Review: Zebralight H600F (vs Ultrafire UF-H3b)

Other Types of Lights LED Headlamps
1

Battery

18650

Switch

microswitch

Led type

Cree XM-L

Lens

balanced flood

Number of modes

9

price

$89

from

Zebralight

PROS:

*Very well built

*current regulated (no PWM)

*Rich selection of modes that are easy to preset

*12 days of usable light, 80 days of glow

*720 lumen max brightness

*negligible parasitic drain

*accurate specification of run times

CONS

*price

*no dedicated helmet mount

Why so exensive light?

Before I got Zebralight H600F I had Ultrafire UF-H3b that I ordered to see how usable this type of lights are. I turned out good but the Ultrafire is no way near waterproof and it has nasty PWM. So I decided to pay big bucks for Zebralight.

Build★★★★★

Both lights are approximately the same size and I didn’t notice any difference in weight especially with battery inserted. The H600F has recessed switch which is better. The UF-H3b is easy to disassemble while H600F has smooth rings around switch and lens. I tested it in a glass of water and it held 2 hours while OTOH I blew through a battery tube of UF-H3 and I thought I bought a whistle. Why is a star missing? Besides spare O-ring I’d also like a spare switch boot and ability to replace it.


Runtimes★★★★★

The H600F has appealing run times (using Panasonic 2900mAh) and many modes, yet easy mode selection. I’ve put together a table of modes (sans blink)

I got H600F for caving and I had to know what run times to expect of it. I tested it with Panasonic 2900mAh and Sanyo 2600mAh bateries both unprotected.

Seeing how close the measured runtime is to the specified run time Zebralight gained my trust. I was surprised how short it lasted on medium mode with Sanyo battery. Perhaps it’s because I did the run time test with Sanyo on first charge (maybe I’ll run it again)

For comparison I did a run time test with UF-H3b using the same Panasonic 2900mAh battery


On high it burned quite hot while the H600F was only warm at H2 162 lumen mode. It also started flickering as battery drained.

Beam★★★★★

The H600F has a very well balanced flood. It shines almost 180° and while it has some sort of hot spot it is so diffused that I rarely found my self turning my head around just to light up what I wanted to see. Even though I like the combo of bare emitter with TIR optic spot best the H600F is a very good compromise between flood and some throw.

H600F

UF-H3b

2

Thanks so much for the review! Frontpage’d and Sticky’d.

3

Great comparison, time for a UF XML headlamp. :D

4

Thank you for the review! I wanted a zebralight headlamp with XM-L emitter from the first time I saw it, but now with the floody combination , it’s even better…

5

I didn’t think the UF headlamp was a TIR. I thought such flood lights simply had an aspheric lens (acrylic or glass). But placed well within the focal distance, so creating a huge spread flood beam.

6

I too started with a uf-h3. It was in my tool bag and getting used daily for over a year. I’ve since upgraded to a zl h600FW. I notice much longer run times with the h600fw, the build quality feels a lot better, and I love the warmer tint. I miss the full flood beam pattern the UF though. I have a Google alert set up for a previously announced ZL H602 that is supposed to be comming out mid 2012. Its supposed to be a H600, but with a full flood aspheric lens. That to me sounds like the perfect headlight.

7

Welcome to the party, electricjelly!

8

Long time lurker, first time poster. Thanks for the warm welcome.

9

Great review! Wondered about the ultrafire lights and now I know. Not waterproof! I love my zebralights h600w, h51w and sc52w. All are awesome! Looking at the sc600 & h502w next!