This kit’s format, and price, seem perfect for table top, small product, and food shooting. But CRI is a rather poor indicator of the quality of the light. What I mean by quality is the spectra produced by panel. LED output tends to have deep valleys in the spectra. While one can “white balance” to the over all output I have found that on occasion with other LED panels a particular color on the subject that happens to fall in the valley of the LED spectra is very adversely affected.
The maker’s (Genaray) web site shows no color charts, and no info on what actual LEDs are being used in the panels. In your review did you shoot any color charts or have access to any radiometric, or color spectrophotometry tools? I don’t as those tools tend to be very expensive. However it would be a fantastic review to do a shoot out between some of the more affordable LED panels, and see just how good they are with color. It takes a tricky mix of LEDs in a panel to produce a “full spectrum” light source, and not many mfgs get it right.
Mark
March 5, 2018 3:44 pm
Great article. Thank you for writing it. An article I would be interested in is using small portable LED lights for night or astrophotography
Thanks Mark! Thanks for reading! Do you mean using the LEDs as a flashlight? Or for light painting? That sounds like the type of article we’ll eventually do.
Thank you for your reply. I have seen pictures where people use small LED lights to light up (side, front and back) of say a rock arch. It would need to be something light in weight and portable. Anything on light painting would also be great.
Thanks
Mark
prosumer
March 5, 2018 12:26 pm
What would be the best lighting kit for starting out. I am a “professional enthusiast” and I take a lot of portrait studio pictures. I could see spending no more than $500 on a lighting kit. What are my options?
IMHO, LED’s at this price level do not have enough power for portraits and are not friendly with modifiers such as softboxes, etc. used for portrait photog. I’d recommend visiting BH or Adorama, or your local photog store and get a kit with 2 strobes and umbrella modifiers.
Like Barry said, these lights are fairly underpowered for studio portraits. If you wanted to simply do some headshots, they would work but are not ideal. For any other type of portraiture, you’re better off buying a strobe kit. A few years ago I reviewed this Impact 2-light kit and would definitely recommend it over this LED kit for portraits.
This kit’s format, and price, seem perfect for table top, small product, and food shooting. But CRI is a rather poor indicator of the quality of the light. What I mean by quality is the spectra produced by panel. LED output tends to have deep valleys in the spectra. While one can “white balance” to the over all output I have found that on occasion with other LED panels a particular color on the subject that happens to fall in the valley of the LED spectra is very adversely affected.
The maker’s (Genaray) web site shows no color charts, and no info on what actual LEDs are being used in the panels. In your review did you shoot any color charts or have access to any radiometric, or color spectrophotometry tools? I don’t as those tools tend to be very expensive. However it would be a fantastic review to do a shoot out between some of the more affordable LED panels, and see just how good they are with color. It takes a tricky mix of LEDs in a panel to produce a “full spectrum” light source, and not many mfgs get it right.
Great article. Thank you for writing it. An article I would be interested in is using small portable LED lights for night or astrophotography
Thanks Mark! Thanks for reading! Do you mean using the LEDs as a flashlight? Or for light painting? That sounds like the type of article we’ll eventually do.
Thank you for your reply. I have seen pictures where people use small LED lights to light up (side, front and back) of say a rock arch. It would need to be something light in weight and portable. Anything on light painting would also be great.
Thanks
Mark
What would be the best lighting kit for starting out. I am a “professional enthusiast” and I take a lot of portrait studio pictures. I could see spending no more than $500 on a lighting kit. What are my options?
IMHO, LED’s at this price level do not have enough power for portraits and are not friendly with modifiers such as softboxes, etc. used for portrait photog. I’d recommend visiting BH or Adorama, or your local photog store and get a kit with 2 strobes and umbrella modifiers.
Like Barry said, these lights are fairly underpowered for studio portraits. If you wanted to simply do some headshots, they would work but are not ideal. For any other type of portraiture, you’re better off buying a strobe kit. A few years ago I reviewed this Impact 2-light kit and would definitely recommend it over this LED kit for portraits.