This light is terrible. I own it and it is almost completely useless in a studio

@bobbogdal

Жыл бұрын

i will buy it for 50 dollars

@Ballistichydrant

Жыл бұрын

@@bobbogdal you can have it for 30 if you can pick it up

Thankyou! Excellent review from a pro for pro’s. I love the way you address the power comparison between rotologht and speedlights. Everything has its place.

A really thorough and balanced review (at last) thank you.

Thank you, your honest review and intelligent breakdown on the flash side of this light has left me thinking I’ll be better off with my speed light for now. Many thanks.

Nice job. IMO one of the more useful reviews of this product out there.

@robhallphoto

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you, glad to hear that!

Hey Robert, great review I had similar thoughts when I first saw all the hype surrounding this light and then when I had some hands on experience when I was handed a couple to test out a couple months ago (I tested out both the Aeos and Neo II). The light just doesn't offer enough power for photography unless you are shooting in low light and yes HSS which really shows its main benefits when used in bright situations is near useless for people that shoot in low light or studio situations where this light is the most useful. For now the Rotolight just isn't there yet for flash photography but I do really believe in the next few years LEDs for photography will be a big game changer in the flash/strobe world. You mentioned in your video that a speedlight will lose light when it enters HSS, which is of course true and the amount it loses depends on how high your shutter speed is. Though during my testing with the Rotolight I also found that the Rotolight also suffers the same issue as a typical speedlight when it enters HSS. When I tried it and compared it myself to a typical speedlight a few months ago I saw the power output of Rotolight drop just as much as a speedlight would when I shot at 1/500, 1/2000 and 1/8000th of a second. This was also the case with the Aeos as well (also fun side note a speedlight is still almost 2 stops stronger than the Aeos). This was surprising to me as I believed that because the Rotolight is using LEDs that it wouldn't suffer from the power loss during HSS but seems that is still an issue. At least when I tested it. So if you get a minute would you be able to do a quick test the Neo II at a regular sync speed and then in HSS and see if there is still some power loss or if that was something that was fixed compared to when I first tried them out (as I was testing them shortly before they launched but they were production models) as in your video so say that the Neo II's power in HSS remains the same where as a speedlight in HSS will lose power.

Thanks for the review. I see now where it can be used. I think as a hybrid video / continuous light as well as a modestly powered flash. May work well with products and stuff too. But for an outdoor environmental portrait I would stick with strobes.

I agree the things you said in your review. I own a first gen Rotolight Neo, and as a videographer, it is my favorite LED light. I have other much larger and more powerful LEDs, but none produce the quality I need for skin tones, like the Neo. I also agree with another reviewer who mentioned that the Rotolights were not designed to replace speed lights. The HSS option of the Rotolights provides an additional level of versatility, but that's really it. Incidentally, the battery pouches in the canvas carrying case are not for storing the batteries, they are for storing an EXTRA set of batteries. That way you can load up both the camera and the case with six double A batteries each, and head of to your location, knowing that when the first set runs low, you can quickly replace them and keep shooting. My favorite lights for shooting film or video are tungsten fresnels. They're hot, heavy, and suck up a lot of power. The Rotolights are no replacement for them either, but when I need a lightweight LED that can produce gorgeous skin tomes, no other unit on the market can beat a Rotolight.

Thanks for opening my eyes. I almost would have bought it 2 times, just because JL catched me with his promo. Now that I am looking at it differently, all his great shootings (especially the one when it was raining) were taking place during lowlight. His shots in the open, still bright areas are *never* featuring a neo 2, as far as I can tell. Darn, now I have to start my research for a suitable HSS flash all over again; thanks :P. Subscribed!

I think this light and a fast f/1.2 to 1.8 prime lens will be a great light travel setup that will help when stepping out of direct sun, need a illumination boost at sunset, or you are lost at night in Asia and need to focus in the dark and capture the city in the background. It would fit in my small travel camera bag. Thanks for the honest review.

