Over the past year I’ve looked at a several mini RGB lights with self contained batteries from companies like Smallrig and Zhiyun. I’ve liked both of those lights, but Neewer’s entry into the mini-RGB light arena takes a slightly different tack, exchanging a bit of the smallness for more battery life (thus longer runtime), more powerful output, and a full Bowens mount that allows for more flexibility in shaping the light, and even more importantly, gets you away from proprietary modifiers that can’t be shared with other lights. And, in typical Neewer fashion, the HB80C is priced very aggressively and just works…and works very well.

https://youtu.be/1L0y0vaoa24

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Thanks to Neewer for sending me a review sample of the HB80C As always, this is a completely independent review.

Neewer clearly has a winning formula here, as the HB80C has already been selling out everywhere and getting nothing but 5 star reviews.

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Specs

• Item Type: RGB COB LED Video Light
• Main Features: App/2.4G Control
• Mounting Points: Bowens Mount
• Maximum Power: 80W
• Battery Parameters: 14.4V/5000mah/72Wh
• Battery Life:  1h 10min(Regular Mode); 1h 34min(Mute Mode)
• Charging Time: 2 hours
• Input: PD3.0: 5V 3A/9V 3A/12V 3A/15V 3A/20V 3.25A/20V 5A
• Output: PD3.0: 5V 3A/9V 3A/12V 3A/15V 3A/20V 3.25A
• Maximum Illuminance: 10400lux/m 4400K with reflector
• Color Temperature: 2500K-7500K(Duv±0.0003)
• Lighting Mode: CCT/HSI/RGBCW/XY/GEL/Source Match/FX
• Special Scene Effects: 18
• CRI/TLCI: 95+/97+
• SSI (D56): 74
• SSI (D32): 85
• TM-30 Rf: 93
• TM-30 Rg: 102
• COB: √
• APP Wireless Control: √
• 2.4G Wireless Control: √

The summary of my findings after having spent some time with the Neewer HB80C is that this is a light I will be using a lot! Yes, you sacrifice a bit of the compact nature of the 60W lights, but gain so much in terms of output, battery life, and general versatility. I’ve loved feeling like I don’t need to recharge the light after every single use, and it does remain small enough that you could pack it in your bag for portability.

Here’s a rundown on the various tests and my findings.

Tests

• Lux Value
• Battery Life
• Portrait light
• Video Light
• Effects

Results from Lux Value tests.

I like to use a Lux meter and test the output from these lights to see if things hold up to the manufacturers claim. The claim for the Neewer HB80C is right over 3720 Lux at 1 meter distance. I used a measuring tape to set the distance and took several readings at both 1 meter and then at 3 meters (a more practical distance if you are lighting a set, for example). The results?

• Bare Light output at 100%, 4000K, @ 1 Meter = 3445 Lux
• Bare Light output at 100%, 4000K, @ 3 Meter = 428 Lux

Now my test is surely not as scientific as the testing standards from the manufacturer, but the fact that I was able to measure an outcome fairly similar to the stated claim is positive.

The HB80C does come with a mini reflector that significantly amplifies the output. With the reflector in place I got the following values:

• With Reflector output at 100%, 4000K, @ 1 Meter = 8031 lux
• With Reflector output at 100%, 4000K, @ 3 Meter = 796 Lux

Using the softbox will make the light softer (it’s in the name!) but will reduce the output a bit. It’s still more directed than the bare light, however, so I got good lux values even using the softbox (without a diffuser).

• With Softbox output at 100%, 4000K, @ 1 Meter = 4923
• With Softbox output at 100%, 4000K, @ 3 Meter = 524 Lux

Bottom line is that there is plenty of light output for most applications. As I’m writing I’m testing the battery life using a V-mount battery with the setup in my living room. There’s a hallway and no direct line of sight to the light to where I’m working in my office, but there’s enough light spillage that I’m casting shadows on the wall.

Results from Battery Life Tests:

There is obviously a wide variety of ways to power the HB80C, including the internal battery, AC adapters, V-mount batteries, and even standard power banks. I tested a couple of different options to evaluate runtime.

First came a test of the integrated battery, which is a 5000mah/72Wh unit. I love the LCD screen on the light, which is bright and colorful. It comes on without any lag when you power the light on. But I will note that the battery readout is quite a small icon on the top of the screen, and I would prefer a more typical percentage readout. Neewer claims 70 minutes of runtime at 100%. In what is a first for me in testing the claimed battery performance in a light like this, I actually got nearly 80 minutes of runtime. This easily bests the 45-50 minute runtime I got with the smaller lights.

The second positive about the internal battery is that it also has a higher charge rate. While I could only charge at a 30 watt draw with the Zhiyun and SmallRig lights, I saw a charge rate of about 60W with the HB80C, which means that the 72Wh battery can be fully recharged in about two hours. That’s not a bad efficiency paradigm when you can get 80 minutes of runtime.

