Background Cards – Series I

When I first saw the Adaptalux system on a YouTube video, its small size and flexibility blew me away, as did the possibility of controlling the intensity with an app. This was the first time I had seen this system, at least in Norway, and after some thought, I decided to order one. The system is just great and works like promised. Taking these pictures is still a big job, but the system makes it much easier.
The Adaptalux system truly shines when lighting small objects for macro photography.

In a time when personalized service & interaction with online companies is non-existent Adaptalux is above & apart! The email I sent asking for assistance was replied to within hours followed by a further interchange on tweaking my custom package – then they shipped out asap & it arrived in 3 days! (UK to South Africa – this is a type of world record! in Dec!) but that is not where it stops. Upon opening the large box there was a letter…yes a letter. A personal thank you for my order & a Yorkshire tea bag! – amazing extra touch! followed by a welcome email – with “let’s get started“ links tutorials & tips – I saw some moans about the cost, but here you get far more than you pay for!

I have used it twice (I’m preparing my move to Taiwan). I used it to make a macro stack-up picture. I use 2 Arms, white and red and illuminated my subject from the top. The effect was really great and it is easy to change the settings with the downloaded app.
I look forward to using it in the near future for some high-speed photography.

Excellent customer service. Very quick delivery. Fantastic advice given if you are hesitant about purchasing these lights or any Adaptalux equipment. My lights that I ordered are fantastic & will be adding to them. Can’t wait for the flash to be released. I would highly recommend Adaptalux whether you are a beginner like me or a professional

Definitely the best lightning system ever for photography!

A very versatile solution to macro photography! The quality of the system is wonderful. We are rare coin dealers so the system does work well for that purpose. (Not a criticism!) I would like to see a unit offered that would have like 2 ports so I could use a unit on each side. It’s too expensive to do this pairing. The alternative with the current unit might be to offer options of longer light shafts. I use a “shoot from above system from a copy stand and the focal length I need for certified coins in slabs doesn’t allow me to reach a lateral lighting scheme when using the unit from the supplied cold shoe configuration. Longer arms would be the solution. Good product otherwise.

My workspace is quite small and I don’t have room for lighting stands and sophisticated lighting equipment. The Adaptalux Studio will work nicely in my limited space.
I received the Adaptalux Studio about 3 weeks ago and so far, I have performed a couple of test shoots with flowers to become familiar with the operation of the equipment. I am very pleased with the results and I look forward to some fun springtime macro and closeup photography with flowers and other nature subjects.
I have had several questions for Adaptalux support, and I have been quite impressed with their response time and the quality of the responses.

Eu recomendo o Adaptalux, uma ferramenta a não perder para a nossa creatividade na fotografia, não esperem mais, não pensam mais, vale mesmo a pena comprar excelente..

I recommend Adaptalux, a tool not to be missed for our creativity in photography, do not wait any longer, do not think anymore, it’s worth buying excellent.

So after a long time looking at the systems and trying to justify spending so much cash I thought what the hell and went ahead a purchased a system and im glad I did the lights are of really good quality as is the main unit all comes well packaged and worked straight out of the box. Only tried using it a couple of times so far but things look very promising although bit of a new learning curve for me.
If you are looking at this system then do it can highly recommend it.

I recently received my Christmas package with the Adaptalux Pod starter kit. I’m impressed with the setup and ease of use of the pod with the cell phone app. My primary use will be macro photography of mosses using my Canon Rebel SL1 with EFS-60 macro lens. I am enjoying the ability to shoot without a flash yet still have plenty of light and be able to shut the f stop down for sufficient depth of field. The coloured background cards are handy!

The Adaptalux Studio proved invaluable in letting me position lights of different colors and intensities to illuminate not only macro scenes but also still life compositions. The flexibility of the lighting arms together with use of the iphone app allowed me to adjust, balance and dial in just the right amount of light in real time, in live view, to bring the atmosphere I was looking for to life. This versatility of the Adaptalux Studio has opened up many new opportunities to explore the creative use of lighting.

Unit is well made and functions well

The adapalux studio is a very versatile lighting system. You really have to try it for yourself to discover the endless lighting options at your fingertips. Different colour lights, colour filters, diffusers all help to create what you want to achieve in your macro photography. The accompanying App makes it even easier, giving you a hands free approach to concentrate on your lighting setup.

