Hi Markus, sorry for the confusion caused and we appreciate your feedback on the product. We'll soon publish a quick tutorial video on our UA-cam channel for better guidance. Some little tips that might be helpful: 1. Single press the power button until the indicator shines, then long press it to power on the light. (we've made a small sticker on the top as a reminder) 2. Remember to dial the DIM button to above zero so the light can be illuminated. For all potential customers, we provide "30-day no-reason-to-return policy", so if you're not so sure about it but wanna give it a try, feel free to order one for testings.😄 Thanks again for your honest feedback, Markus😉
@zhiyuntechofficial can you guys address the issue with the batteries for this unit? Mine died after not using it for about 3 months. It will not charge and not turn on. I can't use my unit because of this and I paid a lot of money for it.
@@o0YumRamen0o these were issues with the older X100 units (first batch). Zhiyun did offer a statement offering free replacement to the newer ones and also lifetime warranty. Check their channels to learn more
Man you are the most honest person on UA-cam. Sending love all the way from Nepal. Markus to be honest I didn't like your videos at first because you questioned all the technical norms of photography that I ever believed in and later when I watched more of your videos I came to realized I was in dark the entire time. Thanks for enlightening me.
Zhiyun put out a notice that there are replacing the Molus x100 batteries under an extended warranty! I would say contact them and you can get it replaced! I hope this helps! 👍🏾
THANK YOU FOR THE WARNING. I use my original X100, which is plugged in as a great little hair light for my zoom calls. Love the tiny little softbox they make for it. Great little thing. Certainly gets hot though. WATCH OUT
Ooofff. Thank you for the heads up. Totally agree with the operational frustrations.. Not that I couldn't use lights but not even entering the giveaway on these....I think they would drive me MAD !
Thanks for a helpful video. Maybe, for safety, before powering it off, first turn down the brightness to zero, so if it does come on unexpectedly, it will be at zero brightness, so it won't get hot.
I have seen nothing but constant ads for this product and i have to say i've been contemplating buying one for the purpose of conducting interviews and wedding videos. I'm so glad i found YOUR video on this because i know you'll be brutally honest about products ever since the channel started. Keep up the good work, i'll be looking for something more fitting for safety. I'll be looking into your channel to see if you have lighting comparisons (im sure you have one haha).
Instead of the clumsy power brick you can use the X100 with USB C up to 100 watts. I've got tons of high power USB bricks and adapters in all wattage ranges so this is a great option for me. They power variably as well and the 50% brightness clicks increase linearly with the amount of power coming from the brick. So if you're using a small 65watt brick like I often do, one click is 37% brightness, another click is 65% brightness (the full power of the 65w brick) and another click is off. It's just a cord coming out of the wall essentially and hyper portable, a great solution.
Power bricks aren't attached to devices so the manufacturer can get power supply heat away from the unit. This is fairly common. Also many power supplies create a lot of rf noise so this is a benefit for some devices. Always appreciate your videos Markus!
Had these in the cart, thanks for the video. Going to go with the x100's. Powering it on is like the DJI drones so that wouldn't bothering me but the high heat and it randomly coming on and flying as much as I do might as well go up to the x100. Downside is I'm in Canada and it's not 250 and 350, it's 250 and 500. Well 500 for the kit.
I found the on/off switch on the Molus X100 frustrating-it nearly derailed an interview. Additionally, the battery in my M20C wouldn’t charge from the start and failed entirely after just one use. When I reached out to customer support, they repeatedly requested that I ship the unit back to China, with no consideration for shipping restrictions or airline safety concerns. Altogether, these experiences have led me to steer clear of their products.
If you really want to use that 2nd one, I have an idea - Pry off the battery section with a flat screw driver. There should be only glue I believe. After prying you will see both sections are attached with a twin wire. Cut the wire one by one in the middle and attach XT30 male/female plugs to it. Attach longer wires on both sides if it is too short. This will allow you to plug the battery separately whenever you want. To keep them both together while using, attach neodymium magnets to the battery and the lamp body.
Not surprised Markus, looks like a DJI patent, one of my controllers has developed this weird behaviour when I try to switch it on - the power button does not register correctly when pressed. Need to really focus on pressing it hard to register (and the fact it requires a specific sequence makes it harder).
iIn the version sold in China, there is a sticker next to the power button that tells you to click and long press to turn on the power. Therefore, I think this power on method is not a problem, but it actually acts like a safety switch
The Zhiyun lights are very sensitive to heat build up. They work OK until they heat up and then will shut off at 100%. A recent shoot the lights only worked at 50% after an hour. When I got home the lights worked at 100% again.
