Lowel Blender or Ikan IB500 LEDs? at DVinfo.net

Bryan Cantwell · December 21st, 2012, 03:47 PM

I'm looking at picking up an LED light kit, and am thinking either the Lowel Blender 3 light kit or the Ikan IB500 3 light kit (from B&H).

I shoot commercials, and most of the use this lighting will see is talking head type stuff. I often end up in mixed lighting situations since I rarely shoot in a studio, so the ability of both of these lights to change color temp is important. I'm also drawn to the small size of the Blender, but I'm concerned I might not have as much light to throw around vs the IB500s...

Anyone have/worked with either/both of these lights? I could really use an experienced perspective!

Les Wilson · December 21st, 2012, 04:28 PM

I was going to get the Blender then ended up going with a Zylight Z90. The latter is expensive but I like it. The bang for the buck comes when you have multiples. The Zylight blends to get the color temperature using 3 RGB LEDs. That means you get even brightness when you change temperature. It doesn't suffer from multi-source effects.

The Blender and Ikan are additive so at each end of the color temperature, you get only the LEDs with that temp. As you move toward the middle, it adds LEDs from the other end so the brightness peaks at the midpoint and then goes down. But I didn't actually use the Blender or Ikan.

Bryan Cantwell · February 8th, 2013, 03:00 PM

Just a quick update if anyone runs across this thread.

I got the Lowel Blender 3 light kit, opened it, fired them up, turned them off, packaged it back up, and returned it.

The Blenders just didn't supply enough quantity or quality of light to justify the cost. They would be "okay" as a hair/rim/accent light, but they just can't hack it as keys. Had the kit cost $500 instead of $1500 I would have been satisfied enough to keep it, but it doesn't and I didn't. Oh well.

I'm not sure what my next move is, but the Lowel Blender did not pass the test.

December 21st, 2012, 03:47 PM	#1
Bryan Cantwell Major Player Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Terre Haute, IN Posts: 277	Lowel Blender or Ikan IB500 LEDs? I'm looking at picking up an LED light kit, and am thinking either the Lowel Blender 3 light kit or the Ikan IB500 3 light kit (from B&H). I shoot commercials, and most of the use this lighting will see is talking head type stuff. I often end up in mixed lighting situations since I rarely shoot in a studio, so the ability of both of these lights to change color temp is important. I'm also drawn to the small size of the Blender, but I'm concerned I might not have as much light to throw around vs the IB500s... Anyone have/worked with either/both of these lights? I could really use an experienced perspective!

December 21st, 2012, 04:28 PM	#2
Les Wilson Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 3,014	Re: Lowel Blender or Ikan IB500 LEDs? I was going to get the Blender then ended up going with a Zylight Z90. The latter is expensive but I like it. The bang for the buck comes when you have multiples. The Zylight blends to get the color temperature using 3 RGB LEDs. That means you get even brightness when you change temperature. It doesn't suffer from multi-source effects. The Blender and Ikan are additive so at each end of the color temperature, you get only the LEDs with that temp. As you move toward the middle, it adds LEDs from the other end so the brightness peaks at the midpoint and then goes down. But I didn't actually use the Blender or Ikan.

February 8th, 2013, 03:00 PM	#3
Bryan Cantwell Major Player Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Terre Haute, IN Posts: 277	Re: Lowel Blender or Ikan IB500 LEDs? Just a quick update if anyone runs across this thread. I got the Lowel Blender 3 light kit, opened it, fired them up, turned them off, packaged it back up, and returned it. The Blenders just didn't supply enough quantity or quality of light to justify the cost. They would be "okay" as a hair/rim/accent light, but they just can't hack it as keys. Had the kit cost $500 instead of $1500 I would have been satisfied enough to keep it, but it doesn't and I didn't. Oh well. I'm not sure what my next move is, but the Lowel Blender did not pass the test.