SmallRig has upped the game in the lighting department with four new affordable lighting fixtures to elevate your filmmaking.
What a time to be a filmmaker. While our obsession with new devices and our universal buy-back syndrome can make our passions seem like they’re costing us more than ever, the It’s true that there are more tools available at an affordable price than ever before. Any market that is built partly on status and glamor will always have a yes and a no. There will always be premium brands and premium products with premium prices, with or without warranties. But when it comes to the basics of bringing that idea to the screen, the only real limitation is your imagination and ingenuity.
I have always loved SmallRig accessories for many years. I first learned about them through the variety of custom cages they make for different types of cameras. Whether it’s a camcorder or a small mirrorless body, buying a cage is often one of the first things I do to get ready to shoot. Of course, SmallRig earns more than the cages. From clamps to stands to everything in between, nearly every filmmaker has at least a few SmallRig products in their arsenal. And they have a way of making these tools more affordable for filmmakers. In recent years, the company has also built up its offering in the lighting department, offering a similar value proposition for filmmakers looking to achieve high results on a budget.
Recently, I had the opportunity to test the new one SmallRig RC 450 COB. It is a powerful two-color LED fixture capable of generating up to 121,000 lux. The extra power gives you the ability to not only illuminate your subject with direct light, but also push through thicker diffused material while preserving the required brightness.
The system I used is one of four models that SmallRig is bringing to market. The 350B and 450B models are available in two colors, while 350D and 450D the models are daylight, the difference is that the B models have an adjustable color temperature while the D models have a bit more power. Model 450D is capable of emitting 172,000 lux at 1 meter with 55 degree super reflectivity.
I had a chance to use 450B with SmallRig’s RA-L90 Lantern Softbox, proved to be a great parallel. The L90 can be used as an overhead source to create areas of light. But it can also be used as a traditional softbox with the added level of control provided by the Fabric Barn Doors that come in the box. As a lover of efficiency, I should also note how easy it is to operate the lantern. A simple spring system means that setting it up and breaking it down is as simple as pressing down on the right place. The entire system can be ready for use in seconds and is attached to the traditional Bowens mount system that comes with the 450B.
If you are familiar with the current wave of LED lighting systems, the lights are easy to use. It happened to come at the exact moment I was recording a segment for my YouTube channel. So I chose to get it through its paces within minutes of arriving at my doorstep. Literally, straightening the box, placing it on the stand and mounting the RA-L90, the light quality produced by the fixture is just right. Colors shown feel accurate. I have not done any scientific testing to confirm this. But I didn’t have to make any changes in the color layer, so for me it was a win.
It is not difficult to find out. You get traditional knobs to control intensity, color temperature, and frequency. It also includes some useful lighting effects like lightning, TV, flash, etc., which can add a bit of dynamism to your lighting design when needed. You can control the lights using the knobs on the device. Or, you can control the lights wirelessly using the SmallGoGo app or with the optional Dashboard device, which expands access to the light controls if the light is in a difficult location.
The system is relatively quiet compared to other devices in this price and power range. I was able to run it just a few feet away from me while filming and didn’t emit any distracting fixed noises on my audio track.
Size wise, I call this light midsize. It’s certainly not small or light, but not too heavy either. It can easily be lifted and mounted by one person. I also didn’t feel uncomfortable mounting the system on a C-rack instead feeling the need to use a heavier combo stand. I might change that opinion if it’s used in explosive positions or in awkward positions, but for most uses you won’t have to worry about weight.
For comparison, it’s a bit bigger and heavier than my Apurture 300D. So if you used one of those, that should give you an idea. The 450B is also a bit more powerful, so it’s worth the trade-off. I took the light outside to experiment a bit on a bright sunny day to see how strong it could be. Used in close proximity, I was able to tame the sun.
Pushed through a silk screen (how I would probably use that in real life), it brought out a really nice color to my close-up. The advantage of the device’s power is that you can use it in many ways, including pumping it in through a window to simulate a sunny interior, or bouncing it off a reflector without losing it. considerable amount of light.
The light also comes in a protective travel case. Fresh off the assembly line, the pre-cut foam on my body is a bit tight, so it’s a bit inconvenient to take it out. But, I’d say if the biggest flaw I have with the light is the bag it comes with, we’re off to a pretty good start.
The only real trouble with so many great options on the market is that you might end up wanting to buy them all. So even though the prices of these tools are going down, if you buy all of them, you may still have to explain to your spouse. For only $1,099, 450B offers excellent value by providing strong light at the right price. Other models cost $799 for 350D$899 for 350Band $999 for 450D. Lighting is the most important tool in a filmmaker’s arsenal. So put it to use.