Just a heads up! If you turn the dial on the lights to ZERO. If for some strange reason it does power on, the light won't illuminate. Just make sure you turn the dial to zero and you should be fine. Also, the CX100 has a port for USB PD (power delivery) which means you don't need a brick to power it. You can use a PD battery bank or plug it straight into a wall outlet with a usb-c power adapter (like a cell phone charger). I hope this helps! Good video! 👍🏾
Really baffling design choices for this light... Not only they are a fire hazard they are potentially an explosion hazard too: Lithium Ion Batteries exposed to high heat can reach a point in which thermal runaway occurs and it could blow up, since it could be the case that it won't be the only battery in your bag it is exponentially worse!!! (multiple batteries blowing up) This could have been solved so easily by allowing the unit to be detached from the battery! Thanks for the heads up Markus!! Truly appreciated!
I have the CM25...it absolutely was dialed in on off, well below zero...I charged it with the supplied Zhiyun cables...for some reason, it came on FULL POWER when completely charged...dial was at zero. Ugh...don't leave these unattended. Should have a proper off button separate from dial.
I got the one with the removable battery from my local camera store for $150 - came with a few accessories which made it a decent deal. I usually just leave it plugged in. The battery take FOR-EV-EVER to charge and only lasts about 30 min even at half power.
@@MarkusPix I just re-checked. It was $150 off, bringing the price down to $199. Still a decent deal. I use it with the mini softbox and grid as a fill light and it's great!
The shot press then long press is the same way that DJI drones are turned on so will feel familiar to anyone who uses them. kinda wierd but i guess it stops accidental turn ons.
It does not prevent a turn on when something is being continuously rubbed and jostled inside a case or bag. A button like that is ok for a drone and maybe a camera, but not a light that can start fires.
I guess the one short- + one long-press combination came to this light from Zhiyun gimbals, to where it came from DJI gimbals, to where it came from DJI drones 😅 With drones, it’s pretty standard and works for both turning on and off.
0:14 The little guy behind comes to life at night. He walks around the house, look at Markus and Cara sleeping and changes randomly the position of objects. And now that Cara have read this, good luck to Markus trying to keep it.
Personally I would love the light to just have the USB-C PD power input- I can then power with one of the many wall mount adapters I (and most of us...) already own, and in the field use a V-Mount (which many already own as well...) with a USB-C PD output. Maybe add a V-Mount battery mount on the light to make that 'add your own battery' solution even simpler!
Hi Markus, totally agree it's potentially hazardous. Maker totally 'cheaped' out on this unit. Original Molus is much better and way to go in this form factor. Separately, off topic, have you tried Amaran's Ace 25c? It's not as powerful, but a neat size for travel. Won't be enough outside but maybe good as a fill or colour accent. I just orderd 2 units on a BF deal and hope they are OK to augment my existing 4 larger Amaran lights for video. I still use my Godox AD 200s for OC flash with stills.
The X100 looks like a great light for travel. The CX100 looks like a great deal, for not traveling and for someone who doesn't mind the occasional frustration.
I have reviewed and tested this light, and I think there is a one-in-a-million chance for it to accidentally power on. I believe what happened in your case is that you left it on, but it was set to 0% brightness, and then the brightness knob was somehow touched by the bag, which turned the light on. However, I might be mistaken, but I do agree with you that it has very cheap knobs, and you can't really use them to precisely adjust the brightness (I wish Zhiyun would've put a cheap display on the back to see the brightness level and color temp). Also, the center spotlight effect when using this light with the Bowens mount adapter and a softbox was one of the first things I noticed with this light; it's definitely a major downside. Anyway, thank you for always being honest, it's rare on UA-cam.
There are many ways to address this: You can empty your batteries before traveling; they will be empty and therefore there is no risk of them turning on. You can set the potentiometer to the minimum.
1. what if you are traveling to the photo location and have no time to charge. Even if you charge in the hotel, it can catch your bag on fire (and car) while traveling. 2. Even if knob is set to zero, when it clicks on, the light comes on. Sorry.
People wanted a cheaper version, they made a cheaper version 😅 The original X100 is amazing, more quality, more precise... about the power cord, it's as basic as it gets. They can improve it, making it like an apple macbook pro usb-c wall charger.
