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HOLLYLAND MARS 4K REVIEW

Are you filming with a drone, camera arms on your car, or just want to watch the camera feed remotely without the need for cables? Then the HollyLand Mars 4K is for you.

Today we're taking a look at a new wireless transmitter from HollyLand called Mars 4K.

This range has a long history, but what's different? You've probably noticed that we have a design that takes another step forward, but still feels similar to its predecessors.

The receiver and transmitter have an almost identical design, but the transmitter has a red 4K emblem on it and the receiver has a blue 4K emblem on it. Let's take a look at what's in the box! After unpacking, the first thing we see is of course the manual; then the receiver and transmitter, the Cold Shoe, i.e. the sled, the spare antenna and the USB A to USB C adapter. We also have a power adapter with a reduction to a European socket.

TheHollyLand Mars 4K has a very solid construction with an all-metal shell and typical HollyLand style design. The Mars 4K has new antennas that other Hollyland devices don't have yet. Compared to previous antennas, they are shorter and stronger. The transmitter has an HDMI input, an SDI input and a cable power input on it. On the receiver we have one HDMI output, an SDI output and also an input for power over cable. We only get one charger in the box, and it's for the receiver, since you're supposed to keep the transmitter on batteries. Fortunately, the Mars 4K can also be powered by NP-F or USB-C batteries. On the other side, we have a color LCD display for easy parameter settings, a button to move around the display, an on/off button, and a USB-C charging port. Mars 4K has three modes namely: balance mode, speed mode and HD mode. At first, when you see the display, it looks like black and white, but when you press the button to control the display, you go to the color menu with the fact that the display is in high resolution and therefore, it doesn't matter that it is a little smaller than the Mars 400s, which is the previous model. From the bottom we have a thread to screw on a cold shoe, a sled that comes in the package, which can also be attached to the front with another accessory so you can mount the transmitter horizontally.

Using the Mars 4K is really easy. Just connect both devices to power either via battery or charger, and then connect either an HDMI or SDI cable to both the receiver and transmitter. Then turn both devices on. The receiver and transmitter should automatically pair. The time to turn on, pair and begin video transmission is around 35 seconds.

The HollyLand Mars 4K has a smart channel search function, so it will automatically help you select the channel that is most appropriate. Of course, channel selection can also be manually up to you, and what's great about these products is that when you change the channel on one device, the other will adjust itself within seconds. HollyLand lists a maximum transmission distance of 150 meters, which is 30 meters more than the previous model. However, this distance can vary indoors with obstacles or walls. The Mars 4K is compatible with the HollyView app as well as the new Mars M1 monitor. This app is very simple, clear and you can use it as a monitor.

This device can also connect to one hardware receiver and up to two smart devices simultaneously. Or it also goes to four smart devices at the same time. The HollyLand Mars 4K has an ultra low latency of 60 milliseconds. The SDI input has different video resolutions ranging from 720p to 4K and the frame rate here can be up to 60 frames per second. For 4K we can reach up to 30 frames per second. It's no wonder they are called Mars 4K because this is the first video transmitter from HollyLand that can handle 4K. HDMI is capable of transmitting at 4K and 25 or 30 frames per second. SDI only in fullhd, but taken at 50 or 60 frames per second. There's an exception though, and that is that if you have an HDMI input with 4K and an SDI output on the receiver, you'll unfortunately get 1080p out of it, because you simply and easily won't get 4K out of this device via an SDI cable.

For us, the HollyLand Mars 4K is a great video transmitter that is suitable for small production and offers some great improvements over earlier lines. The biggest improvement is definitely 4K, which is not yet present in the other lines and in this day and age where almost everything is in 4K this is already a necessity for all similar products. I'm sure you're wondering about the price too.

You can get this set starting from 18 900 CZK HERE.

REVIEW SmallRig RC350 & RC450

These SmallRig RC350B and RC450B lights are professional lights for video makers, but also photographers who are serious about their work.

In the last article we showed the SmallRig Control panel 3980 for controlling these lights, and today we're going to show just the lights that relate to the previous article.

Today we're actually going to look at the Smallrig RC350B and RC450B.

These lights have COB LED in the name, but not everyone knows what that means. COB diodes are LED chips encased in a layer of phosphor. This allows the LED strip to shine not spot by spot with individual diodes, but all over with the same intensity.

Let's start right away with the boxes! Both contain a 55-degree hyper-reflector, protective cap, manual in eight languages, power cord, power adapter, and the RC350B and RC450B lights themselves. The bag is not only a quality material at first touch, but it's also sturdy, nice and the lights won't get hurt in it.