A fair well balanced review. The rotolight isn't something I see myself ever replacing my strobes but I can see some situations where it could be useful. Sticker shock is right however, the cost of these products is relatively high but I guess if it meets your needs fully then it's money well spent 😊

Enjoyed watching and learning from your review. I own the NEO and will purchase the next version of the NEO in 2019 if they upgrade it. The quality of light is great and it works in many lighting environments if you understand how to use the light to your advantage. I do own the AEOS Kit..I am a professional and use my ROTOLIGHT Gear everyday over speedlights/strobes/Godox.

Thanks! I was waiting for this review ))

@robhallphoto

6 жыл бұрын

You’re welcome!

Finally a review that is comprehensive! this helps-

Great review, honest and on the money.

Awesome review even the first review you did I stood by that as well its really no different you know what your talking about and I will also stick with the Godox/Flashpoint brand thank you so much. Can't wait for the AD600pro review. God Bless

Thanks for the video, what are the settings if you're using Godox trigger and want to do HSS 1/8000? Setting on Flash 1/50th?

Spot on assessment.

@robhallphoto

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

great review. looking through comments and other reviews, I get the impression that a lot of people think that this light should compete with a speed light. I don't think it ever was really intended to compete? each lighting setup seems to have pros and cons, and depending on what your doing, this could be an awesome little light to have in your kit. i recently got one of these and it seems to do great... for what it is. one of the things that really caught my eye when using it, was the quality of light. and for up close portraits, i got to say. i love it. looking forward to trying this light out in a variety of shoots.

@robhallphoto

5 жыл бұрын

People think that because that's exactly how it was marketed. kzread.info/dash/bejne/l4FnuqSkqLTHfJs.html "The Neo II is also incredibly energy efficient. Compared to a typical speedlight, which will do 250 full power flashes on a single battery, the Rotolight Neo II will do 85,000" This is an extremely disingenuous claim. It completely ignores the fact that the Neo II is putting out 1/64th the effective light output. I recall another video in which they explain how the Neo II would be superior for weddings because (paraphrasing) "when the bride is coming down the aisle and you use a speedlight, you have to wait 4-5 seconds between each flash, whereas the Neo II recycles instantly." Again, a false equivalency, a sly omission that the Rotolight Neo II is completely incapable of reaching the output of a speedlight that would require a 4-5 second recycle time. If instead, you had the speedlight at a power similar to the Neo II's max output, then you're looking at a 1/8s recycle speed or lower. It is these carefully executed marketing statements (which I find unethical) that lead to so many photographers thinking the Neo II would be capable of replacing a speedlight in any scenario. I found it wasn't until after my criticism that the language shifted to "we're not saying it can replace a speedlight"

Hi Robert, nice, balanced review thanks for that. I already have the Neo2 (based on Jason Lanier's review) and, in use, it's a nice light, but, as you mentioned, more useful for video on AA's.. I just checked the price of the V-Mount battery you talked about and OUCH!! that sucker is expensive. It's a 95Wh battery which equates to 6.4AH at 14.8V - likely contains 8x 3200mAh 18650 cells in a 4S2P arrangement - which is going to be heavy, not ideal for attaching to the light. However, 4 similar cells in a plastic holder velcro'ed to the outside of the battery cover would weigh less than the 6 Duracell NiMh I have in mine, would provide 3 times the endurance and, since it plugs into the external power port, would run the flash at 500% - and all at a tiny fraction of the cost.. The cells would need to be charged in an external 4-way charger, but the NiMh cells I currently use do anyway as the Neo2 doesn't seem to have a built-in charge circuit. Also, a 4-way charger is easier to find and smaller for travel than a 6-way one..

The Rotolight Aeos is the light they recommend for still photography, that would be the more appropriate light to review.

excellent, informative video

Very honest review. I shoot outdoors a lot so I'm not sure this would be the light for me. I got the godox AD200 the other day and I can't wait to use it.