I am havine an issue with the battery grip of the X100, it doesn't charge anymore, I used it like 5 times only. it was charging fine with a 65w PD power adapter :/
yeah they go bad fast, happened to me too. Another reason I'm not crazy about the X100. Zhiyun will fix the batteries if you send them the receipt and serial number. Its almost better to use your own 100w USB power bank, but then you have to deal with annoying cords etc
When they source a certified power brick from another mfr or don't supply one at all they save a bunch money meeting us, eu safety requirements. CSA certifying your lighting with powers supplies takes engineering. I started looking into manufacturing led lighting. To get a design and prototype to CSA certified looked like it would take about 20-50k depending on how much rework you had to incur. At the end of the day it's far easier to buy the parts and self assemble if you aren't running a company and need to be insured.
Slightly off topic but on the subject of lighting, I've been wondering if there is a similarity or a relationship mathematically between the attributes that affect shadow softness (light size, distance from subject, etc.) and the attributes that create a blurry background (apterture size, distance from subject, etc.).
Where did you get this idea? I can have totally sharp shadows and super blurry backgrounds at the same time. One is determined by the light source, the other by the f-stop aperture and focal length.
I dont think I explained that well 😅 yes, I understand that you can have a blurry background and sharp shadows at the same time and there is no correlation there, but I'm saying that as you come closer to a light source the softer the shadows seems to be, and similarly the closer to a lens your subject gets, the blurrier the background. Maybe the "blur" of a shadow behaves similar to the "blur" of a blurry background? Example: During an eclipse, the blurred shadows of leaves on a tree cast on the ground from the sun should show the change in the shape of the light coming from the sun. The shape of the aperture changes the shape of the bokeh. Maybe aperture and light shape can be thought of in a similar way?
The closer a light source gets to the subject, the larger the light source is so of course the shadows get softer, like a softbox vs a raw bulb. Backgrounds get blurrier if subject is closer to lens not because of shadows or light, but because of how lens elements focus on closer subjects, like macro photography. It's a lens thing, not a light thing. Soft leaf shadows during eclipse are because the light source is not one super bright tiny spot in the sky but rather a faint light dispersing through atmospheric haze like a giant diffusion filter.
@@MarkusPix lol yes the males can be quite aggressive, some more so than others. I have a separate pen that I've started calling "duck prison" where I put overly aggressive males. I have a couple males that are actually pretty sweet, and they get to be free with the others.
I think the original dji logic is good, and dji seeming don’t have as much such problems with their products. I think the resistance of the on/off switch of zhiyun is too low, it sounds loose just from the video. DJI buttons are more firm and more recessed, and maybe their trigger logic is a touch better optimized.
Hey Markus. I looked for an email to send this as i didn't want to be that guy promoting on other people's channel. So i'll just ask this. Have you used the Ifootage Anglerfish Lights? They are sending me the SL1 60DN. it's really small but apparently packs alot of power. it can be powered either by plug in to the wall, USBC 100w PD, or VMount. I'll be doing a video on it soon after receiving it. Is there an email i send you the link when it's done, so you can check it out. Again i don't want to use your channel for promotion.
I was wondering when someone was gonna tell the truth about these cob lights. just a heads up, it's amazing the lights haven't gotten busted that little center piece needs protected almost at all times. i love the design factor, minus the cheap plastic knobs, it's small and i would love to add these to a flight kit for run and gun stuff for this festival season. but zhiyun, as i can see from their comment below addressing the light switch and not the fact that it's a fire hazard, have one of the worst customer service i've yet to experience with any other brand. for the volume of free shit they give to influencers and youtubers, i think that's bs.
The original X100 has a rubbish battery, mine died after very little use and my review I did on it gained lots of comments about the battery failing after not much use, might be a certain batch of batteries maybe but most of the comments on my review said about the battery failing. I got a full refund on mine, wouldn't buy another Zhiyun product after that. Hope you don't have the same issue with your X100 lights. Cheers.
Potentiometer. Has literally been decades since I have heard anyone use the word or even know what it is. Today, folks tend to call it a "knob you turn". LOL
Markus, Ulanzi 40w has internal battery, Inkee has battery and many other lights are with the batteries, there is nothin new here. it is still portable for 100w. If you travel and afraid of accidentally switch it on - full discharge takes only 35min :) or just find a proper case for it. I've bought mine yesterday for 117 euro with 2 coupon codes. Still, I would be glad to win 2nd in your giveaway :)
@@MarkusPix you are right, not always. and thanks for warning. I'm just thinking of how I'll bring mine ) I'll probably buy a hard case for it. my drone has the same "press-long press" and it was never accidentally started pls also read Zhiyun statement about X100 battery problem, at least they provide lifetime warranty for it
The CM25 is different when it comes to the power and potentiometer dial. Turn it and it "clicks" to turn on, then there's an even curve as the light gets brighter. I hope this helps. 👍🏾
@@MarkusPix nah but the gimbals and drones all have the Short press and then long press as turning on button but they all have removable batteries so yeah there it makes more sense then on a light with fire hazard
Couldn't you just put something that covers the button so it doesn't accidentally activate? Yes I know, doesn't excuse their lack of planning, but I am sure you could 3d print something or put a tiny cap with a rubber band or something.
