MINI TESTS
SPECIFICATIONS Fitment: Four Astera Hydrapanels In the kit: Snapbag, half grid and magic cloth diffusion panels, carry bag Dimensions (wxhxd): 51.5x23x32.5cm/20.3x9.1x12.8in Weight: 0.3kg/0.7lb
ASTERA HYDRAPANEL DOPCHOICE SNAPBAG £125 astera-led.com
also comes with small cables that allow you to daisy-chain the LEDs to give a power pass-through if you want to run them off a single mains input rather than the internal batteries. There is also an infrared remote, wired DMX or wireless CRMX and app control via Bluetooth connection. Create set-ups that can be quickly installed, monitored and adjusted. Once the panels are joined together and tightened via the thumbscrews on the adapter plates, they are dropped into the back of the Snapbag and are cradled on elastic. The lights are meant to be a snug fit to avoid the softbox drooping, so there are Velcro adjusters at each corner. Once inside, the softbox is firmly fixed with elasticated straps that fasten with Velcro at the back. You can pop one of the baby pins included into the back of the centre connector panel and fix it to a light stand using a grip head clamp. There’s no easy way of plonking it on a regular stand – this is professional kit after all, made for gaffers and use on-set.
Astera’s Hydrapanel LED lights can be joined together into a four-light panel and made to wirelessly sync with each other. Now, the light can be made even softer with a new softbox, custom made to fit. When Astera wanted a softbox for its high-end mini LED panels, the obvious choice was for DoPchoice to customise one of its Snapbag softboxes to suit. Like Astera, DoPchoice makes high-quality lighting equipment, focusing on modifiers that are fast to set up, rigid, can intensify the light and have a choice of diffusion materials to dial in precisely the look needed. The DoPchoice Snapbag pops into shape and is fast to set up once you have four Hydrapanels joined together. Many buy these panels in the kit of four lights which includes a charging case, connection joins, small stands, grids, mini softboxes and extra diffusers. The lights have infrared connectivity so they sync together automatically – you can make changes on just one light and the rest follow suit. The kit
The interior of the softbox is highly polished silver and you can Velcro on a choice of one of the included diffusion panels. One is more diffused than the other. The four lights illuminate the softbox, though there are two flexible flaps that can be moved to obscure the two outside lights. This gives a hotspot in the centre for complete control of the look. You can also add the modifiers from the Hydrapanel kit to alter the output. Of course, you could employ four panels with their own included clip- on diffusers anyway, but using the DoPchoice Snapbag boosts the light level and produces a softer look as it is much bigger. It’s ideal for products, headshots and even special effects, as you can make the lights inside produce any colour you want. The lights are relatively powerful, putting out 1300 lumens combined, making the softbox a useful accessory. DoPchoice also sells a honeycomb grid if you want to modify the output more. This is top kit from both Astera and DoPchoice that does what it should and will be workhorse gear for years. PRO MOVIEMAKER RATING: 8/10 Makes Astera Hydrapanels more useful Pros: Fast and easy to set up, light Cons: For only four Hydrapanels
SNAPSHOT The Snapbag comes in a carry bag (top right) and fits around four Astera LED Hydrapanels TWO PACK A pair of flaps can be fixed in front of the outer two LEDs to alter the look (above right)
“The DoPchoice Snapbag boosts the light level and produces a softer look”
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