My first Zebralight.

[captain spaulding]

Well I just received my first Zebralight in the mail today. I probably would of never got one if it wasn't for  Heinz Doofenshmirtz showing me one of his and letting me handle it. I bought a SC52 and now want the SC52W.    I'm not going to go into any review as I just received it today and still want to play with it for a few weeks before I make a judgement. I can almost positively say I will like it. 

[Mr. Whippy]

I love my Zebralights.  I'll be interested in a follow up on what you think of it after using it for a while.

[Syph007]

Ya Ive got the sc52w and LOVE it!

[captain spaulding]

What kind of batteries are both of you using? I'm going to get some Eneloops, but at the moment i'm running a normal 1.5v Alkaline AA's. I did buy some Energizer L91 Lithium's, but I am going to wait to use them until I get through the fiddling faze so I don't waste the charge on the L91's. Does anyone use L91's in there SC52? If so how do you like them? I really wan't to get some 3.7v 14500 Li-ion batteries. Does anyone have recommendations on good brands and a place to purchase the 3.7v 14500's?

[enki_ck]

Welcome to the Zebralight club. I have the earlier version, SC51 and am using Eneloops. I'm using Eneloops in all my flashlights except the ones powered by lithium ion batteries. For those I choose AW protected batteries, one of the best li-ion batteries. I buy from Lumens Factory as they ship worldwide (USPS won't ship li-ion batteries anymore) and I think they are cheaper than most US based stores for the same brand. Very fast shipping too, at least in my case.

http://www.lumensfactory.com/online_shop_product.php?id=214&cid=10&sid=&page=1

You'll need a special charger for li-ion batteries though. I'm using the Nitecore Intellicharger v4 as it can handle both regular rechargeables and li-ion batteries. dks has a thread about various chargers somewhere in the gadget freak or flashlight forum though. Might be worth a look.

I still need to find a ZL headlamp.

[AimlessWanderer]

Congrats on the new light  As this is your first one from ZL, allow me to cross post the overview for learning the functions I wrote in a previous thread 

 

If it was my first light, I'd love it 
If it was my only light (or most used) I'd most probably learn to love it 
As an occasional use light it's frustrating different UI is a bigger factor than the hue of the light 


Here's what ACTUALLY happens if you don't instantly connect with it ... 


Zebralight Learning Curve:

• Grab light and push button with thumb, forgetting that (unlike any other torch that ever existed)depending how quick you do that depends what light you get - full power, minimum power, or a rapid scroll through levels. Swear at it!
  
• Push button lightly (as in soft press) for next level and wait to see which level is next. It goes off (but not immediately). Swear at it!
  
• Push button to turn it back on at a different speed, and light comes on at a different light level to before. Swear at it.
  
• Try double clicking it. The light changes two settings, but flickers the intermediate setting on it's way there. Feel the start of a headache coming on, and swear at it!
  
• Remember the "press and hold to change mode" thingy. Press and hold button. It goes too far before you let go and you get the light level after the one you wanted. Swear at it!
  
• Press button quicker to advance light mode slower, and it goes off. Swear at it loudly!
  
• Press button to turn back on, this time with eyes shut as you're getting frightened of giving yourself a seizure. Swear at it regardless of light level. Open eyes and assess which level the imp has chosen. Swear again regardless of result!
  
• Press and hold and whimper as the light cycles through the various levels as you try to time it to stop on the right one. With gritted teeth and misting eyes, finally achieve the required light level for the job at hand (praying it doesn't need more than one light level)
  
• Press the button to turn it off and it waits a fraction of a second just in case it's a double click. That's enough time for your brain to think you didn't press it right and tell your thumb to try again. By the time your thumb starts moving again the light has gone off so you end up turning it on again! SCREAM AT IT !!!
  
• Whilst still screaming, press the button more slowly and deliberately to make bloody sure the button works this time. Light level changes and stays on. Look at the window to decide if it's high enough to jump out of. Start to cry
  
• Stop ... take a breath ... think clearly and press the button once and wait. Light goes off!
• Return light to drawer and pick up something else which hasn't been possessed by an evil spirit. Attempt to calm down and mend your wounded soul.
  
• Leave the light there until you've read enough posts at good people at MT.O who have tamed the beast with bright smiling faces and give it constant praise. Feel convinced it's worth trying it out again.
  
• Return to step 1 ......

[captain spaulding]

 I already learned how to manipulate everything in the first hour.    It's really not confusing at all for me.

[Syph007]

I already learned how to manipulate everything in the first hour.    It's really not confusing at all for me.

Yep thats why I loved it.  Want a confusing interface, try a fenix ld20.  Twist this, long click, slow click blah blah.  The zebralight one is just simple and perfect.    

[JAfromMn]

Congrats on the new light  As this is your first one from ZL, allow me to cross post the overview for learning the functions I wrote in a previous thread 

 

If it was my first light, I'd love it 
If it was my only light (or most used) I'd most probably learn to love it 
As an occasional use light it's frustrating different UI is a bigger factor than the hue of the light 


Here's what ACTUALLY happens if you don't instantly connect with it ... 


Zebralight Learning Curve:

• Grab light and push button with thumb, forgetting that (unlike any other torch that ever existed)depending how quick you do that depends what light you get - full power, minimum power, or a rapid scroll through levels. Swear at it!
  
• Push button lightly (as in soft press) for next level and wait to see which level is next. It goes off (but not immediately). Swear at it!
  
