MINI TESTS
Power consumption: 5W Output: 705 lux at 1m/3.3ft Input: 100-240v AC, 5v DC Battery: 3.7v, 2000mAH, 7.4Wh Runtime: Two to 18 hours CCT: 2700-6500K Colour accuracy: CRI 96, TLCI 96 Weather resistance: IP54 Dimming: 0-100% Control: Onboard or app Remote: Bluetooth Dimensions (wxhxl): 86x50x31mm/3.4x2x1.2in Weight: 160g/0.35lb SPECIFICATIONS
HOBOLITE IRIS £115/$99 harlowe.eu
If you have dreamed of owning a pocket-size LED light that’s made to look like a retro, compact photo camera, the Hobolite Iris is perfect for you. At a reasonable £115/$99 for the standard kit, it’s good value, and you can choose from black or brown finishing. From its faux leather details and fake distance scale on the ‘lens’, right down to the funky packaging, it is no surprise that this is aimed at the influencer and content creator market, who will lap it up for its quirky look. But for serious filmmakers, it’s actually a capable, compact bicolour light that can be modified to achieve different looks. Being so small, it’s also easy to hide for practical effects. With a CRI and TLCI of 96, it’s consistent, and when we checked its colour temperature it was actually more accurate than many of the more expensive lights. It’s bicolour, and adjustable from 2700 to 6500K; simply dial it in with the single, large adjustment knob. This also doubles as a brightness control, making it dimmable from 100% right down to 1% for total control. A small LCD screen on the side of the unit displays the colour temperature and brightness. The Iris can also be controlled using the free Hobolite app, and the unit has NFC tap technology to make it fast and easy to open the app and get straight to the settings. The front of the Iris has magnetic mounts to which you can fix the adjustable lens that comes in the standard kit. By turning this, the
beam angle changes from 20° to 45°, boosting the brightness in the centre by up to six times. The kit also comes with a magnetic frosted dome that softens the output but, of course, cuts some of the intensity. Hobolite also offers accessories such as the £59/$59 coloured gel filters kit and £100/$99 optical modifier kit, which features an aperture ring, fresnel lens and what Hobolite calls its Magic Lens. This can be rotated and retracted to create unique looks. The coloured gel filters kit contains four multicoloured filters that all fit to the Magic Lens. The standard kit does have a filter holder so you can cut your own gels and drop them in. Power comes from an internal 3.7v, 2000mAh, 7.4Wh lithium-polymer battery, which is rechargeable using the included PD-spec USB-C lead. In keeping with the cool design, even the power cable has a trendy, material- covered style. At full power, a charge will last for two hours, but dial it right down to 10% and it’ll shine for up to
18 hours. Hobolite says that after 500 cycles of charging and discharging, the battery capacity can still maintain 60%, so it should last for a long time. The kit also comes with an aluminium adapter that screws into the base and fits onto V-Mount plates, with a hex wrench to tighten it up. The Iris has standard 1/4in-20 mounting threads on the side and base, so you can fit it to a light stand or tripod too. At full power in 6500K setting, the spot beam adapter output is 705 lux at 1m/3.3ft, so it’s bright enough for most indoor settings as a hair light or to put some catchlights into a subject’s eyes. You’re not going to be using it to light a whole scene, but as a small, adjustable bicolour LED it works well. Its unique style makes it stand out from every other light on the market. PRO MOVIEMAKER RATING: 8/10 Quirky style, but it has its charms and is accurate Pros: Small and inexpensive Cons: Some might not like the style
STYLE FILE The Iris LED comes with a focusing lens (top) and a diffuser dome (above right)
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