Spend Your Money on Better Things. Sony HVL-F46RM Flash Review

Oof! Sony, what did you do? The world’s most innovative photography company made two flashes. Also being announced today is the Sony HVL-F60RM 2. Both flashes aren’t anything very special. Their biggest updates are the metering with skin tones, the ambient white balance, and build quality at the hot shoe foot. But otherwise, Sony shows that they’re really not trying very hard. Plus, the new Sony HVL-F46RM flash is $399.99. Dive in, and you’ll see why we think there are better options out there.

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The Flash No One Needed: Sony HVL-F60R M2 Review

My favorite things to review for this website are flashes. Most people read about cameras and lenses. But the true creators care about light. Flash is, unfortunately, a place where there needs to be a lot more innovation. That’s the case with the Sony HVL-F60R M2 especially. Being announced today, this is Sony’s new flagship flash. For such an incredibly innovative company, they’re surely holding back on their flashes. In fact, the Sony HVL-F60R M2 flashes feel like a bit of an afterthought. And to be frank, we’re still not sure who would buy them.

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A Powerful LED Option! Stella Pro Clx10 Review

We’re streaming daily on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, and Spotify! You can also listen to it right here on The Phoblographer.

Over the years, LED lighting has offered photographers a cost-effective and creative option to up their lighting game. If you were to search for a portable LED, the options are very slim. Light & Motion is one of the only brands to bridge that gap. Their Stella Pro Clx10 is a powerfully compact and versatile offering that will entice a lot of photographers. It features an integrated battery, bi-color LED options and packs a lot of power for its fun size. The question is, can it truly replace the need for strobes as advertised?

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This Epic Flash Dances in the Rain: Canon Speedlite EL-1 Review

We’re streaming daily on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, and Spotify! You can also listen to it right here on The Phoblographer.

Hot shoe flashes offer the flexibility of both on and off-camera use. But, hot-shoe flashes tend to have more limited power and settings than strobes. Canon’s new flagship flash, however, is powerful enough to use with a 200mm zoom lens. Despite the power, the Canon Speedlite EL-1 can add just a touch of light with the ability to go all the way down to 1/8192 power. And, with weather-sealing, versatile power isn’t the only way Canon is trying to set itself apart.

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Is It Better Than the Profoto B10? Elinchrom One Review

We’re streaming daily on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, and Spotify! You can also listen to it right here on The Phoblographer.

Elinchrom has been very quiet over the past few years. But today, the company is announcing its new Elinchrom One lights. They’ve been doing some reorganization, and that’s apparent with their new CEO. Simon Whittle is around 30 years old, and he’s worked with the company for many years. It’s nice to see a millennial at the head of a company, and that’s why I’ve got some new-found hope for Elinchrom. When you think of Elinchrom, you’re most likely thinking of the Ranger series of battery packs and lights. But, they’re doing something new, and these lights are totally different. Better yet, it’s not a rip-off of some Chinese-made product. 

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Look Out! Is This A Speedlight Killer? Flashpoint Xplor 100 Pro Review

This tiny strobe slides in a camera bag even easier than a hot shoe flash does.

As an on-site photographer, I’m an off-camera hot shoe flash kind of girl. I work without an assistant, so the ability to pull the flash off my camera after a wedding ceremony and onto a light stand for portraits has always appealed to me. But, at times — like when fumbling with four AA batteries — I’ve wondered if I was missing out by not lugging around a studio strobe. Enter the Flashpoint Xplor 100 Pro TTL pocket flash.

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Profoto TTL for iPhone Shows Us Just How Limited Apple ProRAW Is

Profoto updated their iPhone app to give it TTL and High-Speed Sync, but Apple ProRAW isn’t ready for it yet.

Recently, Profoto updated their iPhone app. The Profoto app has a camera built-in that lets you use flashes like the B10 as a strobe. Except instead of shooting with a real, dedicated camera, you’re using your iPhone. The recent update includes TTL algorithm changes and lets you use Apple ProRAW. We spoke with Profoto’s product manager and tested it out for ourselves. It’s a stark reminder of just how limited a camera phone’s sensor still is.

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Hybrid Shooters Will Love It: Light and Motion CLx10 Review

The Light and Motion CLx10 continuous light could be a great light for on the go hybrid photographers.

We are huge champions of learning how to use flash, strobes, and continuous lights here at The Phoblographer. Nothing is more liberating or more freeing than being able to shoot in many lighting conditions. We were offered the chance to test and review the Light and Motion CLx10. The CLx10 is a 10,000 lumen continuous light. Many photographers might appreciate continuous light more than a standard flash in the day and age of exposure previews. How does this continuous light source work in the real world? Should you buy it? Find out in our full review.

