I bought the Godox SL100Bi after trying a few cheaper LED panels, and this one is on a totally different level. The light quality is beautiful — bright, clean, and super consistent. I use it mostly for video interviews and product shots, and the color temperature control is a lifesaver. Being able to dial from warm to cool light (2800K–6500K) gives me all the flexibility I need to match natural light or create a specific mood.
It’s surprisingly quiet too. The fan barely makes a sound, even after an hour of use, which matters a lot when I’m recording voiceovers. The wireless app control works great — I can adjust brightness and color from my phone without touching the light mid-shoot.
The only small downside is that it’s not battery-powered, so you’ll need to stay near an outlet or bring an extension cord if you’re on location. Not a problem for me as I always travel with an Eco Flow battery system, but just something to be aware of.
I’ve used a few different Godox lights, and this one might be my favorite balance of size, power, and price. Solid build, dependable performance, and pro-level results without spending a fortune.
Roberto Cienfuegos
★★★★★
Really nice light.
Great lighting.
Godox has a very large variety of lights and modifiers and makes it very easy to work in any environment. Very responsive and good quality lighting that is pleasing to the eye and makes the skin look good too. Has several mounts options and is definitely versatile and would work to any style of photography or videography.
Very nice reflector and has plenty of power.
Sound Hound
★★★★★
Compact Studio Light
This is a traditional lighting fixture that you would expect to use in the studio as fill or as a primary if 100W is enough for your key. It is mostly metal construction (body) with molded plastic (handle, rear control plate, etc.) along with a metal reinforced plastic light stand mount and swivel. Light output is as expected, color temperature can be adjusted and from my eye color accuracy looks good. I think this fixture is best if you are looking to stay within the Godox ecosystem and want a fill or secondary light for your set. The app connected quickly to the fixture and provided control of both color temperature and brightness. There are other fixtures in this wattage range that cost less but the build quality and the Godox brand might be worth the extra cost knowing you have a dependable fixture in your arsenal.
M
Matt
★★★★★
Solid build, time tested design
Is this the most compact light for run and gun shooting? No, but it is a tried and true design that will work well in the vast majority of real world circumstances where people need a video light (or photography light), and the superior build quality should make this last for ages....
On the build quality, there is a lot of metal to be found. The primary casing material is metal, and the Bowens mount is metal a well! I would have loved it if the handle were metal and the c-stand/spigot mount were come sort of cast aluminum, but alas they are plastic. Good quality, but plastic.
Setup is a breeze. The on-light interface is simple with just 2 dials and a switch. Adjust the color temp, adjust the intensity, and toggle between FX if needed. I really like the two knobs/dials, I find them to be quite smooth and not "jerky" when going increasing or decreasing the intensity. The intensity will also decrease all the way to 0% (no light) as well. This is a feature that isn't always present on video lights, but I greatly appreciate!
The app functionality is pretty standard. Nothing to gripe about, but nothing that stands out against other such apps.
The noise output of this light is relatively low, though not silent. What helps is that with the longer body, any tone it does put out is a low tone that would likely get cut with application of a low cut filter. I must stress that while this isn't "silent" it is quite soft, and totally useable for video work where you'll be using microphones.
Color quality adjustments are good as well, and the range of 2800 to 6500 is generous. And lastly, the power cord is amazingly long! I don't know exactly how long but it is at least 16 feet.