Hi Markus, sorry for the confusion caused and we appreciate your feedback on the product.
We'll soon publish a quick tutorial video on our UA-cam channel for better guidance.
Some little tips that might be helpful:
1. Single press the power button until the indicator shines, then long press it to power on the light.
(we've made a small sticker on the top as a reminder)
2. Remember to dial the DIM button to above zero so the light can be illuminated.
For all potential customers, we provide "30-day no-reason-to-return policy", so if you're not so sure about it but wanna give it a try, feel free to order one for testings.😄
Thanks again for your honest feedback, Markus😉
@zhiyuntechofficial can you guys address the issue with the batteries for this unit? Mine died after not using it for about 3 months. It will not charge and not turn on. I can't use my unit because of this and I paid a lot of money for it.
My battery also failed too. Batteries are very susceptible to failure so I wouldn’t trust this “cheaper” cx100
They have published official statement to address this@@snapsbyreyes
@@o0YumRamen0o these were issues with the older X100 units (first batch). Zhiyun did offer a statement offering free replacement to the newer ones and also lifetime warranty. Check their channels to learn more
My battery suddenly died during the first test and couldn't be charged! I DM you guys on Instagram, and I'm still waiting for a single reply.
"If you do, please don't be on an airplane with me" absolutely wrecked me
This is a hugely important PSA. Nice work.
Man you are the most honest person on UA-cam. Sending love all the way from Nepal. Markus to be honest I didn't like your videos at first because you questioned all the technical norms of photography that I ever believed in and later when I watched more of your videos I came to realized I was in dark the entire time. Thanks for enlightening me.
My X100 battery failed early on.
Was debating on making a video giving buyers a heads up about potential failures.
Doing gods work with this PSA 🙏🏽
Do the video...please.
Zhiyun put out a notice that there are replacing the Molus x100 batteries under an extended warranty! I would say contact them and you can get it replaced! I hope this helps! 👍🏾
Same here, my battery died early on. Does anyone know how to contact them?
It's a common problem. Zhiyun put out a press release they are replacing any defective x100 batteries.
@@nolepholife2843 would you happen to have an email or point of contact for them? Is it on their website?
Somehow my high school band “Magic Knob Sequence” makes its way into a MarkusPix video.
Great info as always. Thank you.
THANK YOU FOR THE WARNING. I use my original X100, which is plugged in as a great little hair light for my zoom calls. Love the tiny little softbox they make for it. Great little thing. Certainly gets hot though. WATCH OUT
Thinking of modelling and 3d printing a cap that slots over the power button to prevent the possibility of anything pressing it while in a bag.
Ooofff. Thank you for the heads up. Totally agree with the operational frustrations.. Not that I couldn't use lights but not even entering the giveaway on these....I think they would drive me MAD !
Thanks for a helpful video. Maybe, for safety, before powering it off, first turn down the brightness to zero, so if it does come on unexpectedly, it will be at zero brightness, so it won't get hot.
Even if it's turned to zero, remember the knobs also get jostled and rubbed which can easily turn the brightness up and BAM, flight 301 is history.
@@MarkusPixuhhh, i guess put a piece of gaffers on it lol. it seems like zhiyun really did not think about this light thoroughly
I have seen nothing but constant ads for this product and i have to say i've been contemplating buying one for the purpose of conducting interviews and wedding videos. I'm so glad i found YOUR video on this because i know you'll be brutally honest about products ever since the channel started. Keep up the good work, i'll be looking for something more fitting for safety. I'll be looking into your channel to see if you have lighting comparisons (im sure you have one haha).
I was waiting for your review -you're the only one who points out the negatives of these products.
Guy always has actual real-life experiences with a million things in a million situations and settings!
Instead of the clumsy power brick you can use the X100 with USB C up to 100 watts.
I've got tons of high power USB bricks and adapters in all wattage ranges so this is a great option for me.
They power variably as well and the 50% brightness clicks increase linearly with the amount of power coming from the brick.
So if you're using a small 65watt brick like I often do, one click is 37% brightness, another click is 65% brightness (the full power of the 65w brick) and another click is off.
