How to Choose a Tube Light

Choosing a tube light starts with length, because length decides what the light can wash. A short tube is a precise tool: it lights a desk, a product, or a small corner, and it can be carried easily. A long tube washes a wall, a backdrop, or a whole side of a set. The 40cm RGB model on this site is at the short end, which suits desks, products, and accent work.

Colour is the second decision. A white-only tube is a work light. An RGB tube is also a mood light: it can paint a background, edge a product with colour, or change the feel of a set between scenes. The 40cm model covers a full colour range with adjustable saturation, which makes it a colour tool as well as a white light.

Control is the third decision, and it matters more on a set than in a specification list. A tube that can be adjusted from behind the camera, by remote or by app, saves walking to the light between takes. The 40cm model offers body controls, a remote with groups and presets, and app support, which covers both single-light and multi-light setups.

Power is the fourth. A tube with a built-in battery goes where mains power does not reach, and the 40cm model charges in about 100 minutes and runs for about 60 minutes on battery, with the option to run while charging. A buyer planning a long shoot should plan charging around that run time rather than assuming continuous battery operation.

Longer versions of this tube exist in the product title at 60cm, 80cm and 100cm, but their specifications are not published and are not copied from the 40cm model. A buyer who needs a longer tube should ask through the inquiry form for the figures that belong to that length.