I had the opportunity to work with the newly announced Rotolight AEOS 2 — the first High Speed RGBWW LED flash. With an ultra-thin body design and weighing in at 1.4kg, the Rotolight AEOS 2 makes it easy for a photographer or filmmaker to create beautifully lit images from anywhere. Boasting 11,500 Lux (17,500 in flash) at 3 ft., the AEOS 2 is an excellent companion for a portrait photographer or filmmaker on the go.
Key Features of the Rotolight AEOS 2
- Continuous light output delivers > 11,500 Lux at 3 ft.
- First High speed RGBWW flash (1/8000th) with zero recycle time
- 16.7 million colors and 2,500 digital filters
- Full-color touchscreen display
- Integrated Wifi & Bluetooth
- Skyport wireless flash receiver and 3.5mm flash sync input
- Optional SmartSoft Box electronic diffusion accessory
A World of Color Awaits
Working on location can be a challenge for content creators. Natural light never seems to be in the position you need and the intensity of the available light is often changing. With the Rotolight AEOS 2, it is easy to fill in the existing light or create my own looks. Its RGBWW capabilities allow me to mimic the “end of day” light for one scene and a bright crisp “mid-day” look for another. The ability to pick a color, adjust it, and use some of the included digital filters is invaluable. With 16.7 million colors and 2,500 digital filters, the only limit is your imagination when lighting with the Rotolight AEOS 2.
These photos were taken within ten minutes of each other:
Quality Lighting at Your Fingertips
The AEOS 2 is not just about the variety of colors, but the quality of the light. With Rotolight’s award-winning color engine, your portraits will have beautiful skin tones and color reproduction with its TLCI of 99.
While the 11,500 lux (at 3 ft.) of the AEOS 2 is impressive, still photographers get a nice boost in flash mode (>17,500 lux) allowing for faster shutter speeds up to 1/8000 using the High-Speed Sync of your camera with a Skyport transmitter. A Skyport receiver is already included in the AEOS 2 and the connection is quick and simple. Because the AEOS 2 is flashing the LED lights, there is no recycle time. Up to 100,000 shots are possible on a single battery charge. Speaking of power, the Rotolight AEOS 2 can run from mains or from a V-mount battery and draws ⅓ the power of its closest competitor.
Optimal Touchscreen and Quick Set-Up
For this shoot, we were working in the field all morning. It was a simple matter to move with my model to create the framing I desired. I then brought the AEOS 2 in to “clean up” the lighting. It was easy to balance the output of the AEOS 2 with the available natural light. No time was wasted with metering or test exposures. This allowed the shoot to move smoothly and quickly.
The AOES 2 features the award-winning CineSFX suite including Fire, Lightning, TV, Paparazzi, Gunshot, and more. These are customizable and can be saved for easy access while on set. All these amazing features are accessible through a well-designed touch screen interface on the Rotolight AEOS 2. Within five minutes of unpacking the AEOS 2, I had the settings I needed to create my images. Therefore, I didn’t have to waste valuable time setting up the light.
Versatile and Lightweight
Content creators, both still and motion, are finding themselves working on location with less time and crew than ever before. These situations are when we need versatile gear we can count on. The Rotolight AEOS 2 offers power and unique functionality in a lightweight form factor. It’s built to be used by professionals who demand quality and reliability.
With the new Rotolight app for iOS and Android, you can connect directly to the AEOS 2 via Wifi or Bluetooth, switch between modes, set the power (including flash settings), and adjust color. The app also allows for the creation of custom groups and projects on up to 20 lights simultaneously.
Additional accessories for the AEOS 2 include the Rotolight Universal Speed Ring and Bowens S-Mount Adapter. This allows the use of the huge suite of Bowens-mount modifiers and the SmartSoft Box so you can electronically adjust your light’s diffusion, focus, and spread without the need for gels. The SmartSoft Box is controllable via the AEOS 2 touchscreen display or the Rotolight app.
Final Thoughts
I can see myself adding the Rotolight AEOS 2 to my existing kit of LED and flash lighting. It offers some unique features that can help expand my creative work. A kit of two would work well as a lightweight 0n-location kit for any working professional, or those entering the field of content creation.
The Rotolight AEOS 2 is sold exclusively at Adorama until May 2022, and is available in a number of bundle options.