It's just a cord coming out of the wall essentially and hyper portable, a great solution.
ua-cam.com/video/s_lEnCUt6Kc/v-deo.html
@@MarkusPix Ha! Looks like I learned it from you in the first place. Thank you!
needs a "hold" switch on the device that locks out all input for travel. Engineers figured this out on portable CD players 25 years ago.
Thanks for the warning, Markus. I’m tired of all these electronics with soldered in batteries that end up e-waste. You get what you pay for!
Power bricks aren't attached to devices so the manufacturer can get power supply heat away from the unit.
This is fairly common. Also many power supplies create a lot of rf noise so this is a benefit for some devices.
Always appreciate your videos Markus!
I was literally about to pull the trigger and checkout. Thanks for sharing this!
Great safty information update! Thanks! Yea, I could use those lights - I had to unload a lot of equipment lately.
This is what a video review is supposed to be!
Had these in the cart, thanks for the video. Going to go with the x100's. Powering it on is like the DJI drones so that wouldn't bothering me but the high heat and it randomly coming on and flying as much as I do might as well go up to the x100. Downside is I'm in Canada and it's not 250 and 350, it's 250 and 500. Well 500 for the kit.
Thank you for your videos, you are honest and always up to the point
Thank you Markus . Best info on UA-cam.
The on sequence is exactly like DJI has on all their drones, gimbals and cameras.
Thats ok for drones, but not lights that can catch fire
@@MarkusPixyeah, good point... I just had my battery grip on the X100 die on me, so there's also that...
I found the on/off switch on the Molus X100 frustrating-it nearly derailed an interview. Additionally, the battery in my M20C wouldn’t charge from the start and failed entirely after just one use. When I reached out to customer support, they repeatedly requested that I ship the unit back to China, with no consideration for shipping restrictions or airline safety concerns. Altogether, these experiences have led me to steer clear of their products.
If you really want to use that 2nd one, I have an idea - Pry off the battery section with a flat screw driver. There should be only glue I believe. After prying you will see both sections are attached with a twin wire. Cut the wire one by one in the middle and attach XT30 male/female plugs to it. Attach longer wires on both sides if it is too short. This will allow you to plug the battery separately whenever you want. To keep them both together while using, attach neodymium magnets to the battery and the lamp body.
I wish it was the simple. If it was just two wires, yes, but the battery has 9 connectors
That company needs an industrial designer.
Me Chinese, me play joke... me sell light that starts to smoke
Not surprised Markus, looks like a DJI patent, one of my controllers has developed this weird behaviour when I try to switch it on - the power button does not register correctly when pressed. Need to really focus on pressing it hard to register (and the fact it requires a specific sequence makes it harder).
Hi there. You can turn the nob to zero. Then on or off it will still remain “off”
Even if it's turned to zero, remember the knobs also get jostled and rubbed which can easily turn the brightness up and BAM, flight 301 is history.
Thank you for the safety advice.
Thanks for this!
Really, this is some Q&A stuff that Zhiyun needs to check out.
They are aware. I am in contact with them. ua-cam.com/video/9AKTBHuRv9U/v-deo.htmlsi=woschZleSoArrSdG
iIn the version sold in China, there is a sticker next to the power button that tells you to click and long press to turn on the power. Therefore, I think this power on method is not a problem, but it actually acts like a safety switch
That sticker was on here too. It does not change the fact that the light can accidentally turn on inside a bag or case when being rubbed and jostled.
Do NOT buy the X100 Molus until they address the battery issue. Your battery WILL die in a short amkunt of time, be warned!!!
The Zhiyun lights are very sensitive to heat build up. They work OK until they heat up and then will shut off at 100%. A recent shoot the lights only worked at 50% after an hour. When I got home the lights worked at 100% again.
Just a heads up! If you turn the dial on the lights to ZERO. If for some strange reason it does power on, the light won't illuminate. Just make sure you turn the dial to zero and you should be fine.
Also, the CX100 has a port for USB PD (power delivery) which means you don't need a brick to power it. You can use a PD battery bank or plug it straight into a wall outlet with a usb-c power adapter (like a cell phone charger).
I hope this helps! Good video! 👍🏾
Even if it's turned to zero, remember the knobs also get jostled and rubbed which can easily turn the brightness up and BAM, flight 301 is history.
Really baffling design choices for this light... Not only they are a fire hazard they are potentially an explosion hazard too: Lithium Ion Batteries exposed to high heat can reach a point in which thermal runaway occurs and it could blow up, since it could be the case that it won't be the only battery in your bag it is exponentially worse!!! (multiple batteries blowing up)
This could have been solved so easily by allowing the unit to be detached from the battery!
