The Official Zebralight Thread

[DE73]

I am an Eneloop only guy, so no worries there. If it functions as it should I am sure it will work well for my needs. Around the house task light and campsite headlamp.

Eneloops are great but it’s sad that alkaline doesn’t work. Alkalines are god for backup if you can’t charge or don’t want to carry a charger.

 

[DE73]

Ah, I remember that fiasco now...i'm still surprised that they didn't just test the lights before resending them over and over, lol

I would have been easier then sending them back and forth between China and Europe. I guess I had really bad luck.

 

[dc38]

I would have been easier then sending them back and forth between China and Europe. I guess I had really bad luck.

No, the way I see it, the money can now be spent on a Hank kr1aa instead!

 

[jon_slider]

grams are shortened g and not gm

thank you very much, I corrected the typos ;-)

I guess I had really bad luck.

true, but in a way you performed a public service, that helps others know that the new Zebras are not Alkaline, nor Lithium primary friendly..

I think you uncovered some AA problems that Zebralight has not been testing for, as they seem to be focused on Eneloop

for your interest in Alkaline and Lithium Primaries, maybe a Malkoff, or a D3AA would be worth considering.. the D3AA is less expensive, not as heavy, and offers closer spacing between outputs.

However, the D3AA does not work well on Alkaline (only gives 50 lumens). It does work OK on Ultimate Lithium, but works better on Eneloop. I dont know how well a Malkoff works on Alkaline, I think they like Ultimate Lithium better, I dont know if they like Eneloop or not.

My 2023 AA Zebra also does not work well on Alkaline (only gives 100 lumens). It likes Ultimate Lithium better, but works better on Eneloop.

 

[sbslider]

Just got back from an overnight camping trip, and for the first time in a while didn't have a headlamp. Gifted my last one for the sake of some tasty CPF testing. Anyway, it was annoying enough that I am on the hunt for another one.

Been meaning to thank you again for that H53c N. I used it during a month long camper van trip with my wife during October. Pretty much every evening it was used somehow. It was one of 4 or so lights I brought, and was used by far the most. Thanks again for your gift!!

 

[gurdygurds]

Been meaning to thank you again for that H53c N. I used it during a month long camper van trip with my wife during October. Pretty much every evening it was used somehow. It was one of 4 or so lights I brought, and was used by far the most. Thanks again for your gift!!

You’re very welcome, and now you see why I could use another one! The headlamp reigns supreme as far as usability. I went ahead and ordered one from Zebralight. Should be here tomorrow or Wednesday.

 

[sbslider]

I have la few headlamps, but most of them have some sort of issues with them. Zebra light is super straightforward to use and just works great. The.strap is by far the most comfortable of all my headlamps.

 

[jon_slider]

Here is my H53Fc N:

I put a small piece of glow tape on the tailcap, which makes it easy for me to locate the light on a dark nightstand. I dont need to charge the glow tape, it has enough residual brightness on its own, from just being exposed to daylight on my desk during the day.

the outputs are from my own lumen meter

I leave Level 1 out of my G7 group, which I use as my nightstand sequence. (I mostly use level 3 when walking to the bathroom, just enough to avoid stepping on my black cat).

level 1 is so low that I cant even tell its on during the day, and even so dim at night that I dont have a use for it. (Actually, now that I think of it.. it might work just well eought to use as a nightstand locator light).

The Level 1 output of 0.00 lumens is partly due to the frosted lens, but also partly due to individual variation. Some of my AA Zebras have slightly higher level 1 outputs than others, and this particularl H53Fc N has the lowest output of any of them. It is also the only one with a frosted lens.

See the red arrow on the headband for alternate routing. This prevents the end of the rubber mount from leaving divots on my forehead, by not resting directly against my skin.

 

[lampeDépêche]

Just got back from an overnight camping trip, and for the first time in a while didn't have a headlamp. Gifted my last one for the sake of some tasty CPF testing. Anyway, it was annoying enough that I am on the hunt for another one. Does anyone have experience with the AA mules from Zebralight, H503c/H504c? I've had the regular version and understand you can use dc fix and all to get the flood, but lately I've come across a few mule lights and have taken to them. If you have or have used these tiny Zebra headlamps, I'd love to hear your opinion on them. Thanks!

