(As an aside, I found, based on the highly scientifically accurate touching with my finger method, that the panels stay cooler if you screw in the aluminum hot shoe attachment to the side of the panel. Its just not the right one for toy photography, especially those of us who thrive in the harsher environments.I am actually pretty disappointed in the loss of this ruggedization. However I am under no obligation to them to spin the Panel Mini in a positive way. At 100% it lasted an impressive 1 hour 15 minutes. MFR: LC-HS11, SKU: LULCSTANDT60 You can also listen to episodes of thepodcast! MFR: LC-KIT-GOBH. This is the area where I think the Panel Mini really falls short. The following are my opinions and my opinions alone.I am on record many times saying that I highly recommend the original Lume Cube lights (the square ones), and I think that any toy photographer should have a pair of these in their bag of tricks. )If you can afford only one light for your toy photography I would still recommend getting the original Lume Cube. That is super handy for dramatic shots or special effects shots. This makes them complementary tools in the lighting toolbox.At $59.95 USD, the Panel Mini is competitively priced. Thanks Oliver. MFR: LC-RING18, SKU: LULCV2PROLK One could also conceivably connect them to a USB power pack and get extra long life in the field.The largest downside to the original Lume Cube square lights is that they get incredibly hot at 100% brightnessnot just unpleasant to touch, but first-degree burn levels of heat. But if you want to round out your light generating arsenal, you wont regret picking up a Panel Mini or two. -$15.03, SKU: LULCV212K : Used Lume Cube Photography (9), SKU: LUCPANELPRO At 50% brightness and a full charge, the Panel Mini lasted 2 hours and 17 minutes. The Panel Mini excels in soft, diffused light.

The Panel Minis light comes from 60 LEDS, which can be colour temperature adjusted from 3,200K to 5,600K (or, for the less technically inclined, from daylight balanced to nice, warm golden hour-type light). MFR: LC-PC11, SKU: LUC11BA MFR: LC-PANELGO, SKU: LUCHS11 Copyright Adorama Camera, Inc. All rights reserved. We do, and its always full of the latest toy photography blog posts and news!

The short answer is no, but that doesnt mean its not worth having in your lighting tool kit.The original cube really shines for its brightness and accessories. The Panel Mini is not as bright as the original cube. Never one to trust manufacturers specs, I tested the battery life myself. I have no fear of bringing them into the harshest environments. To demonstrate I took two shots of my Hot Toys Doctor Strange figure with both the original cubes and the Panel Mini. MFR: LC-MCS, SKU: LUKITGOBH As a result it is a softer light, which makes it nicer for those portrait-style shots of our beloved figures. With both the lights were in roughly the same orientation and distance from Strange, with the back edge of the light lined up with his eye.First the original Lume Cube: Both of those images are taken with the exact camera settings, and not post-processed (except to remove an annoying dust spot).As you can see, the Panel Mini puts out a nice soft light that wraps around Stranges face. It comes with filters that can be used to control the colour temperature. $114.98 Illumination can also be brightness controlled from 1100% in 5% increments. Get exclusive access to expert tips and special offers. Your opinions and comments are valuable to us.

It does have a domed diffuser, but it doesnt quite deliver the same level of light diffusion that a soft box provides. 42 West 18th Street New York, NY 10011 (directions) 800.223.2500, There are no results for the prices you entered. Kit Discount: MFR: LC V2 1, SKU: LUCRING18 They all have smaller batteries that dont last that long. This helps a lot. These numbers match up pretty closely with the manufacturers specs.Hands down, these are the longest lasting battery powered lights from a power perspective I have ever used (Lume Cube brand or otherwise).As a bonus, the Panel Mini runs (and even charges) at 100% brightness when connected to the USB-C cable. The panel itself is just slightly larger than a credit card, and less than half an inch thick, which means it will slide into your pocket or bag very easily. Plus, Rewards members earn 25 Points! At 3oz it is quite light. The hot shoe seems to act like a mini heat sink.). Your card will only be charged once item is shipped.

MFR: LC-11B A, Original Price: However it does put out (faux-science jargon warning) a properly good amount of light. Subscribeto our weekly email round up so that you never miss a post. I also dont like that you cant control the panel from the lume cube app. This means these lights can run continuously in a studio setting. $79.95, SKU: LULCSTAND Come visit our New York City store in the Flatiron/Chelsea district. Thanks! It produces bright, clean light. MFR: LC V2 1 2K, SKU: LUC11BB Being a long time Lume Cube fan, I was super stoked to get the chance to put their latest product, the Lume Cube Panel Mini, through its paces. I never use the remote phone controls with my cubes, so I never thought to even test it.

One of the big selling points of the original cube for me is its ruggedness. So, I am also going to compare the two throughout this review, and try to answer whether the Panel Mini replaces the original Lume Cube as the top dog of lights for toy photographers or not. This light is pretty solid in every other way. Great review, Dave. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Kind of says everything that needs to be said about this. MFR: LC-11B B, SKU: LUCMCS

Equipping your creativity, since 1974. View additional MFR: LC-SCUP11, SKU: LULCVC2 Did you know we have a weekly email newsletter? Read our story. Find, "The raccoon problem is under control. For that purpose the decision to trade waterproofiness for a cheaper price point is likely the right one. Although this item is temporarily on Backorder, you can order it now and it will ship as soon as it arrives. One of the biggest issues with portable lights like this is power management.