The adaptulux website contains very helpful information on how to get the best out of the adaptulux studio and the system is modular, so you can add to it later if you want. The buying process was straightforward and the contents arrived in a lovely carbon neutral packaging. I highly recommend it.

Its great having a lighting system that is specifically tailored for macro. Being able to craft the lighting like any still life or portrait it elevates the creative choices for even the smallest of things.
I love the system thank you

I bought the adaptalux kit mainly to take iris photos and I’m completely satisfied. The system with the Android application works perfectly, the boost mode is a real plus and it’s very easy to use.

This is a great product. It has completely changed my macro photos. It is so flexible and easy to use. Controlled from my iPhone or from the pod itself, it turns macro photos into great macro pictures. The lighting combinations are just about endless.

I bought the Combo Pack, this included:
The Pod
Four lighting arms of my choice, with a little advice from the Adaptalux team.
Three defusers.
Two colour filters, again with advice from the Adaptalux team.
Various cables, a charging adapter and cold shoe fitting.
With the help and advice from Adaptalux this combination of lighting arms and filters gave me a great start. I will of course be adding lighting arms and filters in the near future.

Flexible rods are very useful but the versatility of the setup also allows you to accomplish macro targets that are challenging.

The little pack with @ UV lights and 2 mini pods that I bought is just beautiful. Really, the first thing you notice is the build quality and an incredibly pleasant feeling on touch.
I wish the lights were somewhat more powerful, but instead of complaining I will order 3 more and a Control Pod.

I first purchased the Adaptalux Studio at the Photography Show around 2016 (ish) this was the original adaptalux pod. I bought a kit. Over the years I have added UV arms and upgraded to the new improved POD recently. I have also just purchased the green lighting arm for some Christmas projects. If you have not watched the YouTube Channel you really need to do so. So many ideas and very well presented.

I have owned my studio for just over a year. After stumbling across a video on YouTube, I was impressed with what I saw. And thought this is something even I could use, and I was right. With everything being compact as they are, it is quite easy to maneuver around just about any set up I can come up with. And being able to take the lights outside in the dark, I am not stumbling around heavy equipment. So, the mobility I have with my studio, is very satisfying.

The photo I submitted was a mistake photo, I was only focusing, but I pressed to hard, but I do like the results.

I have been using the control pod/lighting arms for a little bit now and Really have had no issues with the product.
Really appreciate the control available through the App on the smart phone and save different profiles, allowing all the control of the lighting.

I started with the mini pods and lighting arms for lightweight easy additional lighting. However then purchased the main pod and the brighter lighting arms which provide that extra detailed focus of light. Great effects. I’m impressed with the products and excellent customer service. Looking forward to the new flash arms when they come out.

Just a simple and well thought out device. Works as advertised. It would be great having some longer lights in the system. It would give you more room when you need to bend the light in a larger arch. Still a great product.

This is only the 2nd product review I’ve done in the past 35 Years (‘Im 55), anyways around 20 years ago I was diagnosed with a condition called fybromylgia which has now progressed to chronic pain in every joint (think constant toothache in your bones 24/7).

Point of my medical history ? well prior to finding this system my setup took days which by the time I was sorted I simply couldnt then actually take a dam photo because of the pain/tiredness, so I therefore rarely actualy got my camera out.

With this setup I think photography is going to be fun again, creative and spectacular I hope.

Oh customer service is first class as well.

Well, I must say I enjoy using the product both indoors and out. Very versatile and the only limitation would be one’s imagination for all the possibilities it can be used/applied to. I purchased all the arms in varying quantities and one of each diffuser. Easy to use and the app to control the arms is awesome. Would highly recommend it. Customer service has been excellent and responsive. No regrets!!!

Nice and easy to use indoors and outdoors. Helps me get the lighting just where I need it. The kit is well-made and feels robust.

… have just dipped my toe in the water and purchased a mini, base, light, clamp and defuser. Really pleased the product oozes quality and is beautifully made and performs well. Everything about the company from the website, product, packaging and support has attention to detail. I’m so pleased I went down this route and will be adding items to my set up.

Great light source for macro and close-up subjects. Composing in live view, using in-body focus bracketing and auto focus makes a macro photo session a joy.

The uses of the individual light sources on the object is ingenious. It’s like post-processing images in the beginning…
I still have a lot to practice, especially in the macro area, but with this system it is really fun. (The first fly looked somewhat extraterrestrial) I can really recommend this system.