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The Good Flash That I’d Never Buy. Profoto a10 Review

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It’s not often that I’m baffled by a flash. And that’s not to say that the Profoto a10 is a tough flash to use. But I’m trying to understand who’d buy it. I had to consult with a trusted friend of mine to help me understand, but neither of us could make the case. It’s not because the Profoto a10 is bad: it’s honestly a stellar flash! It even has a few proprietary innovations. However, most photographers probably won’t be able to justify the price to themselves.

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A Constant Light That’s Built Like A Tank: The LitraPro LED Light Review

Photographers in search of a constant light that is well built and waterproof will want to check out LitraPro. Just make sure you’ve got deep pockets.

Beginner photographers are often intimated by stroboscopic flash. As a result, those just getting their feet wet with photographic lighting often look to constant lighting as an alternative. Consequently, we’ve seen plenty of LED constant lighting options come to market in recent years. Their overall quality has improved as well. The LitraPro is one such example. It combines a waterproof aluminum housing with a maximum light output of 1,200 lumens and the ability to use a variety of light modifiers. That all sounds great on paper, but is the LitraPro up to the task under real world conditions? Find out in our full review.

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Lights, Camera, Action: LitraStudio Wireless RGBWW Light Review

The LitraStudio is a powerful weather-sealed RGBWW light perfect for creators from all walks of life.

Content creators tend to dabble in more than one medium. For instance, many photographers now have YouTube channels they make videos for, and YouTubers who do product reviews need lighting to showcase products. This is all well and good, but it also means you need to have lights to illuminate yourself, and you need a light source that you can use in your product photography. The LitraStudio claims to be versatile enough for all content creators, and it’s a product that might help consolidate your lighting, so we decided to put it to the test. Find out how well the LitraStudio performed in our full review.

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LEDs Still Can’t Beat a Flash: LitraTorch 2.0 LED Light Review

At the same price point, I think a photographer can get a better flash than the LitraTorch 2.0 LED light.

The long term complaint from many photographers is that learning how to use a flash is hard. And with the prevalence of LED lights, it seems like the industry is trying to fight the tried and true flash. But at similar price points to the LitraTorch 2.0, I think a photographer might get more from a flash. LEDs are fantastic; don’t get me wrong. You can have endless fun with them. But if what you want is power output and that extra sparkle, then only a flash will do the job unless you spend a long time in Photoshop or Lightroom. While everyone has told me over and over again that LEDs have gotten better and better, there are still major limitations.

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How to Shoot Dreamy Portraits: Flashpoint eVOLV 200 Pro TTL Review

The Flashpoint eVOLV 200 Pro TTL Pocket Flash brings incremental but welcomed refinements to an already excellent portable strobe.

The Flashpoint eVOLV 200 Pro TTL Pocket Flash is an incremental upgrade to its well-regarded predecessor. Although there’s been no power increase, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. More power would’ve meant more components, and more components would’ve resulted in a light that became less portable. Considering the portability of the original eVOLV 200 was one of its biggest selling points amongst off-camera flash enthusiasts, focusing on upgrades that improved on build quality and usability rather than power was the right decision. The eVOLV 200 Pro’s form factor remains compact, making it the ideal off-camera light for solo shooters or those working with small teams. Our version of the Flashpoint eVOLV 200 Pro TTL Pocket Flash includes the optional Round Flash Head accessory. Find out after the jump if the changes made to the Flashpoint eVOLV 200 Pro add up to a worthy upgrade.

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This Flash Survived a Concert: Flashpoint Zoom Li-on X R2 TTL Review

The Flashpoint Zoom Li-on X R2 TTL Round Speedlight is a versatile and portable lighting option that works on and off camera.

The Flashpoint Zoom Li-on X R2 marries a round flash head to the body of a traditional speedlight. It has a modeling light built-in, and is surrounded by a magnetic light modifier attachment ring. This setup allows you to easily attach a huge variety of small light modifiers to the Zoom Li-on X R2 including diffusers, grids, gel holders, etc. To say that the Flashpoint Zoom Li-on X R2 was inspired by the Profoto A1/A1X would be an understatement, but that’s a conversation for another day. Find out how the Flashpoint Li-on X R2 performed in the real world after the jump.

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Review: The Rogue Flashbenders V3 (Pushing the Light Forward)

The Rogue Flashbenders V3 are the latest update to the event photographer’s essential accessory.

I got excited when I heard about the update to the Rogue Flashbenders. For years, I used to rely on these for event shooting. They were incredibly useful, and they were arguably a game-changer when they were introduced. To this day, I still see them used at events if photographers are going for a specific look and aren’t using the built-in diffuser. But now, the company has updated their Rogue Flashbenders once again. What’s new is the construction and the way they mount onto a flash. Further, there are improvements to the way the optional diffusion panels work. The Rogue Flashbenders do a great job if you can get the metering just right.

