Learn the difference + pros and cons between LED Panels, LED Cob Lights & Flash setups for studio photography and video. This video is a review & test of the Falcon Eyes RX-18 TDX II Flexible LED Panel, and an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of different types of studio lights and which is best for a professional looking lighting setup on a budget.

BUY THE FALCONEYES RX18-TDX II LED PANEL LIGHT: https://amzn.to/2J3S4xS

OTHER LIGHTS AND GEAR MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:

Aputure 120D: https://amzn.to/2XWZsjq
Aputure Light Dome II: https://amzn.to/30RxJlY

Pixel 80W LED Light (Aputure 120D Spin-off) - https://amzn.to/2FoUMML
Neewer Softbox For Pixel 80W (Or any bowens mount light) - https://amzn.to/31OPJga

Neewer Battery Powered Flash Strobe Unit - https://amzn.to/3gVKdP5

CRAZY expensive Profoto B1 Flash Kit - https://amzn.to/34aVyYb

Multicolor LED Strip Lights I use on my desk- https://amzn.to/2DPQk9i
(*Note these seem to flicker on camera a bit... Might be worth trying a slightly more expensive brand!)

Here is a brief summary of the pros and cons of different kinds of studio lights out there:

LED PANEL LIGHTS
The Falconeyes LED panel light and other LED panel lights like the westcott flexlight setups are fantastic for their weight, portability, ease of use and performance. They take up very little room on set and produce an incredible amount of brightness and soft, flattering light - Very similar to natural light in look and feel. Another HUGE advantage of these lights is their bicolor function, allowing you to change the temperature of the light to match the ambient lighting in your scene.
Their only real disadvantages are that they are very wide angle lights which makes them great key light or wash lights, but they can't be used as a spotlight or to throw light from a distance. In addition, they are VERY bright, but not bright enough to use outdoors in the middle of the day. For that, you'll need flash.


LED COB LIGHTS
LED cob lights consist of a smaller number of ultra bright LED's, which mean they have a more focused, directional light which can be harnessed as a spot light, used with a scrim to cast shadows, or diffused through a large softbox to create beautiful, flattering light. Lights like the Aputure 120D are so popular among the pros for a reason - They look amazing, and they're built to last.

Pros:
Very bright
Multifunctional (Spot light, key light, scrim light etc using adapters)

Cons:
Not quite as bright
Softbox is VERY large, which is great when you have space, but challenging in a small room
No bicolor temperature adjustment - Daylight only.
Can't shoot outside in full sun

REMOTE FLASH UNITS
Let me be clear - I'm not expert when it comes to flash, but I've used enough that I can give you the gist of the advantages and disadvantages.
Flash units are the brightest option and the only real solution that is bright enough for shooting outdoors in full sun with artificial light. They also have a near unlimited number of uses and accessories to shape the light and add effects. The disadvantage of flash however is that you don't have a constant light. They are more distracting in non studio environments, and can be much more challenging to initially set up + often require more tweaking.

Pros:
Amazing multifunction
Brightest option
Easily portable

Cons:
More complicated
Harder to set up / tweak on the fly
Doesn't work for video
No constant light

All 3 lighting set ups can be used to create amazing results - The choice you make mostly depends on your specific needs and the space + budget you're working with. Personally, I have used all 3 style of lights and for me I've found the LED panel lights to be the best all around light while also taking up less room than the aputure 120d (Which sadly for me is a dealbreaker, as I'm in a small space!)

Hopefully this review and explanation has helped illuminate some of the key difference between these 3 awesome options, and you'll be able to make a better decision as a result!