@dhjrtw

6 жыл бұрын

Rawl of the Dead ad200 fantastic light

@RawloftheDead

6 жыл бұрын

David Jones I'm gonna use it tomorrow for a shoot. Can't wait to see the results. I already love it and haven't shot with it yet haha

@robhallphoto

6 жыл бұрын

AD200 is still #1 in my heart for versatile photography lighting tools. You’re gonna love it, just don’t tighten the clamp down and ruin your barebulb!

@RawloftheDead

6 жыл бұрын

Robert Hall Photography the clamp turn knob on the side? I was curious what that was for.

@Mrcherrardcohen

6 жыл бұрын

Rawl of the Dead grab the magmod/selens modifiers and you'll love it even more

Thank you, Robert. I notice that the reviews at the suppliers (5 at B&H and 21 at Adorama) were all before the first of the year, except for one in January which said "doesn't cut it". Maybe when the truth came out, the enthusiasm waned.

They need to lower the price some

This was the best review I've seen! Thanks Rob

@robhallphoto

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you, glad it helped!

hello bro, what cabel do i need to sync flash with d750? if Rotolight is on hot shoe?

Next long weekend I am watching all your videos...twice.

@robhallphoto

6 жыл бұрын

I’m not sure if I could even do that.😅

On another topic. The Neo2 is now the only non-Godox light I own, apart from a pair of old Bowens strobes. I contacted Rotolight the other week asking them why they only support Elinchrom with their internal receiver - this seems short-sighted (IMHO) given the performance/price that Godox achieve (checking the cost of that Elinchrom trigger helps bring things into perspective). I told them that as a hardware development engineer, I would be an ideal ideal alpha/beta tester for their Godox X-system compatible Neo2 firmware. I haven't heard back yet

Does it communicate with a Sony FA-WRC1M transmitter?

Robert you should test the Rotolight Anova Pro 2 for still photography.

I prefer the rotolight for what I purchased it for which is detail shots at weddings and dance floor shots. Us using it with the Sony a9 I use the modeling light at 1% to achieve quick focus and am able to flash. Also prefer it over a speed light for smaller areas since I don’t have to diffuse.

@robhallphoto

6 жыл бұрын

That’s what it’s all about, finding gear that perfectly fits with your needs. I’m glad to hear you are enjoying it!

I saw your first video and now this one, and yeah, while the Rotolight's promo video and the "marketing/selling" tone are a bit over the top - I'm still interested in this light. I've watched JL photoshoot in London with the model Mattie and realized that he simply used the product at it's best, and in the best conditions. It was either a quite bright natural light where he utilized the angles and used the NEO2 as a nice fill-flash with the right settings in the camera and on the unit itself. Then he shot in a tunnel where this kind of light is a champ. A smart marketing move and of course he could push it to the skies when claiming it's great. It's good, really good for what it's capable of doing. For me, I'd gladly have it in the bag together with my speedlight during travels, and chose which one to use depending on the conditions I'd be shooting in. The price is high though. The NEO2 itself is OK but when you add the rest it's too much money. I've had the AEOS on my wishlist for a long time but for the budget I've had I bought the equivalent to Godox AD200, a matching speedlight and a trigger (in Scandinavia they're called Quadralite...) - got some great gear for less than half of the money. As soon as this brings the income needed I might go for the big thing. NEO2? Maybe that one first. Can't help it, I like it. I also must emphasize the Rotolight's responsiveness to questions and their fiery engagement.

@robhallphoto

6 жыл бұрын

Still a lot of their marketing is misleading. The most egregious example to me is when they compare the Neo 2 to a speedlight for a bride walking down the aisle of a church. They say a speedlight takes 4-5 seconds to recycle. That’s wrong for many reasons. they shouldn’t talk about a speedlight full power recycle because the neo 2 can’t match anywhere near that output to contend with it anyways. To me, overall a speedlight is just more versatile, and when used at low powers where the rotolight would be useable, the speedlight is just as fast.

