This will be my shortest review yet.
This thing is awesome. CRI is what you’d expect from an $80 light (terrible).
The versatility of the light means you try things you wouldn’t otherwise and it make a great rim. I’m even able to overlook the poor color rendering because all other aspects are just so cool.
In what kind of shooting scenarios do you use hand-held lighting?
Every scenario. Many people limit application to run ’n gun, but the versatility of this
type of light means it gets used everywhere. It might work as a key in doc or run and
gun, but can also make a very convenient rim light, eye light or even fill in a feature-
style setup for small spaces. Because the light is small it’s much easier to try out
different things and really see what the light does in different positions.
2. Which brand of hand-held lights do you use?
Yongnuo YN360 which is similar to the EachShot MTL-900 (which has a hundred
different re-brandings). Ice light was always overpriced so never tried it.
3. In your opinion, what are the advantages and disadvantages of your hand-held
lights?
Advantages: Form factor, ease of use, remote control, cost, color options, I like the
battery readout as it’s based on current intensity, 1/4 20 mount is great, clip-on
warming filter on the back is actually useful on the YN360.
Disadvantages: Terrible CRI (highly misleading advertising claims), inadequate built-
in diffusion, I prefer the round shape to the flat YongNuo, on/off button too easily
pressed.
- Are you satisfy with the color temperature capabilities of your hand-held light?
What are they?
Color temp, yes, CRI, definitely not. The YN360 in particular has RGB LEDs for a
variety of color effects. It’s also got 5600K and 3200K options with independent
control of each. Would be nice to have a dedicated, 5600K-only, option for higher
output.
- Would you prefer to have more output from your current hand-held lights?
I’d take higher CRI above output at this point. Make them stackable (like Bladelights)
so we can easily put a few together rather than trying to make them brighter. You
could even stack 6 together and have a panel. Or use your fancy LED layout that
makes the LEDs in the LS series so dense and make a bi-color version.
Design/Structure/Material/Set-Up
1. If you're knowledgeable about power consumption, what level of power
consumption do you expect your hand-held light be pulling? What would you prefer?
Mine is an 8V light and if I remember correctly the adapter has a 5A max power
draw. That’s fine by me. I actually don’t mind the NP-F Sony batteries the cheap
versions of these lights use.
2. Will it affect your shooting if the light has a built-in electric fan that produces an
extremely low-level of noise? (Just like the sound of LS C120t electric fan)
If it’s like the COB 120 then no.
3. If you know about them, what do you think of double sector light bulbs?
Not familiar, sorry.
- Do you prefer the metal housing or plastic housing for these kinds of lights? Why?
Plastic actually. I’d prefer lower cost and lighter weight for a $100 light. The 1/4 20
mount on the bottom of these is so useful. I’ve attached a QR plate and I often just
throw this light on my tripod in a pinch. Instead of incurring the costs of a metal
housing I’d say just buy a few rather than worrying about break-ability. Or you could
make two versions at two different price-points–just don’t make the plastic one lower
CRI 🙂
- Do you use this light with any kinds of accessories? If so, what are they?
Yes actually. I’ve adapted an umbrella to use with it for an extremely minimal setup
and I’ve got a plastic bag I use over it for additional diffusion to reduce the multiple
shadows. One cool idea with these lights is that you can use them laterally and get
very soft shadows on one axis. This effect is ruined due to the multiple shadows with
the amount of diffusion present on the YN360 however.
Functions
1. Do you think it is useful to have wireless control for the color and brightness of
hand-held lights?
Yes actually, but I find myself actually preferring a remote over an app. There are too
many apps now and it’s a pain to get out the phone and pick the app that works with
the light, hope it connects and then adjust. An IR remote is much more gratifying and
fast–especially with group control where you can isolate the effect of a light with the
press of a button or two–like in the photo world or on Aputure’s other products.
2. Do you prefer the built-in battery or external battery for these kinds of lights?
Why? How long do you expect the battery to last for?
Addressed above, but I’d definitely advocate external battery or 5 volt charging port if
the battery is internal. 40 to 90 minutes would be my expectation for duration at half
brightness.
3. What beam angle of light would you want for if we made a hand-held light?
Can you make a barn door accessory as well? Maybe it slides into the channels that
you’re already using to make the light stackable 🙂
4. Any other functions that you think are essential for a hand-held light?
Consider the use-case scenarios of the light and make it accommodate as many as
possible. I’d advocate a clip on diffusion sufficient enough to eliminate multiple
shadows but not cut light output beyond that, make it removable so if you want full
intensity and don’t care about quality of light you can get max output. No light on the
market seems to get those two things right. Random idea: you could have a rotating
tube that has different filter types and you spin it to get full/half/no diffusion or color
temp shift. You could even put LEDs on both sides of the stick (maybe 3200K on one
side and 5600K on the other) or same color on both sides for max output in something
like a china ball.
Oh, and ideally it would also function as a light saber.
- In general, how much do you expect to pay for a hand-held light?
$70 to $300. Once people understand how valuable these are, professional tools rather
than toys, they’d easily pay at least $200 for a well-done version I believe.
