First test
Rotolight Neo 3 & AEOS 2 Pro Imagemaker kits PRICES: £649/£1799 Rotolight is back with improved versions of its award-winning LED panel lights – we gave them a spin to see what’s new Tested by Adam Duckworth
ROTOLIGHT.COM
LED PANELS ARE an alternative lighting solution for flash-phobic photographers, and those after illumination for stills and video. Rotolight is one of the market’s key players, and when it released its original Neo 3 and AEOS 2 lights we were impressed. They offered good- value, high-speed sync flash in any one of 16.7 million RGBWW colours and – in the case of the smaller Neo 3 – claimed to be the brightest on- camera LED light ever. The originals have now been upgraded to Pro versions with fresh features, most impressive being an approximate 25% power increase. That makes them both more usable outside, and for diffusion or funky colours – which sap brightness. The only obvious physical changes are solid aluminium dials replacing the plastic ones on the Neo 3, and metallic red anodised handles instead of bare metal on the AEOS 2. There’s now ‘quick-access’ Kelvin presets in CCT mode – instead of scrolling endlessly, these give instant access to popular settings like 5600K daylight, 3200K tungsten and a 4600K midpoint between the two. There are four additional special effects settings such as fireworks, candle, disco and throb, plus the new Masters of Light preset packs.
SPECS Neo 3 Pro (AEOS 2 Pro in brackets
where different) › Peak brightness 5443 lux (14,250 lux)
› Colours 16.7 million, 2500 gels › Power consumption 50W (120W) › Power supply 100-240v AC, NP-F battery (V-Lock battery) › Colour temperature 3000 to 10,000K › Beam angle 50° › Max shutter speed sync 1/8000sec › SFX 16 › Filters Over 100 (2500) › Display Touchscreen › Wireless trigger compatibility Godox, Profoto, Elinchrom, Neewer, Pixapro › Cooling system Fan › Dimming 0-100% via 1% increments Godox and Skyport › Dimensions (lxhxd) 145x145x50mm (295x295x25mm) › Weight 354g (1.4kg) › Contact rotolight.com › Control Onboard, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Rotolight app,
MATERIAL DIFFERENCE These Pro models feature new metal dials and handles for improved durability These include more than 100 built- in effects, gels and colour settings created by Rotolight ambassadors. Select these from the touchscreen or via the Rotolight app, which gives an on-screen preview. Photographers will appreciate the True Aperture Dimming technology. Here, you set the ISO, shutter speed and subject distance, then the unit calculates the aperture, eliminating any need for a light meter. Of even more use to photographers is the built-in compatibility with Godox, Profoto, Elinchrom, Neewer and Pixapro flash kits. Both lights retain the full-colour, two-inch touchscreen display, or you can navigate via the dials on the rear panel. The touch panel is easy to use with a logical menu structure.
a bag, 95Wh V-Lock battery and charger – which is pricey kit on its own. There are two 1/4in-20 threads to fit on a lighting stand, but the yoke makes it easier to angle the light around for better handling. The AEOS 2 Pro weighs 1.4kg and measures 295x25mm. It houses 108 LEDs that put out up to 14,250 lux at 1m. That’s a lot of power, so it’s unsurprising that the cooling fan kicks in after a few minutes at the highest settings. It’s not too noisy, but might be a pain if you’re attempting to record critical audio. Turn power down to around 75% and the fan is almost silent. An accessory diffuser softens the light further. For even more gentle results, Rotolight offers a custom softbox and its Smartsoft Box, which allows you to electronically adjust the diffusion, focus and spread. Both fixtures offer consistent, controllable and powerful light that can be set to any colour you like in the RGBWW spectrum. PN
For stills photographers and occasional video use, the Neo 3 is a sensible choice. It’s compact, measuring 145x50mm and weighing just 354g. It works on-camera, but is more at home on a stand where it can be powered by the included mains adapter, or with a Sony NP-F battery. Its output is up from 4541 lux at 1m to 5443 lux – very bright for such a diminutive LED – it’s also dimmable from 0-100% and controllable in temperature from 3000-10,000K. In high-speed sync mode for shutter speeds up to 1/8000sec, the LEDs flash and give double that output. The Neo 3 Pro Imagemaker kit comes with the light itself, battery, carry case, ball head, coldshoe and a diffuser dome which cuts about a stop of power. If you’re more serious about video, get the AEOS 2 Pro. It’s significantly more expensive, but is larger, more powerful and has a rugged build quality. The Imagemaker kit comes with a diffuser dome and yoke, plus
Verdict Two versatile LEDs that offer plenty for the hybrid photographer or videographer. The Neo 3 is probably the more suitable light for enthusiasts and doesn’t cost much more than a hotshoe flash unit. Both are simple to use, well-made and provide the reassurance of ‘what you see is what you get’. PROS Powerful, versatile and sturdy – great if you shoot both stills and video CONS Not ideal for pure stills photographers
GET CREATIVE Choose from over 100 preset effects, gels and colour settings from the Masters of Light packs
46 Photography News | Issue 103
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