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Review: Nissin MG80 Pro (A Solid, Well Built Flash for the Money)

The Nissin MG80 Pro is a flash we initially weren’t sure of, but it grew on us and now we like it.

This past year I’ve been looking at small flashes again, and the Nissin MG80 Pro has seriously caught my attention. Years ago, I reviewed the Nissin MG8000, one of the company’s first flashes to use a Quartz bulb. I liked the results, but the interface was a tad odd. Fast forward about seven years, and I’ve got the Nissin MG80 Pro in my hands after a previous announcement. This flash still uses a Quartz bulb and has enhancements that I really like. To be in line with the needs of the modern photographer, it has a modeling lamp that can be used as a small constant light. The zoom head’s quality can be confusing until you realize it’s removable. And one will also be very impressed with the battery life. But, if you want to use it off-camera, then be sure to pair it with the Air 10s transmitter correctly. If you do, you’re going to get one of the best flashes you can buy for the Canon system.

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Lighting Review: Fositan FL-1×2 Rollable LED Panel

Fositan’s FL-1×2 Rollable LED Panel is an affordable yet flawed alternative to Westcott’s premium Flex series of LED Panels.

A huge variety of LED lighting has been making its way onto the market in recent years. A lot of photographers have begun utilizing LED lighting as a part of their constant lighting kit thanks to LEDs having power efficiency, increased light output, and generating little to no heat compared to legacy constant lighting options like incandescent or CFL bulbs. Westcott was arguably the first to introduce flexible LED panels to the photography market and, shortly after the Flex series of LED panels were released, a number of knockoffs began flooding the market at lower price points promising similar performance. Fositan’s FL-1×2 Rollable LED panel is one of them.

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First Impressions: Light and Motion Stella Pro CLx8 Continuous LED Light

The newest Stella Pro CLx8 continuous LED light is specifically designed with photographers in mind.

Constant LED lighting has been gaining popularity amongst photographers for the last few years. It’s becoming particularly popular with photographers who have yet to master professional strobes but are aiming to take their images to the next level by utilizing lighting. While continuous LED lights are useful tools for lighting, their biggest weakness is a relatively low power output when compared to traditional strobes. The folks at Light & Motion aim to address this common shortcoming with their newest Stella Pro CLx8 Continuous LED Light, which features a maximum light output of 8,000 lumens. We spent some time shooting with this new light from Light & Motion this past week while we in Oregon for Sony’s Kando 3.0 Trip, head on after the jump for our first impressions of the Stella Pro CLx8.

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Review: Profoto B10 (The Best Light I’ve Ever Used)

The Profoto B10 is the perfect tool for a working photojournalist and location photographer.

When I first used the Profoto B10, I knew fully that this was the perfect light for me for many reasons. It’s the size of a 70-200mm lens, capable of HSS, has 250 watt seconds of power, offers cross compatibility across many different types of TTL systems, can function as both a stills and cinema unit with an LED lamp that changes color, has an app that allows even further tuning and control via Bluetooth on your phone, and is simply reliable. I know that the previous sentence is long winded and offers a ton of features, but for a very long time I was searching for a more or less self-contained lighting option that does all this. An all-in-one light such as the Profoto B10 is perfect for a journalist.

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Review: Godox Thinklite TT350F Mini Flash (Fujifilm)

Godox TT350F

The Godox TT350F is an affordable flash for Fujifilm Shooters, but you get what you pay for.

Godox are synonymous with producing good quality lighting at prices that make the accessories affordable to the masses. Their flashes are well built, and they have one of the most robust, user friendly wireless trigger systems around with their R2 triggers. The Godox TT350F is a small, affordable flash that has been designed to work with Fujifilm’s smaller Mirrorless camera bodies, but can it live up to their reputation of producing quality products that are affordable?

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Review: Interfit Honey Badger Unleashed (How Can You Go Wrong?)

The Interfit Honey Badger Unleashed is this generation’s version of the Paul C Buff White Lightnings; but they’re a million times better.

I admittedly took my time with testing the Interfit Honey Badger Unleashed because of just so much stuff that we’ve had to test since Photokina and with not being motivated when it came to portraiture. But in my experiences with it, the Interfit Honey Badger Unleashed has proven to me that if you’re in the market for an introductory TTL/Manual/HSS monolight when your flashes just aren’t cutting it, this is the only option that really exists. While Godox, Adorama Flashpoint and B&H Impact make usable products I think that the Interfit Honey Badger Unleashed does a whole lot for the dollar. With TTL capabilities and a pretty solid build quality, the Interfit Honey Badger Unleashed also boasts a pretty simple to use interface and reliability in a number of situations. And if all you really need is the power, then this is one of the best options on the market.

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