I have had two of these lights for more than 2 years, now neither of them works anymore - one day (a while after the warranty expired) it stopped turning on, a few weeks later the second one did the same. I was very happy with the purchase for the first couple of months but final I would not recommend. The included shoe for mounting the light on the camera has a thread that is too short to screw the light on with the silicone diffuser on - yet that's when it would be most needed :P
I ordered one and I have one issue: the length of the screw on their cold shoe ball head attachment isn’t quite long enough to surpass the thickness of the VL 196 diffuser (especially the honeycomb diffuser) and it is quite difficult to screw onto the VL 196 when the diffuser is on. Other than that, this is one badass LED lamp!
I’ve a few of these types of light and for value the Vijim 196 is superb value as the included honeycomb grid and diffuser make such a difference to the quality of light. Thanks for the review!
Lol I'm new to your channel and I thought you said your name was "FlipScrubbah" like an in game name. Anyway I'm not into video but I am doing a bit of photography for leisure. And I just ordered a pair of Andoer W100 rgb video lights to set up scenes when I take photos of model kits or portraits. I really like taking night shots in the city using only street lights and I figured I could get the same effect using video lights while at home, away from the city.
Holy Moly, that thing is dirt cheap, a pocket light for $20! Amazing. Well, sure, you can use these to take similar shots at home, mind you doing it in the city is a lot more fun and you have a lot more background going on including different light sources, at home you'll basically just have that.
@@PhillipSkraba yeah, thing is I moved to a more rural area back in my hometown when I finished college and I haven't been shooting much lately. Mostly just indoor stuff with pets and model kits. About the light i figured if its dirt cheap I shouldn't expect much, if my deduction is correct, i will have a total of 100 led beads, how many for rgb, and white, I don't know because I can't find a review anywhere. But yeah, even if I find out once it arrives that it has poor brightness, then I can still get away with it because I'm shooting stills. So I guess it fits with my use case.
Why do they make the diffuser so bulky? It more than doubles the size of the light. Could have achieved the same effect with a much smaller plastic piece imo.
I'm considering this for macro videography/photography suspended above the subject like 15cm max. But considering that I might shoot in f/14 up to f/40 with the probe lens, or f/2.8-8 with another ultra macro 2.5-5x both from laowa, and shooting up to 4K@120fps (1/250s). This gives like ~1920Lux/0.3m but I might start with slightly smaller one and see if I like it. This can have soft light totally wrap around small insect/animal. Being lightweight is another plus also the extra diffuser would be pretty handy here. Considered Godox M1 which is great but having the mount making it mostly vertical isn't helping, also the lack of extra soft diffuser for much higher price. Compromises everywhere! Might end up buying all of them eventually, but I think I should get this one with another tiny one first. That 2500-9000K range is brilliant as well to compliment natural light. Could you please let me know if your light calculator gives kelvin readings? And what's the name of it?
I actually don't have a fast charge charger or power bank myself, I've used one with it, and the charge time is a little faster, sure. All you need is a PD charger, I think Anker might make one.
Been watching a bunch of your vids. Solid content, bro. I’m having analysis paralysis with regards to rgb pocket lights but have narrowed it down to this, the weeylite rb9 and the ivisii g2...which one of these would you pick?
Thank You! Well, I've used Weeylite a few times before and their lights are fantastic, the RB08, the RB9 and the Ninja 400 are incredibly well made lights, and I have 110% faith in them when I use them. The ivisii, well, if you check Amazon you can see from a mile away that 99% of their reviews are sponsored, I haven't ever heard of them, it looks like they're a sister company of Pixel though. I'd go for the RB9, it's an amazing light with a ton of features that I can highly recommend, I have a link in my other video for it if you want to check it out on their website, or if you want something on the lines of the ivisii without the more advanced features of the RB9, this VL196 is an awesome pocket light with some great diffusion in the box. Those are my recommendations, 100% honest.
