Today we are taking a look at a new super compact internal battery COB light – the Ulanzi LT028 40W which was designed for maximum portability and is by far the most affordable LED of this type on the market.
Ulanzi
Over the years, as we’ve been using Ulanzi products, we’ve watched the company’s product line expand. They’ve been making small lights for some time now, and recently Ulanzi entered the COB LED light market. Today we’re taking a look at their LT028 40W COB LED.
Ulanzi LT028 40W COB
Concept
With so many players on the market, the trend now is making the fixtures smaller and brighter. With an output of only 40W, Ulanzi claims this little guy is capable of producing 13,000 lux and, as a bonus, they fit a battery inside.
In the box
Ulanzi ships this light in a simple cardboard box. The package includes a reflector, a silicone light dome, and a power brick and cable. There is no carrying case, but with such a small form factor, you can fit this into any medium size pouch.
Build and design
The light is cased in an all-plastic fixture with a metal ¼’’ mount on the bottom. The front features a small Bowens-type mount but without a lock. The reflector fits on snugly, but it’s not clear how far you’re supposed to turn it.
Simple-to-use controls
We’re unsure if our unit is faulty, or maybe after some use, it’ll get easier to install the reflector. In any case, the LED doesn’t have any protection, so you kind of need to keep the reflector on even when transporting.
Ulanzi will probably offer a line of modifiers with this mount, or at least an adapter, but this is an example of a new problem that making smaller fixtures presents – there is no standard mount and you need a whole other set of modifiers.
Other than that, there are plenty of heat dissipation plates and vents. As for power options, there is only a DC plug on the back to connect the cable. We tried to power the unit from a 14v V-mount battery with a Dtap cable, and it worked with no problems.
Works with a D-Tap from a V-mount battery
Controls
On the back of the unit, there is an on/off tumbler and two knobs to control color temperature (2500K-6500K) and intensity. There is also a set of effects that you can control by clicking the CCT knob.
There is no menu and no Bluetooth control for this light. That’s a shame, but maybe such a small form factor calls for a different workflow. With such a tiny footprint, this light can live in one place and serve a specific purpose, like a key light for a talking head set up at the desk. No need to change settings or change modifiers.
Power and control on the back
Use cases
That’s not to say that this light can’t be used in a variety of shooting scenarios. The internal battery gives it versatility since you can shoot outside with it. It’s not powerful enough to overpower the sun, but for tight shots in the shade, these 40 watts will be just enough to liven up your shot. And with the battery lasting for about 75 minutes at full power, it can definitely come in handy.
Tests
We tested the output and light quality of the Ulanzi LT028, and here are the results that we got.
Ulanzi LT028 Sekonic C800 test result @30cm with a reflector
Results for the Ulanzi LT028 40W LED at 3200K @1m (bare):
- Color temperature: 3501K.
- Output: 862 Lux.
- CRI: 95.7 (R9 – 88; R12 – 87.1).
- TLCI: 99.
- TM-30 RF: 95; TM-30 Rg – 102.
- SSI: 81.
Results for the Ulanzi LT028 40W LED at 3200K @1m (with reflector):
- Color temperature: 3464K.
- Output: 2360 Lux.
- CRI: 96 (R9 – 92.5; R12 – 87.9).
- TLCI: 99.
- TM-30 RF: 95; TM-30 Rg – 101.
- SSI: 82.
Results for the Ulanzi LT028 40W LED at 3200K @1m (with reflector + dome):
- Color temperature: 3187K.
- Output: 461 Lux.
- CRI: 96.6 (R9 – 90.9; R12 – 88.5).
- TLCI: 99.
- TM-30 RF: 95; TM-30 Rg – 102.
- SSI: 86.
Results for the Ulanzi LT028 40W LED at 5600K @1m (bare):
- Color temperature: 5976K.
- Output: 964 Lux.
- CRI: 96.3 (R9 – 85.8; R12 – 81.6).
- TLCI: 98.
- TM-30 RF: 94; TM-30 Rg – 101.
- SSI: 74.
Results for the Ulanzi LT028 40W LED at 5600K @1m (with reflector):
- Color temperature: 5745K.
- Output: 2470 Lux.
- CRI: 97.5 (R9 – 93.3; R12 – 82.1).
- TLCI: 99.
- TM-30 RF: 94; TM-30 Rg – 100.
- SSI: 75.
Results for the Ulanzi LT028 40W LED at 5600K @1m (with reflector + dome):
- Color temperature: 5071K.
- Output: 553 Lux.
- CRI: 97.6 (R9 – 93.2; R12 – 84.3).
- TLCI: 99.
- TM-30 RF: 95; TM-30 Rg – 101.
- SSI: 74.
Results for the Ulanzi LT028 40W LED at 5600K @1m (with reflector) – internal battery only:
- Color temperature: 5744K.
- Output: 2470 Lux.
- CRI: 97.5 (R9 – 93.3; R12 – 82.1).
- TLCI: 99.
- TM-30 RF: 94; TM-30 Rg – 100.
- SSI: 75.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Ulanzi made a small and portable light that is bright enough for a number of indoor shooting setups. The internal battery isn’t great for a lot of daylight shoots, but it’s a good indicator that we might see other more powerful lights with internal batteries, which we’re very excited about.
Thanks to Ulanzi for leading the way and innovating, which will only make the smaller fixture market offer more options.
Tiny, affordable with an internal battery
Pricing
As for pricing, this small Ulanzi LED will start shipping at the end of August 2023 for a price of $100 (there is currently a sale with the light going for just under $80).
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Why should you trust us?
do you thing a regular 7.4V NPF battery with DC adapter plate would also work ?
is there a way to maybe add more internal battery ou replace it with a more powerful one ?