Profoto, a specialist in high-end flash photography, has just announced that it is entering the cinema market with its first continuous COB LED light, the L1600D. This high-performance LED light has a fixed color temperature of 5,700K. It has a built-in power supply, so no external ballast, and has a massive 49,000lx at 5m/16.4ft with the included step-up reflector. Let’s take a look!
Profoto is known among photographers around the world for its wide variety of studio and outdoor flashes, which are solidly built and have extreme longevity. Over the years, the company has also developed its lighting modifiers and modeling tools with its own Profoto mount.
With decades of experience, the Swedish company ventures into the film market with its first product: the Profoto L1600D.
Profoto L1600D – features
As its name suggests, the Profoto L1600D is a 1600W “mono-LED” light. This device has a fixed color temperature of 5,700K with a CRI/TLCI greater than 97 and can be dimmed from 0 to 100% in 0.1% increments. Additionally, Profoto mentions that the L1600D does not flicker at any frame rate.
Measuring 50 x 26 x 29cm/19.6 x 10.2 x 11.4” with the built-in reflector and weighing 11.7kg/25.8lbs just for the light head plus yoke, the L1600D is not the most portable or lightest device on the market. market.
The L1600D has a built-in power supply and does not run on external batteries. Connects to mains power via a Neutrik powerCON connector located on the back of the light head and the included 7m/23ft power cable.
To cool the L1600D, Profoto developed its own patent-pending HydroCTech liquid cooling system. It features two 140mm fans inside the unit, but the noise should be reasonable. The light is weather resistant (IP54 certified), so it is not waterproof, but it should survive the harsh conditions of outdoor recording if you treat it with care.
Profoto only shared an image of the side of the L1600D, making it difficult to gather all the information. However, it can be seen that on the front there is a dual mount for Profoto and Bowens lighting modifiers. On the back, you’ll find a USB-C port, a 5-pin XLR input/output port for DMX control, and an antenna for the Profoto Air Radio protocol that supports remote control up to 100m/328ft. Lastly, the L1600D also supports the Lumen Radio and CRMX protocols.
Price and availability
At this time, Profoto has not provided any information on the price or availability of the L1600D. If you attend CineGear in Burbank, California, June 7-9, you’ll be able to see this powerful LED light in person.
For more information, visit the Profoto website here.
What do you think of Profoto’s first continuous LED light? Have you already used Profoto flashes? Do you think fixed temperature LED lights will still be relevant in 2024? Feel free to tell us in the comments below!
