Low-cost LED ring flash has fancy LCD controls

We recently saw the launch of Aputure’s Amaran Halo – an LED macro ring light which works as a flash or a continuous lamp. But there’s already some competition out there. Travor, a brand of Celltech Electronic Company, has launched the RF-550D LED ring flash, a gadget with very similar capabilities.

The circular array has 48 diodes and fits on to the camera lens using screw-in adapters. There’s no facility to mount the ring up above the lens, on the control unit, like the Amaran Halo, as well though.

The RF-550D is powered and controlled from a module that fits on the camera hotshoe. The control panel consists of a large backlit LCD, as opposed to the more spartan LED indicators found on the Aputure unit.

The different buttons allow the user to set the power level, switch between continuous mode and flash mode and switch the left and right LEDs on or off. It’s not clear if there is an autofocus-assist function. The foot is plastic.

The screen shows a visual representation of the brightness setting, plus a battery life indicator.

The whole system is powered by four AA batteries that fit inside the control module.

On the front of the ring you can fit one of four different plastic filters, which protect the LEDs and change the colour of emitted light. Included in the kit you’ll find transparent, blue and orange filters for different colour temperatures. There’s also a frosted diffusion filter which the company calls “oyster white”.

Where to buy

The Travor RF-550D is sold online for approximately US$50. At the time of writing, one seller offers it for as little as $32.