Thanks for watching! 👍😊 Don't forget to enter the Deity Microphone giveaway I'm running if you haven't yet. 🎁🎤 You still time left to enter. Here's the link: goo.gl/YDXXDG
Digging up an old one.... but I've been looking at these round edge lights. To me they look like one of the least compromised lights. They're thin, soft, and don't require modifiers. For those of us without a dedicated studio, seems like a no-brainer. What's giving me pause: why aren't we seeing more of these from more manufacturers? They sound like the perfect solution on both paper and in your tests.
I've been poring over which light to get for my RUclips setup - normally I use natural light in my apartment but with early winter sunsets I need to find an artificial light source. I thought I might be stuck with going the conventional Apurture 120D + softbox route, but this Falcon Eyes looks like it may just do the trick for smaller and cheaper. Thanks, Gerald!
The difference between the two lights is negligible. I liked your review so much I bought one, and it came today---and it is as advertised. Pretty freaking fantastic. Gerald, thanks so much for bringing this to our attention.
As someone who lives in a one bedroom apartment.... I prefer the thought of the Falcon Eyes, doubly so if it gives almost the same look but takes up a quarter of the space. I've been looking at getting some better lights for my miniature painting area, which right now is lit by, uhm, Ikea LED bulbs in IKEA fixtures (it was $47 CAD!)... Was looking at some of the Aputure stuff, but that gets pricey quick, especially when you factor in wanting at least two lights in order to have more even coverage, and fewer shadows. As for the comparison of the two... I preferred the Falcon Eyes, as it had an ever so slightly more appealing sheen to your skin versus that of the Aputure, but if it were a blind test, uhm... Yeah, I suspect I wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
Ayy, I've got a Dracast one like this that's a little bigger, but I find that it's still not big enough to comfortably use it as a key light regularly, but it's a fun light when you just need something super quick that's soft!
Gerald thanks for showing the side by side vs the Aputure at the end of the video. That was super helpful. As was the AA battery compartment discovery. Funny.
I was playing the video at 2x during the intro and for a second it sounded like the synth bit was playing down an octave from usual. I shudder to think of the detail a Gerald Undone video would have explaining the phenomenon!
You’ve earned my subscription mate. Your reviews are really interesting and don’t sound paid, unlike most dudes here... and your intro music is mesmerising 😂
Very informative on spec along with the practicalities of use well domonstrated just great. To me there was a difference in the shadows on my screen with no real difference in highlights. Both pleasing but to me different. Thanks again for all your work.
Wow, that falcon eyes is amazing. If you can afford the Aputure and like that for what it provides, go for it, but If I get the chance, I'd definitely get the Falcon Eyes. Its too cheap and looks too similar to pass up getting this light, even if it's only a backup to your main gear.
Great comparison! My impression on the side by side was you could afford to turn up the falcon eyes a few percent (if possible), to get the same clarity on the lit side of your face. The other side I guess is going to stay darker because of the smaller light source, but a rim light or brighter fill light might be the answer there anyway :)
I love it - I would totally get the Falconeyes over the Aputure light for both the cool product photography use case you demonstrated (I'm imagining a clam-shell setup so you get a similar shape and diffusion) and as your main key light. I noticed the shadows are a little sharp around your nose when you have it in a similar position as the umbrella, but given the small size of the light, you may be able to move it closer and by turning it to perhaps 25% would give you a softer spread. Thanks for telling us about this one!
I think you're right. I think I can definitely fit it in a little tighter to get softer light with a better wrap. The biggest obstacle is the darn light stand legs. 😜
Great channel Gerald and good to see it growing fast! Your content has really helped making better videos for my own channel, especially improving the audio, so cheers and keep it up! Very informative review and this light might be just about perfect for my use as well(for food B-roll and stills mainly). There even seems to be a remote available, which would make the lights in this lineup even more versatile (Amazon/ca. 50 pounds). I'm currently using the exact same key light (Aputure) and since I'm also very limited in studio space, I have been trying different diffusion setups. What I've found working slightly better than the umbrella, or an umbrella soft box, is to have a standard reflector holder on top of a light stand and a foldable reflector of desired size and shape attached. Then I attach the Aputure onto the light stand with a magic arm. This way I can easily fine tune the distance and allignment between the light and reflector, resulting in a rather compact and flat setup. Without the bulging umbrella I can have the light slightly closer to the subject and save some airspace. And the light is also very soft when I use a large round diffusor. Obviously the reflector holder arm will run between the diffusor and the light, but at least in my setup I can't say it makes a negative impact in the result (large diffusor surface and proximity to subject "dilute" any shadows I'd guess). But If I had to buy a key light now, I'd definitely go with the SO-48TD (or 68)+ the remote. In your comparison the Aputure + umbrella is clearly softer and better in that regard but maybe the 28 could just sit closer to frame and thus make it close to similar in result? -Mikko Ellmén
Thanks for the kind words and encouragement! I often thought about bouncing the light too. Interesting idea you shared. I do think I might be able to get the 28TD a little closer and equal the look of the Aputure, but it would take a little more finagling than the 15 seconds I gave it during the video. Heh. 😜
I love the awkward position for the camera shot next to the umbrella! 😂 Alright, another item to add to my wishlist, tanks to Gerald! Oh!! what is the make/model of your light stand? I always purchase stuff from Neewer, just want to know if it would be OK.
