Help me choose: olight s2 baton or zebralight sc63

LED Flashlights – General Info 18650 Flashlights
9

Welcome to the forum Yosue!
I have a BLF A6 and several similar size convoy lights (S-series) but I also prefer something smaller for EDC, so I would like to give you another recommendation:

How about DQG Tiny 4th 18650?

I have both the olight S20 and the DQG Tiny1 (older versions of the S2 and DQG 4th)
I like the Olight because it has the magnet in the tailcap, VERY useful for me.

However I like the DQG because it is much smaller and has NW tint. Plus it’s very bright. Got mine on the original pre-order when they first came out back in May 2013, the original is a “twisty” (loosen/tighten the head to operate) It’s very reliable I’ve been using it for 3 years and have not had a single issue with it, I still use it nearly every day. Since the original there has been 3 more upgraded versions, the last 2 went to a side switch.

I’ve been looking at the S2 because its slightly shorter than the S20 (but only by 3mm) and I’ve read the tint is improved (S20 has a very cold bluish/green tint)
But the DQG is much smaller, has the NW tint, and I like the UI: 1 click low, 2 clicks med, 3 clicks high, press and hold for shortcut to Turbo. Plus it’s a great value at the discounted price, so I’ll probably be getting the DQG.
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DQG Tiny 4th 18650
Bc412’s review: https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/37428
Also several video reviews here, including one from Bc412(Bushcraft412): https://www.youtube.com/results?search

Smallest of the three
850lm
86?mm x 24mm (not sure the real length, gearbest & fasttech shows 86mm, bangood shows 87mm, KD shows 89.85mm)
Bc412 review does not show actual length measurement
Lowest price ($27 w/code from Bc412 review or M4D-M4X)
Available in black or grey color (the grey is more of a tan/gold color)
Pros: Smallest, Lowest price, NW, good knurling, great simple UI with shortcut to turbo, improved switch more recessed than previous versions
Cons: ?

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Olight S2

Largest of the three
950lm
103mm x 23mm
$49
Pros: Deep carry pocket clip, strong magnet in tail
Cons: Largest, no NW option

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Zebralight sc63

92.5mm x 24.5mm
Brightest of the three (1300lm/CW 1126lm/NW)
Most expensive ($85)
Pros: Brightest, NW available, deeply recessed switch to help prevent accidental pocket turn on
Cons: no knurling on tube, complicated UI may be a con for some, on backorder everywhere

AFAIK none of the above 3 lights would benefit from a high drain battery like the 30q. For longest run time you would be better off with a high capacity battery like this:
3500mAh Sanyo/Panasonic NCR18650GA(protection version)
3500mAh Sanyo/Panasonic NCR18650GA(Unprocted flat top version)

Also consider the astrolux s1 comes with an extra “shorty” 18350 battery tube, so with the smaller battery you can convert it to tiny size when you need to.

The S1 in 18650 configuration requires a high drain battery such as the 30q for maximum brightness, but if you’re not doing the spring bypass mods the 18650GA will give you good balance of output and runtime.

10

The Zebralight’s UI is horrible.

11

That's flashlight pornography right there! Not a bad light in the group. Nice!!

12

Yeah I’ve heard that a few times before, above post edited.

13

Ok, Maybe I should of said the “Zebralight’s UI is horrible to me!”

I have had over 12 Zebralights AA,CR123 and 18650. My favorite was the H50, I regret selling it.

14

I’m biased as the only Olight (S15R) I’ve ever owned went south never to return again. Can’t recommend them though they are generally considered good lights on BLF.
Don’t have any ZL.
Have and enjoy daily my DQG Tiny so I have to 2nd Beamo’s post.
Splendid UI for an EDC. The same size as the AA S15R. You read that right. The DGQ is an 18650 light the same size as an AA light. ReManGe refers to the DQG Tiny as an 18650 battery holder with a very bright light as a bonus. If a powerful, usable and solid EDC is what you’re looking for the DQG Tiny will fill the bill (at 1/3 the $$ as a ZL).
Ed

15

I had a DQG Tiny 4th, I really liked it. Finding the switch button could be an issue, I just rotated pocket clip 180 degrees from switch to help me find it.

16

Actually SMALLER than some AA lights:

——————————————————————————————————————
Xeno e03 (AA) / SK-68 (AA) / DQG 18650 tiny 1st / Olight S15r (AA)

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And my DQG 1st edition measures 91mm which is up to 5mm longer than any of the various lengths listed for the DQG 4th!

