Viltrox VL-600T ring LED light

[J.Brown]

I wanted to try a ring light and bought an off the shelf Viltrox VL-600T. Just to try really and wasn't expecting to much.

The whole light comes in the typical Chinese carrying bag and the light ring is made of plastic. There's not enough padding to keep the panel safe so it's more of a bag to store it. The tripod mount is metal. Included items is a power supply and remote. On the panel there's two battery holders for NP-F style batteries but no batteries are included.

As far as photometrics it's specified to 3400 lux and sure enough I got around 3510 lux at 0.5 meters at 4500 kelvin. I think the lux value is a specified number just for show as readings at 1 meter better reflects reality.

Doing photometrics at 1 meter shows another story. I got 550 lux at 3300K, 1080 lux at 4.500K and 620 at 5.600K. It's interesting that the in the middle value of 4.500K it renders maximum output and it's depressing to see yet another cheap Chinese panel not being consistent through out the color range when it comes to output power.

But this is just a inexpensive LED ring panel so I'll let it slip.

The light is really light weight and the light looks good without knowing any CRI/TLCI readings (I only have a light output instrument). It's soft and there's plenty of room to shoot through the ring.

 

[Run&Gun]

There was a time when ring lights were kind of exotic and expensive. Now with LED tech and Chinese manufacturers, they're a dime a dozen, but they're still not "all created equal". I just picked up a bi-color Dracast a few weeks ago after having a request for one and having to get one from a friend. It's pretty much all plastic, the output isn't the strongest I've seen and of course, the most punch comes when it's dialed in around 4300-ish. I may use it once or twice a year and it'll probably be in a completely controlled lighting situation, so I think it will be fine. And for only like $99, it's cheaper(my time) than having to go pick-up and drop-off one I'd have to borrow, again.

 

[J.Brown]

This one is cheap so if it will come in handy twice it is worth to get it. Did a quick try and it does look unique.