Cheers, mate! 😊👍 The silver one was a Manfrotto backdrop stand. I chose it to make it standout in the video, but the actual light stands I use are just cheap amazon ones. So, yeah, Neewer will be fine. The light isn't heavy at all. The one I used in the video to get close to the camera in the "reenactment" was actually a microphone stand. I use them as cheap boom arms for smaller lights.
Oh cool! Yeah I have lots of Neewer products and they more than fit my needs. Right now I only have an Aputure AL-MX and was kind of bummed that it doesn't cast very far, even though it can blind some people from up close! 😂
Dang, looks like a great replacement/upgrade to my cheap soft boxes! I love the boxes for how cheap they are, but man they are bulky and no ability to adjust the temp or output.
I've been thinking about the 672 for a while or a bigger falcon eyes panel that dslrvideoshooter reviewed.. Will probably get that small Falcon eyes.. Especially for less than 200 and i already have batteries
Undone man. Bus Driver. I found this video helpful. From a stills perspective I prefer the Falcon Eyes because it provides a harder shadow which will look good with film. I'm old school, like your meter.
This is a great video and I really enjoyed the comparison of seeing a led panel in a softbox against the round edge lit. Would you mind sharing what your aperture and ISO settings were when those lights were at 30% power to give that result?
I love the Falcon Eyes light for product photography. This would be a great front light but do you have recommendations to light up pure white backgrounds for larger objects up to 24 X 24 inches? Thank you.
thanks for the review I'm thinking getting one for my video work ,could you pls make a video of your audio setup and what is your recommendation bcos I'm photographer but need to get into videography and I'm suffering from the amount of choices of mics and the variety of omni and lav ...etc
Great video! This light seems great, but I have a question! I'm a guitarist and I need to light up a 15 m2 room for tutorial videos. I hesitate between several choices: - buy 1 Falcon Eyes SO-68TD to have a big powerful lighting (but only one light) - buy 2 Falcon Eyes SO-48TD to have a big lighting with 2 lights (but maybe it's not useful to have the model 48 just for a fill light) - buy 1 Falcon Eyes SO-48TD (key light) + 1 Falcon Eyes SO-28TD (fill light) - buy 2 Falcon Eyes SO-28TD (but will it be enough in terms of power?) Can you enlighten me? (Oh oh oh) Thanks for the help!
@@geraldundone I loved mine. Bought it when I was a newspaper staffer, starting in 1984 or '85. Used it forever. I still have it, although it has been unused for probably 15 years now. What do you use to power it? I remember having to buy 6 mercury cells...not cheap, and long discontinued, and the meter did not have an auto-off feature, which burned me a few times. (edited for typo)
Great review, thanks. Were you able to test the color accuracy? Always wonder at the CRI / TLCI numbers from these light makers. Not many have the tools to verify their claims. Are there any flicker issues?
No flicker at any of the shutter speeds I shoot at. I don't have the tools either, so I just have to go by eye. It seems pretty good to me based on the colour chart. Good enough to get quality work done.
As a new RUclipsr, would I be better off starting this light, or one of the 600 LED kits from Neewer or Samitan for a comparable price that include 2 lights, stands, power cords and batteries? I love the idea of the small footprint and the built in diffuser. I have a small office and not sure if umbrellas/soft boxes will fit.
If space is a concern, I would definitely recommend this panel. The Neewer ones are fine, but they have those annoying temperature knobs I was talking about. They are very cheap though and are definitely worth the money, but yes, you will need an umbrella as well. If your budget allows, I'd get the Falcon Eyes instead, but if not, you can definitely make the Neewer ones work.
Just became a new subscriber!! Love the dual comparison you put together, just one tiny little advice. When recording yourself try to sync your headshots facing the same direction. Lastly, I'm just about to return back a set of 2 Linkstar's RX-11TD as the digital dials are really cheap and don't respond as fast and accurate as one would think. So like to ask you what's your input in regards to the Fovitec 2x Bi color going for $309, and using an umbrella which I already own to soften the light. I'm going to start doing RUclips videos about the real estate market and the economy so I'll be shooting at home 90% of the time. Any input will be highly appreciated. fyi: I'll be using my iPhone 7 plus & Filmic Pro for my video and already purchase a Boya Mic. Thanks again.
