With the deluge of new cameras hitting the market, it has been easy to miss the latest studio tools that have been released over the past few years. Never fear! We’ve rounded up the most-wanted studio gear from our holiday wish lists so you can treat your favorite photographer—or yourself.
The season of lights is upon us and nothing brightens up a studio more than a new set of lights. Two lights topping many wish lists this year: D30 500Ws Monolight and Godox’s FL200SR Flexible RGB LED Light Mat. Profoto has done an admirable job in recent years of creating lights that are both up to studio quality and extremely compact and lightweight. With flash durations as low as 1/21,100 sec and recycling times of 0.01 sec, the D30 hits high marks for precision and versatility. It’s compact enough to rig in hard-to-reach studio corners, but also powerful enough to light almost any subject you throw at it. As you’d expect with Profoto, the flashtube is replaceable, the control options are flexible, and the D30 is compatible with the brand’s wide range of light shaping tools. Whether you’re using Eco mode for its color fidelity, Boost mode for an extra punch, or Freeze mode for creative effects, the D30 can be your new studio standby.
The second light I can’t stop dreaming about as the holidays approach is Godox’s FL200SR flexible light mat. The FL200SR is a one foot by four foot RGB LED panel that’s totally flexible, letting you bend and shape the mat in endless ways. Output is strong (7050 lux at 3.3’), the CRI/TLCI is high (95), and the color temperature range is an astonishing 1800-10,000K. Use the included metal X bracket to turn the FL200SR into a traditional rigid panel, or remove it for fluid, freeform configurations. Control options include dials on the controller box, DMX/RMX, or Godox’s smartphone app. The light can be run off AC power or V-mount battery, great for keeping wires off the studio floor. If you’ve been playing around with LED tubes but want something with more adaptability, output, and strength, give the FL200SR a look.
If you need powerful continuous lights, a great option are the recently released 1350W LED spotlights from Nanlite, the RGBW FC-1200C and the Bi-Color FC-1200B. These powerful fixtures, with their innovative wing-shaped top housing, offer the line's highest-output continuous light for film, broadcast, and studio productions, in addition to wireless control options, the versatile Bowens mount for attaching modifiers, and high-accuracy ratings. The lights also come with a hard-foam carry case for transport and a power supply cable for direct power from a standard AC outlet.
For budget studio strobists, Godox’s new SK300III-V and SK400III-V Studio Flash Monolights offer affordable, AC-powered illumination. The fixtures’ intuitive, on-board controls meet 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity with the Godox X System, where an X3Pro Trigger offers multi-group display, autofocus and shutter controls, and more on a bright, color touchscreen display.
Another excellent gift idea for the studio photographer is Westcott’s Eyelighter 3. This reflector not only has the ability to add clean, semi-circular catch lights to eyes but, generally, provides flattering fill for headshots and easily balances on a light stand. The latest iteration includes reversible black, silver, sunlight, and white fabric. Check out my review of the Eyelighter 2 here.
Another recent release that has found its way into my studio is the V-FLAT WORLD Foldable V-Flat 2.0. As cumbersome as they are useful, v-flats typically live in-studio for most photographers. V-FLAT WORLD, with a few clever adjustments, reduced a standard v-flat by 75%, making it much more portable (and storable) when needed. Folded down, it only takes up 40 x 40 x 2" of space. When built up to its normal size, its magnetic closure system maintain its shape surprisingly well. Finally, it comes with a carrying case to further simplify transport.
Among the battles that come with maintaining a functioning studio is organization. Light stands can be particularly challenging objects to get out of the way. Think Tank Photo Stand Manager 52 provides a simple means of storing up to four C-stands and other tall studio accessories like umbrellas or softboxes. And since it is a rolling case, it provides a convenient means of transporting your stands when necessary.
At the intersection of rolling and standing are Impact’s new KEYGRIP rolling stands, which offer a secure mounting solution for fixtures and accessories with mobile flexibility. Robust and affordable, the rolling stands support up to 55 lb of weight without sacrificing versatility.
Speaking of storage, another clever studio accessory is the Kupo 4-In-1 Nesting Apple Box Set. You can never have enough apple boxes in studio—until you run out of space to store them. With Kupo’s nesting apple boxes, you get four different-sized boxes within the footprint of one full box. A sliding panel on the full box opens to fit a half, quarter, and pancake apple box inside.
For more information about all the lighting gifts mentioned above, including features, specs, and highlights, be sure to check out the detailed product pages.
