A new flashgun has been released featuring a dimmable built-in LED video lamp.
The Wansen WS-560 (or WS-560I) is a conventional manual speedlight — basically a shameless copy of the Yongnuo YN-560 — but with a few tweaks. The main one being the two-LED array on the front, which can be used as a video light or a rudimentary modelling lamp.
Though a number of other flashguns feature built-in LED lamps — the Canon 320EX, Polaroid PL160, Olympus FL-600R and Voeloon 331EX to name a few — the Wansen is the first with dimmer control. In other words, you can adjust the continuous light output beyond merely switching it on and off. But it’s not clear yet whether this is something users really want.
Other features of the WS-560I include:
- Guide number of 50 (Iso-100)
- Manual flash adjustment down to 1/128 of full power in 1/3-stops
- Tilting, swivelling head
- PC sync port (input only)
- Built-in optical slave sensor with pre-flash-ignore (S2) mode
- 3-second recycle time (using AA alkalines)
From the product description we can’t tell if the flash and LED light may be used at the same time.
The Wansen WS-560I is available now on eBay for US$58 each (about £36). Visit wansenphoto.com for more information on other products by this manufacturer.
Can you see yourself using something like this?