Thanks for the heads up Markus!! Truly appreciated!
Just wrote a "review" at Amazon''s product page urging people to watch this video. Included the URL. Hope it actually gets posted.
I have the CM25...it absolutely was dialed in on off, well below zero...I charged it with the supplied Zhiyun cables...for some reason, it came on FULL POWER when completely charged...dial was at zero. Ugh...don't leave these unattended. Should have a proper off button separate from dial.
The small beam of light when using the bowens mount is a poor decision. 😢
The flat form factor is promising for travel but those design flaws are horrifying.
Helpful note: thats not how its supposed to turn on, you hold the power button for 2 seconds then you turn the light knob then it comes on
Batteries are supposed to be disconnected from equipment and contacts covered or be put in a separate bag.
I got the one with the removable battery from my local camera store for $150 - came with a few accessories which made it a decent deal. I usually just leave it plugged in. The battery take FOR-EV-EVER to charge and only lasts about 30 min even at half power.
$150? Sounds like the camera store was trying to get rid of it! 😄
@@MarkusPix I just re-checked. It was $150 off, bringing the price down to $199. Still a decent deal. I use it with the mini softbox and grid as a fill light and it's great!
Thanks for the information. Maybe it could be used for a utility light.
The shot press then long press is the same way that DJI drones are turned on so will feel familiar to anyone who uses them. kinda wierd but i guess it stops accidental turn ons.
It does not prevent a turn on when something is being continuously rubbed and jostled inside a case or bag. A button like that is ok for a drone and maybe a camera, but not a light that can start fires.
I guess the one short- + one long-press combination came to this light from Zhiyun gimbals, to where it came from DJI gimbals, to where it came from DJI drones 😅 With drones, it’s pretty standard and works for both turning on and off.
Great for drones and gimbals, but dangerous for hot lights that can accidentally start a fire
thanks for this video, I was looking into purchase this light.
I was looking at these as travel friendly light since I fly for a lot of events, with how bad the knobs are and being fire risk I will avoid
As a cautionary action, while off you could turn the intensity knob down to 0 when storing or traveling since it's analog :)
Even if it's turned to zero, remember the knobs also get jostled and rubbed which can easily turn the brightness up and BAM, flight 301 is history.
OMG that power button would drive me crazy. Oh and that is a huge fire hazard. I'll stick with my Godox.
0:14 The little guy behind comes to life at night. He walks around the house, look at Markus and Cara sleeping and changes randomly the position of objects.
And now that Cara have read this, good luck to Markus trying to keep it.
😆😅
Personally I would love the light to just have the USB-C PD power input- I can then power with one of the many wall mount adapters I (and most of us...) already own, and in the field use a V-Mount (which many already own as well...) with a USB-C PD output. Maybe add a V-Mount battery mount on the light to make that 'add your own battery' solution even simpler!
You could dim it all the way after turning off maybe?
Hi Markus, totally agree it's potentially hazardous. Maker totally 'cheaped' out on this unit. Original Molus is much better and way to go in this form factor.
Separately, off topic, have you tried Amaran's Ace 25c? It's not as powerful, but a neat size for travel. Won't be enough outside but maybe good as a fill or colour accent. I just orderd 2 units on a BF deal and hope they are OK to augment my existing 4 larger Amaran lights for video. I still use my Godox AD 200s for OC flash with stills.
Those are kinda clunky for only being 25 watts. Here are my favs ua-cam.com/video/NVYCnqFiqdA/v-deo.html
1:43 I just bought a GVM flat light panel that has this same issue.
10:14 can the silicon cap be attached inside of this mount to spread a light more in the soft box?
The X100 looks like a great light for travel. The CX100 looks like a great deal, for not traveling and for someone who doesn't mind the occasional frustration.
This product needs a warning label stating that shipping or transporting should be avoided unless the attatched battery is fully drained.
It should not be allowed, period. More and more fires are happening from these dumb batteries.
I have reviewed and tested this light, and I think there is a one-in-a-million chance for it to accidentally power on. I believe what happened in your case is that you left it on, but it was set to 0% brightness, and then the brightness knob was somehow touched by the bag, which turned the light on. However, I might be mistaken, but I do agree with you that it has very cheap knobs, and you can't really use them to precisely adjust the brightness (I wish Zhiyun would've put a cheap display on the back to see the brightness level and color temp). Also, the center spotlight effect when using this light with the Bowens mount adapter and a softbox was one of the first things I noticed with this light; it's definitely a major downside.