@HomesickMac

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this clarification.

Hi thanks for the video however I still do not know the best way of comparing the power of these led lights. A light that I am looking at says it’s 250W on this little small thing. Is it the wattage that tells us how bright these things are or what?

@robhallphoto

4 жыл бұрын

It's complicated. Watts is a measurement of power drawn, not a measurement of light created. Watts used to be a good measurement of brightness when everything was tungsten, because everything had the same "efficiency" for the most part. LED however is not all created equal. Companies have been making LED brighter per watt of power used. So a 200w LED from 8 years ago is nowhere near as bright as a 200w LED today. So, with photo/video lighting, the "efficiency" of the product is largely dependent on the quality and age of the LED technology there are using. A far better measurement of brightness is lumens / lux, which some companies include under technical specifications at various distances. You would need equivalent distances to see a direct brightness comparison (or learn the inverse square law to compare at different differences), but the lux/lumens measurements also fails to consider how wide the pattern of light is. For instance, a zoomable fresnel style led is likely zooomed all the way when it's light output is measured to inflate it's result, whereas an LED panel is stuck throwing light in a wide pattern and has to be measured as such. Hope that long answer helps you understand why comparisons between wattages can be very unreliable and even alternative measurements are still complicated! Also, if you're at all relating this to flash equipment, wattages of LED and wattseconds of strobes are not the same!

Aputure f7 for video or rotolight?

Thank you for blasting Alex in the face with a v860 at 1/1 power. I hope to see more of that.

@robhallphoto

6 жыл бұрын

I’ll have you know he took one in the face from the new 600 too.

@deepstagesrt4

6 жыл бұрын

Robert Hall Photography you know how to reach your audience my friend. Keep up the good work!

In answer to your question, Robert, there were two reasons. Primarily I watched all of Jason Lanier's promotional videos on the Rotolight NEO 2, and I admire his work. Second there was a $70 discount until 31 October 2017. But Jason Lanier sealed the deal or I would never have bought it based on just Rotolight's promotion..

@robhallphoto

6 жыл бұрын

Appreciate the honesty! I still to this day feel like there was a lot of "omission" when showing the capabilities from JL. Saying "this was never intended to replace a monolight" gives the impression that it may still replace a speedlight, but it won't. Saying "As we all know, great light means that we get our modifiers / light source as close to our subject as possible" to frame the idea that this is a necessity. That may work for extreme close ups but it's by no means a truth or rule. As soon as you start pulling the rotolight back it's peak power becomes an extremely limiting factor. That's all I set out to do with the video was make sure people had a realistic expectation of the product, because I felt a lot of it's limitations were left out by those discussing it.

I wish I'd have seen this before spending £300, very underwhelmed by the output. only way I see to get round it is to up the ISO :(

anyone know if I can use 2 sony npf batteries plugged into the dc port for same usability as the v mount battery?

@rgreeneish

3 жыл бұрын

yes they make a NFP v mount adapter plate

yeah the speedlight is just gonna be better when you use HSS in daylight. but that's about it. everything else, i prefer the neo 2. i wish the neo 3 would have a built in TTL.

@robhallphoto

6 жыл бұрын

TTL would certainly be useful and it would not hinder the specs at all with the instant recycle.

I'm a hobbyist who sure wishes that I had seen your review before buying a NEO 2 (even at the introductory discounted price). At the time I bought it (before the discount went away) there were very few reviews at B&H and Adorama. But since then the reviews at those merchandisers are very favorable toward the NEO 2. It would be great with more power.......I don't have any 1.2 lenses.

@robhallphoto

6 жыл бұрын

Sorry I didn’t get it out sooner, took me a while to get one. I’m curious, what was your motivation for purchasing it with so little reviews on it?

