review – Lighting can make or break your work area, it can do the same for video. If making videos is your job, it’s a double whammy. Today’s gadgets help with this with some surprising sidebars. GeoSmartPro AirLit is a wireless portable ring light with a fan. There is also a mirror. stay tuned!
What is it?
The GeoSmartPro AirLit Ring Light is a ring light that offers a wide range of color temperatures with a multi-speed fan and a magnetically attachable mirror.
What’s in this box?
- Battery/Charging Cradle
- GeoSmartPro AirLit Ring Light/Fan with Telescoping Stand
- Mirror
- Clip-on phone holder
- USB-A<=>USB-C power cable
feature
- Control: Full control at your fingertips with the GeoSmartPro app.
- Fan: Choose the fan mode (low, high, medium and natural) to manage airflow according to your preference.
- Lighting: Set the lighting theme (warm, neutral and cool) according to the environment you set, perfect for live streaming and vlogging.
- Mirror: Turn it into a light mirror, perfect for grooming and hairstyles.
- App Automation: Personalize your AirLit with app automation.
- Portable: Easy to use, up to 15 hours on a full charge.
- Compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
design
The GeoSmartPro AirLit Ring Light is divided into several large pieces. The base can be charged independently of the stand plugged in, but once the base is charged, the stand needs to be inserted and locked in place to use the ring light or fan. Inserting and twist-locking the bracket into place is very easy, and once done, there is no need to repeat.
The lights and fans can be controlled via buttons in the base, but could theoretically also be controlled via a downloadable app.
set up
The GeoSmartPro AirLit Ring Light is advertised as a smart light you can control from your smartphone. I checked the first few pages of the manual and tried pairing with the button on the base of the fan with no luck at all. Finally, on page 19(!!) of the instruction manual, it says “Oh yes, you should download this app, here are the pairing instructions.” Page 19! ! After downloading and pairing, I’d happily report that the phone was able to fully control the AirLit’s fan and lighting functions, but it wasn’t. Sometimes the fan always stays in an off state: when it’s set to off, it’s actually low. When set high, it is off. Sometimes, it doesn’t respond at all. I re-paired, reset, and generally did everything except let all batteries drain completely and start from scratch, but there was always a difference between what the phone app said and how the ring light or fan was set up Two levels of difference, or just no response. That’s it – we just learn to embrace the difference and embrace it.
Performance
In terms of actual performance (excluding the app and how it’s set up), the lighting is great. Using the button, you can set it to full cool lighting, full warm lighting, or a 50/50 mix of the two with repeated taps of the button. In the app, you can actually use the slider to go from full warm to full cool seamlessly. It would be nice to have a digital way because you have to release the slider to wait for the new setting to take effect.
As advertised, the fan is somewhat silent at the lowest speed. Increasing the speed level further creates noise and is exacerbated by the mirror, which covers the airflow to some extent.
The mirror is a thin piece of glass glued to a thin, hard fiberboard. It is then housed in a silicon case with a high-strength magnet on the back. This circular magnet cooperates with a steel sheet mounted in the center of the fan motor, so that the mirror sits in the center of the ring light and has enough space for air to pass around it.
The unit also has other features: you can charge your phone with the battery while you shoot, and you can use it as a desk lamp, giving your work area a variety of angles, whether it’s direct task lighting or a reflection off a ceiling or a wall. The head rotates 360º while it is fully tilted from 180º parallel to the work surface to shoot straight. This would be great for anyone doing remote work (like camping or beach remotes) or recording in other areas where power may not be available. Not easy to break down and travel, but worth it if needed.
The total weight of the unit is only 2 pounds 9 ounces (1160 grams). It’s easy to move around unless you extend it to a full 30 inches in length. Then it’s a little inconvenient.
what do I like
- Full cool/warm/mixed lighting range
- Fan cools the user down
- charging port
what would i change
- Ring lights need to allow users to shoot through the ring
- The button doesn’t actually show the status of lights or fans, other than on or off
- Once assembled, it is difficult to disassemble for travel or storage as the post fits snugly with the socket.
final thoughts
Ring lights were invented by photographers to evenly cast light onto a subject from all sides of a camera lens. You’ll get the benefit of even lighting, and if the lens is moved far enough, you’ll also have a nice circular image in the subject’s eye. With glasses, this effect can have very bad results. I’ve learned to tilt the glasses up so the reflections aren’t as bad, but in the video, you’ll notice that because the light is 5-8 inches above the ring, you sometimes see reflections. But it all means that the camera lens needs to shoot through the ring. The GeoSmartPro AirLit Ring Light, no matter how fun and useful, lacks this main function of a ring light: even lighting from around the camera lens. While it does provide decent lighting and even cooling for those under heat lamps (LEDs, by their nature, don’t get hot, but you will!), it doesn’t provide the purpose of even lighting a ring light.
Price: $119.00
where to buy: GeoSmartPro.com and Best Buy
resource: This product sample is provided by GeoSmartPro.
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