@@PhillipSkraba I watched your weeylite video before this one which is why it made it into my short list haha. Was hoping to see an ivisii review from you but there isn’t one. Will take your advice about this. Thanks for replying. Stay safe and keep making great content.
Thank You! It's an excellent light, but for the main light source, not really. If you want cheap and good, go for the Godox SL60W, you can find that dirt cheap, and it's a proper light source for creators.
I just received my lights yesterday and I love them however I’m looking to try to buy the honeycomb separately. Do you know of a website where I can buy those individually and not as a bundle?
Would love to hear how it compares to more expensive options, like the Godox M1. Any recommendations for a budget option with an app for easier adjusting on set?
The Godox M1 is good, it's similar to the Ulanzi Vijim R70. The VL196 is great but super simple, if you want something well priced and full of features I highly recommend the Weeylite RB9, it has a superb app.
@@PhillipSkraba Thanks! Love the look of the RB9. Also love the honeycomb grid that some come with, but don't think this one does? Any advice on directing light with these? Any good attachments whether grids or barn doors etc?
Yes, the RGB is excellent value for money and it comes with a ton of stuff, the grid does a good job at stopping spill and directing it, if you need it harsher take off the diffuser and get some cardboard to get stronger shadows and to direct it.
Been looking for a light to take some pictures of small items. Is this the one you would recommend? I primarily like soft and cool whites, so I wouldn't get much use from the RGB. Thanks for the review!
Thank You! Well, they are both great lights, if I needed a light that has app abilities then the RB9, if I don't need those then this is great and it's half the price.
@@nomad0714 Thank You too, I really appreciate that, I'm sure you'll be super happy with it! I also wrote to them today to add an update so the light has memory, hopefully they include that in an update.
It could do, as you see it didn't look all that bad on my face. If you need it as a start for CZcams, sure, but a bigger light later on would be better.
@@martinregana5548 I'd recommend the VL196, it's pretty simple and you can use and charge it at the same time via a powerbank. It costs a tiny bit more than the 120, but it's a much better light.
Why are you speaking the letter "H" as (hage) and not as (age)? Is that a local thing? Really want to know I am from germany. Not meant as hate ...love
Really?? I think it's a long press on the power button. I wonder if there is a reset using a combination of buttons. Does the screen work when charging?
Good news! I connected it to the usb port of my PC and it immediately wokeup. Then I used a normal 8w 5v charger that came with an entery level android phone and it managed to fully charge it in about 4 hours! Previously, the 33w or 18w quick chargers never managed to fully charge it even overnight.
I have had two of these lights for more than 2 years, now neither of them works anymore - one day (a while after the warranty expired) it stopped turning on, a few weeks later the second one did the same. I was very happy with the purchase for the first couple of months but final I would not recommend. The included shoe for mounting the light on the camera has a thread that is too short to screw the light on with the silicone diffuser on - yet that's when it would be most needed :P
I ordered one and I have one issue: the length of the screw on their cold shoe ball head attachment isn’t quite long enough to surpass the thickness of the VL 196 diffuser (especially the honeycomb diffuser) and it is quite difficult to screw onto the VL 196 when the diffuser is on. Other than that, this is one badass LED lamp!
I’ve a few of these types of light and for value the Vijim 196 is superb value as the included honeycomb grid and diffuser make such a difference to the quality of light. Thanks for the review!
You're welcome! Yes, I was really surprised by the honeycomb and diffuser I got in the box, great value for money!
Bro your voice in the intro was like "hey..i am korg"..from thor Ragnarok.😂
Grt video bro..!🙏
haha, ahh they have some awesome voices in that series! Thank You!
Oh, that cough! 😷 There are so many good products out there! Thanks for show them for us. Cheers
Thanks Luis! That cough 🙈 So many products, I'm lucky I get to show them off to you guys! Let me know when that Vector Gear gets to you!
@@PhillipSkraba yes, I’ll let you know. Maybe I’ll make a video about it! 🤪
Which is the best among the three VL 196, VL 200 and VL Lt002??
We bought one - we'll see. (Parcel from China to Łódź - it will probably be delivered in a month) We will let you know.