Anyway, thank you for always being honest, it's rare on UA-cam.
It was definitely off when I put it in the case. Things easily rub against buttons when packed
Thank You....Great information!
There are many ways to address this:
You can empty your batteries before traveling; they will be empty and therefore there is no risk of them turning on.
You can set the potentiometer to the minimum.
1. what if you are traveling to the photo location and have no time to charge. Even if you charge in the hotel, it can catch your bag on fire (and car) while traveling.
2. Even if knob is set to zero, when it clicks on, the light comes on.
Sorry.
@@MarkusPix you can use the light with an external usb-c without charge !
Good question, I dont know since I gave them away
I would not buy any new/creative product without "Markus proven"
I am keen on watching your video on right exposure.
This weekend!
@@MarkusPixThank you from Frankfurt, Germany
You're welcome from Las Vegas, Nevada
In China, i see, some thing like X100, but uses sony 970, Bi color, price is USD 69
GAN power supplies would reduce the brick size, but they are expensive
People wanted a cheaper version, they made a cheaper version 😅 The original X100 is amazing, more quality, more precise... about the power cord, it's as basic as it gets. They can improve it, making it like an apple macbook pro usb-c wall charger.
Why is it so hard for companies to include a on-off toggle switch to make sure it doesn't turn on by chance.
Clever button multiplexing. Is fire insurance included with the crap ;-?
I am havine an issue with the battery grip of the X100, it doesn't charge anymore, I used it like 5 times only. it was charging fine with a 65w PD power adapter :/
yeah they go bad fast, happened to me too. Another reason I'm not crazy about the X100. Zhiyun will fix the batteries if you send them the receipt and serial number. Its almost better to use your own 100w USB power bank, but then you have to deal with annoying cords etc
When they source a certified power brick from another mfr or don't supply one at all they save a bunch money meeting us, eu safety requirements. CSA certifying your lighting with powers supplies takes engineering. I started looking into manufacturing led lighting. To get a design and prototype to CSA certified looked like it would take about 20-50k depending on how much rework you had to incur. At the end of the day it's far easier to buy the parts and self assemble if you aren't running a company and need to be insured.
Slightly off topic but on the subject of lighting, I've been wondering if there is a similarity or a relationship mathematically between the attributes that affect shadow softness (light size, distance from subject, etc.) and the attributes that create a blurry background (apterture size, distance from subject, etc.).
Where did you get this idea? I can have totally sharp shadows and super blurry backgrounds at the same time. One is determined by the light source, the other by the f-stop aperture and focal length.
I dont think I explained that well 😅 yes, I understand that you can have a blurry background and sharp shadows at the same time and there is no correlation there, but I'm saying that as you come closer to a light source the softer the shadows seems to be, and similarly the closer to a lens your subject gets, the blurrier the background. Maybe the "blur" of a shadow behaves similar to the "blur" of a blurry background? Example: During an eclipse, the blurred shadows of leaves on a tree cast on the ground from the sun should show the change in the shape of the light coming from the sun. The shape of the aperture changes the shape of the bokeh. Maybe aperture and light shape can be thought of in a similar way?
The closer a light source gets to the subject, the larger the light source is so of course the shadows get softer, like a softbox vs a raw bulb. Backgrounds get blurrier if subject is closer to lens not because of shadows or light, but because of how lens elements focus on closer subjects, like macro photography. It's a lens thing, not a light thing. Soft leaf shadows during eclipse are because the light source is not one super bright tiny spot in the sky but rather a faint light dispersing through atmospheric haze like a giant diffusion filter.
Cars, electronics, photography... do you like ducks, too? Feel like we're on the same wavelength 😅
I love ducks. We have two in the pool.
@@MarkusPix I have about 20. They are silly, entertaining birds, plus I love duck eggs.
What freaks us out is the gang rapes. Those Mallards are crazy
@@MarkusPix lol yes the males can be quite aggressive, some more so than others. I have a separate pen that I've started calling "duck prison" where I put overly aggressive males. I have a couple males that are actually pretty sweet, and they get to be free with the others.
Markus we need some prints of your artwork.
There's a coffee table book at MarkusPaintings.com
I think the original dji logic is good, and dji seeming don’t have as much such problems with their products. I think the resistance of the on/off switch of zhiyun is too low, it sounds loose just from the video. DJI buttons are more firm and more recessed, and maybe their trigger logic is a touch better optimized.
DJI doesnt sell hot lights that can burn an airplane down. A logic switch is fine on a gimbal or drone, not a light.
