Using innovations made possible via the latest in LED lighting innovations, Rotolight today announced the NEO 2, a shoe-mounted combination continuous-illumination and flash light source. Unlike traditional on-camera flash, the NEO 2’s High Speed Sync flash has no recycle time—an industry first—and can be used simultaneously as a modeling or video light. It also sips battery juice, boasting a record-shattering 85,000 flash pops on 6 AA batteries.
Key features:
• Continuous LED light & high speed sync flash (1/8000th)
• Built-in Elinchrom Skyport wireless flash receiver (200m/656ft), control up to 10 lights in 4 groups.
• Adjustable Color Temperature (6300-3150K) in continuous & flash mode
• Powerful soft output (2000lux at 3 ft), 85% brighter than NEO 1
• Flash mode provides 500% more light output (mains power), 250% on AA (NiMh or Li-ion) batteries.
• No recycle time, no power loss
• Most energy-efficient flash ever: 85,000 flashes or 1.5 hours continuous output from 6 AA batteries
• Cinesfx Mode ™ Delivers Custom Lighting Fx (Fire, Lightning, Tv, Gunshot etc)
• Flicker Free Output, at any frame rate
The NEO 2 can be mounted on or off camera. The zero recycle time means you can shoot at full power with your camera at high frame rates. Claimed to deliver the longest battery life of any speedlight or flash ever made, it provides 85,000 full-power flashes on 6 AA batteries. (A typical speedlight may be able to provide 200-300 flashes by comparison.) Color temperature can be adjusted for both continuous and flash mode, so what you see in the finder is really what you get.
Designed primarily for location portrait photographers, the NEO 2 offers 1/8000 high-speed flash with 500% flash output, so you can freeze action and have plenty of light. This feature also allows users to shoot with wider apertures, for more pleasing Bokeh and separation between subject and background.
Rotolight has collaborated with Elinchrom to integrate its ‘Skyport’ 2.4Ghz HSS wireless flash receiver into NEO 2, eliminating the need to purchase a standalone flash receiver, whilst providing rock-solid reliability, range, flexibility and control for multiple off camera lighting setups. Skyport enables users to wirelessly control up to 10 lights, in four groups at up to 200m(656ft) with the new Rotolight HSS transmitter, optimised for Rotolight by Elinchrom. It is available on launch for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus, Panasonic, and, shortly, Fuji camera systems, and compatible with all other Elinchrom Skyport devices.
True Aperture Dimming is a new feature that calculates and displays the f-stop for a subject at a given distance, which is said to eliminate the need for a light meter, or determining exposure by trial and error.
Since the NEO 2 provides both powerful flash and high-output continuous lighting, it eliminates the need for two separate products. The NEO 2 comes with a 4-piece filter kit (Full and half diffusion, cosmetic peach skin diffusion, and magenta), belt pouch, PSU and shoe.
For video, it is said to deliver outstanding skin tones, eliminating the need for post-processing. It offers Best in Class Color Rendering CRI = 96 & R15 Skintone = 99. CineSFX provides several customizable cinematic lighting effects such as lightning, gunshot, fire, paparazzi, and TV flicker, for your video productions. Custom fade up/down is also available.
Pricing and Availability
The Rotolight Neo II can be pre-ordered from Adorama for $399.99. It will also be available in a complete 3-light kit, including wires, carry case, and filters, for $1,599.98, which you can pre-order now. Pre-orders will be delivered on a first-come, first-served basis. Credit cards will not be charged until orders ship.
