SmallRig and CineD just announced the OrBrella FM 60B, a folding 60W umbrella light with the LEDs built into the spokes. We’ve seen a similar design before – but this light seems to have evolved into something that isn’t crazy expensive and that has a lot of modern tech.
What SmallRig and CineD Did
The OrBrella puts eight LED strips along the umbrella ribs. The lights face inward and blast into a 47cm white dome, and the light bounces back off the fabric toward your subject.
That gorgeous bounce gives us a broad, wrapping source that flatters faces and softly fills in shadows.
The specs:
- 60W bi-color output, 2,700K to 6,500K
- Green/magenta correction for those managing mixed fluorescent-and-window offices and skin tones
- CRI 97 and TLCI above 98 (claimed)
- Folds to 34cm (13.4 inches) and weighs 1.3kg (2.87 lb) – so light!
- V-mount plate on the controller, USB-C PD power, NP-F adapter optional – perfect for Docs and fast location shooting
- Over two hours on a 99Wh V-mount battery
- App control through SmallRig’s SMALLGOGO app, and NFC pairing
- A front diffusion cap for even more softness
Let’s talk about the LED strips. Each one flips around on its USB-C connector to face forward when you need more punch. You get a soft bounce source and a brighter direct source in the same fixture. I’d love to see the effect as a catch light in the eyes.
Setup is quick. SmallRig’s early coverage said five seconds, and then later they said fifteen seconds. Even if they are “jukin’ the stats” a little bit – that’s fast for creating some soft light.
We’ve Seen This Movie Before
Westcott has made umbrellas since 1899. They started with fashion umbrellas in Toledo, Ohio, and moved into photographic umbrellas in 1969. In 2005 they launched the Spiderlite, a continuous fluorescent light that helped bring constant lighting into photo studios.
By 2011, photographers were mounting the Spiderlite TD6 into Westcott’s new 7-foot parabolic umbrellas. Huge, soft, continuous light, about $100 for the umbrella.
Hudson Spider took the cinema route. Its Mozzie LED pairs with 43-inch deep umbrellas (co-branded with Westcott, but-of-course) in white, silver and gold.
The lighting principle is the same. Aim a light into a big white surface and you get beautiful, soft light. The OrBrella keeps the idea but…
What’s New?
Modern tech, portable and price.
A traditional soft key on location means a COB light, a softbox or umbrella, a speed ring or bracket, a stand adapter, power, and cables. The OrBrella collapses all of this into one folding unit that fits in a camera bag.
This is perfect for solo shooters who like the soft light. When you’re wearing a lot of hats – having a tool that quickly creates beautiful soft light is amazing. You can tell it’s perfectly designed for documentary work.
It’s a Great Price
The crowdfunding campaign runs through November 8 at $169.99. After that, retail is $199.99. First units ship in January 2027, and SmallRig says they’ll ship whether or not the campaign hits its goal.
At $200, it costs about what you’d spend on a decent softbox alone. We’ll probably see a lot of content creators use this as it should be quick to set up and tear down.
Where It Shines
We can’t wait to light with this.
- Sit-down interviews in offices, homes and hotel rooms
- Talking-head YouTube setups and podcasts
- Corporate video where you have ten minutes to light and roll
- Headshots and environmental portraits
- Tabletop product work with a soft, even key (need to check how it looks in reflections)
- Fill light on location when your main key is the window
Softness comes from the size of the source relative to your subject. A 47cm dome placed close to a face acts like a large, soft light source. Pull it back the shadow it gets harder.
The OrBrella’s short neck lets you tuck it in tight beside the interviewee, right where soft light looks lovely on faces.
Where It Dims
Sixty watts is sixty watts. This light wants and needs to sit close.
- It won’t compete with daylight pouring through a big window
- It’ll struggle to key a wide shot of a large room
- Umbrellas spill light everywhere, so you’ll want flags or a dark room if you need contrast
- It lacks the precise control of a gridded softbox
This is best used as a close-up soft key.
The Umbrella Gets a Second Act
SmallRig and CineD have evolved the umbrella light. What they did was take a beautiful old technique and hand it to shooters at a workable price.
We’re excited to get one on set and see how it holds up.
References
- CineD: SmallRig x CineD OrBrella Light Introduced
- CineD: OrBrella Crowdfunding Now Live
- CineD Focus Check ep133: The SmallRig x CineD OrBrella Light
- PetaPixel: SmallRig’s New Super-Soft Video Light Unfolds in 15 Seconds
- DIY Photography: SmallRig’s New Light Folds Down to Make Location Lighting Easier
- LensVid: SmallRig x CineD OrBrella First Look (IBC 2026)
- Newsshooter: SmallRig coverage, including FM 60B First Look at IBC 2026
- F.J. Westcott: Our Story
- Photography Bay: Westcott Spiderlite TD6 and 7′ Parabolic Umbrella Hands-On
- Terry White: Big Beautiful Light for $99.90, Westcott Parabolic Umbrellas
- Terry White: Review, F.J. Westcott Spiderlite TD6
- B&H: Hudson Spider Deep Bounce Umbrella for Mozzie LED (White, 43″)
- B&H: Hudson Spider Deep Bounce Umbrella for Mozzie LED (Silver, 43″)
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