First test
Kenro has introduced high-performance LED lights, offering an impressive range of power and versatility from slim, camera-mounted units Kenro Smart Lites PRICES: KSLP102 £84.99; KSLP101 £49.99 KENRO.CO.UK
A GENTLE SPLASH of light can make all the difference to your stills and video, whether you’re capturing portraits or nature close-ups. The lift it provides may set your work apart from the also-rans. There are plenty of LED lights out there, but the newest arrival on the scene is this pair of nicely featured, pocket-sized LEDs from Kenro. The bigger (but still smartphone- size) and more versatile is the RGB Video Light KSLP102 at £84.99,
with the Bi-Colour Video Light KSLP101 priced £49.99. Both are USB-rechargeable and come in the box with mini ball head and coldshoe mounts; the KSLP102 has a built-in magnet, so you can attach it to any suitable metallic surface. The two units share high-quality build, with rigid aluminium shells, integral diffuser panels and LCD info panels on the rear controls, mounted on the side. The simpler KSLP101 has 126 LEDs – half-white, half-yellow – with a colour temperature range of 3200 to 5600K and controllable power range of 1 to 100% in 5% steps. A lighter push on the on/off button toggles between the two features, while a rocker dial is what does the actual adjusting. The LED array of the KSLP102 is different, with 100 LEDs that sit in pairs. Colour temperature range is wider at 3200 to 7500K, with output controllable in 1% steps using two rocker dials. On this unit, gently pushing the on/off button takes you through its modes: normal colour temperature use, MLM for special effects (including lightning
SPECS › Prices KSLP102 £84.99, KSLP101 £49.99 KSLP102
› Box contents USB-C cable, mini ball head, carry bag, instructions › Rated power 10W › Colour temperature 3200-7500K › Brightness 720 lumens › Illumination 1050 lux at 0.5m, 280 lux at 1m › LEDs 100 › Runtime 1.6 hours on a full charge › Mounting options 3x 1/4in screw thread ports, built-in magnet, mini ball head with coldshoe mount › Special effects Flash mode 1, flash mode 2, flickering screen, RGB colour cycle (slow), RGB colour cycle (fast), flame, police car, ambulance, fire engine › Dimensions 149x80x14mm › Weight 200g KSLP101 › Box contents USB-C cable, mini ball head, carry bag, instructions › Rated power 9W › Colour temperature 3200-5600K › Brightness 810 lumens › Illumination 1150 lux at 0.5m; 350 lux at 1m › LEDs 126 › Runtime 1.9 hours at full power, 29 hours at 1% › Mounting options 2x 1/4in screw thread ports, mini ball head with coldshoe mount › Charging time 2.5h via USB-C › Dimensions 132.5x80x10.8mm › Weight 170g › Contact kenro.co.uk
and police) and HSI with 360 solid colours. This unit has Bluetooth for app control, and the free LightSystem app is available in iOS and Android. Output is similar, with 10W quoted for the KSLP102 and 9W for the KSLP101. Using a Gossen light meter set to ISO 400 – with both at 100% output, set to 4600K and at one metre – the KSLP102 gave a reading of 1/60sec at f/3.2, while the KSLP101 was 0.1EV less bright. So, in practical terms, there was no difference. They can be run during charging and are power bank rechargeable. I enjoyed the company of both lights, as they came in useful in several situations. I was shooting flatlays and needed extra fill-in, so I fixed a Smart Lite on the camera and connected up a power bank, meaning I didn’t have to worry about battery while organising shots. That saved me the hassle of setting up another physically, much bigger light above the subject’s position. WC
SIDE BY SIDE The RGB Video Light KSLP102 (right) has 100 LEDs in 50 pairs, while the Bi-Colour Video Light KSLP101 (left) displays 126 evenly spaced LEDs
Verdict Whichever Smart Lite you go for, you can’t go wrong. And with a very similar output, the decider is whether you need the creative features of the KSLP102. A huge selection of colours and effects – and the wider working range – will appeal to portrait shooters and video workers alike. The magnet mount adds extra versatility, too. The cheaper KSLP101 is more compact – about 1cm shorter – but if you are a nature worker, for example, being able to supplement ambient light is probably all you need. PROS Good value, compact, impressive output levels for the size, extra features in the case of the KSLP102 CONS Nothing
IN COMMAND Both Smart Lites have an info panel and neat control layout. On show here is the KSLP102, which has HSI and special effects modes, as well as a colour temperature function
MOUNT MATTERS Ball head coldshoe mounts and USB-C charging cables are supplied as standard
46 Photography News | Issue 98
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