Zhiyun’s got a couple of accessories to take your photography to the next level
When it comes to photography, everyone loves taking photos in natural light because it creates a more natural look and things don’t look blown out or have weird shadows being casted at unflattering angles.
But sometimes it isn’t always possible to get good natural lighting, especially if you’re indoors. If you’re thinking about using the flash on your phone or camera, don’t, because more often than not, they aren’t powerful enough to get the desired effect, and given that they’re attached to the camera, it can be hard to angle them the way you want.
This is where external lighting units can come in handy, and if you’re thinking about stepping up your photography or videography game, then Zhiyun’s got a couple of lighting accessories you’ll definitely want to check out.
FIVERAY M40
In a professional photo studio, you will have a lot of floor lights scattered around to illuminate your subject, but if you’re the type of photographer that’s constantly on the move, then these types of lights aren’t very practical. This is where the Zhiyun FIVERAY M40 comes in. This is a small handheld light unit that fits into your palm.
But don’t let its size fool you. Despite its diminutive stature, the FIVERAY M40 is an incredibly bright portable light unit. It is capable of putting out 14,000 Lux thanks to the 176 LEDs that are built into it. It also weighs in at just 320g, which means that it is small and light enough where you can slip it into your backpack and take it out when needed, as opposed to floor lights that require a power source and a stand to set up.
Now, in addition to being really bright, the M40 also offers up different lighting temperatures. There are a couple of dials attached to the M40 where one dial adjusts the brightness, and the other will allow you to change the color temperature. The temperature ranges from 2,700 up to 6,200k, so whether you want a lighting effect that’s more warm, or one that’s cooler, you will have that option.
While the FIVERAY M40 was designed to be a portable solution, it can also be mounted on a light stand or a tripod thanks to the two 1/4-inch screw holes. This gives users the option of creating studio-ish lighting on the go, or if they’re on a budget as the M40 is cheaper compared to more professional studio lighting setups out there.
In terms of battery life, the M40 is good for 29 minutes on a full charge, but it does support 55W PD fast charge that will quickly get it back to full in a short amount of time.
FIVERAY F100
With the FIVERAY M40, users can adjust the color temperature between cooler or warmer hues, but ultimately it is still only one color. If you’re looking to get a bit creative with your photography or videography and want a light source that offers different colors, then Zhiyun’s FIVERAY F100 could be a better option.
One thing to note is that unlike the M40, the F100 has been designed to be more of a light stick. It features a row of LED lights that users can adjust to sport different colors within a single light stick. This means that if you’re trying to go for something a little wild and colorful, you can achieve this with the F100.
According to Zhiyun, the F100 comes embedded with 5 times more LED chips and features 148 RGB chips to help improve the lighting effects you can get from it. The larger design also means that it can illuminate a much wider area, and if you’re so inclined, you can even use it for non-photography purposes, like using it as outdoor lighting when you’re out camping.
You can even use it in other creative ways like adding ambient glow or background effects to a music video, or use it to illuminate your subject during an interview, or if you’re into light painting, the colorful LEDs can create some pretty interesting and unique effects. Zhiyun has also included some diffusers to help make the light spread out more evenly and to create a softer glow if that’s the look you’re going for.
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