The Official Zebralight Thread
- Thread starter C.M.S
- Start date
My H600w Mk IV XHP35(not HI)'s tint isn't on par with my SC64w HI's, which brings the word "perfect" to mind. The H600w has some visible green in both the spot and corona, while the outermost spill has an almost violet hue.
That's on a white wall. In actual use, it is not noticeable at all.
I took it on an overnight hike, and used it around camp, collecting firewood, and trying to light up a (big)waterfall.
If I hadn't shined it on a white wall, my comments would have been "whoa", and "holy crap!", though those brightest modes will soon be programmed out. I don't need more output than the AA models have, but will appreciate the runtime from an 18650. Goes on a hardhat in a few hours, so I'll be playing flashlight nerd at work all night:naughty:
likethevegetable
Enlightened
Owen, I share similar sentiments towards whitewall hunting. It's so easy to dislike a tint on a white wall, especially one that's slightly above the BBL when compared to one that's below the BBL. My SC64w HI has a slightly "dirty" corona, but in use it's hardly noticeable. It looks like an awful green compared to my Nichia 219C light, but in actual use when only using one light (as is my typical use) I prefer the HI as it feels a bit softer and warmer, and not as intense as the rosy Nichia. The color performance isn't too far off to me eyes either.
MrStrumpan
Newly Enlightened
Today my Zebralight H600Fd Mk IV - 18650 XHP50.2 Floody 5000K High CRI Headlamp arrived (to EU).
I order it from ZL around a month ago, 5 Dec 2020.
I had the old H600w MK III since before. Wow, much light in the new one :-)
I have two SC700d, order the last one 1st Dec 2020 from nkon.nl and it arrive shorty after.
It´s darker in color than my other one from Nov 2019. The new H600Fd is also darker.
In Picture:
Zebralight H600w MK III - 18650 XHP35 Headlamp
Zebralight H600Fd Mk IV - 18650 XHP50.2 Floody 5000K High CRI Headlamp
Zebralight SC700d - 21700 XHP70.2 Neutral White High CRI Flashlight
Zebralight SC600W MK III - 18650 Cree XHP35 Flashlight
Zebralight SC32w - CR123 XM-L2 Flashlight
I order it from ZL around a month ago, 5 Dec 2020.
I had the old H600w MK III since before. Wow, much light in the new one :-)
I have two SC700d, order the last one 1st Dec 2020 from nkon.nl and it arrive shorty after.
It´s darker in color than my other one from Nov 2019. The new H600Fd is also darker.
In Picture:
Zebralight H600w MK III - 18650 XHP35 Headlamp
Zebralight H600Fd Mk IV - 18650 XHP50.2 Floody 5000K High CRI Headlamp
Zebralight SC700d - 21700 XHP70.2 Neutral White High CRI Flashlight
Zebralight SC600W MK III - 18650 Cree XHP35 Flashlight
Zebralight SC32w - CR123 XM-L2 Flashlight
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likethevegetable
Enlightened
Nice collection! Your photo of the SC700d doesn't make the head look massive compared to the body, like I've seen in other photos. Maybe I'm leaning towards one now... hah.
Derek Dean
Flashlight Enthusiast
likethevegetable, the SC700d feels like a finely sculpted piece of art when held. It really is a beautifully crafted light and is the one I keep on my nightstand, however, it IS a bit heavier than the SC600 series of lights, which should be taken into account. For my uses, I appreciate that extra heft. I also love that it's got not only extremely high output when needed, but also extremely low output as well, which I use for my nightly trips to the bathroom. All that with a HI CRI LED. In my opinion, one of Zebralight's most versatile lights.
SYZYGY
Enlightened
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2019
- Messages
- 329
Re: The Official Zebralight Thread
to those crying about ZL not shipping internationally:
i'm sorry it's not as cheap and/or convenient anymore, but there's no need to act like the sky is falling or start vilifying ZL.
unfortunately, the US is not structured for economical, low-volume export. the closest thing we have to a good option is USPS, and international USPS shipping is SUPER slow and unreliable to many destinations right due to COVID. it wouldn't surprise me if ZL resumes selling internationally to end-users when the COVID situation improves.
moreover, i never understood the expectation for a good to automatically cost the same in a foreign market as in a domestic market. really?
as said, you still have the option of convenience to buy from international shops like nkon. there's an upcharge (45usd in the example given above) yes.. not cheap, but what's 45 extra dollars on a hobby item you probably buy at most a few of each year? that's nothing.
also, even if there weren't international sellers, why not just nut up and use a package forwarding service? i do this all the time for goods i can't ordinarily buy online. i never automatically expect a company to sell anything internationally. in fact, it wouldn't surprise me if you could get it cheaper that way than via nkon if the markup is actually 45usd. be a big boy and do some research. there are many ways to be resourceful.