That's awesome! I think it took about a week for mine to come, so not too bad. You could have always come over and tested mine 🔥
Dotarła już? Ciekaw jestem czy działa bez błędów i zawieszeń, no i jak z mocą światła. Dzięki!
@@piotrraczka7542 Dla mnie non stop dziala bez bledow i zawieszen, a moc, jak na swoja cene ma spoko 👌🏻
Lampa dotarła, działa światło efektowe, bo studia tym się nie oświetli ale do fotografi, filmów produktowych jak najbardziej 😊 dla mnie ok za tą kase.
Looks great. Maybe I will buy light like this for future portrait street shoots. :)
It's actually a very good light, I've been using it a lot recently.
Great review, been looking at lights lately & this really helped.
Thank You! I have so many it's just getting silly now. This one is a great no bs budget light!
First time I see a honeycomb frame for a tiny LED light, haha, $52 nice
The Pilotfly Atomcube RX1 has one, this is the 2nd one I've seen. Crazy times 😂 It actually comes in handy for those close ups!
I was planning to use this as a light for my webcam, can I keep it as a persistent light if I have the Usb C plugged into my pc?
just one question i think i missed. can you keep it on while plugged in to the charger? does it keep the full power if so?
Lol I'm new to your channel and I thought you said your name was "FlipScrubbah" like an in game name. Anyway I'm not into video but I am doing a bit of photography for leisure. And I just ordered a pair of Andoer W100 rgb video lights to set up scenes when I take photos of model kits or portraits. I really like taking night shots in the city using only street lights and I figured I could get the same effect using video lights while at home, away from the city.
Holy Moly, that thing is dirt cheap, a pocket light for $20! Amazing. Well, sure, you can use these to take similar shots at home, mind you doing it in the city is a lot more fun and you have a lot more background going on including different light sources, at home you'll basically just have that.
@@PhillipSkraba yeah, thing is I moved to a more rural area back in my hometown when I finished college and I haven't been shooting much lately. Mostly just indoor stuff with pets and model kits. About the light i figured if its dirt cheap I shouldn't expect much, if my deduction is correct, i will have a total of 100 led beads, how many for rgb, and white, I don't know because I can't find a review anywhere. But yeah, even if I find out once it arrives that it has poor brightness, then I can still get away with it because I'm shooting stills. So I guess it fits with my use case.
Why do they make the diffuser so bulky? It more than doubles the size of the light. Could have achieved the same effect with a much smaller plastic piece imo.
Well, I’m guessing two reasons, to soften the light a certain amount and to keep the airflow moving so the leds don’t heat up.
I'm considering this for macro videography/photography suspended above the subject like 15cm max. But considering that I might shoot in f/14 up to f/40 with the probe lens, or f/2.8-8 with another ultra macro 2.5-5x both from laowa, and shooting up to 4K@120fps (1/250s). This gives like ~1920Lux/0.3m but I might start with slightly smaller one and see if I like it. This can have soft light totally wrap around small insect/animal. Being lightweight is another plus also the extra diffuser would be pretty handy here. Considered Godox M1 which is great but having the mount making it mostly vertical isn't helping, also the lack of extra soft diffuser for much higher price.
Compromises everywhere! Might end up buying all of them eventually, but I think I should get this one with another tiny one first. That 2500-9000K range is brilliant as well to compliment natural light. Could you please let me know if your light calculator gives kelvin readings? And what's the name of it?
Would you use it for portrait photography? I want that Brandon woelfel look.
This little thing? Sure, bounced or diffused.
I just got this light but I'm unsure what I need to have to use fast charge with it, any idea?
I actually don't have a fast charge charger or power bank myself, I've used one with it, and the charge time is a little faster, sure. All you need is a PD charger, I think Anker might make one.
This is good I think I will look into getting one
It's a really good simple light Roland 🔥
Hi I like your vids especially GoPro videos. Cheers,
Thank You, lots more GoPro videos coming!
Whats the difference between the 196 vs. the 120?
