What you'd use it for
The Astra IP Half is the smallest panel in the Astra IP range, and the one that ends up in every kit. It is a punchy bi-colour light about the size of a laptop, weighs 2.8 kg, and is fully weather sealed to IP65. Set it up in the rain at a sports ground, on a dusty building site or poolside at a school carnival and keep shooting.
Indoors it suits small offices, classrooms and interview rooms with low ceilings, where a big panel just gets in the way. Dial the colour anywhere from warm tungsten (2,700K) to cool daylight (6,500K) to match the room or the window, and dim it smoothly from 0 to 100% with no flicker on camera.
Add a weather resistant battery bracket and an Anton Bauer battery and it runs with no power point at all. Add the Snapbag softbox and it becomes a soft, flattering interview key.
In real world terms
-
How bright? 1,500 lux at 3 m. Plenty to light a seated interview from a few metres back.
-
How accurate? CRI 95 in both daylight and tungsten, so skin tones look natural.
-
How tough? IP65 means dust tight and protected against water jets. It works from -20°C to 45°C.
-
How long on a battery? It draws 63 W at most. Divide the battery's Wh by 63: a 90Wh battery gives roughly an hour and a half at full brightness, and longer as you dim.
-
How do I control it? One dial on the back, or Bluetooth from your phone. Add the DMX module to run it from a lighting desk.
-
How long will it last? The LEDs are rated for 50,000+ hours.
Build it out
What is in the box
- 1 x Astra IP Half Bi-Color LED panel with standard yoke and ANZ power cable
- 1 x Astra IP Half Medium Diffuser
Figures published by Litepanels.