i hope the situation improves and that you can buy from ZL directly again one day soon, but calling them a terrible company over this is pretty stupid.
edit: fwiw, i'm willing to occasionally forward packages for free to non-US people in need. i'm sure others are, too. just ask.
to those crying about ZL not shipping internationally:
i'm sorry it's not as cheap and/or convenient anymore, but there's no need to act like the sky is falling or start vilifying ZL.
unfortunately, the US is not structured for economical, low-volume export. the closest thing we have to a good option is USPS, and international USPS shipping is SUPER slow and unreliable to many destinations right due to COVID. it wouldn't surprise me if ZL resumes selling internationally to end-users when the COVID situation improves.
moreover, i never understood the expectation for a good to automatically cost the same in a foreign market as in a domestic market. really?
as said, you still have the option of convenience to buy from international shops like nkon. there's an upcharge (45usd in the example given above) yes.. not cheap, but what's 45 extra dollars on a hobby item you probably buy at most a few of each year? that's nothing.
also, even if there weren't international sellers, why not just nut up and use a package forwarding service? i do this all the time for goods i can't ordinarily buy online. i never automatically expect a company to sell anything internationally. in fact, it wouldn't surprise me if you could get it cheaper that way than via nkon if the markup is actually 45usd. be a big boy and do some research. there are many ways to be resourceful.
i hope the situation improves and that you can buy from ZL directly again one day soon, but calling them a terrible company over this is pretty stupid.
edit: fwiw, i'm willing to occasionally forward packages for free to non-US people in need. i'm sure others are, too. just ask.
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WalkIntoTheLight
Flashlight Enthusiast
First, I'll point out that Zebralight is a Chinese company, which makes their lights in China, and for every country except the US, they shipped their lights to the consumer directly from China. (The US has/had a Texas warehouse where they shipped from.)
Second, I ordered a Emisar D4v2 from International Outdoor last week. Again, a Chinese company, shipping their lights from China. It was FREE shipping, and tracking shows it's going to get delivered to me today in the regular mail (Canada). That's LESS THAN 2 WEEKS from China. That's actually better time than I would normally get before the pandemic started! (For free shipping.)
There's absolutely no excuse why Zebralight can't do what every other Chinese company is able to do. Using the pandemic as an excuse not to do mail-order? That's not only ridiculous, but completely contrary to what every other company is doing now, including traditional brick & mortar retail stores. Zebralight no longer seems interested in running a proper business.
SYZYGY
Enlightened
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2019
- Messages
- 329
Re: The Official Zebralight Thread
you're saying that ZL only shipped domestically from the US?
only US customers got their lights from the US, and everyone else got their lights shipped to them directly from china? that's interesting.
i've never heard that before, and that changes my impression of the situation.
i wonder if they're trying to make their business seem more american or something. or they're having problems with their chinese order fulfillment. or they want to do only US-based QC. i dunno.
where were non-US customers supposed to send their lights for warranty issues?
still though, they have to be an american company, right? are you doubting that they're registered as a business in the US and pay taxes?
you're saying that ZL only shipped domestically from the US?
only US customers got their lights from the US, and everyone else got their lights shipped to them directly from china? that's interesting.
i've never heard that before, and that changes my impression of the situation.
i wonder if they're trying to make their business seem more american or something. or they're having problems with their chinese order fulfillment. or they want to do only US-based QC. i dunno.
where were non-US customers supposed to send their lights for warranty issues?
still though, they have to be an american company, right? are you doubting that they're registered as a business in the US and pay taxes?
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Well folks, as i’m in Europe, getting ZL is always pricey for me but as long as i can get even used ones i’m happy.
Nkon will have them for sure so i’m good.
Now talking about SC64w HI (i love the tint on that one) and just recently arrived SC600Fc IV+ i was really disapointed in the last one. 4000K but beam is so yellow and green.
So i decided to upgrade to Fd standard. I have 5000K XHP50.2 90CRI laying around and i think it will be better than Fc.
Sent from Tapatalk
Nkon will have them for sure so i’m good.
Now talking about SC64w HI (i love the tint on that one) and just recently arrived SC600Fc IV+ i was really disapointed in the last one. 4000K but beam is so yellow and green.
So i decided to upgrade to Fd standard. I have 5000K XHP50.2 90CRI laying around and i think it will be better than Fc.
Sent from Tapatalk
WalkIntoTheLight
Flashlight Enthusiast
Yes, it's always been the case (for at least several years, anyway) that US customers get their lights shipped from Texas, whereas anyone else in the world got their lights shipped from China. AFAIK, all lights are made in China, but they were sent to a warehouse in Texas for distribution locally. The owners are Chinese, but there's some evidence that they live in Texas, so perhaps that's why they set up the distribution there.