Will the using of the LEDs as a flash not wear the LEDs out in no time? I can imagine they will not last more than a month abusing them in this way.

@idazi2785

5 жыл бұрын

Hi great question. Actually this is not a problem, we are doing some clever technology that means the LED's are not being over stressed. the LED's are rated for 100,000 hours :)

Is this any good today. Any shootout vs Flash

@robhallphoto

3 жыл бұрын

Nothing has changed, still nowhere near as powerful as a flash.

I will stick to my Godox/Cheetahstand/Flashpoint gear. Especially the evolv 200 with the magsphere setup.

@robhallphoto

6 жыл бұрын

AD200 + Magmod is life.

@trevorpinnocky

6 жыл бұрын

A flash is not as flexible if you can deal with the reduction in overall power.

@Mrcherrardcohen

6 жыл бұрын

The evolv200 has a flash head, a bare bulb attachment and for $25 extra a 60 led attachment.

ROTOLIGHT AA2VM-Adaptor plus a maller V-Mount battery for the NEO ROTOLIGHT need to build V-Mount, around 24Wh, which should be usable of course with the bigger AEOS and ANOVA as a reserve spare battery. Therefore it is firstly nesscessary to create an adaptor that is put into the contacts of the 6 AA box. On the other side of this adaptor you then have the V-Mount. Better handling: Faster changing of the Battery, more runtime and more flash power: Additionaly you can lay down the NEO on the back, without unintended pressing the rear buttons. To illuminate the ceiling of a room a stble even surface on the back is very helpful. The lower weight, compared to the 95Wh, results in a better handling and balance, when the light ist moved continuously. The pricing could be far more lower, without canniballize the own 95Wh for the professional customers who ask vor maximum capacity. Even on the AEOS a smaller pack could be suitable.

Please be the first to clear this up on you tube . Yes power decreases entering hss but then moving to narrower apertures to get the shutter to 1/200 also reqires more power so in theory should balance , same thing using nd filters , can you clear this up pls .

@robhallphoto

6 жыл бұрын

HSS is ALWAYS less efficient than standard sync below max sync speed with or without ND filters. The act of entering HSS changes how the strobe pushes light out. In standard sync it is a high powered burst of light, HSS is a weaker extended burst of light. That change is what causes the strobe to lose output in HSS. In both HSS and regular sync, aperture and ISO will affect the amount of flash that hits your sensor. Below max sync speed, shutter speed does not affect the amount of flash reaching the sensor because the entire shutter is open at once. Beyond max sync speed, in HSS, shutter speed does reduce the amount of flash reaching the sensor because as the shutter moves faster and faster it decreases the flash burst that the sensor receives at one time. You can expect HSS to produce 1-3 stops less light than standard sync, always.

@AllanSutherland

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you for that , still love hss as it allows me wide apertures outdoors with no nd filter carry on . I am currently using an ad360 ii n and tbh has plenty power for me but can freeze up shooting to fast on hss but I need to slow down and think about composition , my last shoot on a dull day I only used a speedlight into a white interior 2 foot dish and it worked ok in close at wide apertures but not for all situations , ok I also discovered this , that light modifier I described is a godsend for outdoors as it is only 2 feet wide , with the bounce plate in and diffusion I do not have to worry about feathering and coz it is white and with diffusion its nice and soft for its size and in a breeze in the real world working alone that counts for something .

After rigorous research and countless hours of KZread reviews I went with the godox ad200. The only advantage I see the rotolight has would be for videography. Godox is absolutely blowing away roto.

I am a little frustrated by this product based on your review. The HSS simply isn't useful even vs a speedlight, which is already less than ideal. So, why all this engineering to implement this feature? Also, at the price it is, wouldn't an inexpensive Yongnuo light do the trick for a portable LED light? I think this whole technology is intriguing because of the efficiency of LED lights. I don't know whether the bigger Aeos is an HSS solution, but it does seem Rotolight is on to something. I think we might be looking at the future of lighting.

