The NEEWER HB80C 80W RGBWW Mini COB LED Video Light is a compact yet powerful lighting solution designed for photographers and videographers seeking versatility and high performance. Weighing in at a mere 2.88 pounds, its lightweight design ensures easy portability, making it an excellent choice for on-the-go shoots and dynamic lighting setups.
One of the standout features of the HB80C is its impressive brightness. Despite its compact size, it delivers a maximum illuminance of 10,400 lux at 1 meter when used with the included reflector, providing ample light for various shooting scenarios. This level of brightness is particularly beneficial for studio shoots, street interviews, and wedding photography, where robust lighting is essential.
The HB80C offers a wide color temperature range from 2500K to 7500K, allowing users to adapt to different lighting conditions seamlessly. Its high Color Rendering Index (CRI) of 95+ and Television Lighting Consistency Index (TLCI) of 97+ ensure accurate color reproduction, which is crucial for professional-quality images and videos. Additionally, the light features seven lighting modes, including CCT, HSI, RGBCW, XY, GEL, Source Match, and FX Special Effects, along with 18 preprogrammed special effects, providing extensive creative options for users.
The HB80C is equipped with an active cooling fan that operates quietly, even in regular mode. This ensures that the light remains cool during extended use without introducing unwanted noise into audio recordings—a significant advantage for videographers concerned about maintaining sound quality.
Navigating the HB80C’s settings is straightforward, thanks to its intuitive menu system. The integrated round color screen displays settings clearly, and the scroll knob allows for quick adjustments. For added convenience, NEEWER offers a smartphone app, which enables users to control the light wirelessly via Bluetooth. The app’s user-friendly interface simplifies adjustments, making it easier to fine-tune settings remotely.
The inclusion of a Bowens mount significantly enhances the HB80C’s versatility. This standard mount allows for the attachment of various light modifiers, such as softboxes, beauty dishes, snoots, and umbrellas, enabling users to shape and diffuse light according to their specific needs. The tripod stand mount adapter facilitates 360° angle adjustment, providing flexibility in positioning the light.
Powering the HB80C is a built-in 72Wh battery, offering substantial runtime. In regular mode, the battery lasts approximately 70 minutes at full brightness, and in mute mode, it extends to about 94 minutes. The light supports PD100W fast charging via its Type-C port, allowing for a full recharge in just two hours when using a PD65W charger. This rapid charging capability ensures minimal downtime between shoots.
I tested the NEEWER HB80C to see how well it performs for still photography, using a Nikon Z8. I was impressed to capture properly exposed images with ISO settings ranging from 400 to 1250. While ISO 1250 might seem high to traditional studio photographers, it’s perfectly acceptable with today’s advanced LED continuous lights and modern camera technology. The light’s consistent output and versatility make it an excellent choice for both still photography and video work, highlighting its adaptability across a variety of creative disciplines.