17

Yep, same problem with all 4 of my Olight S series, (S15, S15R, S20, S30)

I position the clips so they ride in the “open slot” between my thumb and fingers when my thumb is at rest on the button.

So when I grip the light I rotate till I feel the clip between my thumb and fingertips, that way the clip is not under any part of my hand, which is more comfortable to hold and I know my thumb will be in position right over the switch.
Like this:

If you use the 180 degrees (opposite from switch) method, give this a try instead, another benefit is less chance of accidental “pocket turn on” because when clipped in a front pants pocket the switch won’t be pressing up against your body like it is when in the 180 degrees position.

18

Hello Yosue,

A quick question - what’s the main purpose for that light? This can be important if you’re planning to use it a lot.

Personally I don’t like Zebra’s - ugly and overpriced.

I love lights where you have high value/money factor, my best picks would be:

- DQG Tiny (don’t have it yet, but it’s on my buy list).

- Manker U11 - UI possibilities similar to Zebra, compact and has built in charger (very nice feature if you’re going somewhere, so no need to take extra batteries/charger).

  • BLF A6 / Astrolux S1 with 18350 tube (great UI, small, but no side button) - my current EDC.
19

Personally I like Zebra’s , the best regulation of the world. No comparisson with others.
I love the UI of zebras, one of the better interfaces of the world if you know how to use it.

The worst is obviously the price, of course if are the most advanced lights of the world (in class of less than 100USD), the price can not be the same of others….
(I will not buy the SC63, because I like use protected battery and is not posible with this)

20

:confused: If you didn’t like the UI of the first 11 you bought, why would you buy a 12th?

All Zebralights have the same UI.

21

Not true. H50 was a twisty.
The other eairler lights were simpler.

22

Oh, okay, I see why you didn’t like the interface. IMO, their current interface is very good. I’d like to see them add programability for the primary modes (rather than just the secondary modes), but otherwise I don’t think I’d change a thing.

23

Thank you very much. So far the zebra is going strong in my pick, but the olight does not want to leave my mind! :frowning:

I found a place where is not backorder. I saw it in a post from a guy from Germany (Andreas i believe) In fact i´m almost there to buy it.
http://ru.nkon.nl/zebralight-flashlights/zebralight-sc63-18650-xhp35-cool-white-led-flashlight.html
And 5$ for shipping to US
I also contacted zebralight and they said in 2 or 3 weeks they will have avaiable again

I read somewhere that the CW version was almost like a NW in other models or brands. They said the NW is too yellow. (I heard that in a video from the guy of skylumen)

Best regards

24

Thats a BIG true also!

25

If they went total programmable I would be interested again. Current UI worked good for leave it on light. Like on a bike. And headlamps give great adjustment in a 2 fish block. I change modes to much for the current UI to be practical for my uses. Tint is a lottery but if you get a good one its usually great.

26

Hello

I would mainly use it for peacock bass fishing trips ( yes, here in Venezuela we have giants peacock bass) and other reason to buy a good flashlight is beacuse we are having a lot of issues with power supply in the entire country. So making a good choice its important to. Our currency is so beated up that spending 60-80$ in a flashlight its almost a luxury.

For example: buying a washer is more expensive than drilling a hole into our highest coin and using it as a washer

So you do the math. Thats why im planning to get a good quality light, resistant, bright, good quality and once in a while carrying it in my front pocket

Thats why IMHO, olight s2 was the pick until i saw zebralight sc63

27

As im a rookie in flashlight themes, i cant believe that people could “hate or love” a flashlight beacuse of its tint.

Until recently i havent realized the variant in tints, and tough i was very picky in my things

Now i must confess that i will choose first a neutral tint

28

When I first got into quality flashlights, I simply chose cool white because that’s what almost everybody had. I didn’t know there was anything different or better.

Later, out of curiosity, I tried a neutral white (a Zebralight). Wow! What am improvement! Things no longer look so ghostly and washed out. I was hooked.

Over time, I have gotten even more picky. I prefer the warmer end of neutral white (around 4000K), and I’m trying for higher CRI LEDs (like Nichia 219 or EasyWhite or Luxeon). Cree LEDs are great for brightness and efficiency, but even the neutral whites can sometimes be a little greenish.

Standard cool white LEDs now look awful to me, and I can’t stand to use any of my older lights because of that.

Nichia 219 LEDs are currently the best for accurate color rendition, if you don’t need extreme brightness.