Hi Markus, where did you get the molus mount cap?
you hated the first one and dang.. you are consistent with the hate on the cheaper version
For some reason I still like Zhiyun. Growing pains but the future has possibility.
Informative review. Thanks Markus. Very poor design features.
is there be any chance for give aways to participate from germany
When you are reviewing a light why not show it in use illuminating something. I agree with you regarding the brick.
Hey Markus. I looked for an email to send this as i didn't want to be that guy promoting on other people's channel. So i'll just ask this.
Have you used the Ifootage Anglerfish Lights? They are sending me the SL1 60DN. it's really small but apparently packs alot of power.
it can be powered either by plug in to the wall, USBC 100w PD, or VMount. I'll be doing a video on it soon after receiving it. Is there an email i send you the link when it's done, so you can check it out. Again i don't want to use your channel for promotion.
When in doubt, read the instructions. If still in doubt, follow the instructions.
And if using common sense, don't travel with it.
I'm flying to Europe next week, so this was a big eye opener. @@MarkusPix
My prayers are with you 😋
I was wondering when someone was gonna tell the truth about these cob lights. just a heads up, it's amazing the lights haven't gotten busted that little center piece needs protected almost at all times. i love the design factor, minus the cheap plastic knobs, it's small and i would love to add these to a flight kit for run and gun stuff for this festival season. but zhiyun, as i can see from their comment below addressing the light switch and not the fact that it's a fire hazard, have one of the worst customer service i've yet to experience with any other brand. for the volume of free shit they give to influencers and youtubers, i think that's bs.
Zhiyun did it on purpose，the C(heaper)X100 exists to make the expensive X100 is worth it.
The original X100 has a rubbish battery, mine died after very little use and my review I did on it gained lots of comments about the battery failing after not much use, might be a certain batch of batteries maybe but most of the comments on my review said about the battery failing.
I got a full refund on mine, wouldn't buy another Zhiyun product after that.
Hope you don't have the same issue with your X100 lights.
Cheers.
That was funny. Thanks for the laugh.
I have the molux 100 with the battery that falls out, it's dead...
Potentiometer. Has literally been decades since I have heard anyone use the word or even know what it is. Today, folks tend to call it a "knob you turn". LOL
Maybe tape a bottle cap with gaffer over that button?
Sounds like a great thing to expect all customers to do after buying one 😅
colbor made lights like that for $130.. im planning to buy 4 of them
ua-cam.com/video/FUwtfvAEXTI/v-deo.html
no.... its the COLBOR W100 100W there is a 60w and rgb version looks almost the same zhiyun@@MarkusPix
the perfect light cheap powerful compact
Thanks for sharing.
I like that chair
thanks for the info!
For saving 100 bucks maybe just use a power bank with a dry internal battery on it for safety,yeah a bit trouble but 100bucks is still considerable
Markus, Ulanzi 40w has internal battery, Inkee has battery and many other lights are with the batteries, there is nothin new here. it is still portable for 100w. If you travel and afraid of accidentally switch it on - full discharge takes only 35min :) or just find a proper case for it.
I've bought mine yesterday for 117 euro with 2 coupon codes. Still, I would be glad to win 2nd in your giveaway :)
You can't always travel with empty batteries. These things take a long time to charge and if you are traveling right to the location, you're screwed.
@@MarkusPix you are right, not always. and thanks for warning. I'm just thinking of how I'll bring mine ) I'll probably buy a hard case for it.
my drone has the same "press-long press" and it was never accidentally started
pls also read Zhiyun statement about X100 battery problem, at least they provide lifetime warranty for it
I was actually looking at getting these or the smaller cx25 lights. I'll wait and see if I win them from you. Lol
I don't do 25s, might as well use a cell phone light 😆
@@MarkusPix 😆🤣
The CM25 is different when it comes to the power and potentiometer dial. Turn it and it "clicks" to turn on, then there's an even curve as the light gets brighter. I hope this helps. 👍🏾
Ralf Nader, "Unsafe at any speed."
"It puts the lotion on the hands or it gets the hose again" :)
even the old model has a problem with a battery that is none lasting
Lol you rock, Markus.
it has the same start and off like dji products
DJI has lights?
@@MarkusPix nah but the gimbals and drones all have the Short press and then long press as turning on button but they all have removable batteries so yeah there it makes more sense then on a light with fire hazard
Couldn't you just put something that covers the button so it doesn't accidentally activate? Yes I know, doesn't excuse their lack of planning, but I am sure you could 3d print something or put a tiny cap with a rubber band or something.