Light – Film, Video & Virtual reality

ZHIYUNhas launched the FIVERAY M40 pocket fill light and the FIVERAY F100 stick light. With their launch, ZHIYUN pushes the boundaries of lighting technology and performance to put studio-quality, ultra-portable lighting products in the hands of content creators. Used with ZHIYUN handheld gimbals, content creators can create silky-smooth footage with stable and soft lighting, even in dark outdoor settings, thanks to its stay-cool technology.

By raising the cooling efficiency through intelligent control, its two-way cooling system prevents overheating.

The palm-sized ZHIYUN M40 360° fill light epitomizes simplicity and utility. Based on the attitude-control algorithm applied on gimbals, DynaVort technology enables better heat dispersion, allows for smaller fans, and therefore, a compact device without compromising on its 40W power; whereas products of a comparable size currently only offer 5-13W. Weighing only 320g, it fits neatly in pockets, looks stylish and is the ultra-portable illumination companion for videographers, whether amateur or professional.

Yilun Liao, CEO, ZHIYUN, said: “we are passionate about using breakthrough innovations – whether it’s with our iconic gimbals or our new FIVERAY lighting devices – to simplify and reshape content creation. With several industry firsts under our belts including the M40’s DynaVort Cooling System™, our products offer full creative control and convenience for anyone wanting to experience and express their inner filmmaker.”

The ZHIYUN M40, embedded with 176 LED chips rivals the key lights provided by bulkier products on the market with:

Incredible illuminance of 14,000 lux at its peak
Adjustable dual color temperature ranging from 2,700-6,200K and consistent power output peaks at 40W with no strobing, ensuring a stable light source
A standard fidelity offering for both photography and videography with CRI reaching 96+ and TLCI reaching 97+*

ZHIYUN’s FIVERAY F100 is the second professional lighting stick in its FIVERAY product range, bringing power, portability and accurate color rendition in one versatile tool. Weighing just 950g, F100 is designed for one-handed control and comfort, offering a pro lighting solution without the need for complicated set-up or setting adjustment. Embedded with 5 times more LED chips, F100 gives you ultra-bright output compared to similar-sized lights, reaching 20,708 lux at its 100W maximum power. F100 offers six creative lighting effects that help build up the atmosphere easily when inspiration strikes. For maximum versatility, F100 can be mounted on ZHIYUN’s holder, H stand, tripod and light stand, fitting in various filming settings for lighting solutions and additional accessories, including a diffuser and grid, offer multiple lighting options.

The ZHIYUN F100 is packed with features:

One click operation of Hue Saturation Intensity mode via the control dial: HSI Mode. Adjust H-Hue (0-360°), S-Saturation (0-100%), I- Intensity (0-100%) via the dial and experience rich, vibrant colors.
Frosted casing creates a diffused, warm ambience while its groundbreaking structure integrates portability and performance.
Professional color rendition with the RGB increased by 47% from 2700K to 6200K in CCT Mode

Pricing and availability

Available from 23rd November 2022,

The ZHIYUN FIVERAY M40 is available for USD$99.

The ZHIYUN FIVERAY F100 is available for USD$249.

From December 7th to December 8th, the F100 and M40 will be available on a buy-one-get-one-free basis from Amazon ZHIYUN store, AliExpress, B&H, and ZHIYUN official store.

Rule Number 1 of any video or photography course is you must understand light to be successful at what you do. If there is no or insufficient light, then the image or clip will not expose properly, that is, be dark.

It’s a basic.

So, often we need to add light to be able to shoot the imagery we need and this is done by artificially adding light to a scene via some sort of lamp.

Now I do not intend this to be a lighting tutorial: there are dozens of those available and the techniques vary according to the specific circumstance – and it’s fair to say this is a science all to itself hence the Very Important position on the set of “lighting director”.

No, this is aimed at those on a budget who need some sort of light for their camera in order to get an acceptable shot. For example, when shooting an interview, these need to be lit correctly to remove shadows, “bring out” the subject against the background and so on.

Video lights can cost a motza. Just Googling “Video Light Cost” shows a variance between top and bottom of the first 5 found listed of over AUD$1000.

Way back in the past – about 1997 if I recall – I found a basic video light in a duty free shop in Vanuatu for $75 and a grabbed it. This little non branded light served me well for a few years, mainly on trips where I was shooting inside buildings, people at night around BBQs, night fishing and other holiday type stuff.

I eventually lost that light somewhere in Europe and didn’t really have a use for a new one until recently when I had to shoot some private tutorials. The on-camera light for my Panasonic HC-PV100 did a fair job, but the scene – a talking head – needed filling out and so I searched around for an inexpensive solution.

And found the Aputure Amaran AL-M9. At AUD$80 it certainly didn’t break the bank but has a bunch of features which I reckon make it excellent value.

In summary, stuff that won me over were:

Pocket-Sized LED Video Light
5500K ± 200K Colour Temperature
9 Smooth Dimmable Steps
Removable Magnetic Diffuser
CTO and CTB Gel Filters Included
Built-In Rechargeable 1800mAh Li-Ion Battery
Universal Mount Adapter Included
Fits on Tripods, Cameras, and Cold Shoe Mounts

The Aputure Amaran AL-M9 comes in a dinky little carry case and can be installed and ready to run on a camera or stand in seconds.

If the AL-M9 is not what you are after, Aputure has a decent range of other lights (as well as other accessories). I bought mine from Kayell in Sydney.

Tag: Light

New Zhiyun Fiveray F100 and M40 Pro Lights

Pricing and availability

Review: Aputure Amaran AL-M9 Video Light (under $100!)