One of the most challenging things for portrait photographers and video shooters when working in the field is lighting. Ambient light is by far the favorite of most pros, but in some situations, it simply isn’t the right option. Whether there simply isn’t enough light to take a clean shot or some nasty shadows are in the way, there are certain challenges with lighting in the field that pros have to deal with.
Enter the Ice Light 2 from Westcott. The Ice Light 2 is a very portable lighting source and it’s the successor of the original Ice Light. The technology inside the IL 2 is pretty impressive. Essentially it’s an LED light but it’s definitely not something you’re used to. The new patented LED technology makes it 50% brighter than the original Ice Light. We’re talking about 1,740 lumens of daylight-balanced white light that comes in a package weighing only 20 ounces.
The 5500k LED's were designed with high efficiency and color purity in mind. Each IL2 is made to last 50,000 hours. That’s 17 years if you use it 8 hours a day.
In terms of color purity, something filmmakers value a lot, it measures 96 on the Color Rendering Index which has a scale of 100. It is a near perfect light that will make skin tones look beautiful.
The IL 2 has a vast 73 degree beam angle thanks to its custom-designed built-in diffuser. The result is high quality flattering light that would otherwise require a large flash and a pretty big modifier. The output is flicker-free making the light constant and perfect for shooting videos.
It’s powered by a removable Li-ion battery that keeps it running for over an hour and a full charging cycle takes 2.5 hours.
The handle has been redesigned and it now offers a dedicated on/off slider and an 18-step flicker free range as well as an output memory that remembers the last power settings.
It also has built-in Bluetooth with USB connectivity, allowing photographers to use it with smartphone apps. It’s compatible with the original Ice light accessories, including the barn doors, tungsten gels and two-way connectors.
In a nutshell, the Ice Light 2 was designed to become a photographer/filmmaker’s best friend. World renowned wedding photographer Jerry Ghionis is behind it and that alone is a guarantee of quality.
I recommend the Ice Light 2 to all wedding and portrait photographers, but also to video shooter who shoot interviews and low light scenes.
Find out more about the Westcott Ice Light 2 here.