I also noted that it only took a few seconds of restoring some charge before I could run the light off of the charging source.

I also tested the light powering it from a 99Wh V-mount battery (the PS099EP from Neewer). That’s a 32% difference in battery capacity, which in theory should get you over the 2 hour threshold. When I tested, however, I didn’t quite get there. I got 83 minutes of runtime before a split second flicker told me that power had transitioned from the V-mount to the internal power. That figure is going to vary according to the V-mount battery you use, but with this particular configuration from Neewer expect to get in the 2 hour and 45 minute range. I would have liked to see 3 hours from the 2, but perhaps there is some lost efficiency when the V-mount works to charge the internal battery rather than just directly powering the light. It made me even more impressed with the runtime based on the internal battery, however. If you ran out a lower output than 100%, you can get hours of runtime from the internal battery alone.

By the way, you can also use the internal battery as a power bank to charge your phone or camera. It has a PD rating of 65W, which is plenty for fast charging most devices.

Portrait Light Test

I’ve always been a fan of fixed lighting for portraiture, as it is makes it very easy (obvious) to see the modeling of the light and also makes focus in a dim space easier than with a strobe. I’ve used the HB80C for a number of portrait photos and videos during the course of my reviews of various lenses.

For this shot I’ve used the Neewer NS15S square softbox, and you can see that the light is very nice and allowed for very nice subject separation.

The built in battery and relatively small form factor means that you could easily use this just off the grip or, as I’ve done elsewhere, throw it onto a lightweight stand that I’ve just attached to my backpack.

Fixed lights like this are great if you want to do a mix of photo and video, as the lighting will be the same for both unlike strobes. The constant modeling of the light also makes using fixed lights like this more accessible for new photographers than using strobes.

A CRI rating of 97+ means good color accuracy, obviously important for portrait work. The light output is enough to allow you to light even a group rather than just a single individual, which is obviously very useful.

Video Light Test

There isn’t much challenge here, as the primary purposes of a video light are to provide sufficient output, to be consistent enough to avoid any kind of strobing effect, and preferably to have good options for controlling the light output. Having the full Bowens capability is really going to save you money, as there’s a decent chance you already have light modifiers with Bowens mounts, and, if not, there is a huge catalogue of possibilities to choose from out there.

Unlike some of the smaller lights, I feel like there is enough output here to allow you to use softboxes even with diffusers attached. I’ve often used mini-softboxes with the smaller RBG lights but without any diffuser because I wanted to have enough light output. You can see a nicely diffused light in this shot using a grid on the softbox.

I found the light output and quality sufficient for my video work when lighting the set for some of my YouTube episodes utilizing the reflector.

I shot some commercial shots outdoors in the near dark during a light rain to promote some clothes from a company that is a sponsor of my channel. I used the HB80C with a softbox and grid, and you can see that even at low intensity (20%) there was plenty of light.

I have found the versatility of the light for my use to be really fantastic. I often use Neewer’s handy little RGB1 Light Sticks for adding splashes of color to either my videos or product shots, and the fact that I can set one color tone in my main light with the HB80C and then throw complimentary colors in for accent lights is very cool.

Effects Modes

There’s a wide variety of different ways to control the color temperature and look of the light. You can choose a full range of thousands of colors in HSI mode, choose a more standard Kelvin temperature for the light, choose from 40 different gel mode presets, or access a broad range of effects.

There’s a pretty standard set of effects for creating scenes, from lighting to candlelight to the flashing lights of a squad car.

Perhaps more gimmicky is the inclusion of a music mode where the light reacts to the pulse of music and adds pops of color. I don’t personally end up using effects very much, but I’m not a filmmaker, either!

Things I Like

• Most powerful self-powered light I’ve used
• Internal battery run time exceeded rating
• Charges faster
• Multiple power options
• Still portable
• Includes carrying case
• More useful interface than most
• Bowens mount
• Runs quiet and cool
• RGB capabilities expand versatility
• Bluetooth control
• Great price

Things I Don’t Like

• Would prefer battery indicator be a percentage
• Not as a bag friendly.

Conclusion

I’ve enjoyed this scaled up version of the popular 60W lights that I’ve tested. Yes, the form factor is a bit larger, but the practicality of being big enough to use Bowens mount accessory without an adapter is extremely useful. The improved runtime and higher light output adds to the options of what one can do with the light, and I’ve found the power output easily high enough to allow me to deploy more modifiers for shaping the light.

This feels like a very good value when I consider that V-mount batteries only slightly higher in capacity than the built in battery cost as much as this whole light kit. At $240, this is a pretty complete kit, and well worth your consideration if you looking for a versatile and portable light.

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GEAR USED:

Purchase the Neewer HB80C @ Neewer | B&H | Amazon | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany

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