If you don’t already have an SC52, and get one and try it with 14500 batteries, I’m like 99% sure that you’ll go “wow!!”. It is truly an amazing light… one of a kind so far, for me.
One of these days I’m gonna get one to replace my Sipik as my EDC work light. It seems like it’s worth all the hype much like the EA4, as the best light in it’s class. But it’s hard to justify the price when my sk68 actually works really well. That and I paid $9 for it a little over a year ago. If this light was around $30 I’d already own it.
I know what you mean… the SC52 is quite expensive, and that was why it took awhile for me to get one. As I’ve said elsewhere, it’s also somewhat odd looking, which is another reason I didn’t get it earlier.
[quote=ohaya]
That’s sort of the reason, I haven’t gotten one yet either (cost and shape). I pulled the trigger on the Olight O’pen instead for now, it’s shape makes it easier, at least for me to carry around inconspicuously in a shirt pocket.
Thought the 59.50 price with battery is very tempting.
i thought the sc52 was going to be my edc… but i like it too much and im afraid of losing/scuffing it etc lol… shelf queen it is (and light home use)
i edc my eagtac d25a with lifepo4 cells
Ordered one a few days ago. I really like Wallbuys! :bigsmile:
Hi Kreisler,
I bought an SC52 a couple of weeks ago from Illumination Supply. I was really impressed by the SC52. Its my first ZL so I was in for a real treat. Awesome UI. Fantastic build quality. Nice, crisp edges and finely textured (almost belt-sanded) finish to the anodizing. Different from any flashlight I own, from Fenix, to Nitecore, to Eagletac. Closest anodizing would be my Inova T3 from way back.
On 14500 it seems nearly as bright as the TX25C2, but of course it isn’t.
Overall, I think it is the light that impressed me most in my collection.
is the $59 price tag good enough to overlook the upcoming SC52w (XM-L2)? I’m going to assume that the going rate of $64 of the SC52 will drop when the 52w becomes available?
at a $5 discount its not huge (but the extra battery is nice)
Ahh, this is exciting to see! I wonder if they’ll stock some ZL headlights too.
Thanks for your input!!
I asked about the coupon code, and they replied that "the coupon code will expire in the end of May". I think i am gonna pull the trigger later this week.
The SK-68 is pretty nice… I EDC’d one for a while. But it lacks any low modes, and its maximum runtime is only like 3 hours on medium. The SC52 is smaller and has more output options (brighter and dimmer) and vastly longer runtimes. However, it doesn’t throw as far as a zoomed SK-68 and it’s always spot+spill instead of the SK-68’s even circle of light. The SK-68 provides better lighting for photography, works better as a pointer, is a good cheap gift, and throws farther… but the SC52 is otherwise much more versatile.
I’ve hardly touched my SK-68 since I got a Zebralight. The only times I’ve used the SK-68 lately were when I wanted to project an image using a transparency sheet and a loupe. It has become a museum piece in my collection, only used for occasional tricks.
I’ve EDC’d my SC52 for a few months and it has banged against things and doesn’t have a scratch on it. Its metal and/or anodizing must be really hard. OTOH, after just 2-3 weeks of EDCing my JETBeam RRT01, it already has a few scars after being subjected to the same abuse as my SC52.
Besides, the SC52 is already ugly by design; what’s wrong with a few scratches to go with its less-than-appealing appearance? With such a military aesthetic, it seems appropriate to have battle scars. (don’t get me wrong… I love my SC52 and it’s tied for #1 on my list of non-angled lights I recommend to people… but I still think it’s ugly)
I think my EDC recommendation list currently is:
- ZL H51
- ZL SC52 or JB RRT01 (hard to decide, both are very nice)
- Depends on the desired usage… SK-68 or Olight i3/i3s/A3EOS or other 1xAAA or, really, almost anything in my sig below. Currently I’m a bit infatuated with the L3 L10-219 but that’s because it’s new and my first high-CRI light.
Probably not. Zebralights usually keep the same price for the entire time they’re available. Instead of dropping prices after a while, they just discontinue the product.
… forgive me for being dense, but was that a joke? Sometimes I can’t tell.
+1
I have been carrying my SC52, with my keys in the same pocket for a few weeks now.
