REVIEW – Whether you’re looking to add a little or a lot of light at your next shoot, the Zhiyun CINEPEER CX100 Video Light can give you the right amount of illumination you need for your subject and is designed to enhance your video or photo experience. With the CX100’s small size, not only can you mount it on a light stand or tripod, but you can mount it onto your camera as well. Plus, it’s compact enough to be used handheld.
What is it?
The Zhiyun CINEPEER CX100 is a compact and versatile video light designed to enhance filming for videographers, photographers, and content creators alike by providing variable degrees of illuminated light. It’s portable and powerful enough for run-and-gun filming and studio use. It is suitable for both professional and amateur use.
What’s included?
- CINEPEER CX100
- Diffuser Dome
- Mini Reflector
- Charging Cable
- Quick Start Guide
- Warranty Card
Tech specs
Design and features
The CINEPEER CX100 video light is a welcome addition to my videography and photography setup because its compact and portable design makes it incredibly ideal for both indoor studio work and outdoor run-and-gun shooting. I like the size of this CX100 because I feel like it’s not too big or too small for a light such as this. This light can be easily attached to light stands, tripods, boom poles, and other equipment, providing great flexibility when necessary. In addition, the size of the CX100 makes it easy to mount onto your still or video cameras.
There are two 1/4″ tripod screw holes on the bottom of the video light, each hole in a different spot to give you some placement variation on mounting it. The CX100 is also compatible for use with a Bowen adapter so you can use other light modifiers such as a softbox, beauty dishes, snoots, and more. I really like this feature because it allows the CX100 to be versatile with other modifiers and accessories.
One of the standout features of the CX100 is its large battery which acts as a grip handle. Although I can appreciate the design factor, I did find that it feels a little thick to hold. If the battery had more of a slimer profile like the wooden side handle grips for DSLR and mirrorless cameras then I think it would be more ergonomic in your hands. The issue seems to be the battery’s square blocky shape and its smooth finish that makes it a bit challenging to grip at times. Now, if there were actual grooves for your fingers, or your thumb, then I think that would help significantly. I could go as far as saying that adding a simple hand strap could be quite beneficial, especially if you had to carry the CX100 around for long periods of time. But that may be a stretch.
The CINEPEER CX100 comes with an integrated 4500 mAh battery, and according to Zhiyun’s website, when fully charged, it can run at full power and maximum brightness for a solid 30 minutes straight. If you dial down the power a bit to around 80 watts, it keeps going for about 42 minutes, and at 60 watts, you get around 57 minutes of use. This means that lower brightness levels can extend your shooting time, allowing you to continue shooting without frequent recharging.
The CX100 battery can be charged using either by a 24V DC input or a USB-C PD (Power Delivery). And since the CX100 uses PD power, you can use a portable battery bank or charger which can provide extra juice when using the CX100. By utilizing PD charging, you can get faster charging times and longer operating periods without needing to stop and recharge. This is advantageous for those long shoots or outdoor settings where access to power outlets may be limited. Although a USB-C cable is included in the box, unfortunately, it doesn’t come with a 24V DC charger.
Keep in mind that the battery isn’t removable, so you aren’t able to swap out with any extra batteries, which is a shame because there may come times when you don’t want or need the CX100 to be attached to a portable power charger with any wires getting in the way.
The CINEPEER CX100 comes with a mini metal reflector and a soft silicone diffusion dome, which are great light modifiers to have for this type of video light. Having these modifiers give you some options when using the CX100. The reflector helps in effectively focusing and directing the light output.
It can enhance the intensity of the light, making it useful for illuminating specific areas or subjects. Plus, the metal material makes the reflector durable enough to withstand any rough treatment in a production studio, during travel, or in any unfamiliar environment.
The silicone diffuser dome helps softens the CX100’s light, reducing harsh shadows and creating a more pleasing and even illumination. This is especially beneficial for close-up shots or when a softer light quality is desired.
The metal reflector and diffusion dome allow you to adjust the light output quality according to different shooting conditions and creative needs, from focused and intense lighting to soft and diffused lighting.
The CX100 features an Advanced DynaVort Cooling System™ with an FOC fan and a heatsink cooling designed to enhance heat dissipation, ensuring that the light doesn’t overheat. So far, I haven’t had the fan turn on while using the CX100 since hasn’t reached the point of overheating during my time using it. I consider that a good thing, but it is nice peace of mind that the CX100 has this cooling system.
Performance
One thing I can say is that this light is considerably bright, even at its lowest setting. Despite its small size, the CX100 can reach a maximum brightness of 3840 lux at one meter, ensuring adequate and sufficient lighting.
I think I could be able to use this light at a low setting for most of a shoot and not run down the battery. This way, I could have a longer battery life in one session and not have to worry about it running out of power. It’s just that bright for a light this size.
I really like the adjustable brightness and the adjustable color temperature range from the CX100. Both allow me to achieve the perfect lighting that I need for different scenarios. The CX100 offers a color temperature range from 2700K~6500K, allowing precise adjustment to match different lighting conditions and achieve the desired mood that I’m going for.
On the side of the CX100 are the two dialable knobs, one for brightness (0-100%) and the other for temperature (2.7K-6.5K). I feel like the knobs are proportionate to the size of the CX100. I also like that the knobs are easy to get to and are right at your fingertips. They are in a perfect location for when you’re holding the light with both hands. Your right hand grips the battery and you can use your left hand to make on the fly adjustments to the brightness and the color temperature.
On the knobs, you’ll see the numbered settings for the (DIM) brightness and the (CCT) color temperature. So, you should be able to set them both fairly easily by dialing to the proper setting, or you can just eyeball the settings to your liking or specific needs. With this in mind, I would have liked an LCD on the CX100 for a more accurate reading for the dials. I think this would have been helpful if someone were using two CX100 and were trying to match the settings. This way, there would be no guessing in matching the two lights in brightness and temperature.
At the back and just below the knobs is the Power button. To turn CX100 on, press the Power button once, then press again and hold it. Also, if you press the Power button once, it should give you the status of the battery by the four LED lights on the back. I like this feature because if you’re like me, I like to know how much battery time I have left when I am using any of my devices. On a side note, I noticed how responsive this button is, which is something to be appreciated.
What I like about the Zhiyun CINEPEER CX100
- Bright light for its size
- Compatible with light modifiers
- Small and compact
What needs to be improved?
- Removable battery
- LCD status screen
Final thoughts
The Zhiyun CX100 Video Light makes it a great choice for both professionals and amateurs who need reliable lighting for their photography or video shoots. With its adjustable brightness and color temperature ranging from 2700K to 6500K, it offers precise control over lighting conditions, ensuring accurate color representation and brightness. The CX100’s compact size and lightweight design makes it very portable, so it’s ideal for the run and gun shooting scenarios. Whether it’s used as a key light, fill light, or accent light, the CINEPEER CX100 is a suitable choice for a wide range of creative photo and video applications.
Even after this review, I know that I’ll be using this CX100 for several upcoming photo and video projects. So, this light is definitely going to be in my gear bag.
Price: $152.00
Where to buy: Zhiyun CINEPEER CX100 and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by Zhiyun. Zhiyun did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.
