The Rotolight Neo 3 as a Flash
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ส.ค. 2024
- Before you jump into the comments…. I do love this new Rotolight NEO 3. It’s an amazing piece of gear for the right use case. What that is can only be determined by you. But pushing it as an amazing flash for photographers is a bit of a stretch. LED Strobes are making some headway for sure, but they just can’t compete with a traditional flash- of any kind.
Thank you so much for making this video! 🙏🙏🙏 I'm a wedding photographer & was contemplating this purchase. I couldn't find any info on the flash power on the Neo3 so I didn't want to buy it just yet. But I assumed that it's low powered strobe that's why they don't publish it. But have you confirmed my suspicion. THANK YOU 😊
I’m sure there are a few that use it for events but it’s just not a great choice - unless you will be within 6 feet of your subjects at all times and are ok with very high ISO shooting. I use a very small off camera flash, hand held with a remote for events. It’s amazing. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you ever have any questions.
Thank you for taking the time to explain how this thing works and it’s lighting output one of my go to flashes is the ring light, I shoot a lot of fashion and sexy Playmate’s
Very welcome. Fancy ads and TH-cam videos can suck you in with these types of lights.
I knew there was something screwy with the Rotolight Advertisements. Definitely came off as "too good to be true" and when Jason Lanier kept showing up in the ads, my bullshit meter really went off. With that said... I could never test these products, they are prohibitively expensive and I'm not an influencer who can get free rentals from them. I'm super grateful that you were able to do a real text with these things and debunk their marketing BS.
More then happy to put my thoughts out there. Unfortunately I’m not on the short list as a go-to influencer for any company. 😂
Always informative, thank you for sharing. Happy New Year.
Happy New Year!!
Thanks for the honest review. That's what matters most.
Very welcome. I appreciate you taking the time to watch.
I considered purchasing back in September or so but the specs on various sites were pretty clear about the optimal range being very short . Given the cost had to pass.
It really is a nice concept and light… just not practical at all for flash photography.
F I N A L L Y !!! Sir, Thank You for some Honesty. OMG.... They got me about a year ago with the Titan (thanks to Jason Lanier) I got that light and tried to shoot a video and was mad disappointed with the power output, but with these new "PROS" I was almost sucked into trying it again for flash....Really appreciate your time.p
I was a sceptic from the beginning ..my biggest concern as well was the flash output and listening to those either sponsored by Rotolight or received free products from them telling me this would replace my flash gear. It does have its place however trusting opinions made by essentially “salespersons” of the lights means I don’t trust you. Thanks for saying what others fail to recognize and that’s the science behind these products and hopefully making others aware of what they spend there hard earned cash on. I own many flashes that are true workhorses and just get the job done. Thanks again.
I’m thinking that using the Neo 3s as backdrop and rim lights along with my regular strobe for the key light may work. Either way it will be fun trying.
You can change the tint. There is a g/m slider.
Thank you. I will give that a try today.
I just bought a Neo 3 because they went on sale for $250 and I wanted a nice bright RGB video light. I don't plan on using it for flash but I can 100% confirm the magenta shift you saw here with my unit as well. Also shooting a gray card from max LED power to flash power I had to bring the exposure slider up .41 to match the flash power with the straight LED max output so you really only get roughly 1/2 stop more power in flash mode. Also when I shared my pictures showing the magenta shift in the official Rotolight Facebook group the mods deleted my post. Go figure!
Yea it’s a tight group of marketers and hype anywhere you go with those lights. But at least you got a more realistic price for the unit.
Thank you for your honesty! Not reliable (lots of misfires in flash mode), horrible magenta cast in flash mode and not even close to enough power to anything serious with. Very expensive toys. I spent $3000 to figure this out 😢
So sorry, that does sting a lot.
Thanks SO much for the honest review. No doubt it's a decent continuous light (it had better be for that money), but I was interested to see if this could replace my flash setup too. I wasn't expecting it be more powerful than an AD200, but was hoping it would go some way to matching a regular speedlight. It's a resounding no.
If you don’t mind shooting at high iso - they can get you buy… but they aren’t even close to the smallest pocket flash yet.
Great test! I have the NEO2, and while it's not as powerfull as this one, yes, it's not a normal flash. It's a hybrid, flash and continues lamp. Also, you powered it with a NPF battery? Try a V-mount battery, it will dubble it's power. And no need for shooting at 100 ISO these days. 800 ISO and more is perfect these days.
