First test
LED continuous lights run cool, are energy efficient and versatile – Rotolight’s latest suits stills and video creators Rotolight AEOS 2 PRICE: FROM£1199.14
ROTOLIGHT.COM/AEOS2
started, but for location shooting you will need a V-Lock battery – the 95Wh option costs £299, or £333 for the 155Wh cell. If your forte is location work, you will be pleased to hear that a kit – with diffuser, batteries and stands – isn’t too heavy. There are two 1/4in screw thread fittings, so you can attach the AEOS 2 directly onto a lighting stand or tripod. For better handling on a lighting stand, the optional £75 yoke (pictured here) is worth the investment. The yoke means you can angle the light up or down, and it makes fitting/removal from the stand much more convenient. The AEOS 2’s 30cm-diameter face is home to 108 bi-colour LEDs. Control is handled from the rear of the unit by two large knobs and a touch LCD panel. A push button for light on and off and battery release button complete the unit’s controls. Battery charging must be done with a dedicated cable and off the AEOS 2, so there is no trickle charge when the mains adapter is attached. The connections for the battery and mains unit are different. The touch control panel is excellent, with an easily navigable menu structure and great sensitivity – handling is very good. A free app “THETOUCH CONTROL PANEL IS EXCELLENT, WITHAN EASILY NAVIGABLE MENU”
LAST YEAR, ROTOLIGHT announced two innovative LED lighting units: the portable on- camera Neo 3 and its bigger sibling, the stand-based AEOS 2. We reviewed the Neo 3 in issue 95, but if you missed it, head to photographynews.co.uk. Here, we check out the AEOS 2. We had a pre-production sample, meaning final models might have updated firmware. The entry-level AEOS 2 kit costs £1199.14 and comes with the light, a mains power supply and a diffuser dome. That’s good enough to get you SPECS › Prices AEOS 2 £1199.14 AEOS 2 explorer kit £1549 AEOS 2 masters kit £2399.99 AEOS 2 ultimate kit £2914.99 Accessories: AEOS yoke £75, 95Wh V-Mount lithium battery £299, HSS transmitter £229 › In the box AEOS 2: 1x AEOS 2, 1x diffuser dome, 1x PSU (power supply unit) AEOS 2 explorer kit: 1x AEOS 2, 1x diffuser dome, 1x softbag, 1x 95Wh battery & charger, 1x PSU, power cable AEOS 2 masters kit: 2x AEOS 2, 2x diffuser domes, 2x stands, 1x softbag, 2x PSU, 2x power cable AEOS 2 ultimate kit: 2x AEOS 2, 2x diffuser domes, 2x stands, 1x soft bag, 2x 95Wh battery & charger, 2x PSU, 2x power cable › Peak output 11,500 lux at 3ft (continuous) 17,500 lux at 3ft (flash) › Lux at 3ft 11,500, f/13 at ISO 100, f/18 at ISO 200, f/22 at ISO 400 › Lux at 6ft 2940, f/6.3 at ISO 100, f/9 at ISO 200, f/11 at ISO 400 › Lux at 9ft 1420, f/3.5 at ISO 100, f/4.6 at ISO 200, f/6.3 at ISO 400 › Digital filters 2500 1/8000sec (with optional trigger) › Wireless control Wi-Fi, Bluetooth via iOS and Android app › Battery V-Lock/DC 24V 150W › Mounting 1/4in–20 tripod, or optional yoke › Power consumption 120W › Dimensions (wxd) 295x25mm › Weight 1.4kg › Contact rotolight.com/AEOS2 › TLCI 99 › CRI 50° › Max shutter speed sync
STANDING PROUD AEOS 2 handles best when it’s on an optional yoke that costs £75. A diffuser dome is supplied for a softer light
On the plus side, however, the AEOS 2 can give coloured flash output – with a huge range of hues – so no need to add gels if you’re after creative lighting effects. Versatility is very much a keyword with the AEOS 2 (and Neo 3). It’s a terrific unit for image creators who shoot video and stills. WC
will be available when the product is on sale, to enable wireless control from a smart device. The diffuser does a great job of providing a better light, with minimal power loss. A softbox can be bought for £100, to get more diffused output. Power output rates highly. I did tests at ISO 400, taking incident light reading with a Gossen light meter. Full power at two metres and 4600K – the value for maximum output – gave f/7.1, and that dropped by 1EV to f/5 at 5500K. With the light moved in one metre, I read f/13 at 4600K and f/9.5 at 5500K.
Flash output at 4600K and the max rating output measured f/14 at one metre. This dropped to f/8 at two metres – decent flash power for a dual-purpose unit, but it compares less well with a speedlight or battery- operated studio flash. Such units are very good at ‘stopping’ action, too, which is not a strength of this unit.
Verdict The AEOS 2 is a serious piece of professional kit that comes at pro prices, but it should give sterling service over many years. It is highly specified, boasting a very solid build, so should withstand the knocks of everyday use. It performs very capably, with good levels of flash and continuous light output. A strongly recommended piece of kit, and the colour options are great for those looking to get creative. The AEOS 2 can be pre-ordered now, with the product officially released on 1 March. PROS Good and consistent power output, touch control, features CONS Pricey for enthusiasts
ROUND THE BACK Just three physical controls on the AEOS 2’s rear, including the on/off switch, with the heavy lifting done via the touch display
CONTROL BY TOUCH The AEOS 2’s touch LCD control panel is first rate: clear and sensitive
52 Photography News | Issue 96
photographynews.co.uk
Powered by FlippingBook