Привет выбираю между vl196 или два штуки vl49 rgb. Не знаю что выбрать, посоветуй плиз....
Been watching a bunch of your vids. Solid content, bro. I’m having analysis paralysis with regards to rgb pocket lights but have narrowed it down to this, the weeylite rb9 and the ivisii g2...which one of these would you pick?
Thank You! Well, I've used Weeylite a few times before and their lights are fantastic, the RB08, the RB9 and the Ninja 400 are incredibly well made lights, and I have 110% faith in them when I use them. The ivisii, well, if you check Amazon you can see from a mile away that 99% of their reviews are sponsored, I haven't ever heard of them, it looks like they're a sister company of Pixel though. I'd go for the RB9, it's an amazing light with a ton of features that I can highly recommend, I have a link in my other video for it if you want to check it out on their website, or if you want something on the lines of the ivisii without the more advanced features of the RB9, this VL196 is an awesome pocket light with some great diffusion in the box. Those are my recommendations, 100% honest.
@@PhillipSkraba I watched your weeylite video before this one which is why it made it into my short list haha. Was hoping to see an ivisii review from you but there isn’t one. Will take your advice about this. Thanks for replying. Stay safe and keep making great content.
very great review! do you recommend this for a main light source for a new content creator? im trying to find a cheap main light for making videos
Thank You! It's an excellent light, but for the main light source, not really. If you want cheap and good, go for the Godox SL60W, you can find that dirt cheap, and it's a proper light source for creators.
I just received my lights yesterday and I love them however I’m looking to try to buy the honeycomb separately. Do you know of a website where I can buy those individually and not as a bundle?
I love it too, great little light! I'm afraid not, I got my sent to me.
I would like to know that to what extent I can simulate the ambulance light at night and indoor usage.
Well, shine it at a wall and the bounced light will give the effect that there is an ambulance near by, you’d have to test it out.
i really like the honeycomb grid.. but i dont have enough money to buy it.
It's pretty cool, that's true. Well, Christmas is coming, or time to save up, I spend ages saving up for gear that I really want, it's worth it.
hi i bought this 3 months ago suddenly doesn't shift from blue colour it cant go to day light please help
I'm afraid the best people to contact will be Vijim Ulanzi and see what they say, they're usually very helpful.
can we adjust speed of strobe? and could I set a blue or red constant light and strobe it?
No, I'm afraid we can't adjust the speed of it, if you'd like speed adjustments I'd recommend the Aputure or Pilotcine pocket lights.
Would love to hear how it compares to more expensive options, like the Godox M1. Any recommendations for a budget option with an app for easier adjusting on set?
The Godox M1 is good, it's similar to the Ulanzi Vijim R70. The VL196 is great but super simple, if you want something well priced and full of features I highly recommend the Weeylite RB9, it has a superb app.
@@PhillipSkraba Thanks! Love the look of the RB9. Also love the honeycomb grid that some come with, but don't think this one does? Any advice on directing light with these? Any good attachments whether grids or barn doors etc?
Yes, the RGB is excellent value for money and it comes with a ton of stuff, the grid does a good job at stopping spill and directing it, if you need it harsher take off the diffuser and get some cardboard to get stronger shadows and to direct it.
Cool video! Thanks! :)
Thank You! Glad you liked it.
hey! whats your recommendation for a $50 pocket light? thanks!
Hi Rachel, this is about as close as you're going to get for that price.
Been looking for a light to take some pictures of small items. Is this the one you would recommend? I primarily like soft and cool whites, so I wouldn't get much use from the RGB. Thanks for the review!
Yes, this is a fantastic light, and you can go into RGB and set the blue for a really cool look, fun light, very well made, solid.
@@PhillipSkraba thank you!!
Anytime!
Thanks! Please can u tell me how slow is the rgb loop slow?
It's pretty slow.
This or Weeylite RB08P Rgb, if you must chose only one light ? Thanks.
I'd go with the VL196, it's a little fresher and you can use and charge which is a big plus.