@robhallphoto

6 жыл бұрын

I think the overcharging on LED's is a cool exploration of technology. I think the choice to market it as HSS capable is simply marketing. We all know flash loses power in HSS, so by saying this has no output loss by being in HSS might make people think it's a better option. And yes an inexpensive Yongnuo light can do the trick for LED but this is undoubtedly better color/cri/power control. And while I think there's a lot of room for this technology to grow, it's still going to be a while before it overtakes HSS in flash. On top of that, once the global shutter is around, HSS will no longer be required, thereby boosting flash effectiveness at high shutter speeds, creating a new gap between LED.

It’s nice light, but like you said menus jus driving me nuts. After latest updates on the sky port you are losing flash control 🤢😢 As video light is nice I like it

@idazi2785

5 жыл бұрын

Hi Ramunas, the update that Elinchrom did to the Skyport HSS Transmitter was only to add functionality for their TTL lights that they announced. If you didnt have these lights there was no reason to update. That being said Elinchrom have just released V3.0 of the transmitter that brings the flash control back to the lights.

Being so expensive and so underpowered and cumbersome with the v-mount, I deem it to be very inefficient for my people photography needs so far

he does not say how to use the light, setup, hhs, etc

@DanielFazzari

5 жыл бұрын

Probably because it's a review, not a tutorial

Liked the video but not sold on the product. To many expensive inadequate additives. Like the concept but I’m sure something more sufficient will come along without having to piece it all together without breaking the bank. Rotolight is just not practical for me at this point. Thanks for the honest info.

F/2.0.5 F/2.5 ?

So as with the previous video, this is an overhyped light that might do the trick but we as pros will never use this thing for HSS in the middle of a beach photoshoot. Anything weaker than f8 is useless for what they are marketing to it. Physics, there's no way around those laws.

@idazi2785

6 жыл бұрын

The Neo 2 wasn't and never has been marketed as a light that can overpower the sun ?

@makatron

6 жыл бұрын

Darren Fellows have you seen their promo videos?

@idazi2785

6 жыл бұрын

Which promo video are you talking about? I havent seen any that say specifically that the Neo 2 can overpower the sun ... ? Would love to see it though ?

@idazi2785

6 жыл бұрын

DId you find the promo videos you were referencing ?

@TJackSurvival

6 жыл бұрын

Then get an AEOS and be done with it.

Great little light for shooting at F1.2 but unfortunately not at its price point.

So rotolight send you a FREE package and weirdly enough you change your mind... For me it's like Jason's videos, only infomercials. And from what i've seen, this light is very pricy and not powerfull enough to use it in daylight even on an overcast day

@robhallphoto

6 жыл бұрын

Main points of my first video: Bicolor is good CineSFX look cool Its not very powerful It recycles instantly Its max power isn't daylight It doesn't flicker Reliable Elinchrom controller modifiers limited would only be useful indoors videographers will enjoy it for its bicolor properties and power/form factor Where was this one different?

@DannyCampbellBlog

6 жыл бұрын

Not true, I use it on cloudy days and it's perfect

And now everyone knows why it's been selling "on sale" It's great as long as you want to shoot under 3 ft away. Lets face it folks this needs more work before it will become usefull

@robhallphoto

4 жыл бұрын

People had a seriously distorted understanding of the NEO II's capabilities, primarily from marketing materials and ambassadors that showed off it's instant recycle time while omitting the fact that it was nowhere near as powerful. No shock that it's been lackluster to those who purchased.

So in short, it's underpowered compared to a speedlight, and it's too underpowered to use outside. Garbage then.

a fair review & you have some creditbility back now Rob.. you upset me with that poor & nonsense video you put out last time... Ive re-subscribed because I forgive you & life is too short..

Jajaja this light is a holly crab...I have one and i never use it.