I already own the 10 gobos version of this light, so when the 20 gobos set showed up I was genuinely surprised and delighted by the upgrade. More gobos is the obvious win, but what really impressed me was the packaging. Every lens comes in its own little protective carrying case, and the projector has a case of its own too. The 10 gobos version gets everything tossed into a bag with minimal protection, so this is a meaningful step up in how the kit is stored and transported.
I love this light and I love Photoolex products across the board, the TOFU light especially. That said, after reading through past reviews I want to clear up a few things that seem to be causing confusion.
On brightness and intended use. This light is genuinely very bright, but it is not designed to overpower natural daylight. Competing with the sun requires hundreds of watts, and that is not what this light is built for. The sweet spot is podcasting, vlogging, and low light photography. Draw the blinds, set this up in a room, and it is absolutely perfect. If you are shooting outdoors in direct sunlight you need something in the 400 to 600 watt range. That is not a flaw with this light, it is just the wrong tool for that job.
On the gobos design. The 20 gobos collection has noticeably better designs than the 10 gobos set and the additional plates are attractive and versatile. More importantly, there are no aftermarket plates available for this light, so whatever you buy is what you have. Get the 20 gobos version now and save yourself from wishing you had later.
On how to use it. Hold the black power button for three seconds to turn it on or off. Click the back wheel to toggle between color and brightness, then turn the wheel to adjust the values. A quick single press of the black button switches between ESI, PRO, and MY modes. Once you know that, it is very easy to use.
On what's included. The light comes with a soft white lens, a clear lens, a rainbow lens, and the gobos projector. The best feature by far is that the gobos lens is focusable, so you can dial in sharp crisp lines or go soft and dreamy depending on the look you're after. That kind of creative control in a portable light at this price is hard to beat.
Highly recommend, and if you're deciding between the two versions, get the 20 gobos set. You won't regret it.
I already own and love the TOFU Graffiti fill light, so when I saw the Black Samurai version I grabbed it immediately. Same outstanding light, but the design on this one takes it to another level.
The urban aesthetic on the Black Samurai is genuinely striking. It looks like a piece of gear that costs three times what it does, and it turns heads when you're on set. The large control knobs are a fantastic touch, they feel substantial and deliberate, making adjustments smooth and intuitive rather than fiddly. It's a small detail that makes a real difference when you're quickly dialing in settings between shots.
Everything I love about the TOFU lineup is here. The brightness is stunning for a light this compact and affordable, the kind of output that catches you off guard the first time you use it. The durable plastic housing feels solid and well built. The LCD screen on the back gives you a clear readout of brightness and color temperature, and the bi-color and RGB modes give you plenty of creative flexibility for vlog and video work.
The bundled tripod is handy and the USB-C cord that comes with it is impressively high quality, flexible and well made, the kind of cable that reminds you of what ships with an Apple device.
If you're choosing between TOFU models, the Black Samurai is the one I'd reach for. The performance is identical but the look and those large knobs make it the more satisfying light to work with. Highly recommend.
I picked this up as a fill light for vlog and video content and I was not prepared for how good it actually is, especially at this price point.
The brightness is the first thing that gets you. For a light this small and this affordable, the output is genuinely stunning. It holds its own in a way you just don't expect from something so compact and inexpensive. If you've ever bought a cheap small light and been disappointed by weak, flat output, this is a completely different experience.
The design is equally impressive. The housing is attractive and feels durable, with a solid plastic build that doesn't feel cheap in your hands. On the back there's a small LCD screen that displays both brightness level and color temperature, which makes dialing in your look quick and intuitive. The fact that it covers both bi-color and RGB modes means you have a ton of creative flexibility in one tiny package, whether you're going for a natural daylight look or something more stylized for video.
The accessories that come with it are better than they have any right to be at this price. The tripod is handy and gets the light right where you need it, and the USB-C cord is impressively high quality, flexible and well made, the kind of cable that reminds you of what comes in the box with an Apple device. That's not something you usually say about a bundled cable.
For vloggers and video creators who want a capable, good looking fill light without spending a lot, the TOFU Graffiti is an easy recommendation. Highly recommend.
NOTE: before reading this review, please understand I am a camera ENTHUSIAST and professional photographer, I own about eight of these batteries, and my experience with this brand has been top notch, if I have questions their support team replies almost instantly on WhatsApp, and their products have STUNNING quality. I love and support this brand, you won't be disappointed by their batteries, chargers or the new QC100 Lite which is extremely bright and has a battery handle.
