. If there isn't enough juice to bring the light up in level 6 then it should be smart enough to drop down to level 5... powering off isn't terribly helpful, especially given the light starts up in high by default unless you hold the button down.

 

[abarth_1200]

Re: Zebralight SC30 (Review w/tons of pics & indoor comparo beamshots)

+1

That is a bit of an issue

Another thing im not too keen on is the fact that it turns on to high, like a tactical weapon light does, this is a pocket torch/headtorch so idealy should come on low or have a memory of what level it was turned off at.

 

[kiwicrunch]

Re: Zebralight SC30 (Review w/tons of pics & indoor comparo beamshots)

+1

That is a bit of an issue

Another thing im not too keen on is the fact that it turns on to high, like a tactical weapon light does, this is a pocket torch/headtorch so idealy should come on low or have a memory of what level it was turned off at.

I'm quite sure it turns on on high only if you press and release the switch quickly (ie, give it a "click"). To turn on on low instantly, press and hold the switch. It will start on low and cycle through the rest.

To my mind, this is a feature rather than a drawback as it gives you instant access to either low or high.

I don't have an sc30, but am basing this on the UI of my H501 which is, I believe, similar in this respect.

 

[turboBB]

Re: Zebralight SC30 (Review w/tons of pics & indoor comparo beamshots)

Please read either Zebralight's UI description or the UI description of my review. The light can come on to high with a single click or if you hold the switch for a 1/4 second or longer, it'll come on in low. It will not remember which level it was last on but I find that as long as I can turn it on either High or Low, it's flexible enough of a UI.

IMO, it truly is an amzing UI and one of the best, I wish all of my flashlights had it.

Cheers,
Tim

 

[Brasso]

Re: Zebralight SC30 (Review w/tons of pics & indoor comparo beamshots)

I pre-ordered the AA version. I just wish it had an extra high and no strobe.

 

[EV_007]

Re: Zebralight SC30 (Review w/tons of pics & indoor comparo beamshots)

Nice review with good pics to illustrate the look and profile of the beam.