I have both the H503 NW and the red version (H503r?). They are good lights, and even smaller than the H53 model -- without the reflector in the way, ZL is able to move the battery further up into the head, thus shortening the entire light by about 6mm or 1/4".
The quality of the light is very nice -- complete undifferentiated wall of light, no hotspot, no difference in concentration from one side of the beam to the other. If you are working on something at arms-length, there are no artifacts of any kind. If you hang it up on the ceiling, the entire room is evenly illuminated.
However, I have to warn you that there is no throw at all. It's a good light for arm's length work, but forget about seeing something 10 meters away.
The other result of the very wide angle (120 degree) is that it looks like it is putting out fewer lumens than it is, so you will want to turn it up higher than you normally would. 15 lumens in a tight cone can put out a lot of concentration on a target; 15 lumens distributed over almost half of a sphere is losing all of that concentration. Another way to say it: you're lighting up what you want to see, and you're also lighting up a lot of stuff that you did not intend to look at. Yes, fabulous for peripheral vision, but a lot of your light is going where you are not using it in any given glance.
Short answer -- they are beautiful mules, and if you know what it's like to work with a mule, then you will know what you are getting into. For working around a campsite at night, it's going to be a good light. For walking at night, less so. For spotting what's beyond that tree, hopeless.

(Why do I have the red version? Great for bike-lights, because you *want* to be seen from a very wide angle, the wider the better)

 

[jon_slider]

It's a good light for arm's length work, but forget about seeing something 10 meters away.

good point.. similarly true for my H53Fc N..

The frosted lens makes the throw maybe half or less as what I get from a clear lens AA Zebra..

The Frosted lens is good as an arms reach headlamp, and just good enough for seeing the ground a couple of steps in front of my feet outdoors.

even smaller than the H53 model -- without the reflector in the way, ZL is able to move the battery further up into the head, thus shortening the entire light by about 6mm or 1/4"

Great info.. Im a big fan of small lights.. even the H53Fc N is noticeably smaller than my SC53c N, and 8 grams lighter. And the H504 shaves another 2 grams off the H53/54

 

[lampeDépêche]

Great info.. Im a big fan of small lights.. even the H53Fc N is noticeably smaller than my SC53c N, and 8 grams lighter. And the H504 shaves another 2 grams off the H53/54

My H503 dates from the era of 14500 support, so it can crank out something like 350-400 lumens until it throttles back for heat. It's like having a tiny self-powering 40-watt incandescent bulb in your pocket. I put a magnet onto the pocket-clip so that I can stick it on fridges, air-vents, etc., and it really is like hanging an area light. Even with an Eneloop you have 100 lumens of area-lighting in a tiny package. And if you hang it from the ceiling, a non-flashoholic would never think it was anything but a light-fixture, lighting up the whole room.
I've gotta say, though -- however diffuse you find the ZL Frosted models, these mules are even more diffuse than that. The solid angle of 120 degrees is over 10 times as big as the solid angle of 30 degrees -- you're sending light into a much, much bigger cone.

 

[sbslider]

Here is my H53Fc N:

View attachment 86194

See the red arrow on the headband for alternate routing. This prevents the end of the rubber mount from leaving divots on my forehead, by not resting directly against my skin.

Thanks for the tips! I guess gurdygurds re-routed my headlamp the same way as it looks like your picture. I just assumed that was the standard routing . . .

 

[jon_slider]

The solid angle of 120 degrees is over 10 times as big as the solid angle of 30 degrees

actually, the beam angle on the Frosted lens is 90 degrees, but yes, still less than the 120 degrees of the mule ;-)

Im looking forward to the Gurdy Report... as Im guessing he went with the H504c full Flood (Mule Zebra). His previous H53c N had the clear lens with 12 degree hotspot (and 80 degree spill)

Meanwhile back on Safari, this sturdy fellow ran into my lasoo:

Seems to have run afoul of a LiIon (see a couple claw marks on the neck), but should not be much worse for casual wear. Waiting for it to clear quarantine before I can put it through its paces..