When you shoot professionally across multiple camera systems, battery reliability isn't a preference, it's a requirement. A dead or swollen battery on a paid shoot is a problem you can't afford. That's why I was careful about which third party batteries I was willing to trust, and after running Photoolex BB Pro batteries across my Nikon D810, Canon R5 Mark I, and Sony A1 II, I can say without hesitation that these earned that trust.
Runtime is right there with the name brands. I went in expecting a noticeable drop off compared to Nikon, Canon, and Sony's official batteries and it never came. Shoot after shoot, system after system, the BB Pro batteries keep up.
The longer I've used them the more I've come to appreciate what they don't do. They don't swell. Battery swelling is one of the more serious risks with cheaper off brand batteries and I've never seen it on a single BB Pro cell. They also don't self discharge. I've pulled BB Pro batteries out of my bag after weeks of sitting unused and found them holding charge right where I left them. That's not something you can say about every off brand option on the market.
I absolutely LOVE how this battery can be charged directly via USB-C, it is my favorite feature by far, although the little LCD screen is pretty hi-tech too.
I own all four battery types across all four camera systems and every single one has performed. For the price, there is genuinely no reason to pay name brand prices. Highly recommend.
I shoot professionally across three systems, a Nikon D810, a Canon R5 Mark I, and a Sony A1 II, and I've been running Photoolex BB Pro batteries in all of them. That gives me a pretty thorough basis for comparison against the name brand batteries I've used for years, and the verdict is simple: these match them shot for shot.
Runtime is the thing that matters most on a paid shoot and the BB Pro batteries last just as long as Nikon, Canon, and Sony's own batteries across all three of my systems. No exaggeration, no noticeable difference. That alone makes them worth it.
What I appreciate just as much though is what hasn't happened. I've never had a BB Pro battery swell, which is a real concern with cheaper off brand options and something that can actually damage your camera. I've also never had one self discharge, which is another common problem with budget batteries. Leave a bad off brand battery in your bag for a few weeks and you'll find it completely dead when you need it most. The BB Pro batteries hold their charge sitting in storage just like the name brands do.
For the price difference between these and official manufacturer batteries, the BB Pro is a no brainer. Highly recommend across all four battery types.
I shoot Canon, Nikon, and Sony and I own the Photoolex charger for all three systems. The BB2 for my Nikon is a fantastic piece of kit and follows the same design philosophy that makes the whole Photoolex lineup so easy to love.
The biggest thing this charger gets right is the same thing that won me over on the four slot BB4: the charger IS the storage case. Throw both batteries in, close it up, and slide the whole unit straight into your camera bag. No disconnecting batteries before transport, no separate storage case, no loose batteries rattling around. Simple and brilliant.
The charge indicator beats anything else I've seen at this price. Ten LEDs per battery slot show charge level in 10% increments instead of the vague four dot indicators most chargers use. You always know exactly where each battery stands before you head out the door.
Charging two batteries takes about an hour and a half, which is genuinely fast. Worth noting though: the four battery BB4 version charges all four in about two hours. If you're on the fence, I'd honestly suggest spending the extra few dollars for the BB4. The value jump is hard to argue with. That said, if two slots is all you need, the BB2 delivers everything you'd want.
USB-C charging, no proprietary cables, and works perfectly with both Nikon brand and third party batteries. I've been running Photoolex's own EN-EL15C batteries across all my systems and they've been fantastic. Worth picking up alongside this charger.
Highly recommend.
I own the Photoolex charger for my Canon R5, my Nikon D810, and my Sony A1 II, so I have a pretty good basis for comparison across the lineup. The BB4 for Nikon is a genuinely well thought out piece of kit.
The design feature that stands out most is that the charger doubles as a battery storage case. Load your four EN-EL15C batteries, close it up, and drop it straight into your camera bag. No need to remove the batteries before packing up, no separate storage solution required. For anyone carrying multiple batteries on a shoot, this alone is worth the price.
The charge indicator is better than anything else I've seen at this price point. Ten individual LEDs per battery slot show charge level in 10% increments rather than the vague four-dot indicators most chargers use. You always know exactly where each battery stands.
Other things worth noting: it charges via USB-C so no proprietary cables, it's compatible with both Nikon brand and third party batteries, and the 60W fast charging keeps your wait time short. I've been using Photoolex's own EN-EL15C batteries alongside it and they perform great across all my systems.
A practical, well-built charger that solves real problems. Recommended without hesitation.
