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.