I am only just getting used to the lighting having done very little macro photography. However I am more than pleased with everything and cannot wait to experiment and learn more. The online Adaptalux videos are brilliant, giving me lots of ideas.

A clever and well thought out dedicated design for macro photography. Great flexibility for lighting angles and colors for small subjects. App for controlling the unit is a bit futsy, but that is a minor gripe.

Even though the parcel to Norway took a long time due to a PayPal problem. I am very satisfied with the product. Everything is ok.
Regards. Nice product.

It is a pleasure to work with a well-designed lighting system. I use it for Macro, Photomicrography and UVIVF photography, and it is well worth the investment.

I ordered my Adaptalux studio over the New Year period when typically shipping anything to Australia is difficult. Not so with my Adaptalux starter pack, it arrived in 4 days. Everything was very well packed and I was able to start using it the day it arrived. Thanks for a great product backed by great service.

Good experience with this system and the accompanying videos helped me to get to grips with the system pretty quickly.
Looking forward to eventually getting the UV lights and possibly a strobe or two even though I am a big fan of the always on lighting.

Hey everyone, just wanted to share my thoughts on the Adaptalux Studio Ultimate Pack. As someone who loves tinkering with photography but isn’t a pro, this thing is a game-changer! Setting it up was surprisingly easy. No complicated manuals or tech jargon—just plug and play. And the results? Mind-blowing! The lighting is on point, bringing out details I never knew existed in my macro shots. But what I love most is how it’s helping me learn. Experimenting with different lighting setups is like a fun puzzle, and I can see myself improving with each shot. It’s like having a mini photography workshop in my own home.

I recently completed Macro video filming of Gemstones and Jewellery for a Japanese National Television program. The very well built Adaptalux kit helped me get some amazing shots and the producers were not only impressed with the kit but how the images turned out and the kind of intricate control I had over the lighting. Macro video shooting can be challenging and the Adaptalux kit was in my opinion was essential – in speed, getting the look I wanted and the kind of micro adjustments needed to make it all come together. (vision samples not able to be uploaded as yet due to copyright clearance)

For over 15 years, I have been volunteering within the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) dealing with macro photography. They require quality imagery of the objects, and lighting is key to that. I followed the Adaptalux system, but it was above our needs.
Adaptalux then produced the Pod Mini, a pair of lamps, with diffusers. The British Museum purchased a set for me to test. They are a game changer in the use of lights for the macro photography of small the objects, rings, brooches etc. and coins. They are very easy to set up and adjust as key and fill lights, using the camera live view screen.
Brilliant, thank you Ben, for your advice and great customer service with the system.

Although I haven’t had the chance to use the system yet, I have conducted several dry run mock-ups in preparation for getting out this weekend. I primarily purchased the system for outdoor macro photography and I am sure it will more than fulfil my requirements.

The lighting arms are very well built and provide a most excellent light. Very easy to set up and focus.

Recently purchased. Still getting used to using the components. I am looking to develop my skills doing iris photography. Enjoying the portability and ease of use.

I love the flexibility to manage the light intensity and position of the arms. I still didn’t have time to test a lot of the product because it was a Christmas present.

I purchased 3 UV arms and the pod. I love the lights and the app really makes them easy to use.

Very innovative lighting set up and great customer service – had an issue with mine and the problem was dealt with swiftly and in a no quibble, polite and friendly way – highly recommended.

I received this pack in December and have begun using it to help light my macro subjects. The lighting arms make a big difference, allowing me to use a much shorter shutter time. I am waiting for the adapters to be delivered to allow the mounts I bought to be fitted to the Pod Minis. These adapters will enable me to position the pods and lighting arms more precisely and become more creative.

The adaptalux setup provides customizable lighting for any type of photostand.

So easy from purchase to delivery to follow up.
Great quality product. Really versatile. I follow Ben on YouTube for project ideas.
I just wonder if you may create warm white light as I sometimes find the white light arms pretty cold , just an idea though 🙂
I love the UV lamps, still practicing to get my camera settings right though.
2 photos I’ve taken so far, a UV flower and a still life called ‘a grate family photo’ 😁

Using adaptalux lighting with macro in the field is superb, so light and versatile easy to carry and use. I’m the envy of my photographic friends.