 

[gurdygurds]

I have both the H503 NW and the red version (H503r?). They are good lights, and even smaller than the H53 model -- without the reflector in the way, ZL is able to move the battery further up into the head, thus shortening the entire light by about 6mm or 1/4".
The quality of the light is very nice -- complete undifferentiated wall of light, no hotspot, no difference in concentration from one side of the beam to the other. If you are working on something at arms-length, there are no artifacts of any kind. If you hang it up on the ceiling, the entire room is evenly illuminated.
However, I have to warn you that there is no throw at all. It's a good light for arm's length work, but forget about seeing something 10 meters away.
The other result of the very wide angle (120 degree) is that it looks like it is putting out fewer lumens than it is, so you will want to turn it up higher than you normally would. 15 lumens in a tight cone can put out a lot of concentration on a target; 15 lumens distributed over almost half of a sphere is losing all of that concentration. Another way to say it: you're lighting up what you want to see, and you're also lighting up a lot of stuff that you did not intend to look at. Yes, fabulous for peripheral vision, but a lot of your light is going where you are not using it in any given glance.
Short answer -- they are beautiful mules, and if you know what it's like to work with a mule, then you will know what you are getting into. For working around a campsite at night, it's going to be a good light. For walking at night, less so. For spotting what's beyond that tree, hopeless.

(Why do I have the red version? Great for bike-lights, because you *want* to be seen from a very wide angle, the wider the better)

@lampeDépêche for the win! Thanks for the thoughtful reply sir. I’m not certain how much I will love it, but I won’t know unless I give it a go right? I will supply a full Gurdy Report once I get my hands on it. I like that term @jon_slider .

 

[Romanko]

Recent days a lot of lights are "Back Order" at zebralight homepage. Maybe this is a sign that they will be discontinued.

 

[DE73]

Recent days a lot of lights are "Back Order" at zebralight homepage. Maybe this is a sign that they will be discontinued.

Many lights have also ”disappeared” from the AliExpress store. It can also be temporary because of quality problems. We will see.

 

[ilikeguns40]

Hoping new models will be releasing

It would be a waste if they just stopped business. Some of the best lights I own

 

[gurdygurds]

Mule headlamp arrived yesterday. Short review….it’s awesome. For around the house use it’s perfect. Programmed it without issue, played with it handheld as well as in headlamp mode and I’m happy I went with it. Also think it will be perfect for campsite use. If I need throw another light in the pocket can handle that. Really dig this tiny thing.

 

[jon_slider]

Recent days a lot of lights are "Back Order" at zebralight homepage.

fwiw, Skylumen still has a lot of models in stock, and he ships international. For people in USA, Zebras are also available on Ebay

Really dig this tiny thing.

Wow! Congrats and Enjoy!

smaller in at least 3 dimensions, contour around the switch, 1 less fin cut, one less ridge on the body, and I think the bezel may also be smaller:

 

[lampeDépêche]

Mule headlamp arrived yesterday. Short review….it’s awesome. For around the house use it’s perfect. Programmed it without issue, played with it handheld as well as in headlamp mode and I’m happy I went with it. Also think it will be perfect for campsite use. If I need throw another light in the pocket can handle that. Really dig this tiny thing.

I'm glad you like it! Mine is on a shelf in my bedroom -- I should give it more rotations in my pocket load-out, show it a little love. It is amazing how tiny it is -- shorter than some 16340 lights, and skinnier too.
Speaking of which, if you want to run a 14500 in it, then make sure it's a short one, like the AW IMR. Oddly, the Zebralight 14500 itself will *not* fit into the H502/3. Gotta be button-top, though, not flat-top.
Glue a little magnet onto that pocket-clip and you'll have an even handier all-purpose room-lighter.
Enjoy, gg!