During that time I found a lot to love about the panel, and one surprising design flaw. Take a look at the art by To, Head on over to ToyPhotographers.com for a review, Happy #LEGO #MiniFigMonday! )The original cubes strengths are in powerful, narrow lights. Also, make s, Happy feature Friday! A superhero landing f, Review: LEGO Star Wars Boba Fetts Throne Room 75326, A Look at the LEGO Lunar Research Base (60350), Medical Adventures: LEGO Hospital Set 60330 Review, Review: LEGO Star Wars 75319 The Armorers Mandalorian Forge. There are 1/4-20 tripod mounts on the bottom and side, which allows for the light to be mounted horizontally or vertically on your light holder of choice. Whereas the original Lume Cube is a harsher, cooler light. A really nice feature is the inclusion of an LCD screen that displays all of the Panel Mini settings, including battery status, light temperature and light intensity. This is a vast improvement over the original Lume Cube lights, which doesnt provide any status information, leaving one to guess. MFR: LC-BLK, SKU: LULCV21 To turn the power on/off the button needs to be held for 5 seconds, which greatly reduces the odds of it turning on in your pocket or gear bag. Want more toy photography goodness? Bringing you great new articles, posts and fresh content to equip your creativity. The box comes comes with the panel itself, a USB-C cable, a hot shoe adapter and a rubber diffuser. Nice review Dave! Huh. From the perspective of an action figure or LEGO minifig, the Panel Mini is a large, flat light. Now he is the founder and creative force behind, Its #SharkWeek and @burkeheadtoys created an ep, Dive into a new post at ToyPhotograghers.com! It was designed as a portable light for podcasters and the like. They have t, @oliversees gets creative with Spirit Iron-Knife f, It's #minifigmonday and time to rock! As a result I rarely use my cubes at max power, sticking in the 50% or lower range.In contrast, the Panel Mini only gets slightly warm to the touch, even after 75 minutes of maximum brightness. Thanks for the review Dave Ive been debating adding the mini-panel to my tool box. It has a long lasting battery for a light of its size, and the ability to control the colour temperature is a nice touch.So the question remains: Will it replace the original Lume Cube lights? Good point tho, for those that do. Once upon a time Dave stepped out of the box and created something new. MFR: LC-STANDT60, List Price:

Learn how your comment data is processed. Ive exposed them to the salty ocean surf and the sandiest desert environments. The Panel Mini is controlled by a single button and single wheel on the side. MFR: LC-PANELPRO, SKU: LULCPNLGORGB MFR: LC-VC2, SKU: LUPANELGO Unlike every other Lume Cube product, which tend to be practically indestructible, the Panel Mini is not ruggedized, and is not waterproof. So, all in all the Panel Mini is an excellent light. Its a constant struggle to guess how long lights are going last in the field. The original cube, however, is very poor at creating diffused light to simulate a soft-box. MFR: LC-PANELGORGB, SKU: LUKITMINIBH As a result this light will likely mostly see studio work or fair-weather field use. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. MFR: LC-PPACC, SKU: LUCSCUP11 It happens with all four of my cube lights. Ill have to figure out a different approach to my review. Ive used them in rain, and thrown sand and flour at them for practical effects, and just toss them in the bottom of my camera bag and dont give it a second thought. That worked out in his favour so he kept going. Disclaimer: Lume Cube was generous enough to send me a Panel Mini to review. The side of the panel also contains the USB-C port. Privacy PolicyTerms of Use MFR: LC V2PROLK, SKU: LUCPPACC (The original Lume Cubes sell for $89.95 USD eachboth prices from lumecube.com. MFR: LC-STAND, SKU: LULCPC11 The wheel is used to make the actual adjustments. MFR: LC-KIT-MINIBH, SKU: LUCBLK To be fair to Lume Cube, the panel wasnt designed for toy photographers, or for putting in harms way. Items for the current selection range up to, Lume Cube Panel Mini LED Light with Ball Head Mount and 3/8" Light Stand Adapter, Lume Cube Broadcast Lighting Kit with Panel GO Bi-Color LED Light, Lume Cube 18" Portable Bi-Color LED Ring Light, Lume Cube Suction Cup Mount with 360 Degree Rotation, Lume Cube Panel GO LED Light with DSLR Camera Mount, Lume Cube Hot Shoe Mount with Stand for DSLR Camera, Lume Cube LC-STANDT60 5' Adjustable Light Stand with 180 Degree Tilt Head, Lume Cube LC-STAND 30" Adjustable Light Stand with Rotating Mount, Lume Cube LC-PC11 Smartphone Clip with 1/4-20" Tripod Mount, Lume Cube Single LED Light, Bundle with Shoe Mount, Lume Cube Single LED Light, Bundle with Mic, Flex Pod, and Phone Clamp, Lume Cube Panel GO LED Light with Ball Head Mount and 3/8" Light Stand Adapter. The original Lume Cube also has snoots and barn door attachments for narrowing the light beam down considerably. Sorry for not leaving much meat on the bone for you. We'd love to get your feedback! I cannot say Id do the same with the Panel Mini. This button doubles as a power button, as well as switching between light intensity and light temperature modes. Its not as bright, but you likely wont notice if you dont look for it. I only ever use the orange ones, which the Panel Mini does natively, so the wider range of light colour modifications is less important to me. In contrast, the original cubes last only 30 minutes at 100% brightness. I do like the panel and use it a lot.