dheim
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2011
- Messages
- 97
The SC600 (2nd wave) is an 18650 fed torch, powered by a Cree XM-L emitter. It's the biggest and most powerful flashlight in Zebralight's arsenal but it's still surprisingly small, with a minimalistic, clean and extremely compact design. It's layout is not meant for tactical or cigar grips as-seen-in-tv, but for a much more relaxed stance, thanks to its side button (smaller, more recessed and stiffer than on previous models, to avoid accidental activations) and the small cuts in the body that provide a comfortable rest for fingers. Finish is Zebra's trademark greenish gunmetal (a nice departure from the usual black anodizing).
size comparison... from left to right: fenix tk21 (18650 or 2xCR123), xeno g10v2 (18650 or 2xCR123), led lenser t7 (4xAAA), zebralight sc600 (18650), led lenser Vsquared (old model - 3xAAA), AA cell
The UI is identical to the SC51s (and I presume to every current Zebralight model), with 3 main modes and 2 submodes each: when light's off a single brief press activates high mode, two fast clicks switch it on in medium mode and a slightly longer press is for low mode. When light's on a single click shuts it off and double click change sub-mode. Regardless of the light's status, holding the button cycles through main modes, from low to high.
It can sound quite confusing, but I'm not a 27-functions-in-a-single-button type and yet find it very easy and intuitive to use. The range of available light levels (all current regulated) is wide, for every situation and taste:
warning! the following beamshots are not really indicative of actual brightness... wall shots are dimmed to better show tint and patterns, but in real life the SC600 (as well as the other torches portrayed) is much brighter (and definitely blinding on a white wall on turbo)! outdoor shots are all but "scientific"... i can't say how far are the trees in the background, and the torches have been held in random positions during the shooting session...
turbo (750 lm)
high 2 (200 lm)
mid 1 (65 lm)
mid 2 (21 lm)
low 1 (2.8 lm) - the green tint is definitely visible
Compared to my Fenix TK21U2 and Xeno G10v2, the SC600 is smaller, lighter and brighter, with lots of possible light levels and a slightly better cell life. It's by far the worst thrower (both Chinese torches fire beyond 200 meters), but it's designed to be a short-medium range light – and it does its work perfectly good, providing a wider view angle and no blinding hotspot unless at very close range.
from left to right: SC600 (750lm), TK21 (468lm), G10v2 (480lm) on maximum output - the Zebralight is by far the best flooder, the Xeno has got a slightly wider spot than the Fenix but less spill (G10v2's wall shot is little biased by the slightly farther position, while the outdoor beam looks narrower than it is actually, i held the torch in a different relative position to the camera, the gods know why...). it's much less apparent than in real life, but the Xeno has got the best tint, more bluish than greenish.
with a maximum output rated at 750 lumens, the SC600 is able to withstand a comparative "test" alongside a couple of much bigger torches like the Fenix TK41 (800 lm) and TK45 (760 lm) - that are able to sustain turbo mode for a much longer time, by the way.
SC600 (750lm), TK45 (760lm), TK41 (800lm)
So, concluding, the SC600 is compact (just a tad bulkier than the Led Lenser M1 that's been my EDC for some time) and can be easily carried in a pocket, floods lots of light and it's extremely versatile, so it's currently on top of my advice list for both EDC use (if dimensions are not a strict requisite) outdoor walking (if real throw capability is not needed) and general indoor use.
I just wonder why Zebralight offers no included nor optional pouch/holster, but (for who cares, I'm a pouch maniac) the Led Lenser V series pouch fits like a glove, unless the clip is attached.
Just watch out if you don't particularly like GREEN...
size comparison... from left to right: fenix tk21 (18650 or 2xCR123), xeno g10v2 (18650 or 2xCR123), led lenser t7 (4xAAA), zebralight sc600 (18650), led lenser Vsquared (old model - 3xAAA), AA cell
The UI is identical to the SC51s (and I presume to every current Zebralight model), with 3 main modes and 2 submodes each: when light's off a single brief press activates high mode, two fast clicks switch it on in medium mode and a slightly longer press is for low mode. When light's on a single click shuts it off and double click change sub-mode. Regardless of the light's status, holding the button cycles through main modes, from low to high.
It can sound quite confusing, but I'm not a 27-functions-in-a-single-button type and yet find it very easy and intuitive to use. The range of available light levels (all current regulated) is wide, for every situation and taste:
- Low2: 0.1 lumens (80 days of continuous use). Lots of flashlight fanatics don't even buy a torch if it lacks such sidereal light modes. I'm not one of them, but I agree that it's got some use… in complete darkness it's enough to read a map or simply a book without impairing night vision or annoying other people around.
- Low1: 2.8 lm (280 h). enough bright to light a small room and actually see something…
- Mid 2: 21 lm (50 h). more than enough for indoor use.
- Mid1: 65 lm (18 h). very usable outdoors (and more than some 600$ tactical flashlight on the market…), you'll hardly need more light indoors
- High2: 200 lm (5.9 h) default, can be programmed (after 6 subsequent double clicks) to 330 lm (3 h), 500 lm (2.1 h) or 4 Hz beacon strobe. Personally I stick with the default 200 lm level, that's all I need for general outdoor use if there's no need for very long running times
- High1: 750 lm (!) for 5 minutes, then 500 lm (2 h). this time limit has nothing to do with battery voltage but it's timer-regulated to avoid overheating, so it resets after the torch has been switched off… anyway 500 lm are still LOTS of light.
warning! the following beamshots are not really indicative of actual brightness... wall shots are dimmed to better show tint and patterns, but in real life the SC600 (as well as the other torches portrayed) is much brighter (and definitely blinding on a white wall on turbo)! outdoor shots are all but "scientific"... i can't say how far are the trees in the background, and the torches have been held in random positions during the shooting session...
turbo (750 lm)
high 2 (200 lm)
mid 1 (65 lm)
mid 2 (21 lm)
low 1 (2.8 lm) - the green tint is definitely visible
Compared to my Fenix TK21U2 and Xeno G10v2, the SC600 is smaller, lighter and brighter, with lots of possible light levels and a slightly better cell life. It's by far the worst thrower (both Chinese torches fire beyond 200 meters), but it's designed to be a short-medium range light – and it does its work perfectly good, providing a wider view angle and no blinding hotspot unless at very close range.
from left to right: SC600 (750lm), TK21 (468lm), G10v2 (480lm) on maximum output - the Zebralight is by far the best flooder, the Xeno has got a slightly wider spot than the Fenix but less spill (G10v2's wall shot is little biased by the slightly farther position, while the outdoor beam looks narrower than it is actually, i held the torch in a different relative position to the camera, the gods know why...). it's much less apparent than in real life, but the Xeno has got the best tint, more bluish than greenish.
with a maximum output rated at 750 lumens, the SC600 is able to withstand a comparative "test" alongside a couple of much bigger torches like the Fenix TK41 (800 lm) and TK45 (760 lm) - that are able to sustain turbo mode for a much longer time, by the way.
SC600 (750lm), TK45 (760lm), TK41 (800lm)
So, concluding, the SC600 is compact (just a tad bulkier than the Led Lenser M1 that's been my EDC for some time) and can be easily carried in a pocket, floods lots of light and it's extremely versatile, so it's currently on top of my advice list for both EDC use (if dimensions are not a strict requisite) outdoor walking (if real throw capability is not needed) and general indoor use.
I just wonder why Zebralight offers no included nor optional pouch/holster, but (for who cares, I'm a pouch maniac) the Led Lenser V series pouch fits like a glove, unless the clip is attached.
Just watch out if you don't particularly like GREEN...
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