I think you need to make sure and say if you mean flash or studio photography. Because I use them as a carry at conventions for flash and get phenomenal pictures with them. Candids like wedding sure, no. But for things where you can move the flash around, it provides some nice use in various colors and stuff, where the minimum power of a speedlight is usually kinda meh. Can provide examples of pictures I've taken at far less than 1600 ISO with them if you'd like. They are definitely expensive if you look at them for power to dollar but they really aren't meant to replace speedlights/flash.
I mean these have less power then the smallest strobe and limit you to much at events. And since you really don’t know when a group photo with a mandatory depth of field is required - you need a little more power. But the real issue is saying it is an “on-camera” flash.
@@kaskoPhoto I guess it depends, I personally don't like on camera regardless because the angle is often terrible but when using a wide lens and close ups and hand hold the rotolight I can get far better results than a strobe on the lowest setting when I am not trying to eliminate the background completely. The rotolight closes the gap nicely for close pictures where you can't have the strobe 10 feet away and even 1/256 is too bright up close. But maybe my use cases are weird as I don't do wedding photography.
Yeah i think this guy's trying to use it as a studio flash where you stand a fair distnce from your subject and clearly the Neo3 is advertised to be used for events mainly, although portraits clearly can also be used. That said, his output is super seriously low and not sure what he's doing wrong coz i OWN the neo 3 and it's way brighter than this guy's showing it. Hell it WON awards for innovation - wouldn't those people already have seen / convinced of the end results FFS?
@@realMystaso it is a weak ass shit like the modeling light. I can show you pictures I took 10+ years ago with modeling light and they look great. 😂
I purchased 3 rotolights when they first came on the market, and sold them ver quickly as the power was crap. I use 2 Godox 100's and a Good V1 now.
It’s amazing how much we get sucked in with some well placed ad videos. We all do it. If only we could come to our senses without loosing money on most of this stuff.
YOu sure didnt do the math with the Neo's specs did you?? This thing outputs 60w! Not gonna tell u how much your godox outputs bcoz duh
B ((( Rotolight / Sony Pocket Flash Important Information )))
Hello for those individuals that are thinking about purchasing the NEO PRO and the AEOS PRO lights. You need to be aware that these lights are only half the power of a Standard pocket flash. I did a thorough test on these lights with my Seckonic Light Meter for absolute accuracy. I set the AEOS Pro & a on Camera Flash 6 feet from my light meter. I then set my ISO at 500 I set the shutter speed at 250th of a second and my aperture at 2.8 . Using Flash at max power with the AEOS Pro then adjusting my on Camera Flash to match the exact same Power outage as the AEOS Pro . And found that the AEOS Pro was half the power of a 80 W. Pocket flash / on Camera Flash. Please understand what I am saying it is extremely important for you to know that these lights are only have to power of an on camera flash.
Half the power that’s it. If you would like to know more I have placed a comment below this one to give you much more information if you are truly interested.
I have the Aeos and three Neo 2 and I have used them for years with great results so I do not exactly understand what you are doing wrong. But I am an established fashion photographer in Los Angeles and I have used them for numerous red carpets such as the Oscars (Not bragging) as Led or flash for many fashion shows, beauty pagents with several models in fact the only limitation the system has in my opinion is that it cannot conquer the direct sunlight I generally do not use outdoors. Now if I had one giant complaint about the Rotolight system is the price they need to wake up to reality & try to get their product into more professional photographers hands, most professional photographers just cannot justify the purchase because every item attached to the system is horribly over priced. Many times I have went to events with a hundred or more photographers in attendance and I have only seen one other photographer using the system. The system isn't the only answer to a photographer's lighting problems by any means its one of many lighting systems I own which includes; speed lites, constant LED, battery operated mono strobes; Tube lights, & ring lights. Every situation is different yes the NEO 3 and Aeos 2 are indeed improvements of the system but the cost, they are way over priced. The trigger cost nearly $300 the eco system isn't supported by options. But in some ways the Aeos and and umbrella is all I need to get the job done.
Yup I own the Neo 3 and this guy's doing something wrong - it's sure as heck NOWHERE as dim as this guy's making it out to be!
Thank you
Thanks for watching.
Back in time a was amazed with all the videos from Mr. Lanier.... even though I'm not a professional, nor do I plan to be, I considered investing on more than one occasion, well, being an amateur, I would have to say "spend" my money on rotolight lights, but I always thought that something didn't fit... watching videos like this, I'm relieved I didn't spend my money.
I still love all of his work, but what do you think? Maybe he wasn't telling the whole truth about the metadata of the photos, when he was taking photos in the desert in broad daylight?
