SmallRig has announced its newest LED light at IBC 2024 in Amsterdam this month. It’s the SmallRig RC 100B ($199-229), a 100W bi-colour LED light with a range of 2700K-6500K. It can be powered by both AC or DC batteries, offering a range of use cases.
The company says it’s 20% smaller than standard 100W LED lights we may already own. This might not sound like a lot, but that’s quite a significant difference, especially if you want to pack them into bags and use them on location.
SmallRig RC 100B – Big Power in a Small Light
The SmallRig RC 100B is a compact 100W bi-colour LED light. It can be powered from either a DC source or through batteries. But unlike many lights with similar capabilities, it’s not a proprietary battery. It accepts either V-Mount or Sony NP-F style batteries through an adapter plate.
It also comes with a very nifty-looking handle – or if it doesn’t come with it, there’s one available. This appears to run on a custom 18650-based pack, which slides into the bottom of the handle, the same way you’d put a battery into a power tool, like a drill. For handheld work, where you need to be constantly moving and following a subject with a light, this will be invaluable.
I’m curious to see if a generic version of this handle with a 1/4-20″ (and retractable 3/8″-16) thread on the top will come out at any point. I could see this being a fantastic base handle for something like macro photography. You’d be able to power your camera and lights all from the single battery in the handle and still be able to easily hold the whole rig.
It comes supplied with a 45-degree mini reflector, allowing you to direct its light a little better. It has numerous power options, including a DC adapter, USB-PD, V-Mount and NP-F batteries. It has very high CRI and TLCI scores of 97 and 98, respectively, and there’s even a DMX adapter available for remote control.
Overall, it looks like SmallRig’s packed a lot into this little light.
Price and Availability
The SmallRig RC 100B is available to pre-order now for $199 in the basic “Mobile” package, which comes with a simple handle and an NP-F battery plate. There’s also a “standard” version, which instead includes a light stand bracket and a USB-C cable for powering it without batteries.
