COB (ChiponBoard) lights are a powerful and efficient lighting solution gaining popularity for their compact design and superior performance. But what is a COB light and when is the best time to use it in your lighting setup? This article explores:
- COB light definition and its benefits
- Its differences from other LED lights
- Applications of COB Lights
- Examples of COB lights at COLBOR
- Common queries and answers
What is a COB light: Definition and benefits
A COB light is a continuous light source, specifically a type of LED light that can be positioned anywhere to provide extended illumination of your subject. COB, or "ChiponBoard," refers to LEDs with multiple chips mounted directly onto a single substrate, typically ceramic or metal. These closely packed chips create the appearance of a single light source rather than separate diodes. The compact design of COB LEDs allows for high-intensity light output from a small area, ideal for focused illumination needs.
With this understanding of COB lights, let’s delve into their key benefits and why they are a preferred choice for many lighting setups.
Benefits
Enhanced Brightness: A key benefit of COB lights is their capacity for delivering intense and concentrated illumination. The dense configuration of LED chips leads to a higher luminous flux, making COB lights ideal for situations where strong brightness is needed.
Superior Color Accuracy: They generally offer a higher Color Rendering Index, which indicates their effectiveness in accurately displaying the true colors of objects. This makes them wellsuited for settings where precise color representation is critical, such as retail displays or art studios.
Consistent Illumination: COB lights provide uniform brightness, producing clean and distinct shadow outlines. This characteristic is particularly valuable for creating specific lighting effects during shoots, which is why photographers and filmmakers favor them.
Compact and Versatile: The closely packed chips make it possible to build a mini COB light. The small size allows for flexibility in various applications. Their compact design makes them suitable for use in both accent lighting in homes and task lighting in commercial spaces.
Less Heat: Due to their simplified design with fewer components compared to traditional LEDs, COB LEDs generate relatively less heat.
Energy Efficiency: Known for their energy efficiency, they maximize light output from a small surface area, offering substantial illumination with lower energy usage. This results in cost savings and supports environmental sustainability.
COB light VS LED: What are the differences?
COB light is essentially a type of LED light. Therefore, the key difference here is between COB lights and other LED types, such as SMD LED lights.
SMD, which stands for "Surface Mount Device," refers to individual LEDs soldered onto a printed circuit board (PCB) at regular intervals. SMD LEDs are generally smaller and available in various shapes and sizes, offering versatility but often not achieving the same light intensity as COB LEDs. COB lights, by contrast, feature a greater number of diodes and a simpler circuit design, resulting in a compact and powerful light source.
Beyond design and appearance, COB lights are more energy efficient and produce less heat than SMD lights. They offer higher lumens per watt, with COB starting at 80 lumens per watt compared to the 50 to 100 lumens per watt of SMD. While SMD LEDs are well suited for point lighting due to their even illumination, COB lights excel as top lights, providing more focused lighting for subjects or surfaces from above.
For more information about COB light VS SMD, check the article here.
What is COB light used for?
COB LED light has numerous applications and are utilized across various industries and settings where high-quality illumination is crucial, such as the following:
- Photography & Videography Lighting: Essential for professional studio setups, COB lights offer consistent lighting with adjustable intensity, making them ideal for capturing high quality photos and videos with minimal shadows and highlights.
- Task Lighting: COB lights excel at providing thorough illumination in work environments, including offices and workspaces where good lighting is essential.
- Emphasis Lighting: Their high brightness and directional capabilities make COB lights ideal for highlighting specific areas or features in buildings and interior designs.
- Outdoor Lighting: With their durability and weather resistance, outdoor COB light is well suited for outdoor use, including landscape, security, and pathway lighting.
- Commercial Spaces: Retail stores, galleries, and exhibition spaces often use COB lights to enhance products and artwork, creating a more inviting atmosphere.
- Industrial Environments: Large storage and manufacturing facilities, such as factories and warehouses, utilize COB lights due to their robust design that minimizes damage risk.
- Residential Lighting: Using COB lights for home provides illumination throughout the entire house, making them ideal for ambient lighting in living rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas. Additionally, COB LED light strips are suitable for use in exterior lighting setups.
Examples of COB light at COLBOR
COLBOR LED studio lights are distinguished by their use of COB (Chip-on-Board) technology, offering numerous benefits for photography and videography. They provide superior illumination with high efficiency and excellent color accuracy, enhancing your shooting experience. They feature key advantages such as a silent intelligent cooling system, compatibility with various Bowens accessories, flexible power solutions, a lightweight design, and precise control via the COLBOR Studio™ app.
Based on your specific needs, you can choose from a variety of COLBOR COB light models. COLBOR offers options ranging from 60W to 330W to meet different power output requirements. In terms of color control, COLBOR provides several lighting options. For example, the CL60M is a fixed daylight light with a color temperature of 5600K. The Bi-color LED lights (such as the CL100X) and RGB LED lights (like the CL220R) have a color temperature range from 2700K to 6500K. For scenes requiring full-color options, COLBOR RGB COB light provides more precise color control.
For a comprehensive balance of power, color control, and portability, the COLBOR W100 stands out as the best COB light for video, offering numerous advantages.
Advantages of COLBOR COB light W100:
Design: Stylish Appearance with Professional Aesthetics
The W100 features a sleek, sophisticated design that blends high visual appeal with professional quality. Its modern look is akin to a high-end camera, combining simplicity with contemporary trends.
Size: Compact 100W Power
Despite its small, palm-sized form and lightweight build of just 345g, the W100 delivers a robust 100W of power. It is notably lighter and more compact compared to other COB lights with similar power, offering both portability and a professional edge.
Cooling: Smart & Active cooling system for Reliable Performance
The W100 employs innovative cooling technology to maintain high efficiency. Its intelligent fan and heat pipe system ensure effective cooling, enhancing durability and providing a consistent, safe lighting experience.
Accessory Compatibility: Comprehensive Accessory Ecosystem for Creativity
The W100 integrates seamlessly with the COLBOR accessory ecosystem, eliminating the need for additional adapters. This feature facilitates easy setup for outdoor shoots, making it highly versatile and user-friendly for creative projects.
Power Supply: Versatile Power Solutions
The W100 supports three flexible power options: the COLBOR power handle, a DC adapter, and Swift PD Type-C fast charging. This ensures you have a reliable power source for uninterrupted performance.
FAQs
How long do COB LEDs last?
The lifespan of COB LEDs depends on usage and exposure to heat. Generally, a COB LED can last up to 50,000 hours if used for approximately 12 hours daily.
How do COB LEDs function?
COB lights operate on a single circuit with two contacts that power multiple diode chips, requiring fewer components to ensure the smooth operation of the LED chip.
Are COB LEDs superior to other LED types?
Many other LED options use older technology, making them less efficient compared to COB LEDs in terms of beam quality, brightness, and energy efficiency.
What is the efficiency of COB lights?
COB lights are known for their excellent lumens per watt ratio and high thermal efficiency, emitting around 80 lumens per watt. They consume less energy compared to other types and are commonly used in phone flashes, point-and-shoot cameras, and various light bulbs.
Are COB LEDs brighter than SMD LEDs?
COB LEDs are generally brighter than SMD LEDs. COB lights can produce 80 lumens per watt or more, while SMD LEDs range from 50 to 100 lumens per watt, making COB lighting brighter.