• Push button to turn it back on at a different speed, and light comes on at a different light level to before. Swear at it.
  
• Try double clicking it. The light changes two settings, but flickers the intermediate setting on it's way there. Feel the start of a headache coming on, and swear at it!
  
• Remember the "press and hold to change mode" thingy. Press and hold button. It goes too far before you let go and you get the light level after the one you wanted. Swear at it!
  
• Press button quicker to advance light mode slower, and it goes off. Swear at it loudly!
  
• Press button to turn back on, this time with eyes shut as you're getting frightened of giving yourself a seizure. Swear at it regardless of light level. Open eyes and assess which level the imp has chosen. Swear again regardless of result!
  
• Press and hold and whimper as the light cycles through the various levels as you try to time it to stop on the right one. With gritted teeth and misting eyes, finally achieve the required light level for the job at hand (praying it doesn't need more than one light level)
  
• Press the button to turn it off and it waits a fraction of a second just in case it's a double click. That's enough time for your brain to think you didn't press it right and tell your thumb to try again. By the time your thumb starts moving again the light has gone off so you end up turning it on again! SCREAM AT IT !!!
  
• Whilst still screaming, press the button more slowly and deliberately to make bloody sure the button works this time. Light level changes and stays on. Look at the window to decide if it's high enough to jump out of. Start to cry
  
• Stop ... take a breath ... think clearly and press the button once and wait. Light goes off!
• Return light to drawer and pick up something else which hasn't been possessed by an evil spirit. Attempt to calm down and mend your wounded soul.
  
• Leave the light there until you've read enough posts at good people at MT.O who have tamed the beast with bright smiling faces and give it constant praise. Feel convinced it's worth trying it out again.
  
• Return to step 1 ......

LOL

all that and I still love my sc51w

I'm going to go swear at my zebralight some more

[captain spaulding]

So how does the turbo mode work? Do you have to use 3.7v 14500 batteries for it to work? Is the high mode automatically the 500lm turbo mode when you use 14500's?

[theonew]

I've had an sc52w for a few days now and absolutely love it. I'm using an Energizer Lithium L91 and the highest setting really lights up the night.   It's more spilly than my Fenix LD20 which is a plus in my opinion but still has plenty of throw. The user interface is fantastic. The only slight issue I have with it is that if I want it to start in the low setting I sometimes don't hold the button down long enough and it starts at the high setting. But that really isn't a big deal and since I have it programmed and memorized to open on high at the 108 lumen setting, it's not too startling. I'm sure with use I'll get the long click down pat in no time. Lovin' this light. 

[AimlessWanderer]

I already learned how to manipulate everything in the first hour.    It's really not confusing at all for me.

Good to hear Cap'n  For me I've spent so long favouring other lights, I found it a prohibitive transition. They're great lights for the right person, and it's good to hear you get along with it

[Blackbeard]

So how does the turbo mode work? Do you have to use 3.7v 14500 batteries for it to work? Is the high mode automatically the 500lm turbo mode when you use 14500's?

 Can this light take Lions? If so, than you will only reach the highest output with a 14500.

[gregozedobe]

So how does the turbo mode work? Do you have to use 3.7v 14500 batteries for it to work? Is the high mode automatically the 500lm turbo mode when you use 14500's?

High will start on the 500lm mode if it is programmed to H1 and running a well charged 14500 li-ion battery, but only for the first minute (presumably to stop excess heat from damaging the LED).

According to the Zebralight site:
http://www.zebralight.com/SC52-AA-Flashlight-Cool-White_p_100.html

Light Output
High:         H1 280 Lm (0.9 hrs)   or    H2  172 Lm (1.7 hrs) / 108 Lm (3 hrs) / 4Hz Strobe
Medium:    M1 50 Lm (7.5 hrs)    or    M2   25 Lm (12 hrs) / 12 Lm (27 hrs)
Low:         L1   2.7 Lm (4 days)   or    L2   0.34 Lm (3 weeks) / 0.06 Lm (2 months) / 0.01 Lm (3 months)
Light output are ANSI out the front values. Runtimes tested (and parasitic drain estimated) with Sanyo 2000mAh Eneloop AA batteries. Light output with 14500 batteries are the same except that the H1 is 500Lm for the first minute and then steps down to 280Lm.   

IMHO unless you really, really want those extra 220 lumens for a maximum of 1 minute you are much better off running your SC52 on eneloops (that's all my SC52s ever get, and I also have 14500's if I wanted to use them).  It won't look all that much brighter anyway (perceived brightness as measured by lumens works on a sort of logarithmic scale, not linear).

If you run an SC52 on alkaleak batteries you won't get full H1 output for very long, as alkalines simply cannot supply the current needed.

Disclaimer:  I am a staunch Zebralight fan, and have been for many years.  I currently own about 10, and am intending to buy a H602 when they are released.  My only annoyance was the too-easy-to-accidentally-activate switch, and that has been fixed on recent releases.

[theonew]

I just got some 14500s primarily because I just had to see what 500 lumens looks like. It is pretty impressive   For me they should work well. One of my most common flashlight uses is when I'm walking in Central Park at night and wish to light up a dark or dimly lit walkway or trail in order to see if there are people or animals along the way. The more light the better for this task and 1 minute is more than enough time

[gregozedobe]

The more light the better for this task and 1 minute is more than enough time

You better stay away from cpf then, you could get totally corrupted looking at lights with BIG lumens