[ad_1]
As a photographer on a budget, I’d been looking for a relatively inexpensive beginner’s lighting set-up for quite a while.
In the past I settled for renting lights when I needed them (Profoto studio strobes usually), but that’s not always a great option – especially when I need lighting on the go.
Luckily, just when I was trying to decide which kit to buy, Westcott came out with its new U60-B Bi-Color LED Softbox Kit.
Westcott’s a great company and I really loved their entry-level speedlight, so I was excited to give this new content creator’s lighting kit a try.
Highly Recommended
Westcott U60-B Bi-Color LED Softbox Kit
Offers beautiful light quality, easy setup, and handy battery option, all for an affordable price.
Check Current Price
The U60-B Bi-Color LED softbox kit is a constant light kit (as opposed to a strobe), which makes it great for video as well as photography.
It also comes at an extremely attractive price point. (Strobes are unfortunately way out of my budget at the moment.)
The kits themselves come in one-light, two-light, and three-light options and are designed for content creators who are looking for their first high-quality set-up.
In this review, I’ll share what I found from taking the three-light setup on a portrait shoot.
But first, let’s dive into the specs.
Westcott U60-B Bi-Color LED Softbox Kit Specs
Pros
Easy and quick setup
Beautiful quality of light
Affordable price point
Magnetic modifiers
Battery option
Includes stands
Cons
Not Bowens mount
Limited light modifiers available
No carrying case
Included instructions could be better
Lighting
Lamp Type: 60W LED
Beam Angle: 120° (without softbox)
Dimmable Range: 1-100%
Auto Memory Recall: Yes
Flicker Free: Up to 4000 fps
Control Range: Up to 115′ (Up to 35 meters)
Cooling: Low-Decibel Fan
Photometric Data
CCT: 3200-5600K
CRI: Up to 97 (without softbox)
TLCI: Up to 99 (without softbox)
SSI: Up to 83 (without softbox)
Foot-Candles (1m): 274.06 (without softbox)
Lux (1m): 2950 (without softbox)
Light Modifiers
Shape: 22″ Octagonal
Reflective Color: Silver
Mounting Style: Modifiers: Magnetic mount; Umbrellas: Round and Hex shafts up to 9mm
Modifier Style: Collapsible Softbox
Electrical
Amps: 5A Max.
Voltage: 15V ~ 21V
Watts: 68W
Input Power: 100 to 240 VAC, 50 / 60 Hz
Output Power: 19V DC @ 5A Max.
Cable Connector: Barrel Plug (5.5 x 2.1mm)
Max. Output: 60W
Operating Temp.: 32º – 95°F (0º – 35°C)
Power Cord: 9.85 ft. (3m)
Auto. Power Off: @Temperature > 167°F (75°C)
Power Type: AC/DC (DC Components Sold Separately)
Warranty
What’s in the Kit
If you’re starting from scratch with your lighting setup, a Westcott kit is generally the way to go. It comes with everything you need right out of the box.
For example, the Westcott U60-B 3-light kit comes with
3 x U60-B Bi-Color LED
2 x U60-B 22″ Magnetic Collapsible Octabox
3 x U60-B Magnetic Diffusion Dome
1 x U60-B Remote Control
3 x U60-B AC Adapter & Cable
2 x Lightweight Light Stand (6.5′)
1 x Lightweight Backlight Stand (3′)
Which kit you buy really depends on what kind of lighting setups you’re planning to do, how much space you have to work with, and your budget.
I opted for the three-light version as I wanted maximum versatility in my portrait shooting.
That being said, I’d probably opt for the 2-light kit if I had to do it again. I found the backlight not quite the right size for my needs.
Build Quality
As this is an entry-level kit, I wasn’t expecting anything incredible in terms of build quality, and I was neither surprised nor disappointed.
The lights themselves seem well-made enough. It’s clear that Westcott paid attention to the various attachment points. All of them seem like they can hold up to a fair amount of use.
In fact, in some areas it seems clear that Westcott put some real thought into the build.
For example, the screw-on power cable design generally offers a more secure and stable connection than the standard plug design. It can’t accidentally fall out or not be fully plugged in.
The power cord connection has a screw-on design and won’t come out accidentally.
The stands are pretty light and plasticky and don’t feel as durable as I would have liked. For me, they’re probably the weakest link of the kit. Still, they do the job.
I do wish there was more protection for the LED chips when changing out from the diffusion dome to the softbox.
Maybe it’s because I’m unused to these types of LED lights, but it seems like the chips are quite exposed (and potentially fragile) any time I’m switching things out.