Most lights end up as somewhat battle scarred veterans rather promptly. Jetbeam BC25, Eagletac G25CS MkII, Crelant V11A, Crelant 7G3CS, surefore 6p, Skyray 16340 (I don't remember the model), etc,. All of them had marks after a relatively short time.
The SC52 still looks brand new, and pristine, aside from one tiny flaw, that was present to begin with. (Really really small dent on one of the heat fins.)
Zebralights are truly ugly though. No getting around that.
Hi Toykeeper,
I agree with the ugly comment. The SC52 is the least ugly of all the other ZLs in my opinion. Too bad… it is the most amazing light I own.
Actually, the SC80 is decent looking.
ok thanks!… argh… must… resist….!!! i already ‘accidentally’ ordered the TF-R2… 
LOL, I hate and love those “accidents”
The more I look at this light the more I like it. The 2 things stopping me is price and the warranty / customer service. Heard a few bad stories of customers getting the run around, poor communication & 2 month turn around time, where sometimes nothing is resolved.
I’m stuck on this or the Quark. Only 2 lights I know of that meet my reqs of 1 AA and good low mode choices (sub 0.5 less is better)… and atleast a couple modes under 35 lumens (–3+ & –25+ preferably ). Under $60.
*Surviving with my 10 yr old mini maglite (not buying another drugstore LED), untill I replace with a proper main edc for general, outdoor, utility, battery conservation scenarios. The 2 month service from ZL has me, well, scared. Should I be?
It's been my experience that most problems surface immediately, where electronics are concerned. With regular intensive use, even more problems, (if there are any,) come up within the 2-3 week period.
Only very rarely do problems surface months after you buy.
So long as you test your light thoroughly, and intensely, during the week or so after receiving it, and so long as you buy from a good authorized retailer, assuming you don't abuse the light, the retailer will exchange it, or take it back. The chances of getting two duds in a row, or a light that develops a problem after a while are low.
You also need to do basic maintenance, which means use some compressed air to blow out the dust from the insides, every few months. Clean the threads, change the o-ring, apply fresh lubricant. Considering you've made due with a maglite for 10 years, it's safe to say you really know how to take care of your stuff.
So should you be scared? No.
Now about the price. That's a different issue. I went through three other cheaper AA lights, trying to save. Balder HD1, Crelant V11A, and Thrunite Archer 1A.
Two of them had issues out of the box. Missing o-ring on the archer. Shitty interface on the HD1. The crelant was fine, but did not work all that well on regular AA batteries.
So by trying to be frugal, I ultimately ended up spending more, only to be unhappy with the results.
The SC52 was, and is, the most expensive AA light I ever bought. It was bought basically as a result of frustration, at not being able to find what I want, and saying f*ck it. Now I'm very glad I spent the money on it.
There is a downside to this story. After trying it, I've now been forced to buy the SC600II as well.
There’s a reason people talk about Zebralights so much. Nearly every product they make is best in its class. Like, when selfbuilt reviewed the SC52, he had to compare it against 2xAA lights to give it a fair comparison because the other 1xAA lights just weren’t competitive.
It took me a long time to work up the nerve to buy a $64 flashlight (ZL H51), but after I received it I didn’t regret it at all. It’s the most useful torch I’ve ever seen, and I use it several times per day despite having gotten many newer lights since then. If I could keep only one light, it’d be my H51. My only regret is getting the ‘w’ version instead of the original cool white. The 4200K tint is too yellow for me.
As for the SC52, it may well be the best traditional 1xAA light on the market… but I find that angled lights (H51) are more useful because I don’t have to hold the light in my hand.
wolf413chris, if price is the main issue, you might also want to consider the L3 Illumination L10 light. It’s 1xAA and the 4-mode version does ~0.09lm, ~3lm, ~30lm, and ~120lm. It comes with a cool white XP-G2 emitter (higher output) or a Nichia 219 4500K 92CRI emitter (awesome color rendition) and costs $20 or $25.
It’s not the most efficient light (runtimes are way shorter than a Zebralight) but it’s still a nice option for 1xAA with decent modes at a lower price.
I might join you if for some reason my O’pen order from Hke falls through. These 2 were my two finalist for a smallish flashlight.