The studio system was easy to set up and use. So many possibilities with the colours available

Hi guys, after watching many of Ben’s YouTube tutorials for quite a while, I bought a pack of lighting equipment and found them to be of very good quality in both design and manufacturing. Haven’t had much time to use them but found them a little tricky at first but getting used to them, learning to get them in close enough to the subject and can see endless opportunities to capture macro abstracts. I found the controller wheel a little fiddly so pleased that you have put the controls on an app, however wouldn’t work on my mobile android poss a screen protector issue as it works brilliantly on my iPad. Now the seasons are changing hopefully plenty of fun to be had with the various set ups.

I’ve been playing around with my new Adaptalux Studio for around 3 weeks, loving it so far! Thanks guys, great system.

I recently purchased this system and love it! Used purple and green lights with diffusers to highlight fresh asparagus and I thought it looked awesome. I will continue to play with the lights and macro lens! I would definitely recommend this and in the future, I plan on adding the led arms.
I am in Canada and I still find it hard to believe that this arrived in 3 days! Good job!

I haven’t had a lot of opportunity to use the Adaptalux Studio that I purchased; however, the little I have used it, it seems to be a very versatile & easy set up. The pod and arms seem very well made. The pro-mount seems a little less well made and I am not sure how well, or how long it will last. I plan on expanding my set up in the near future with some more lights, so I would definitely recommend it. Overall, I am very pleased with the product.

I purchased a basic built my own set with four arms. I shoot mostly weddings and was looking for lighting my macro ring shots. This system certainly opened me up to many creative options.
It’s easy to use and the results are fantastic.
Fast shipping
Great customer service

I have set up some flowers inside for trying out my lighting arm, and adjusted the angle of the arm to try and get the best shot. This is still a work in progress, but I know it will improve the quality of my work. I am looking forward to trying my flash arms when they arrive.

The build quality of all the elements of the adaptalux pod and lighting arms are solid and very well designed and built. Fantastic

It really is super. It’s compact and easy to use. The light it produces is beautiful and easy to manage. I do a lot of petal portraits and this really helps to reveal their hidden beauty and personality. It really is an incredible value.

Enjoying using my recent purchase and the uv arms open new possibilities to macro photography.Very clever

I’m really pleased with my Mini Pods. I like how they can be repositioned easily and how I can focus light onto a small portion of my subject.

Working with constant lighting takes the guesswork out of the equation. The ability to place and project light in different colours and at different strengths continually makes you think about your composition and the many ways you could light your subject.
The portability of the system allows you to get down and dirty with your macro subjects and see the possibilities you never ever saw before.
In addition, you can add to the system as you go along or as you skills and photography needs develop.
The Adaptalux system is innovative and fun to use. Moreover, it’s a demonstration of what can be achieved when you have a clear goal.
Highly recommended

It gives daylight colour temperature, easy to use. Light intensity can be adjusted from mobile app. It is must for macro photography in my opinion. Very much satisfied with the product

A really useful quality LED Lighting Kit for macro tabletop photography. Excellent Adaptalux web site for instruction and technique on using the kit. Highly recommended.

As I start to use my kit I’m finding the flexibility of control over the lights with the associated app is very useful. I also referred to the FAQ’s on the website to successfully solve a question by following the recommended advice – problem solved!

First off, it works exactly as advertised. The arms snap in and out easily and produce beautiful color precisely where you want them. I started in macro photography last year and wasn’t pleased with the lighting solutions was using. I am so happy to have found the studio pod. It’s already had a real, and beautiful impact on my photos. Also, the background cards included with the purchase are extremely handy and were a greatly appreciated bonus.

II bought the complete kit, the one with the UV light. So far I have tested the UV lamps the results are really impressive, next test will be the flowers with and without tonic water. As for the colored lamps, I tried the paper effects and a few miniature photos and I am more and more impressed, the only regret is that I should have made this purchase much earlier. Now I’m impatiently waiting for the Flash Zenon to come back in stock.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on your good work on your channel, the examples and ideas you give are very good and the explanations are always very clear.

Very well engineered and very practical for serious macro photographers

My order was delivered Down Under in little more than a week and Sam/Ben answered a couple of beginner’s queries overnight.
The products are sturdy and versatile. I discovered that the pod plus lights were best used attached to a spare tripod. I’ve been trying to watch all the excellent videos. I’ve been trying out various lenses and thinking of imaginative subjects. This is going to be so much fun!!

I was impressed by the packaging of the delivered items. I felt like a kid on Christmas morning. I’ve been busy photographing wildlife outside, so I really haven’t had a change to use my A. Studio. As soon as we start getting some flora and fauna, I may try it outdoors. It’s still pretty bare on the landscape here in New England, USA. I will be setting up a macro area in my studio soon. I can wait to try it all out.

