17Feb Vpad-150 144 LED Ultra Thin light panel – First Impressions
Before I even begin to talk about this LED panel, I’d like to point out that the Vpad-150 light panel packaging could use an update. If you are ever put in charge of graphic design for any kind of product, please use this as an example of what not to do. To quote T.J. Roe, a Graphic design artist that does a lot of fine work for me “It’s a light, it should look jazzy, bright, and making halos. Why don’t they focus a little more on light and how thin it is?”
Now that’ I’ve gotten that grip out of the way, I’d like to point out that the Vpad-150 isn’t your typical low budget LED light panel. While the Vpad-150 is very large in size, it is extremely light weight and very thin. The built-in cold shoe adapter, while plastic, is well made and provides a very nice audible click when adjusted.
The back of the Vpad-150 provides your typical Sony NP battery mounting plate and offers up the ability to adjust your light temperature between 3200k and 5600k. That battery indicator is a nice for a light under $40, you can power the Vpad-150 via a barrel plug and as usual, the light is dimmable from zero to 100% output.
Where the Vpad-150 really stands out is in it’s even spread. While other LED lights in this price range tend to provide a somewhat concentrated beam, the Vpad-150 takes the opposite approach, instead providing the spread of something like a CFL bulb.
As will most LED lights in this price range, don’t expect much throw out of the Vpad-150 light panel. Light starts to fall off pretty quickly at around 4 feet, but within the 3-foot envelope you end up with a pretty decent amount of diffusion.
I’ve been looking for some affordable LED lights that provide this sort of even fill and I think the Vpad-150 will most likely fit the bill. At $39 a piece, they are affordable enough to have 4 or 5 of them in a bag. The wall wort barrel plug power supply I use with my TorchLED bolt lights are compatible with the Vpad-150 and on top of that, they are feather light and take up very little space.
Right now I only have one in for review, but I might be ordering a few more in the very near future. So far, very impressed.
February 18th, 2016 at 12:39 am
I’m curious to know how accurate the light colours are. One thing I like about the new versions of cheaper Aputure models is that they’re CRI 95+, and they’ve spoiled me now. The older models had a green colour cast, but this is no longer a problem with later versions. I just wish the 528 models had barn doors as the light goes everywhere.
February 18th, 2016 at 6:11 pm
CRI on this guy is 93% so color is very good, not much throw and very defused. Great for close up fill, but i don’t think barn doors would do much good on this guy.
February 29th, 2016 at 8:59 am
Gotta say, thanks for the recommendation. I’ve got a couple of other Yongnuo panels (~160 and 300), and this one is so much more flattering. I was pretty surprised when I got to try it this weekend.
Also, thank goodness for the sliding power switch. The YN-300 is impossible to toss in a bag with the battery attached, since it will inevitably turn itself on and kill the battery. My only complaint is that the battery checker doesn’t seem to work unless the switch is set to ‘on’, so you have to turn on the power to see your battery level.
March 1st, 2016 at 7:55 pm
I was really surprised how well this guy works. I know have 4 or them.