What the UB-60 looks like when switching out from the diffusion dome to the softbox and back.
On the plus side, the magnets in both the diffusion dome and the softbox attachments are satisfyingly strong.
Someone commented on a video about not trusting the magnets (at least without a safety attached to the modifiers), but I’ve got to say, it’s truly hard to imagine them failing. They’re quite strong.
The softbox material also seems pretty standard for this price point: not particularly exceptional, but fully functional.
I am a bit concerned about how the softboxes will hold up over time. I wish there were instructions about whether it’s ok to leave them fully expanded or whether it’s advisable to disassemble them after every shoot. (I suspect the latter.)
All-in-all, this is a decently-built kit with all the pieces functioning as intended. How durable it is is hard to say, but everything’s certainly fully functional right out of the box.
Also, I trust Westcott to make things right if something fails.
Size & Handling
The softbox on the left is at the maximum height of the stand. The man is 5’9″.
As Westcott’s entry-level lighting system, the U60-Bs were intended to be both affordable and easy to use.
Size-wise, the lighting instruments aren’t particularly over-large (though definitely larger than the nicely compact yet more expensive L60-Bs).
The octaboxes included in the kit are a bit on the small size (22″), and unfortunately, there aren’t yet any other softbox options. (This is actually my biggest disappointment – a proprietary mount with limited modifiers instead of a Bowens mount or an adaptor that would let you use the other Westcott lighting modifiers.)
If you haven’t used lights before, you’ll need to keep in mind how much space you’ll need – not just for the lights themselves, but also the distance from the background/subject.
My first shoot with these lights was in a fairly small space, and while 22 inches is relatively small for an octabox, it seemed huge in the space I was working in – especially with two of them. (I probably would have been better served using a reflector for the fill light.)
Operation of the Westcott U60-B LED lights was designed to be super simple: a wheel changes the color temperature and light output with a center button that toggles between them.
As far as handling is concerned, the U60-B’s were designed to be quite simple to operate. There are only two controls: the wheel that controls power output and color temperature and the on/off switch. Super simple.
The brightness goes from 1-100% and the color temperature from 3200K-5600K. The built-in LCD screen tells you where you are on the scale at any given moment.
If you like, you can use the remote control to adjust the brightness and color temperature (as well as turning the instruments on and off), but be aware: it affects all lights equally.
If you want to change the settings on only one light, you’ll need to do that on the back of the light.
For example, if you have a key light and a fill light, it’s unlikely that you’ll be using the same power settings for both lights. If you want to increase your fill but not your key, you won’t be able to use the remote (and vice versa).
One thing that’s cool is that the remote works from up to 115′ (35m) away. I found that handy when I was wanting to turn the entire set off or on.
The base of the softbox. Assembling the softbox wasn’t readily apparent to me nor was it in the included instructions. I needed to go online to figure it out.
The only slightly complicated part of the U60-B setup is figuring out how to put together the softbox.
If you’ve never done it before, it probably won’t seem particularly straightforward, and how to assemble it isn’t included in the instructions that come with the kit. I had to go online to figure it out.
Once it was clear how to put the softbox together, assembly/disassembly was easy enough.
The buttons on the back release the tension of the spines. Once you get used to it, assembly and disassembly can be quite quick and painless. Just give yourself a bit of time to figure it out the first time.
Other than softbox assembly, usage of everything in the kit is quite straightforward.
It was designed so that the only thing you really have to think about is how you want to do your lighting. Operating the lights is a no-brainer.
Light Quality
A single-light set-up using a Westcott U60-B Bi-color LED light.
Westcott’s U60-Bs are 60W bi-color LEDs with high color accuracy (up to 97 CRI, 99 TLCI, 83 SSI) and relatively quiet, flicker-free performance up to 4,000 FPS.
The light that comes from them is beautifully soft, even when just using the diffusion dome.
The image to the left is a two-light set-up. The image to the right is using all lights. I found the background light too strong for the amount of space I was using, however. (I couldn’t get it far enough away from the background.)
One challenge I found (other than having a VERY orange room to work in), was a hot spot that I couldn’t account for.
I have well over a decade of experience working with constant lights as a theater electrician and am well aware of how to direct them, but for the life of me I couldn’t figure out how the hot spot was ending up where it was ending up.
If you look at the top photo in this series, you can see a hot spot right behind the model’s head, yet you can see from the shadow that the light was coming from the model’s right side, not from any direction that would account for the hotspot.
