LED light panels, once used predominantly by videographers, have now become an indispensable tool for photographers. Whether you are a seasoned professional or an aspiring enthusiast, finding the perfect lighting setup can make all the difference in capturing high-quality images.
As the demand for portable and user-friendly lighting continues to surge, LED light panels have emerged as a game-changer. Today, we review the Genaray Bright Beast LED light panel, exploring its features, durability, and overall performance.
Setup
I recently purchased a set of continuous lights and by the end of the setup, I felt I should receive an honorary engineering degree. I was thrilled to discover that this was not the case with the Genaray Bright Beast. The light came in a travel-friendly protective bag already assembled. All I had to do, was put it on a light stand and plug it in, and I was set up to start working. The Bright Beast operates on AC power, or a single V-mount battery (not included).
The diffuser latched on magnetically, and the barn doors hooked on with simple brackets. The whole setup took five minutes.
Capabilities of the Light
This LED panel is a bi-color panel that uses 256 LEDs to throw an ultra-bright, flicker-free light. With an easy-to-adjust dial, the light has a Color temperature range of 3000K to 5600K. It also has nine animated lighting effects for video, which are adjustable in their intensity.
Here are the specs of the light:
Light Fixture
LED Type SMD
Number of LEDs 256 (Amber: 128, White: 128)
Beam Angle 45°
Color Temperature 3000 to 5600 K
Color Accuracy Standard CRI: 3200 K: 97, 5600 K: 96TLCI: 3200 K: 98, 5600 K: 97
Cooling System Fan with dedicated on/off switch
Dimming Yes, stepped
Display LCD
Housing Material Aluminum
Light Intensity @3 ft. 3200 K: 18,700 lx5600 K: 19,800 lx
Expected Lamp Life 50,000 hr.
Dimensions (H×W×D) Light only: 11.75 × 11.75 × 3.25 in. (29.8 × 29.8 × 8.2 cm)With yoke: 15.25 × 17 × 4 in. (38.7 × 43.2 × 10.2 cm)
Weight 8.6 lb. (3.9 kg) with yoke, without battery
Connectors
Battery Plate V-mount
Power Input Connector Locking 3-pole AC
DMX Connector 5-pin (×2)
Service Connector No
Mounting
Fixture Mount 5/8 in. baby receiver convertible to 1⅛ in. junior pin
Yoke
Yoke Material Aluminum
Yoke Type Offset U-bracket
Tilt ±180°
Remote Operation
Remote Control Type Wireless (Bluetooth), DMX
Wireless Range 30 ft. (9.1 m)
Number of DMX Channel Modes 512
Power
AC Input Power 100–240 V
DC Input Power 18 V @ 5.6 A
Power Source AC, external battery
Max Power Consumption 100 W
Power Pass-Thru No
Cable
Cable Length16 ft. (4.9 m)
Usage Examples
1. Stop-Motion
I put the light to the test over a period of two weeks as I was working on my contracts. My first test was using the light for stop-motion. Stop motion, which is the new trend in product and CPG (consumer-packed goods) photography, requires continuous lights. The stop-motion pieces, sometimes (wrongly) referred to as GIFs, are created by taking multiple frames and stitching them together using software such as Dragon Frame or Adobe Premier Pro. I typically shoot with three lights, but I put the power of the Bright Beast to the test by creating this simple one-light setup.
This is the SOOC (straight out of the camera) shot.
With some editing, this is the final stop-motion piece.
2. Supplement to Natural Light (Product/Food Photography)
Many food and product photographers shoot natural light images by a window with a white bounce card. This becomes problematic when the light changes as clouds come and go and the daylight fades. Adding an LED panel is a great way to supplement the light, and add additional light when Mother Nature is not cooperating.
Many people ask me where to begin when getting into product photography. (I wrote more about that HERE.) A simple window with LED light is an effective and budget-friendly place to start. The Bright Beast is priced at $499.99 and is a good option for a beginner setup with product or food photography.
Portrait Photography
This LED light can be used in the same fashion as the above setup for portraits. Adding a fill light can create a crisp rim light on the hair, or combining two or three of them can result in a clean commercial look for corporate photography or headshots. When using the Bright Beast on a portrait I would recommend softening the light with the diffuser.
The Big Disappointment
As I was using the light for the first time, I decided to take the barn doors ($99.99) on and off for some comparison shots. On the second time removing the barn doors, the tiny latch responsible for securing them snapped off.
Gear durability is an absolute necessity for me. The presence of a small, delicate latch as the sole mechanism holding the entire diffusion system together is a significant flaw in this light.
What I Liked
- Easy to assemble
- Competitively priced $499
- No overheating even after several hours of continuous usage
- Intuitive dials and easy-to-make adjustments
- Decent light output
- Magnetic attachment for diffusion panel
What I Didn't Like
- Flimsy build of barn doors (which broke immediately)
- Limited options for diffusion
Closing Thoughts
Did I like this light? It has its redeeming qualities. It was easy to assemble, it stayed cool, it had an intuitive design and it did put out a nice amount of light. Is this the perfect light? In my opinion, no. I require equipment that can endure accidental impacts, drops, bumps, and spills. I use my gear, and I need gear to last, especially at $499. In this particular case, I didn't bump, drop or misuse it in any way and it didn't make it past day one. Perhaps other lights by Genaray have more robust latching systems and, with their other positive qualities would make for an all-star LED option.
