By technical editor Matt Allard:
I was a big fan of the original Ice Light. For ENG work it provided an extremely portable and lightweight solution, but most importantly it produced a really nice soft light. I often took the Ice Light on assignments in remote locations where I could only take limited amounts of equipment. My biggest complaints about the light were that it really needed more punch to it and it didn’t have a removable battery. The light was great to use indoors or at night but struggled in other conditions. The in built battery only lasted for around an hour before you had to plug it in to re-charge it. There was an optional screw on battery attachment but it was clunky to use and also expensive.
In version 2 of the Ice Light Westcott seems to have addressed these two major issues. The company claim a 50% brighter output (1,740 lumens) compared to the original (1,160 lumens). The Ice Light 2 is daylight-balanced at 5500K and rated for 50,000 hours, or 17+ years if used 8 hours every day. It will be interesting to see just how much of a difference the increased output makes when using the light. Westcott also claim a CRI of 96 which is very impressive for a daylight fixture. It is also provides a flicker free output. If the colour reproduction is close to Wescott’s new Flexlight then the two may be a good match.
Part of the new design is the removable battery which will last up to sixty minutes at full power and take around two and a half hours to charge fully. The battery can be charged either inside or outside of the light. The removable battery makes the light so much more versatile, especially because you can now buy spare batteries for a very reasonable $49 US. The Ice Light 2 is multi-voltage from 100 to 240-volts, allowing for worldwide use. It is also is CE safety certified for use in Europe and other nations, giving you the ability to travel with it abroad with confidence. The previous Ice Light couldn’t be checked in and you had to hand carry it with you on most airlines.
The Ice Light 2 looks almost identical to the previous version with the exception of the re-designed handle. A new digital power indicator offers 18-steps of output control. Westcott have also changed the power button which was the source of much confusion. On the old version you had to actually press on the dimmer up switch to turn the light on, pressing the on/off switch didn’t turn on the light, only off. On the new one the button turns the light on and off – just as you would expect. Like the original, Version 2 features a 1/4″-20 thread to mount to a light stand, ballhead, or tripod at both ends of the light.
Ice Light 2 has a built-in bluetooth with USB connectivity that will allow use with smart device apps in the future. The Wescott Ice Light 2 is available now for $499 US.