In the photo below, you can see the hot spot high and to the left, but I was aiming the key light down from above, on the model’s right side. (The fill light was really low in intensity.)
It happened with both the diffusion domes and with the softboxes. I spent a fair amount of time checking for light leaks and didn’t find any.
In fact, I found no flaws in the lighting instrument at all, so the hot spot remained a mystery. I’m guessing there’s some sort of learning curve here – something obvious that I haven’t figured out.
It also took some time finding the right color temperature – what I thought should work, didn’t. Luckily that was easy enough to work with, as it was easy to change, and with constant light, what you see is what you get.
Overall, though, I was quite pleased with the quality of light. With more practice and getting to know these particular lights, they would work well for most of my applications – especially once I invest in the battery options (which I’m actually excited about).
Power
Indoors – especially in a small space – I found 60W more than enough to work with.
In fact, even on the lowest settings I sometimes found myself wanting to dim further – especially with the background light.
I haven’t had a chance to try the kit outdoors.
Accessories and Light Modifiers
The Westcott U60-B Light Kits all come with a softbox (per light), a diffusion dome, and a remote control. The setup is also compatible with diffusion umbrellas.
As mentioned before, the system doesn’t use a Bowens mount, nor does it have an option to tie into any of Westcott’s other light modifiers.
The system is proprietary, which means you can only use modifiers built for it (with the exception of an umbrella). This is definitely the biggest disappointment for me with this kit.
If you want access to more light modifiers, you’ll have to bump up to the the Westcott L60-B, which comes with a Mini Westcott light mount adapter that’s compatible with Westcott’s Rapid Box Switch light modifiers.
As mentioned before, the remote control works great as a global on/off switch and for changing the settings on a single-light setup.
It works from quite far away, and I appreciated not having to go to each light in turn to turn it on or off.
The accessory I’m most excited about (but haven’t invested in yet), is the battery option – something the Godox equivalent doesn’t offer. I do a lot of on-site photography, and being able to place the lights where I want them is a huge plus.
Speaking of run-and-gun work and working on location, I’d recommend investing in a carrying case, as one isn’t included.
Alternatives
The most popular alternative to the Westcott U60-B is the Godox SL60IID. The 2-Light kit [Amazon] runs around the same price as the U60-B 2-light kit, but has a few important differences.
If you’re looking for a powerful and accurate daylight LED light with special effects and silent operation, but don’t mind the lack of color temperature adjustment and don’t need a battery option, the Godox SL60IIDs will be the better choice – especially if you plan to use a variety of light modifiers.
The power output of the Godox SL60IIDs is considerably stronger than the Westcott U60-Bs; they come with a Bowen’s mount, have a silent cooling system, and include special effects.
On the downside, they have a fixed color temperature (5600K) and there is no battery option. The 2-Light kit also doesn’t come with stands or diffusion domes, so you’ll need to make extra purchases if you need either of these. It does, however, come with a case.
If you’re looking for more versatility, though, either in terms of color temperature or using the battery option (the second of which is hugely important to me), the Westcott U60-Bs will be your better choice. (I find the fans on the U60-Bs to be quiet enough.)
Another thing that’s hard to find from Godox at this price point is the option to buy in a complete 1-, 2-, or 3-light kit.
For someone just getting started who just wants to make one purchase, Westcott’s got the beginner options nailed down.
Value for Money
At just under US$150, the Westcott 2-Light kit is more than competitively priced.
I’d say the same for the 1-light kit. I’m a bit undecided about the 3-light kit, as I didn’t find the background light as useful as I’d hoped. (I felt that I needed light modifiers for it, at least in the conditions I was using it in.)
Westcott U60-B Bi-Color LED Softbox Kit Review | Conclusion
Overall, the Westcott U60-B kits are great beginner lighting kits, especially if you’re not anticipating using a ton of light modifiers.
They’re easy to operate, the quality of light is excellent, and the option for battery power is a significant plus.
The kits also come with everything you need to get started right away.
In addition, Westcott is a fantastic company. Their customer support is top-notch and they really care about their products.
I’m a bit bummed about the lack of an adaptor for Westcott’s Rapid Box Switch modifiers, as I found myself wanting to sculpt the light in ways that just weren’t possible with the octaboxes or diffusion domes.
Also, it would be nice to opt for larger softboxes at times.
Still, if you’re a beginner looking for a lighting solution that’s good for both photography and video (or just video), I think the U60-B lighting kits are a solid option.
The light quality is beautiful, it’s flicker free, and the battery option makes it fantastic for those of us shooting in a variety of situations.
[ad_2]