Both of these lights can be controlled remotely with both the app and the SmallRig 3980 control panel that you get free with these lights. Both the RC350B and RC450B have a Kelvin range from 2,700K to 6,500K, plus nine different lighting effects with the ability to change speed via the frequency button. The interface and controls are simple but work very effectively. The two most important knobs we have here are located on the back of the light. We can turn the CCT knob to adjust the color temperature with a very subtle transition. With the INT knob, the intensity knob, we can in turn adjust the brightness.

The effects here have a dedicated button for selecting them, and what's cool is that even when you have the effects on, you can manually change both the brightness intensity and the color temperature using the aforementioned buttons. Both lights operate at 50 and 60 Hz with an input voltage of 100-240 volts from the adapter.

The great thing is that there's a standard Bowens bayonet for mounting third party accessories such as umbrellas and diffusers, which are available from many manufacturers. Like any SmallRig light, these lights can be controlled remotely via SmallRig's SmallGoGo app, which has a range of up to 100m from the light. Both lights are of high quality construction and not just because they are partly made of lightweight but strong aluminium.

The housing feels sturdy even though the top is made of plastic. There are grilles on the top and bottom to give the lights enough room to ventilate and not heat up. The volume for both lights does hover around 30dB at a distance of one metre. The mounting adapter for the light is completely made of aluminum, which is a plus because very often this is the weakest point of many low-budget lights and softboxes that have a plastic adapter and handle. The tightening handle is strong, but at the same time it can be easily loosened for quick adjustment of the light angle, as well as the screw for mounting it on the stand. The CRI, or Color Rendering Index, is 96 on a scale of zero to one hundred, which is very good. And for those who don't know, the standard is around 80.

Now let's quickly tell you the differences. Total weight including accessories and bag for the RC350B is 7.9Kg, while for the RC450B it's 8.5Kg. The noise level of the integrated fan at a distance of 1m is only about 28dB for the RC350B which may sound like noise in an empty room with no people, while for the RC450B it is about 32dB which is roughly like whispering. At 5600K, the maximum intensity at 1m distance for the RC350B is 115,000 lux with the reflector installed, while for the RC450B with the same conditions it is 121,000 lux. S

probably the biggest difference here is in power, because the three hundred and fifty is the smaller brother of the more powerful four hundred and fifty despite the same dimensions.

The last thing in which these two lights differ is the prices.

You can buy theRC350B starting from 24 800 CZK HERE.

RC450B from 30 300 CZK HERE.

REVIEW SMALLRIG CONTROL PANEL FOR RC 350 / RC 450 COB LED VIDEO LIGHT (3980)

Do you have RC 350 and RC 450 professional lights at home and you are missing a control panel to control them? No problem!

We have one for you today, so let's take a look! This is the Smallrig Control Panel for RC lights. The SmallRig 3980 is an alternative way to control the RC 350 and RC 450 LED lights.

In addition to the many switches with which you can control a lot of functions, it features a two-inch LCD display that shows parameters and status in real time to help you adjust brightness, color temperature, built-in special effects, special effects frequency, and reset Bluetooth.

And what's in the box? Of course, there we find the control panel, the Magic arm for mounting the light on a tripod and the user manual can't be missing. A three-meter anti-shutdown cable ensures safe, reliable and efficient control of the lighting in case the light switch control is inconvenient.

For example, when the light is placed at height on a tripod or ceiling mount. The control panel is also equipped with a clamp that belongs to the Magic Arm. On the back we find a magnet for convenient dropping directly onto the light via the Magic Arm. This control panel from SmallRig meets the makers' requirements for simple, practical and efficient lighting control on location or in the studio.

Therefore, if you have your own studio or you are just starting out as a photographer or filmmaker, the panel is definitely worth it because, with quality lighting, you can achieve amazing results even with an older camera or mobile phone. And how does this panel connect to the light? You unpack the panel from the box and attach the arm to the tripod of the light first. Next, you connect the panel to the control panel connecting port on the light and place the magnetic wheel on the back of the arm.

The panel will automatically turn on and you can immediately start controlling the light you bought it for. Simple, right? This panel is not an expensive affair at all, which is why anyone can afford it.

You can buy it from just 2 000 CZK HERE.

REVIEWS HOLLYLAND LARK M1 DUO

TheHOLLYLAND LARK M1 DUO microphone is the perfect sidekick to bring together the world of quality audio and video makers who don't want to break the bank.