Hmm. I just bought one of these but when I change the temperature it just pops from blue to white to yellow. It doesn't smoothly transition between them.
That seems like a pretty great light! If I were as into video work as I wanted to be, I would definitely pick one up! What sort of product photography do you do?
I'm looking for something compact to use to photograph clothing hanging on a wall against a white background. Do you think that this light would be effective for that? I want well lit with nice, white backgrounds. Thanks!
Would this be a good light for beginners on portraiture? I'm studying photography and plan to explore portraits and maybe build a studio at home. Great video as always! Cheers
I would say it's pretty decent, yeah. You'll get more power out of strobes vs continuous lighting for photography, but that's a whole different ecosystem. I like continuous light because I do both photo & video, but if I did strictly photo, I would probably go with a GODOX system. And probably a big softbox if I had the space. You can definitely create some nice, soft portraits with the Falcon Eyes, but for maximum flexibility, you'd ideally want a large dome diffuser with a grid so that you could really control your position and angles of light.
I'm looking for a mobile solution for travel (public transport), this might be perfect, but what mobile tripod with the right connection to use this would be recommendable ?
Thanks for the review. Does every NP-F battery work on the 28TD? I read somewhere it only works with the Falcon Eyes NP-F battery's, but that would be quite strange, right?
how do these LED lights' power compare to the traditional / halogen bulbs? somewhere I read that LEDs watt power is ~10x of the traditionals in illumination, so lets say the 28W compares to 280W of traditional lights. is this true? an other question: do you think 2-3x of the 28TD or the 48TD could illuminate a bigger scene as well, where the subject is around 3-5 meters away from the lights? anyway, great video as always Gerald, keep it up ;)
There definitely is a multiple, yeah, but I'm not sure what it is for this light. I don't think it's the same for all designs and panels. In household bulbs it can range from 7-9x easily. That's why a better measurement is Lux. But it's definitely A LOT brighter than a 28-watt halogen. They will definitely illuminate the larger scene, the only concern becomes the look you want. If the space is big, they might not be enough to simulate daylight sun everywhere. And they'd be less soft the further away they were. What's great about light though is with a little creativity and some patience you can make almost any result you want.
@@geraldundone thanks the answer. unfortunately I am also not familiar about lux / lumens and how to measure / calculate them. but I neither want to simulate daylight as for that it would be required a lot more I think.
Just ordered this from Amazon and they sent me this instead: Clar Rs-10B (the "Clar Branded" Version of the Falconeyes SO-28TD--the Amazon post had a picture of the Falconeyes and everything). Do you know if this is the same thing, or should I be shipping this back?
great video and light. What do think about the ILTROX VL-500T? I know that one is not bi-color but it costs only $69 instead of $189. Can it compare to the Falcon Eyes SO-28TD as a key light?
I think I like the look of the Falcon Eyes better. I think the quality of light is just a tad bit more pleasing to my eyes. Really hard to differentiate with the damn youtube compression sucking the life out of videos.
Thanks for your vote. I find them pretty close in general. The Aputure is a bit softer, but it depends what you're going for. At quick glance I think they look almost the same.
@@geraldundone I could tell the Aputure was a bit softer, but I think passing through that umbrealla does something to the light that I'm not a fan of when I've got something else to compare it to..
How do you think this light compares to the Rotolight? I know they cost quite a bit more but I’ve been eyeing the Neo for some time. Then I seen this video and now I want this lol
I don't love the Rotolight for the money. They make quality products, but I have trouble justifying the cost. The Falcon Eyes will definitely be bigger and softer. And if you diffused the Rotolight, I imagine you'd get similar output to the Falcon Eyes anyway.
I think there might have been some metal dust or something inside, because recently I cleaned it out with WD-40 and it's much better now. It works on any stand now. So, I'd probably just go with a cheap Amazon stand.
Would this light be good for a portrait of a couple head to toe or would need to use and umbrella or a westcott halo? BTW, Looks like it's a better light when compare to a Rotolight neo 2 especially for the prize.
It would depend how you want the light to fall. If you want even and soft from head to toe, you'll need a larger light source. If you bring this light far enough away to light evenly it might be too harsh. They have bigger models though, the 48 and the 68. If you're happy with putting the light more on the upper-half and face, you could probably make it work, but generally with two people, one light isn't enough--you put harder shadows on one of the people. Unless you light straight on, but that might flatten them out.
I haven't actually tested the elgato yet, but I like the Falcon Eyes quite a bit. The only con would be that it's always soft, so if you like hard light for product shots, it might not be the answer.
I think it provides better value than the Rotolight. You get quite a bit more for the money. I like continuous light because I do photo and video, but if I was doing strictly photography, strobes will net you more power for less money. I'd look into getting some GODOX stuff for just photography.