Great video with good evidence and facts!!! 👍🏻
Honestly he produces some amazing images with the lights. The only issue I have is saying it’s the greatest flash product or on camera (neo) revaluation. These lights work, and the latest are very good… but, it’s at higher iso values and the cost is just painful. (Granted I shoot Profoto where an umbrella costs $250+) but they give me the power and reliability to back the price (almost).
@@kaskoPhoto Imagine spending a lot of money on those lights and then carrying a micro four thirds rig that, at high ISOs, doesn't give the best results...😅
I have a canon m50 mk II, it dosnt have high speed synce. Can i still use it as a studio flash and what trigger do i need that will work with my camera. If you could help me I woukd be so thank full 🙂
You can use an elichrome or Godox trigger for canon and it will work.
Thank you sir. It's hard to know find trustworth review now a days, Please carry on doing this.
Will do!!
I bought this when it came out last year. 6 months later they threw everyone that paid over £500 under the bus by upgrading. At least Apple does this once a year. I still use my flash set up, and this as a coloured led but I bought into the whole rotolight thing and doubt I’ll do that again. Not worth £600.
I have to agree. And that upgrade and timing, in my opinion, was shitty
You can buy a thirty LED dollar work light and throw a white t shirt over it. Be interesting to see what can be done with a tradesman's LED work light.
Good point. And although old timers can use anything… that CRI rating is important to me - I hate color shifts.
I was thinking of buying the Neo 3. But after seeing this test i'll stick to my usual flashes.
Is there any continuous light/LED that you do recommend for wedding use? I have a godox v1 flash already so I am covered in that area but was looking for another string to add to my bow!
Try the StellaPro Reflex S unit.
The original Neo was touted as a flash - I hoped there was also a xenon flash tube in the center. Nope! Rotolight has 'inferred' way too much in their overpriced junk - even going so far as to claim HSS < certainly not FP HSS. The original Neo was a rebrand/modified design of a $4.99 Chinese umbrella light - with the same CRI. It came (like a donut) without the red center badge ($150) that was also the light stand adapter (addt'l $50) needed to mount it. And the original Aeos, which I have, is heavy, unmanageable without the yolk (not included) and came with a short-cable AC adapter that hung from the light. Anyone buying into their ecosystem is a fool.
I’m sure they can be useful for video - but I think the power and cost don’t match up to todays offerings from other manufacturers
i have a neo 3 and ya it was a mistake and battery life is garbage.. i should have got another ad600 for cheaper or 2 ad200
You should make a script before you start talking. This presentation is not professional.
Well if I ever become a real TH-camr I’ll do that.
The presentation is fine… I’ve enjoyed his content and it’s been helpful. The videos are the right length and the information and perspective is helpful. It’s also nice that I don’t need to work through the introduction music and video EVERY time… he just gets right to it.
A ((( Rotolight / Sony Pocket Flash Important Information )))
Hello for all of the individuals that are looking at Rotolight AEOS PRO & the NEO PRO and wondering if this product is for you let me give you some information that might help you make a Better / Proper decision.
I will be directing my comments about the AEOS PRO and the NEO PRO. If you are working in a controlled environment like a studio where you have absolute control over your lighting. Or if you are using these lights for videography absolutely that’s where these light shine. I would give these lights to 10 rating with videography.
Or if you are shooting outdoors in a very gloomy or cloudy day and you are OK with your lights only being 2 to 3 feet from your subject. Then these two lights will work perfectly fine for you.
But if you are working in an environment where there is a significant amount of window light or your environment has a sufficient amount of lighting provided. You will find that these lights are extremely limiting your creative workflow.
If you notice they never use a light meter indicating to their viewers the strength or the lack of strength the lights provide.
That all being said I have to give the lights credit where credit is due they do have amazing technology incredible technology wrapped up in these lights. It is the power of the lights that I have an issue with and Only the power.
I was sucked in by all of the technology and truly did not realize the environment that they were using the lights in. Either in a very dark environment or very low lit environment. Even when they use them outdoors notice that the environment is very gloomy or cloudy. It is never a bright sunny day. And if they ever do noticed that it is only highlighting the subject making them stand out just enough. But if you try and darken the situation add more contrast to the picture add your creative touch it’s not going to happen in a bright environment the lights are not strong enough.
I have given you a link below of two individuals that has pretty much done the same testing as I have. I think mine was a little bit more precise. That being said I would watch the video all the way through so you’re able to come to your own conclusion.
th-cam.com/video/zFNGbkmG1sU/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/uSjsRPe9ajA/w-d-xo.html