Today we're taking a look at the completely wireless HOLLYLAND LARK M1 DUO lapel microphone! This brand comes with a case design similar to Apple Airpods, with one receiver and two transmitters in a rechargeable case. This is a very small and compact system that can fit in your pocket. The integrated microphones with omnidirectional characteristic offer a wide response in the 20Hz-20kHz band and a natural speech presentation; very good intelligibility is guaranteed by HearClear technology to suppress ambient noise.

For your maximum convenience, the transmitter and microphones weigh just 121g. The charging case weighs 80 grams, which charges the whole set in an hour and a half, the receiver 17.5 grams and one microphone 11.8 grams. Furthermore, these microphones boast up to 20 hours of battery life, stable connectivity and compatibility with a range of devices from smartphones to cameras and computers. The entire system has a USB-C port for external charging. You'll also be pleased to know that the microphone is smaller than a typical USB flash drive. The system operates in the 2.4GHz band with a range of up to 200m at a latency of 20ms and a 16-bit digital audio signal or 48kHz if you prefer. The Lark M1 is packed full of features to give you access to professional sounding audio, and that's what makes these microphones so interesting.

The microphone already has preset volumes with high, medium and low intensity. It also has two modes, mono and stereo, which are indicated on the display by blue and green lights on the receiver. Coming back to the packaging, you get a very nice cloth grey case for the system and its accessories.

Inside the case you will find the Lark M1 itself, two transmitters and one receiver. The whole system is made of plastic, but it looks pretty high quality. You will also find two wind screens, a 3.5mm jack for smartphones, a 3.5mm jack for cameras, a usb cable and of course the manuals.

The excellent price/performance ratio makes it an ideal tool for vlogging, interviews, video conferencing, live streaming, podcasting, etc.

TheHollyland Lark M1 is a fantastic, easy to use microphone kit that will be a great asset to any content creator or video producer who is on a budget. So if you want something that's affordable, easy to use and simply works with everything, the Lark M1 should definitely be at the top of your list. A very good idea this kit is not only because of the great battery life, but mainly because of the affordability. You can get this kit starting at just £4,500 HERE.

FOREVALA W60 REVIEWS

Today we're going to take a look not only at the SMALLRIG FOREVALA W60 wireless microphone, but also at what's in the box, how it's constructed, and most importantly, whether the sound is worth it or not.

We've got these supercharged two-channel microphones that are not only useful for presenters and their guests, but also for vloggers.

We'll start right away with the box. Inside it is a charging case and inside it are two transmitters and one receiver. There are also two wind screens, so if you're going to be filming outdoors or in windy conditions, be sure to put these on as it will eliminate the sound of wind in your audio recording. You will also get usb-c and lightning phone connection cables with the set. You'll also get a cable for the cameras with a nice pouch that doubles as an equipment case; a usb-c cable for charging.

A huge benefit, are the magnets to the microphone so you can clip them anywhere on a person or other surfaces. You can charge directly using the USB-C port or charging case, via usb-c or the built-in usb-A cable. The entire set lasts up to 8 hours on a single charge, and takes about an hour and a half to charge.

Looking at the construction; the microphones are very lightweight, composed of plastic, aluminum and LCD displays that are bright, beautifully readable and full of useful information. A huge advantage of this microphone and its display is that the display goes off when you're filming so it doesn't glare into the camera. The microphones have a USB-C port on them that can be used to charge them. We also find an on/off button on it, which you have to hold for a long time to activate it and you can also mutate the microphone with a single press of this button.

The microphone set offers smart plug-and-play pairing, a handy tool that you can use to connect the transmitters to the receiver with a single click when you first set up. The mics have a lapel mount or just the magnets we wrote about above.

Now let's take a look at the receiver. This one also has an LCD display on it, two rotary dials for volume adjustment, a flap system for attachment that you can also put on the flash sled, and a USB-C port for charging. A headphone output lets you control the sound quality of the microphones directly while you're shooting.

Overall, this kit should reach up to 100 meters without obstructions. And how does this set stack up sonically? Our initial feelings were enthusiastic, as the audio without modification sounds very good for microphones in the low budget section. Both transmitter units have a low-cut filter mode that removes low-frequency background noise below 200 Hz, caused for example by rubbing against clothing or wind gusts. You can adjust the volume from 0 to 10 dB using the silver dials on the top of the receiver.

This microphone is a super choice for vloggers, interviewers, creators who have bigger plans and up-and-coming producers who want a lot of music for little money. The microphone can connect to just about everything from cell phones, laptops, tablets, computers to sports cameras and audio recorders.

The price of this set starts from 5 500 CZK and you can buy it HERE.