Tough to say. I'm constantly changing what I like the most when new stuff comes out. For fill I like something with a big spread, good dimmer, and not too harsh. I think the Falcon Eyes does all that well. But a flex light would be good for that too. I think COBs are wasted as fill lights unless you have lots of space to work with.
I definitely think the 68 would perform well for portraits. The only issue I could see would be spill if you were trying to do something really contrasty, but you could always mitigate that with a black foam board flag.
Also, if I follow your Amazon link it kindly takes me to the .co.uk Amazon (cool). BUT...would you still benefit if I went ahead and bought? Also, another affiliate question. When i come to buy from B&H, do I just use your B&H link and go from there? I really want you to benefit from my soon to be purchases.
Yeah, I collect commissions from Amazon UK as well. Thanks for checking. That's very thoughtful. And yeah, if you want to purchase something from B&H and you use my store-wide link it helps me out. Thanks again!
@@geraldundone Awesome. It's not quite yet but I feel you're the one i'd like to throw some goodwill to. I like the style and the fact you can make difficult things easy to grasp. The pixel skipping vid was outstanding. Keep it up :)
The RC-6 Remote Control can work with SO-28TD/SO-48TD/SO-68TD LED Video light . You can buy it on Amazon. RC-6 Remote Control: www.amazon.com/dp/B07KSRGKGD
Thanks for watching! 👍😊
Don't forget to enter the Deity Microphone giveaway I'm running if you haven't yet. 🎁🎤
You still time left to enter. Here's the link: goo.gl/YDXXDG
... This still going on?
Digging up an old one.... but I've been looking at these round edge lights. To me they look like one of the least compromised lights. They're thin, soft, and don't require modifiers. For those of us without a dedicated studio, seems like a no-brainer. What's giving me pause: why aren't we seeing more of these from more manufacturers? They sound like the perfect solution on both paper and in your tests.
You totally sold me on this one, I bought 2 batteries with it.. It is deliverd and I am so impressed, so good thanks so much Gerald!
Two years later and I'm still confused as to why this style of video light isn't more common?
I have the SO-68TD which i use as a keylight, very happy with it as well!
Awesome! Thanks for sharing. 👍
I've been poring over which light to get for my RUclips setup - normally I use natural light in my apartment but with early winter sunsets I need to find an artificial light source. I thought I might be stuck with going the conventional Apurture 120D + softbox route, but this Falcon Eyes looks like it may just do the trick for smaller and cheaper. Thanks, Gerald!
The difference between the two lights is negligible. I liked your review so much I bought one, and it came today---and it is as advertised. Pretty freaking fantastic. Gerald, thanks so much for bringing this to our attention.
That's great, William! I'm glad to hear it. I'm glad you like it too. Thanks for the support! 👍😃
Support is well deserved.@@geraldundone
As someone who lives in a one bedroom apartment.... I prefer the thought of the Falcon Eyes, doubly so if it gives almost the same look but takes up a quarter of the space. I've been looking at getting some better lights for my miniature painting area, which right now is lit by, uhm, Ikea LED bulbs in IKEA fixtures (it was $47 CAD!)... Was looking at some of the Aputure stuff, but that gets pricey quick, especially when you factor in wanting at least two lights in order to have more even coverage, and fewer shadows.
As for the comparison of the two... I preferred the Falcon Eyes, as it had an ever so slightly more appealing sheen to your skin versus that of the Aputure, but if it were a blind test, uhm... Yeah, I suspect I wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
Thanks for the vote! I know what you mean about Aputure getting pricey. I love their lights, but I'm all for finding the best bang for the buck.
Wow, this is the discovery of the year for us. And by the way, these can be had for around $125, now. Thanks! ❤
A lot of my shooting is done in a small room, so this light seems perfect for what I need! My current soft box situation takes up so much space
Ayy, I've got a Dracast one like this that's a little bigger, but I find that it's still not big enough to comfortably use it as a key light regularly, but it's a fun light when you just need something super quick that's soft!
Yeah, I can't quite get enough wrap with the Falcon Eyes, but it's pretty rad for what it is. I'll probably just use it as a killer product light.
Gerald thanks for showing the side by side vs the Aputure at the end of the video. That was super helpful.
As was the AA battery compartment discovery. Funny.
I was playing the video at 2x during the intro and for a second it sounded like the synth bit was playing down an octave from usual. I shudder to think of the detail a Gerald Undone video would have explaining the phenomenon!
Also, I think the falconeyes puts up a good fight, but your main light has better highlight rolloff in the face.
You’ve earned my subscription mate. Your reviews are really interesting and don’t sound paid, unlike most dudes here... and your intro music is mesmerising 😂
Awesome! I'm always happy to have a new subscriber. Thanks for the kind words and encouragement! 😃🙏
Oh ya! I did watch this a while back! Thanks
love your stuff because I can nerd out! keep it up, brother!
