Zebralight SC600w MkII L2
She glows.
Quick Facts
Place of Purchase | Illumination Supply LLC |
Date of Purchase/Shipment/Arrival | 17 November 2013 / 7 January 2014 / 15 January 2014 |
Cost |
USD$95.00 retail -USD$14.25 w/coupon 'Illumination' +USD$11.73 shipping via USPS First-Class Intl. =USD$92.48 |
Battery | 1 x 18650 (must be less than 68mm long) |
Switch Type | Electronic Side-Momentary |
LED | Cree XM-L2 Neutral White 4400K (unknown emitter bin) |
Lens | AR Coated (coated side(s) unknown) |
Coating | Type III Class I (might mean un-dyed) |
Modes |
Three main levels
Strobe
Battery Level Indicator
|
Included Extras | Pocket Clip |
Pros:
- A lot of brightness levels to choose from.
- Really low low. 0.01lms for half a year.
- It feels really compact and solid.
- Waterproof. IPX7 @ 2m, half an hour.
- Really thick HAIII anodising. You can tell from how well they smooth out the machining flaws. (see pics)
- Inside and outside. On the threads too.
- Been taking the pocket clip (really tight fit) on and off for the past half hour. Not a single scratch and no sign of wear on the anodising.
- Super low, pretty much negligible self-drain.
- Proper regulation - see runtime testing.
- Threads come nicely lubed.
- Tailcap O-ring is a perfect fit. No chance of pinching or gaps.
- I'm happy to let my girlfie take my bling-light as her EDC now. Just gotta hide this one from her.
Cons:
- Can't fit long protected batteries. Just 2mm of tube more...
- Claimed 69mm capability, but I have some trouble with anything more than 68mm.
- Imperfections in the machining work.
- Not mod-friendly.
- Running on high for more than 5 minutes activates built in hand heater/burner.
- Side-switch is very indented in the body.
- Switch action is not completely certain.
- Battery Level Indicator a big vague.
- Is not cheap. At all.
- High H1 (1020lms ANSI claimed) [ambient temp at 30~31degC and 45% relative humidity, no airflow]
- 0 mins - 4.193V, 3.421A
- 15mins -
- Gets very hot to touch after ~7 minutes. I'm too scared to run it for more than 15 on H1.
- 0 mins - 4.193V, 3.421A
- High H2a (620lms ANSI claimed) [ambient temp at 32degC and 41% rel humidity, 0.05m/s airflow]
- 0 mins - 4.191V, 1.527A
- 15mins - 4.08V, 1.523A
- 30mins - 3.95V, 1.615A
- 45mins - 3.85V, 1.674A
- 1hr 0 mins - 3.76V, 1.725A
- 1hr 15mins - 3.64V, 1.813A
- 1hr 30mins - 3.58V, 1.909A
- 1hr 45mins - 3.48V, 2.028A
- 2hrs 0mins - 3.29V, 2.363A
- 2hrs 15mins - 3.09V, 2.537A
- 2hrs 20mins - 3.05V, Drop down to low.
- Low L2 (0.01lms)
- Screw that.
Admittedly useless box pics.
Starting from the top, the lens AR coating is very good.
Also the bezel is within the body itself, a truly flat bezel with no crenelations or indentations. I can only begin to imagine how annoying it'd be to unscrew it and screw it back on. Again, ZL strongly discourages opening up their lights, and once opened, returns and repairs are null and void.
The reflector is very narrow and not very deep at all, at least 25% smaller than a P60 sized reflector and maybe only 60% as deep.
There are absolutely no imperfections, though there could possible be a dot or two of metal or dust. The hole in the reflector doesn't really encompass the emitter die very nicely.
Below is a pic of it in its second lowest mode, 0.06lms I believe.
This is probably my greatest niggle with the light. While the body tube was being machined someone must have done a boo boo with the hole. The anodising goes right over it, so it must have been done before that stage. I have already dropped this light a number of times on various surfaces, none of them have affected the finish at all. They could have at least chamfered the area around it.
A bit hard for depth perception in this photo, but the switch is also very deep, making it less than perfectly easy to click. That combined with the slightly unsatisfying click of the switch make the mode changing experience very average. It is firm, but with very little travel, and less tactile feedback than a standard clicky. Not mushy like a S2200, but that one glows.
Now I know why they call themselves Zebralights.
Look at that finish. It is incredibly brushed to a satin sheen and this runs through the the entire light except on the flat end of the tail-cap.
The specs list the anodising at HA3 Type 1, which probably means undyed, and if that is so, I love the absolute raw colour of it.
No dye mismatch of any sort here.
Knurling is functional and assuring, not harsh on the hands. There's no awkward bits to get your hands around.
The only user-openable end. The o-ring is absolutely perfect. Super thick, but not loose and doesn't get pinched when the tail cap gets tightened.
Threads aren't square but come anodised, lubed, smooth and work an absolute dream.
The negative pole spring compresses flat to save space, but the light can still only fit 67mm length batteries. I currently have a flat-top unprotected Pana NCR18650B. Nothing but the best for this baby. I still wish they added 2mm on battery space.
The line up.
Left to right: Solarforce L2P; Convoy S5; ZL SC600w MkII L2; DQG26650; Nitecore HC50
What else do I need to add?
Beamshots up soon.