Simply because they’re fairly, doesn’t imply they aren’t succesful. Old fashioned Hollywood type combines with fashionable design aesthetics and ergonomics, within the Hobolite Mini and Avant LED lights.
Execs
- Light-weight and transportable
- HD again panels on each lights crisp, detailed, extremely intuitive and easy interface
- App management is a lot cooler than a separate distant
- Tremendous silent cooling fan gained’t be picked up by audio gadgets
- Included battery pack (Avant) is a pleasant added worth to the system
Cons
- Bowens mini mount (Avant) limits mild modifiers with out an adapter — fortuitously, there may be an adapter out there making your favourite Bowens mount mild modifier usable on the Avant
- The Mini doesn’t have an official mount for a modifier; every thing clamps on over the sunshine itself.
- The Mini is proscribed to arduous and semi arduous mild with modifiers out there
- Pricing on the Avant could also be a bit out of attain for a lot of professionals
- Energy cables are totally different between fashions as are modifiers — I want there have been extra cross compatibility between the lights
Hobolite Mini and Avant — Technical Specs
- Weight: Underneath 1lb (Mini) / Underneath 3lb (Avant)
- Mild energy: Highly effective LED mild at 20W (Mini) / 100W (Avant)
- Coloration: Optimum coloration rendering CRI and TLCI of 96
- Dimming: 0-100%
- Management through onboard display screen or app
- Heat to chill coloration choice
- Excessive-definition LCD display screen
What’s included
Mini Creator Package
- Mini 20W mild
- Charging cable and adapter
- Barn door
- Honeycomb filter, coloration gel filters
- Diffuser dome
- V-mount ball head tripod adapter
- V-mount chilly shoe adapter
- Desktop tripod
Avant Creator Package
- 100W mild
- Energy provide and cords
- Barn door
- Honeycomb filter and coloration gel filters
- Diffuser dome
- Softbox
- V-Mount deal with
- V-Mount clamp
- 240mm carbon fiber tripod
A fast disclaimer
Earlier than we get into this assessment, I used to be writing this text in opposition to the backdrop of Hurricane Ian. Since, I dwell in Southwest Florida, we are actually lower than 10 miles away from floor zero. I’m bringing this up as a result of the variety of alternatives I used to be offered to make use of the Hobolites had been considerably restricted. Timing is every thing.
Moreover, the Hobolite has an app beneath growth for each Apple and Android. Contemplating, the app is spoken about in Hobolite’s advertising and marketing items, as of this writing, the app just isn’t out there, it’s necessary to notice as we weren’t in a position to take a look at the apps capabilities. Lastly, please take into account these are pre-production fashions and closing firmware and have units haven’t but been finalized, the completed manufacturing variations could also be barely totally different.
These issues apart, I’ve to say, these are a formidable assortment of lighting instruments for professionals and content material creators alike.
Hobolite Avant and Mini — Ergonomics and construct high quality
“Design isn’t simply what it appears like and looks like — design is the way it works.”
Steve Jobs
Let me begin by saying these are pretty lights. Merely pretty! I’ve been a very long time consumer of Aputure lights, that are in and of themselves an ideal, succesful line of lighting merchandise.
Nonetheless, what Aputure and most different lighting methods lack is type. Many of the designs in lighting right now are extremely useful, not trendy. As a matter of reality, on a couple of event Steve Jobs would level out the significance of design in the entire expertise of utilizing a product.
These ideas on design crossed my thoughts on a number of events utilizing the Hobolites.
The brilliance of the Hobolites are within the small particulars. The dials are large and apparent, with one dial controlling coloration temperature, whereas the opposite controlling mild depth. Easy.
It’s shocking to me how a lot mild the Avant offers off given its comparatively small dimension. The again panel is sharp and brilliant, straightforward to learn. The included tripods, clamps and locks are a v-mount design the place every thing locks into place with a way of safety. Easy to unfold and setup, making setup a snap when within the area.
The fake leather-based end on the perimeters of the lights give a pleasant sense of favor and character. Accordingly, the entire package deal oozes of high quality. Even the circumstances that maintain the lights, stands and modifiers are a excessive grade of plastic and canvas respectively.
The 240mm carbon fiber tripod included with the Avant equipment is an excellent, straightforward to arrange and really light-weight design. Furthermore it folds up right into a compact dimension, straightforward for transport and storage.
Hobilite Avant and Mini — Within the area
Construct high quality and ergonomics are good, particularly if you happen to run and gun within the area. In these situations, the sunshine weight, straightforward setup and sensible nature of the Hobilites are a pleasure to make use of.
The 240mm stand within the Avant equipment is an excellent, easy fold out design that units up in seconds. I want each softbox had been a come out softbox design that Hobolite is utilizing right here — many do — however it’s nonetheless shocking to me what number of softbox producers nonetheless use the velocity ring and rod arrange.
Cables, plugs, clamps, V-mounts and the included battery (Avant) all work collectively seamlessly.
Whoever designed the Hobolites has clearly labored within the area themselves and have created a product based mostly on precise utilization and never from an engineering standpoint. Hobolite claims these lights had been constructed by artists for artists — I’ve to agree.
I’m primarily a photographer, however I do video interviews and I run a YouTube channel. That means, I’m not fully unfamiliar with video lighting. I used the Avant on each an interview and a photoshoot. I used to be solely in a position to make use of the Avant in each eventualities and it’s undoubtedly my most popular mild of the 2 given how I exploit lighting in my line of labor. Content material creators will LOVE the Mini, photographers and videographers will love the Avant. I would like gentle mild after I’m taking pictures an interview — it’s my desire. The opposite modifiers — gels, honeycomb and diffuser dome all connect to the barn doorways with magnets.
If I had a nit, the most important downside of the Mini is that there isn’t any mount I can connect a softbox or diffusion ball to. Nonetheless, I’m certain Hobolite will come out with modifiers that can connect to the mini the identical means the barn doorways do to melt the sunshine. As it’s, the Mini produces more durable mild. Which is okay relying on the situation.
The included battery pack lasts about an hour at full energy on the Avant, it’s a pleasant v-clamp design that doesn’t get in the best way and contributes to the simplicity of the system. At any price, setup doesn’t get a lot simpler or extra environment friendly than the Hobolites.
Hobolite Avant and Mini — High quality of outcomes
On the finish of the day, deign, construct and ease of use are good, however how do the lights carry out? In a phrase, completely! I exploit numerous lights each as a photographer and half time videographer. In my expertise, the Avant and Mini from Hobolite produce good, high quality mild — each gentle and arduous mild — for a wide range of purposes.
The included equipment with the Avant is a whole and strong answer for run and gunners who work within the area. The standard of the design and ease of use for setup/hookup is a pleasant bonus and separates these lights from a lot of their opponents.
Within the beneath examples, you’ll see the lighting isn’t edgy or compelling, simply good and gentle. The Hobolite was on digicam left and you may see good even mild on the pores and skin with only a little bit of falloff on the topic’s face digicam proper.
55mm
35mm
Hobolite claims “Optimum coloration rendering CRI and TLCI of 96.” It’s arduous for me to confirm these claims, however I’ve no cause to dispute them. My outcomes kind of communicate for themselves.
In photographs, the Hobolite Avant with the softbox offers off a pleasant, gentle high quality of sunshine that’s just like subtle window mild. That is how I choose to make use of them in photographs, particularly portraiture, however you may get very artistic with the included grid, barn doorways and gels.
Hobolite Avant with the Hobolite softbox
The standard of sunshine is gentle and just like window mild
All in, getting nice outcomes are a snap with the Hobolites. Under are some extra pattern photos.