Super solid video man!
Thanks, Matthew!
Very informative on spec along with the practicalities of use well domonstrated just great. To me there was a difference in the shadows on my screen with no real difference in highlights. Both pleasing but to me different. Thanks again for all your work.
Wow, that falcon eyes is amazing. If you can afford the Aputure and like that for what it provides, go for it, but If I get the chance, I'd definitely get the Falcon Eyes. Its too cheap and looks too similar to pass up getting this light, even if it's only a backup to your main gear.
Great comparison! My impression on the side by side was you could afford to turn up the falcon eyes a few percent (if possible), to get the same clarity on the lit side of your face. The other side I guess is going to stay darker because of the smaller light source, but a rim light or brighter fill light might be the answer there anyway :)
I love it - I would totally get the Falconeyes over the Aputure light for both the cool product photography use case you demonstrated (I'm imagining a clam-shell setup so you get a similar shape and diffusion) and as your main key light.
I noticed the shadows are a little sharp around your nose when you have it in a similar position as the umbrella, but given the small size of the light, you may be able to move it closer and by turning it to perhaps 25% would give you a softer spread. Thanks for telling us about this one!
I think you're right. I think I can definitely fit it in a little tighter to get softer light with a better wrap. The biggest obstacle is the darn light stand legs. 😜
Great channel Gerald and good to see it growing fast! Your content has really helped making better videos for my own channel, especially improving the audio, so cheers and keep it up!
Very informative review and this light might be just about perfect for my use as well(for food B-roll and stills mainly). There even seems to be a remote available, which would make the lights in this lineup even more versatile (Amazon/ca. 50 pounds).
I'm currently using the exact same key light (Aputure) and since I'm also very limited in studio space, I have been trying different diffusion setups. What I've found working slightly better than the umbrella, or an umbrella soft box, is to have a standard reflector holder on top of a light stand and a foldable reflector of desired size and shape attached. Then I attach the Aputure onto the light stand with a magic arm. This way I can easily fine tune the distance and allignment between the light and reflector, resulting in a rather compact and flat setup. Without the bulging umbrella I can have the light slightly closer to the subject and save some airspace. And the light is also very soft when I use a large round diffusor. Obviously the reflector holder arm will run between the diffusor and the light, but at least in my setup I can't say it makes a negative impact in the result (large diffusor surface and proximity to subject "dilute" any shadows I'd guess).
But If I had to buy a key light now, I'd definitely go with the SO-48TD (or 68)+ the remote. In your comparison the Aputure + umbrella is clearly softer and better in that regard but maybe the 28 could just sit closer to frame and thus make it close to similar in result?
-Mikko Ellmén
Thanks for the kind words and encouragement!
I often thought about bouncing the light too. Interesting idea you shared.
I do think I might be able to get the 28TD a little closer and equal the look of the Aputure, but it would take a little more finagling than the 15 seconds I gave it during the video. Heh. 😜
@@geraldundone Sorry, I noticed that I was talking about reflectors above when I ment to say diffusor :)
48 and key light and 28 a fill light thoughts? Or just 2x 48....great video and yes the intro stick in your head
The falcon eyes is obviously harder shadows than your massive umbrella setup, but it is still reasonable
This is great, so thorough.
Thanks! 😊👍
Great review and product
bro ive loved your videos and this review was enough for me to buy it thank you
Awesome! I'm glad I could help. Thanks for taking the time to say so. Cheers! 😃👍
I love the awkward position for the camera shot next to the umbrella! 😂
Alright, another item to add to my wishlist, tanks to Gerald!
Oh!! what is the make/model of your light stand? I always purchase stuff from Neewer, just want to know if it would be OK.
Cheers, mate! 😊👍
The silver one was a Manfrotto backdrop stand. I chose it to make it standout in the video, but the actual light stands I use are just cheap amazon ones. So, yeah, Neewer will be fine. The light isn't heavy at all. The one I used in the video to get close to the camera in the "reenactment" was actually a microphone stand. I use them as cheap boom arms for smaller lights.
Oh cool! Yeah I have lots of Neewer products and they more than fit my needs. Right now I only have an Aputure AL-MX and was kind of bummed that it doesn't cast very far, even though it can blind some people from up close! 😂
They both "looked" the same to me, so I'd probably go with the one that's easier to use, so the Falcon Eyes.
Dang, looks like a great replacement/upgrade to my cheap soft boxes! I love the boxes for how cheap they are, but man they are bulky and no ability to adjust the temp or output.
Yeah, I can totally relate. 😊
Had to buy me one for my tiny spacr for vlogging and product shots for ebay.... Thank you!
Umbrella setup gives a bit bigger bright spot in the eyes, I've heard that makes them look more lively
Yeah, the catch light is definitely something to factor in. Good point.
