Announced earlier this year, the Westcott Flex is now available in stores. This unique device bridges the gap between a light and a light modifier, as it is a little bit of both. This fully bendable mat features a 10” x 10” surface lined with 166 dimmable LED diodes and outlined with a moldable 1⁄4” black frame. Weighing in at just 5 ounces, its compact design allows it to be easily concealed on set and allows for easy travel.
The flex is available in two different versions. The tungsten version offers a 1,600 lux output at 1 meter with a 98 CRI, while the daylight balanced model offers a slightly brighter 1,900 lux output at 1 meter with a 95 CRI. Each unit includes a dimmer to adjust the light output from 5% to 100% for precise control. In addition, the Flex can be ordered as a bundle with a 1/4-stop front diffusion panel, an extension cable, and an x-bracket mount.
One disappointment with the Flex may be the fact that it isn't battery operated. For being only a 10" square, it can be conveniently wrapped around branches, light poles, or fitted into window frames, but being tethered to a power source may limit its applications. Both the daylight and tungsten versions of the Westcott Flex are retailing for $499.90 while the bundles are going for $599.90.
The fully bendable Westcott Flex features a 10” x 10” surface lined with 166 LED diodes
The Westcott Flex is truly a sign in the advancement of LED technology and while there can be countless applications, it all boils down to the cost versus benefit. Will this $500, 10" square be a significant breakthrough in the film/photo industry or is it just another fancy toy to drool over?
PRODUCT SPECS
- 10 x 10" Flex Daylight Panel: 5,600K
- Dimmer, Power Supply
- Power Cord, 1/4 Stop Diffusion Front
- Dimmer Extension Cable
- Moldable Black Frame
- 140° Beam Angle
- CRI: 95
- IP64 Weatherproof
- 100 - 240 VAC, 50/60 Hz
A little pricy for me right now. Still, it's something I'd love to play with one day.
was interested right up until the fact that it is not battery powered...
I'm pretty sure someone else came up with this earlier last year via Kickstarter. Same stupid high price point though. Looks just as good as the other one just need to lower that price.
The price/usefulness equation doesn't look appealing, but I'd love to play with it. I'll wait for the Yongnuo's of the world to knock it off.
10"x10" isn't nearly big enough for most uses I'd like to try it for.
Haha for a person's face this doesn't seem like enough surface area, but for occasions that I have to shoot jewelry or other small products this looks really interesting.
I'm very pessimistic on seeing $75 worth of flexible SMD's on a piece of cloth and saying it's $500
For anyone looking for leds without breaking the band you can get about 1 foot to 10 feet worth of light per stick at very low cost. I've used these before daisy chain sticks and dimmers here (http://lht-lighting.com/)
If you need cloth this place has an led curtains that also plays video double the size of the flex at half the cost, they also have huge RGB curtain walls (http://www.led-cloth.com/)
For those who will say," but the 56k daylight wont be there"
Leds have a lumens range and fall into 3 tone categories and never have a set amount but a range it falls into: (warm white, white and cool white)
http://www.candle3.com/ourproducts/resources/BJCwWnLCYAAnDzL.jpg
Things you want to look for in LED's (throw width and wattage are your power)
The CRI: 95 is just an efficiency scale but since your using essentially 12v DC so that means nothing.
When I see people try and make these products and ram up the price like this I think of 2 things.
They either feel the consumer is so uneducated to products so they feel that this is a special product or their distributor is completely ripping them off.
I use to do marking and some R&D for lighting companies.
If any photog would like to put a LED board or high impact Dc lights together on the cheap shoot me a message I can walk you through it.
Thanks for the links! Definitely some info worth reading. You're right, LED vs Flash or Tungsten bulbs definitely isn't an apples to apples comparison.
Not battery powered, and $500...you got to be kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (not to mention that its light output in lumens is no better and less in some cases than light panels on eBay costing ~$100
If you can write-off the investment, this can be a handy tool for shooting small products. There should be a Chinese knock-off for 1/10th the price some time down the road. :-)
this looks a LOT like the unsuccessful indigogo campaign for Raglight: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/raglite-world-s-most-versatile-light
-only more expensive, fewer options (actually, only one), and not battery powered. I smell a swing and a miss.
For anyone curious about the features of the Flex or to see it in action, please check out this quick overview video from B & H: http://youtu.be/kVby_I7NSyo?t=4m42s