Zebralight is registered as a company in Texas, yes. But, they do everything else in China. Though, perhaps with the recent changes, maybe that has changed. Anything is possible. I think at one time they were going to do some manufacturing or something like that in Texas, but I don't think that ever happened. You only have to look at the prices from companies like HDS or Surefire or Malkoff, to understand why.
For warranty service, I think you send it to Texas, then they just mail it off to China to be fixed. That's why it takes so long. Everywhere else in the world, you just mail it to China. I've never had to get warranty work, but it was a pretty good deal outside of the warranty period, just $15, if they still had parts.
The Whispering Gallery
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2015
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- 144
Sent from Tapatalk
That's before the LED swap, right?
How are you planning to install the new LED? By prying out the driver completely like others have done?
Yeap, heating it a bit to soften the silicone beneath and pull with the tweezers.
Now to the swap
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WalkIntoTheLight
Flashlight Enthusiast
Aren't zebralights supposed to be potted? How did you get that out, if it was potted?
SYZYGY
Enlightened
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2019
- Messages
- 329
Re: The Official Zebralight Thread
i'm wondering if someone can please give me some insight and educated guesses about what the new ZL offerings could be.
i'm not an emitter nerd, so i don't even know what SST20 is. it appears to be a series of high-CRI emitters by Luminus that may be as good as or better than those of nichia fame? is that right?
what are the beam characteristics like? are they large or small emitters in terms of physical footprint?
just asking because i bought SC64w HI and H600d Mk IV as gifts, and i'm wondering if i should cancel the order and wait to see what's coming.
anyone suspect that these lights are about to get refreshed very soon?
thanks. and don't be afraid to dumb it down for me. assume i don't know much about flashlights :)
i'm wondering if someone can please give me some insight and educated guesses about what the new ZL offerings could be.
i'm not an emitter nerd, so i don't even know what SST20 is. it appears to be a series of high-CRI emitters by Luminus that may be as good as or better than those of nichia fame? is that right?
what are the beam characteristics like? are they large or small emitters in terms of physical footprint?
just asking because i bought SC64w HI and H600d Mk IV as gifts, and i'm wondering if i should cancel the order and wait to see what's coming.
anyone suspect that these lights are about to get refreshed very soon?
thanks. and don't be afraid to dumb it down for me. assume i don't know much about flashlights :)
SST20 is offered in 4000k down to 2700k in 95 CRI, matching closely to the 9080 cri of the 219b. It's a small LED so it has much better intensity and can outhrow the lh351d and 219c.
I really like it, but it comes with one major downside. At low power settings, the SST20 turns more green. Not ideal for low and moonlight levels.
The sc64 hi will give similar throw to an SST20 high cri emitter, but more lumens and better tint across all output levels. The xhp50 led will be far brighter, but also way more floody with not as much reach against an SST20.
I'd say stick to your order, as we don't know if Zebralight will release any new lights and if they do, might be a while until we see one.
Sent from my Pixel using Candlepowerforums mobile app
I really like it, but it comes with one major downside. At low power settings, the SST20 turns more green. Not ideal for low and moonlight levels.
The sc64 hi will give similar throw to an SST20 high cri emitter, but more lumens and better tint across all output levels. The xhp50 led will be far brighter, but also way more floody with not as much reach against an SST20.
I'd say stick to your order, as we don't know if Zebralight will release any new lights and if they do, might be a while until we see one.
Sent from my Pixel using Candlepowerforums mobile app
I agree in recommending to stick with your purchase. It's a great light.
Sent from my moto g(7) power using Tapatalk
Sent from my moto g(7) power using Tapatalk
WalkIntoTheLight
Flashlight Enthusiast
Yeah, it's been over 3 years since Zebralight updated their line-up, and there's no indication they have any plans to do so in the future. This seems bad on the surface, but in reality, there hasn't been a huge change in LEDs or batteries over the past 3 years that requires an update. So, if you're waiting for an updated line-up before you buy, you might be waiting a long time.
A wider selection of LEDs would be a nice addition to their line-up, but they probably don't want to introduce too many skews. Probably a smart thing for a business to do, even though it kind of sucks for the consumer. Other companies, like Convoy and Emisar, seems to be able to handle a large variety of emitters. But, most companies just stick with the ugliest cool-white they can find. Zebralight is in the middle.
A wider selection of LEDs would be a nice addition to their line-up, but they probably don't want to introduce too many skews. Probably a smart thing for a business to do, even though it kind of sucks for the consumer. Other companies, like Convoy and Emisar, seems to be able to handle a large variety of emitters. But, most companies just stick with the ugliest cool-white they can find. Zebralight is in the middle.