I've been thinking about the 672 for a while or a bigger falcon eyes panel that dslrvideoshooter reviewed.. Will probably get that small Falcon eyes.. Especially for less than 200 and i already have batteries
I think the 48-watt one would also be a nice choice, if you want something in between. But yeah, for under $200, the 28TD is great.
Very cool and great price
Thanks for the video
Nice review. I think the lights are too close to decide. Looks like the Falcon Eyes is a winner with everthing else: battery, compact, etc
Undone man. Bus Driver. I found this video helpful. From a stills perspective I prefer the Falcon Eyes because it provides a harder shadow which will look good with film. I'm old school, like your meter.
Haha. Thanks, Ric. Old school. Did I ask why you call me "Bus Driver", yet?
@@geraldundone. You take all other RUclips reviewers to school.
@@ricceron5760 not so sure all.
Hi, excellent video! What kind of stick are you using for the falcon light? I would like to purchase for food photography. Thank you so much! 🤗
Nice video! Funny voice crack in the outro
Nice video, as usual. the only CON i would put out there for this product.... no barn doors... :(
I prefer the umbrella. It's softer
Thanks for the vote! 😊
Do you think this is better than the Elgato? Can you get away with this rather than a soft box?
Hello... Nice review! Is it possibile to add a honeycomb grid to these light?
The lights look very similar go for convenience, all right!
Thought aputure was a tad harsher but not ridiculously noticsble
This is a great video and I really enjoyed the comparison of seeing a led panel in a softbox against the round edge lit. Would you mind sharing what your aperture and ISO settings were when those lights were at 30% power to give that result?
Thanks a lot! I probably had it set to f/1.4 and ISO 800.
noice.. made me feel like purchasing one right now!
I'm still using mine on a regular basis. Loving it.
I love the Falcon Eyes light for product photography. This would be a great front light but do you have recommendations to light up pure white backgrounds for larger objects up to 24 X 24 inches? Thank you.
thanks for the review I'm thinking getting one for my video work ,could you pls make a video of your audio setup and what is your recommendation bcos I'm photographer but need to get into videography and I'm suffering from the amount of choices of mics and the variety of omni and lav ...etc
Sure. Check this video out: ruclips.net/video/2ZETMw53hi4/видео.html
I made it a few days ago and it explains my whole process.
Great thoughts! I recently got the 68 and totally lovely it! I show my setup in a recent video.
Awesome! Glad to hear it. I was curious about the 68. Thanks for sharing.
For me they are also close, but Falcon eyes is better, a bit softer and nice looking for skin. Aputure is a bit yellow glow.
Great video! This light seems great, but I have a question!
I'm a guitarist and I need to light up a 15 m2 room for tutorial videos. I hesitate between several choices:
- buy 1 Falcon Eyes SO-68TD to have a big powerful lighting (but only one light)
- buy 2 Falcon Eyes SO-48TD to have a big lighting with 2 lights (but maybe it's not useful to have the model 48 just for a fill light)
- buy 1 Falcon Eyes SO-48TD (key light) + 1 Falcon Eyes SO-28TD (fill light)
- buy 2 Falcon Eyes SO-28TD (but will it be enough in terms of power?)
Can you enlighten me? (Oh oh oh)
Thanks for the help!
Hi thanks for the review. What do you think about the power of this light? Would you compare it to a 5 bulb softbox?
Gerald Undone OMG, you're using a Minolta Flashmeter III? Wow. :-)
Haha. Yeah. It's a classic and it works well.
@@geraldundone I loved mine. Bought it when I was a newspaper staffer, starting in 1984 or '85. Used it forever. I still have it, although it has been unused for probably 15 years now. What do you use to power it? I remember having to buy 6 mercury cells...not cheap, and long discontinued, and the meter did not have an auto-off feature, which burned me a few times. (edited for typo)
For sure. Nowadays though with Amazon, you can get those dot batteries quite easily and for a decent price.
i love it omg i want one lol great for streaming and making videos
Great review, thanks.
Were you able to test the color accuracy? Always wonder at the CRI / TLCI numbers from these light makers. Not many have the tools to verify their claims.
Are there any flicker issues?
No flicker at any of the shutter speeds I shoot at. I don't have the tools either, so I just have to go by eye. It seems pretty good to me based on the colour chart. Good enough to get quality work done.
As a new RUclipsr, would I be better off starting this light, or one of the 600 LED kits from Neewer or Samitan for a comparable price that include 2 lights, stands, power cords and batteries? I love the idea of the small footprint and the built in diffuser. I have a small office and not sure if umbrellas/soft boxes will fit.