@@PhillipSkraba Thanks.
Hi Phillip,
Nice review.
Which one do you prefer, this one or Weeylite RB9 that you just did?
Thanks!
Thank You! Well, they are both great lights, if I needed a light that has app abilities then the RB9, if I don't need those then this is great and it's half the price.
Thanks Philip for the quick reply.
In terms of brightness, is the Weeylite RB9 more bright or same as Vijim VL196?
@@nomad0714 From my lux tests 240lux vs 160lux in 5600k, and 50lux vs 20lux in RGB. So the RB9 has the upper hand when it comes to power output.
Awesome Phillip! Thank you. Will make sure I use your link for the RB9.
@@nomad0714 Thank You too, I really appreciate that, I'm sure you'll be super happy with it! I also wrote to them today to add an update so the light has memory, hopefully they include that in an update.
Hey can get something like this with more output and bigger or tube like
Sure, for example the Soonwell MT1 which I will be reviewing very soon.
I got my soonwell it awesome
Is dis vijim vl196 led light could control with mobile
I'm afraid not, it's a pretty simple but solid light.
Do you think this will do for a budget mainlight?
It could do, as you see it didn't look all that bad on my face. If you need it as a start for CZcams, sure, but a bigger light later on would be better.
I got 4 of these, to make my CZcams Videos. I hope it helps me to create good videos, with chromakey
You're going to love them, fantastic lights!
Hi, Can we use this for the zoom calls?
Sure, of course you can!
Hi, can it be used powered via usb c when battery is empty ? can it be used while charging ?
Sure, you can use this and charge at the same time!
@@PhillipSkraba Thks.
@@Mn-xh9ps Anytime!
I want buy vijim .. battery is good ??
Yes it does a good job, my battery is still holding strong!
@@PhillipSkraba thank you
Hello, are there any cheaper/similar/better options? Thank you
No, I'd say this as cheap as you want to go for pocket light this size. The only other smaller light Id' recommend is the Ulanzi VL49.
@@PhillipSkraba and how about the VL 120? Thanks
@@martinregana5548 It's okay but it's a CCT light, this is RGB.
@@PhillipSkraba i don’t mind rgb. I can put gels. I need as more battery as posible
@@martinregana5548 I'd recommend the VL196, it's pretty simple and you can use and charge it at the same time via a powerbank. It costs a tiny bit more than the 120, but it's a much better light.
Can you charge it with a powerbank and use the light at the same time
?
Zinkers Dartstube yes!
Yes you can.
@@PhillipSkraba sounds great. so i can change it with the weeylite rb08p. but i cant find a store in germany. maybe ill let it ship from china
@@ZinkersDartstube Sure, you can buy it from their website, just added a link with 10% off.
@@PhillipSkraba your link sends me to the american amazon ? ^^
Why are you speaking the letter "H" as (hage) and not as (age)? Is that a local thing? Really want to know I am from germany. Not meant as hate ...love
No idea I'm afraid, that's just my accent. I'm from London, but my accent is super mixed up, I guess I say "hatch", it's odd, I know 😂
I thought you said "my name is foot srcubber"
Dude, I think we both would get laughs from our names 😂
Vl49 RGB or vl120 RGB?
VL120 RGB.
Thanks for the reply.
Mine won't even turn on the light. Full charge and nothing
Really?? I think it's a long press on the power button. I wonder if there is a reset using a combination of buttons. Does the screen work when charging?
Display light comes on for settings but the actual light does not
That is so odd, I’d contact them, I’m sure they’ll send you a replacement.
Same issue, there is no LCD display either. It's bricked
Good news! I connected it to the usb port of my PC and it immediately wokeup. Then I used a normal 8w 5v charger that came with an entery level android phone and it managed to fully charge it in about 4 hours! Previously, the 33w or 18w quick chargers never managed to fully charge it even overnight.
two hours???!!!!
It depends on your situation, but yeah, more or less.
Your door is creepy. Change your angle its so distracting
Sure, I’ll do that right now.