Love the system. I even ordered the carry case to put them in. The box they came in was good, but I just wanted better protection and easy access.
Love the lights and the MACRO video ideas you share.

In fairness since receiving my kit I have not had the time to give it the justice it deserves (partly due to recently completing a very complex desktop publishing project, in between regular hospital visits for cancer treatment).

However the tests I have done show the future potential of the lighting system admirably. being able to accurately position the continuous lights and selectively control individual light output via the app is fantastic.

I am sure my initial kit will be complemented in future as I gain more experience of Adaptalux Studio in a macro rig environment.

The Adaptalux studio lights and filters do exactly what they promise and give great results. And I’m a big fan of their YouTube videos giving lots of tips for new macro subjects and techniques. Their customer support is also rapid and effective. Maybe a small company but perfectly formed!

Great product! From ordering, to shipping to receiving the Adaptalux kit was simple, received when stated. When I had questions , they were answered in a timely fashion. Great experience.

My favourite genre is macro flower photography. I often use my Adaptalux Studio for lighting staged flowers to produce great artistic effects. Adaptalux is simple to use, flexible and offers numerous lighting options due to the blending of colours and light intensity.

I commend Adaptalux for coming up with a very useful and well made resource for lighting a macro setup. The app too is well thought out and a joy to use.
The documentation makes you feel part of a community and the inclusion of a Yorkshire Tea Bag was a very nice personal touch.
Every aspect of Adaptalux is well thought out. The design of the product, packaging and documentation is impeccable. Thoroughly recommended.

I have found the Adaptalux Studio pod and lighting arms to be very easy to use and versatile in their application. The products are of high quality and have proved to be very useful in my macro photography helping me to get light to exactly where I want it.

In the 4 years since my original purchase, I’ve seen the time and commitment you’ve put into these products. I originally bought the 5 arm control unit, you kindly repaired the power connection. Forward several years and I needed just a kiss of light in a series of photos and I returned to your site. The single arm control pod is perfect! The USB connection is greatly improved and my 4 year old arms continue to function perfectly! Thank you for your innovation and commitment to this amazing line of products!

Having used and loved the regular arms and the Xenon Flash arms I thought I would try the UV lighting. A good decision. They need a blacked out room and tripods because of long exposures. The results are spectacular and very different. Unlike other UV lights I have tried, these give off a pure UV light. If you are considering trying UVIVF photography you will enjoy it. I have 3 arms but plan to buy two more. I can recommend the Adaptalux UV arms.

Excellent in all areas… Customer service is 100%

Since receiving my Adaptalux Studio lighting it has been a game changer. The flexibility that it provides and the ability to the light and more so the color of the lighting is exactly what I was looking for. I can’t wait to add other lighting arms. The build quality is fantastic. Kudos to the team at Adaptalux.

Regards
Brian

I was drawn to the Adatalux system by the color arms and filters. Both have worked great to this point, and I’m still experimenting. Great Product

I am just finishing up my new studio build and haven’t had the chance to try out either the white light or UV wands yet. The quality and looks of the product is excellent looking and I can’t wait to use them.

I bought the Combo to use instead of a speedlight when taking macro shots in the field. The quality is excellent, the design is amazing and the service superb. Adaptalux kit is not cheap but performs better than anything else. A true investment in my photography that will get a lot of use over coming months and years.

That was really interesting in using pod 3.0.

You will find your own way to exam your idea and creative.

It was marvelous using the adaptlux lighting system and I am planning to add to what I have thank you

Great controllable lighting system that is perfect for Macro photography

One of the best things I’ve got in my kit, totally flexible, easy to use and with amazing results.

I was relatively new to macro photography but the Adaptalux studio has elevated my photos to new heights. The ease of use and flexibility is what I enjoy the most. The videos are informative and provide valuable inspiration. The way you can angle the arms to provide just the right lighting is unsurpassed. I am currently saving to purchase more colors. Well done to the team for a wonderful product.

I updated my version 1 pod to version 3 due to the boost mode, which I like for iris-photography.
It is not a cheap tool, but for macro-photography the best on the market.

I love how adaptable and versatile this system is. It has not only allowed for quick changes in lighting during a shooting session but because of the options of the mobile app along with the ability to focus the light, it also allows for a surprising amount of precision and control of the light, especially at such a small scale.