If space is a concern, I would definitely recommend this panel. The Neewer ones are fine, but they have those annoying temperature knobs I was talking about. They are very cheap though and are definitely worth the money, but yes, you will need an umbrella as well. If your budget allows, I'd get the Falcon Eyes instead, but if not, you can definitely make the Neewer ones work.
I think falconize is softer and same brightness and smaller footprint 🤗
Just became a new subscriber!! Love the dual comparison you put together, just one tiny little advice. When recording yourself try to sync your headshots facing the same direction. Lastly, I'm just about to return back a set of 2 Linkstar's RX-11TD as the digital dials are really cheap and don't respond as fast and accurate as one would think. So like to ask you what's your input in regards to the Fovitec 2x Bi color going for $309, and using an umbrella which I already own to soften the light. I'm going to start doing RUclips videos about the real estate market and the economy so I'll be shooting at home 90% of the time. Any input will be highly appreciated. fyi: I'll be using my iPhone 7 plus & Filmic Pro for my video and already purchase a Boya Mic. Thanks again.
Thanks for subscribing. I don't currently have those lights, but I'll see if I can get my hands on them. Cheers!
Hey Gerald, would this be ok for a fill light?
Do you think these would be suitable to shoot a full body portrait?
Is it the same as the Lishuai c300-r daylight led ?
Hmm. I just bought one of these but when I change the temperature it just pops from blue to white to yellow. It doesn't smoothly transition between them.
@gerald I don’t think this can beat the Dracast SilkRay. What do you think?
That seems like a pretty great light! If I were as into video work as I wanted to be, I would definitely pick one up!
What sort of product photography do you do?
I photograph primarily photo/video gear, which is handy because it's useful for the channel too.
Synergy!
I'm looking for something compact to use to photograph clothing hanging on a wall against a white background. Do you think that this light would be effective for that? I want well lit with nice, white backgrounds. Thanks!
Would this be a good light for beginners on portraiture? I'm studying photography and plan to explore portraits and maybe build a studio at home. Great video as always! Cheers
I would say it's pretty decent, yeah. You'll get more power out of strobes vs continuous lighting for photography, but that's a whole different ecosystem. I like continuous light because I do both photo & video, but if I did strictly photo, I would probably go with a GODOX system. And probably a big softbox if I had the space. You can definitely create some nice, soft portraits with the Falcon Eyes, but for maximum flexibility, you'd ideally want a large dome diffuser with a grid so that you could really control your position and angles of light.
@@geraldundone thank you sir! ✌🏻
I’ve just been eyeing those myself 🤔
I'm looking for a mobile solution for travel (public transport), this might be perfect, but what mobile tripod with the right connection to use this would be recommendable ?
What light stand are you using to support it?
Thanks for the review. Does every NP-F battery work on the 28TD? I read somewhere it only works with the Falcon Eyes NP-F battery's, but that would be quite strange, right?
I only have Sony brand and Aputure batteries and they both work.
Optical Illusion? Was there more detail/contrast with the Falcon Eyes? In the wee hours, on an iPad it appeared so...
It was a little less soft and wrapped less, so you'll see more defined shadows and a tad more contrast. Might make certain details pop.
how do these LED lights' power compare to the traditional / halogen bulbs? somewhere I read that LEDs watt power is ~10x of the traditionals in illumination, so lets say the 28W compares to 280W of traditional lights. is this true?
an other question: do you think 2-3x of the 28TD or the 48TD could illuminate a bigger scene as well, where the subject is around 3-5 meters away from the lights?
anyway, great video as always Gerald, keep it up ;)
There definitely is a multiple, yeah, but I'm not sure what it is for this light. I don't think it's the same for all designs and panels. In household bulbs it can range from 7-9x easily. That's why a better measurement is Lux. But it's definitely A LOT brighter than a 28-watt halogen.
They will definitely illuminate the larger scene, the only concern becomes the look you want. If the space is big, they might not be enough to simulate daylight sun everywhere. And they'd be less soft the further away they were. What's great about light though is with a little creativity and some patience you can make almost any result you want.
@@geraldundone thanks the answer. unfortunately I am also not familiar about lux / lumens and how to measure / calculate them. but I neither want to simulate daylight as for that it would be required a lot more I think.
Just ordered this from Amazon and they sent me this instead: Clar Rs-10B (the "Clar Branded" Version of the Falconeyes SO-28TD--the Amazon post had a picture of the Falconeyes and everything). Do you know if this is the same thing, or should I be shipping this back?
so do u use any of these falcon eyes lights regularly?
great video and light. What do think about the ILTROX VL-500T? I know that one is not bi-color but it costs only $69 instead of $189. Can it compare to the Falcon Eyes SO-28TD as a key light?
Thanks, Andres! I haven't used the Viltrox one. It does seem to have some similarities, but I can't give much of an opinion until I test it. Cheers!
@@geraldundone thanks for the reply!
