We Review the Updated Stella Pro Reflex S: Brighter and Faster Than Ever

The Stella Pro Refkex S is a hybrid light that can be both a powerful constant light as well as a strobe-style flash. And with this new update, the Reflex S just got better than ever. 

Upon first release, the Reflex S was capable of giving users 6,000 lumens of output in constant light mode and 12,000 lumens when using it in digital burst (essentially flash, but the light uses LED instead of a flash tube). With the new update, the light can now give you 9,000 lumens of power in constant mode and a whopping 18,000 lumens in digital burst.

Not only do users get the ability to have increased power, but the light can now give 30 frames per second in burst mode. I have never really needed the past 20 frames per second, so I have no need for 30, but it's an impressive spec. 

Now, before I dive too much deeper into what this upgrade offers, I think it’s important to mention that the upgrade simply comes from within the battery pack. So, if you already own an older Reflex S light, you can simply purchase the new battery to unlock the full potential of your light without having to buy an entirely new setup. I currently own four of these lights, so that was good news to me. But, if you don't own one of these lights, all current sales of the light will include the newer upgraded battery.  

From here, it’s worth talking a bit about power and battery life. If you use the light in constant mode at the full power of 9,000 lumens, you can expect to get about 40 minutes of life. Turn the light down to 3,000 lumens and that number jumps up to 2.5 hours of run time. When you switch the light into burst mode, though, things really start to get good. With the light turned up to the full 18,000 lumens of power, you can expect to see 10,000 bursts on a single charge. And once the battery is dead, it can quickly charge from empty to full in about 1.25 hours.

Another question I always get when it comes to using this light is if the power is enough to combat sunlight. And while it was possible with the older battery, it's now even easier with the new update. Even using the lower 9,000 lumens of constant light, I was able to light this high school senior through a 36-inch softbox. Had I needed more power, I could have also switched over to burst mode to get double the amount of light output.

The last thing that I really love about this light, which isn't new but worth pointing out if you’re new, is that it doesn't use a proprietary trigger system. Instead, you can use a Godox, Elinchrome, or Profoto trigger. This is super amazing for me because I am both a Godox and Elinchrom user. So, no matter which system I happen to be using, the Reflex S can easily be integrated into what I’m doing. 

But like all things, the new update isn't all sunshine and rainbows. While the older battery had a rugged-style rubber strap to use for attaching the battery to light stands when needed, the new battery has more of a rubber band that can be used to hang the battery when needed. But for me, the rubber band style isn't as convenient or sturdy. And when not in use, it sort of just flops around where the older strap had a convenient way to secure it to itself when it wasn't in use. At the end of the day it's a small quirk, but I still would have preferred the older design for this specific feature. Although I tend to almost always secure my light to the stand with other more secure options.

What I Liked 

• The new battery unlocks the light's full potential
• Current users can simply upgrade their battery instead of the entire light

What I Didn't Like

• Rubber band instead of rubber strap on the battery

The new updated battery is a welcomed addition to the Stealla Pro lineup. It gives you more power and faster speeds while maintaining usable battery life. New users will love having these extra features, and current users will definitely want to add at least one updated battery to their setup.