Review on 🌈 INSSTRO C1 RGB LED Video Light: Full Color, Rechargeable Pocket Size with 10 Scene Simulations by Jason Laney

My interest in the INNSTRO C1 stemmed from my positive experiences with the similar Boling BL-P1 and INSSTRO spotlights from which I bought the Boling spotlight. As with most photography and videography lamps, owning one seems to inspire ideas that require one or more additional devices. My Revain review of the Boling BL-P1 can be found on his INSSTRO list, and I won't go into detail about the generalities of the C1 here. Read the list of operating modes and controls, and it might be tempting to conclude that the two devices share a lot internally. I assume that's true. I'll have the INSTRO shortly after it's released, so it's time for a comparison test with the Boling LB-P1. Let's take a look at some of the differences between the well-known Boling RGB LED light and the newer INSTRO model. The most obvious is the price. Boling's current price is still $159, a price set when there were few competitors. The C1 is currently only $88.99. The soft, pleasant murmur you hear is the whisper of the lucky $69 bills that were allowed to stay in my hands. The next most obvious difference is the lack of an articulating arm for the C1's creative setup. Yes, I love Boling's smart mounting arm, but I'm willing to give it up due to the massive price drop. The C1 has two 1/4"-20 threaded sockets (standard tripod mount), one centered on the long edge of the chassis, the other centered on the short edge, opposite the controls. And then there are the controls I find those Boling controls a bit fiddly compared to simple and precise buttons that provide all the functionality of the C1.I often click the Boling controls which puts me in a mode I don't need to function as a push button and toggle switch.Another difference There is also a similarity between the two devices.The similarity is that both are very solidly built.Each one is very impressive to hold in your hand.If it weren't for the lever on the boling the two chassis would be the same Size.And one case each.The difference is how the cases are arranged.for attaching to belt C1 has more versatile small flat carry.eg with zipper, inside pocket, Gü rtelloop me and the included carabiner and a loop to which it can be attached, for hanging camera bags, belts, etc. Well, just like it is. Light output, and since each of them offers 0-100% output level control, I decided to run some simple tests on their light output. I measured the power output of each of them at the various advertised power percentages using a Sekonic L-308S light meter at a distance of 1 meter. Each device had a fully charged battery. With a shutter speed of 1/60s at ISO 400, I first looked for apertures. The results were interesting. Initially, INSTRO C1 gives the following results: 100% = f/22; 50% = f/16; 25% = f/13; 10% = f/9; and 1% = f7/1. Then I ran the same test with Boling. Here are the aperture lists from the Sekonic meter for shutter speeds of 1/60s, ISO400 at: 100% = f/20; 50% = f/13; 25% = f/9; 10% = f/4.5; and 1%. Well, at 1%, Boling only showed a slight glow. I moved the gauge 6 inches and it read f/1.1! I checked further by actually taking the picture, setting the camera (Fujifilm X-T2) to ISO400, setting the aperture to f/8 and letting the camera determine the shutter speed. Without the more sophisticated lab equipment, I expected the results to differ slightly from the light meter test, and they did, but taken together the results are generally instructive. I tested the INSTRO C1 first, camera set to f/8, ISO 400. Here are the resulting shutter speeds for the turn-off instructions given: 100% = 1/8 sec; 50% = 1/4 sec; 25% = 2/5 sec; 10% = 1.3 sec; and 1% = 1.3 sec. I also tested at 5% just to get another data point and got a 1 second exposure. I then tested Boling with the same camera settings of ISO400 and f/8 and got the following shutter speeds at different power settings: 100% = 1/6 sec; 50% = 1/2.5 sec; 25% = 1/1.3 sec; 10% = 3 sec; and 1%. Well, my camera gave up automatically and released the shutter after 30 seconds, but the resulting image was completely black. I set each light to 5600K and the camera to the same value. The JPEG images for each light showed that the NISSRO C1 had a slight blue cast, although not immediately noticeable. However, the Boling LB-P1 showed a very noticeable purple hue as well as some blue. After testing, the INSTRO C1 impressed me even more. I do not claim to know if the characteristics of each lamp are typical of all devices that come off the assembly line, or if there can be differences in quality between identical models. But the C1's handling, performance and value make it a clear winner for me. I would buy this again!