I think I like the look of the Falcon Eyes better. I think the quality of light is just a tad bit more pleasing to my eyes. Really hard to differentiate with the damn youtube compression sucking the life out of videos.
Thanks for your vote. I find them pretty close in general. The Aputure is a bit softer, but it depends what you're going for. At quick glance I think they look almost the same.
@@geraldundone I could tell the Aputure was a bit softer, but I think passing through that umbrealla does something to the light that I'm not a fan of when I've got something else to compare it to..
Maybe you like your shadows with a bit more contrast.
How do you think this light compares to the Rotolight? I know they cost quite a bit more but I’ve been eyeing the Neo for some time. Then I seen this video and now I want this lol
I don't love the Rotolight for the money. They make quality products, but I have trouble justifying the cost. The Falcon Eyes will definitely be bigger and softer. And if you diffused the Rotolight, I imagine you'd get similar output to the Falcon Eyes anyway.
I also like the digital display much better then the controls of the Rotolight.
Wonder how it would perform outdoors in Canadian winters...
Gerald you said the fit to the stand was tight and hard to get off. What stand brand would you recommend?
I think there might have been some metal dust or something inside, because recently I cleaned it out with WD-40 and it's much better now. It works on any stand now. So, I'd probably just go with a cheap Amazon stand.
Time to make the first Comment. thanks for video again :D ;)
And here's my first reply. 😜
Would this light be good for a portrait of a couple head to toe or would need to use and umbrella or a westcott halo? BTW, Looks like it's a better light when compare to a Rotolight neo 2 especially for the prize.
It would depend how you want the light to fall. If you want even and soft from head to toe, you'll need a larger light source. If you bring this light far enough away to light evenly it might be too harsh. They have bigger models though, the 48 and the 68. If you're happy with putting the light more on the upper-half and face, you could probably make it work, but generally with two people, one light isn't enough--you put harder shadows on one of the people. Unless you light straight on, but that might flatten them out.
@@geraldundone I thinking buying two and then insert them inside Westcott Halo Softbox (45") to create a wider spread. What do you think?
@@geraldundone Westcott Halo: www.fjwestcott.com/45-round-halo
Would you recommend the Elgato Key Light or the Falcon Eyes S0-28TD for product photography? Thanks.
I haven't actually tested the elgato yet, but I like the Falcon Eyes quite a bit. The only con would be that it's always soft, so if you like hard light for product shots, it might not be the answer.
Gerald Undone Thank you, Gerald for your comments.
How would you rate it against the Rotolight Neo 2??? And is constant light better than flash for photography??? I know, slightly off tangent...
I think it provides better value than the Rotolight. You get quite a bit more for the money. I like continuous light because I do photo and video, but if I was doing strictly photography, strobes will net you more power for less money. I'd look into getting some GODOX stuff for just photography.
@@geraldundone thanks for the reply Gerald. Appreciated
I'm looking for a powerful on camera flash (GN60 +) for my Panasonic GX8. Which one would you recommend???
do you prefer cob light, flex light, or this one as fill light?
Tough to say. I'm constantly changing what I like the most when new stuff comes out. For fill I like something with a big spread, good dimmer, and not too harsh. I think the Falcon Eyes does all that well. But a flex light would be good for that too. I think COBs are wasted as fill lights unless you have lots of space to work with.
How is the first review, the Falcon Eyes SO-28TD for portrait work?
looks like a cheaper version of a British made rotolight neo or Aeos... LED is most defiently the future
would you use the 68 for portrait photography?
I definitely think the 68 would perform well for portraits. The only issue I could see would be spill if you were trying to do something really contrasty, but you could always mitigate that with a black foam board flag.
Gerald Undone thanks
✌
Looked near identical!
Also, if I follow your Amazon link it kindly takes me to the .co.uk Amazon (cool). BUT...would you still benefit if I went ahead and bought? Also, another affiliate question. When i come to buy from B&H, do I just use your B&H link and go from there? I really want you to benefit from my soon to be purchases.
Yeah, I collect commissions from Amazon UK as well. Thanks for checking. That's very thoughtful.
And yeah, if you want to purchase something from B&H and you use my store-wide link it helps me out. Thanks again!
@@geraldundone Awesome. It's not quite yet but I feel you're the one i'd like to throw some goodwill to. I like the style and the fact you can make difficult things easy to grasp. The pixel skipping vid was outstanding. Keep it up :)
The neewer one is much cheaper
If somegody is interested in 2020, a remote control gadget is available as a separate purchase.
we just need a remote for it. :))
Indeed. That'd be pretty sweet.
The RC-6 Remote Control can work with SO-28TD/SO-48TD/SO-68TD LED Video light
. You can buy it on Amazon.
RC-6 Remote Control: www.amazon.com/dp/B07KSRGKGD
Falcon seems better to my eyes
Thanks for the vote!