2 Disruptive Products That Could Redefine Location Lighting

The Strobist movement started with the advent of wireless flash, technology that freed photographers from the limits that came with klutzy wires connecting the camera and flash. Multiple lighting setups were more portable and convenient than ever, and changed how we approached using portable flash. But the speed lights that Strobists use have a limitation: You can’t see the effect of the lighting until after you’ve taken the picture. Some guesswork and many test shots are can be involved. A few weeks ago, two products were introduced that, have the potential to change that. The Profoto A1 and the the Rotolight NEO II combine LED and flash built into the flash head. This gives photographers and videographers the benefits of near-speedlight performance, plus identical continuous lighting for modeling and/or for video shoots. Each takes a distinctive approach; both point the way towards refinements in future products.