FlashMate F-198c

I was initially looking to purchase this item from a local camera store and nearly gagged to death at the price of it. I decided to do a search for it here on Amazon and found it over $100.00 cheaper! This strobe works wonderfully so far, though I just bought it. I've seen it used in the industry and have yet to hear any complaints about it. I may write another review months or weeks later once I've used it a lot more.

The shoe on the device is made of cheap plastic. Cheaply made. Light is very bright at dimmest setting. I returned it immediately.

Having purchased many (too many) LED lighting fixtures for professional video production, I still find myself drawn to fixtures that offer simple, elegant solutions to working in multiple lighting environments. Moving indoors from outdoors when you are shooting quickly can be a real challenge. The Gisteq Flashmate F-198c is a tool to help with that challenge. It's a compact (though not tiny) LED fixture that allows you to quickly and easily dial in a new color temperature, even on the fly. If you are using this as an on-camera light, you can reach up and dial in your new temperature with one hand. This light gives a nice rounded shape that looks good on camera. It is powered by either a Sony NP style battery, or 6 AA batteries, another nice touch. I've used this light on several shoots and the proof of value for me is that I will now buy a couple more of these. In a controlled setting, you can very effectively use these for a key and fill light for interviews, demos, etc. My only complaint about this light is the lack of standard screw holes for attaching it to common light stands. The light comes with an arm that connects only to cold shoe connectors, fine if you are only using this as an on-camera light. But if you want to put one or more of these on light stands, you need a simple adapter. Overall, this is a superb bi-color fixture at a great price point.

I just received my FlashMate LED panel and have begun using it for still photography. It is both so close to and so far from being perfect that I am compelled to write. Mounting the light on my camera is an infrequent need, but that is the only way the maker imagines this light standing. I want two loops to I can hang it from a tree or bungee it to the back of a chair to make an improvised light stand. If it must be of brittle plastic, wrap it in cushioning foam and make a cover that protects the face and swings down to make an adjustable base to stand it at varying angles on the floor. With the cover closed it should be fit for travel. Add a handle. None of these changes should increase the cost sufficiently, but they will make it far more portable and adaptable.With the changes described, this is the light I've been craving for work in the field where I shoot often in powerless abanadoned buildings and in old factories with dim lighing and dull walls. Alas, to use it now I will carry it in it's carton and cope with tiny parts that will be lost, and it will never quite stand as I will need it unless I lug a second tripod.