I shoot outdoor portraits and Instagram videos professionally and I'm always looking for a light that can actually compete with the sun. The Q100Lite does exactly that. At 27,000 lux, this thing is stupidly bright in the best possible way. Outdoors in broad daylight, it still makes a visible, beautiful difference on your subject. That's not something you can say about most lights in this category.
Output and color quality that pros will appreciate
The CRI97+ and TLCI98+ ratings mean the light is rendering color almost perfectly, which matters enormously when your clients are paying for accurate skin tones and true-to-life color in their portraits. The bi-color range of 2700K to 6500K gives you full control from warm candlelight all the way to cool daylight, so you can match any environment or creative look without gels. The 15 built-in lighting effects are a nice bonus for video work and content creation.
The power grip is a game changer for location work
The 72Wh power grip is where this light really separates itself for professional use. I shot outdoors at dusk for two full hours running the light at around 60% brightness and still had 30% charge left when I packed up. That kind of battery life gives you real confidence on a paid shoot where you can't afford surprises.
One thing worth knowing about the power grip: to turn it on you need to hold down the power button rather than just clicking it. Then click the power button a couple of times until the screen shows the bottom two inputs are enabled, and then you can switch the light on. It took me a minute to figure out the first time but once you know it, it's second nature. A small learning curve for a very capable piece of kit.
Bottom line
If you're a professional shooter doing outdoor portraits, vlogs, or video content and you need a light that is portable, powerful, and color accurate, the Q100Lite is absolutely worth it. The power grip makes it a true run-and-gun solution without being tethered to an outlet. This one stays in my bag.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Ultimate Power Solution for Timelapse and Travel Photographers
Photoolex BB Pro Charger + NP-FZ100 Pro Batteries
I've been shooting photography for 20 years and if there's one thing that haunts every serious photographer, it's running out of battery at the worst possible moment. For timelapse photographers like me, that doesn't just mean a dead camera. It can mean losing an entire night's work.
Timelapse photography, especially an overnight "holy grail timelapse" from sunset to sunrise, can run 8 to 12 hours. A single NP-FZ100 battery lasts maybe 2 to 3 hours, and even less in cold temperatures. Even with a battery grip you're still looking at 5 or 6 hours before you're done. Sony's solution starting with the A7 II was to build a USB power input into their cameras so you can run them off an external battery bank continuously. The BB Pro is built perfectly around that feature.
A power bank built into the charger itself
The BB Pro isn't just a charger. It has a large internal battery bank that powers your camera via USB-C for the equivalent of three full NP-FZ100 batteries. Set your camera up at sunset, plug in the BB Pro, and it will still be running when the sun comes up. For overnight timelapses, this is a total game changer.
100W input, 60W USB-C output
The BB Pro charges its internal bank at up to 100W, so it tops up fast when you plug it into a wall or a high-powered charger. It also has a 60W USB-C output, meaning you can charge your phone, laptop, or any other USB-C device right from it. For traveling photographers, this replaces multiple chargers in your bag. One unit does it all.
Better batteries that charge via USB-C
The NP-FZ100 Pro batteries charge via USB-C and hold more power than Sony's official batteries. Out in the field miles from an outlet, you can top them up from a power bank in your backpack or your laptop. They also have a built-in LCD screen showing exact remaining charge, something Sony's own batteries don't offer.
Recharge dead batteries from the charger's internal bank
This is the feature I love most. I carry four to six batteries on a serious shoot. When they die, I drop them into the BB Pro and the internal bank recharges up to three batteries fully with no wall outlet needed. On a camping trip with no electricity nearby, dead batteries stay dead with a conventional charger. With the BB Pro, you recharge them right at your campsite.
A camera without power is just an expensive paperweight. This kit solves nearly every power problem a Sony shooter will face in the field. Highly recommend.
The new charger is great, love the screen with indicators lights that show the progress of charging each battery! Perfect for after all day shoots where multiple batteries were used and for me back to back weddings.
Compact speedlite, that is powerful. Locks on after placing on camera’s hotshoe. Easy to operate. Added magnetic color strips work perfect for creative shooting.
It came in the mail and I just love it I can't wait to start using it, for my photography.
After ordering "BB Pro & LP-E6P Battery Kit", the charger was delivered without delay! Subsequent tests confirmed that all charger functions work satisfactorily. The built quality is convincing!
The batteries were delivered separately, about a fortnight after my order was placed. Of course, a long-term review is not possible at this moment in time. Customer support inquiries were answered immediately - great job!
It is perfect size. Great lighting and the color covers are fantastic…. The greatgrands loved it when those were used…. Well worth the money spent….would purchase more products if need be
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