BB&S Lighting CFL Explained – Compact Bi-Color Fresnel Light with Magnetic Accessories

by Francesco AndreolaApril 28^th, 2022

Copenhagen-based manufacturer BB&S Lighting recently displayed their CFL (Compact Fresnel Light) at NAB Show in Las Vegas. This new tiny bi-color fixture has a power draw of 40W, a manual ring-controlled focus system, and supports a series of magnetic modifiers. It is now available for purchase for $695.

BB&S Lighting is a Danish manufacturer that has been constantly growing in the last few years thanks to increased demand of lighting products from the broadcast industry. It’s great to see filmmaking business can still thrive, despite the pandemic years we experienced.

Even better was meeting Toby Sali from BB&S Lighting at their NAB booth. Toby took some time to introduce us to their first Fresnel product in years, their CFL (Compact Fresnel Light) fixture. Let’s see what this tiny light source is capable of.

BB&S Lighting CFL (Compact Fresnel Light): overview

The BB&S Lighting CFL (Compact Fresnel Light) is a 40W LED lamp head with a curved Fresnel lens at the front. This bi-color light offers a decent color temperature range, going from 2700 up to 5600K. A wired control box grants access to the CCT and DIM knobs.

The lamp head allows users to manually control the zoom level (from 12 up to 50°) via an integrated ring-controlled focus system. According to Toby, the unit can output approximately 3000 lumen.

Apparently, the company focused on quality rather than power while developing this product. Indeed, the CFL should score a 96TLCI rating, thus ensuring high-color fidelity and an accurate reproduction of skintones.

Snap-on accessories for BB&S Lighting CFL

BB&S Lighting also developed an optional set of magnetic light modifiers for their CFL fixture. These proprietary add-ons conveniently snap to the front of the light. Available accessories include barndoors, a softbox (1/4 diffusion), and a top hat. Once in place, the modifier can easily be rotated for better control when shaping light.

Size, weight, and design

The major selling point of this light is its form factor. Indeed, the lamp head only weighs 1.6kg/3.5lbs and measures 17.5×14.5cm/6.5×5.7”. As Nino rightfully points out in the interview, it looks much more compact that most COB LED fixtures with Fresnel accessories attached.

Furthermore, the BB&S Lighting CFL has a fan-less aluminium design that makes it sturdy and silent, thus meeting the needs of sound guys too. Instead, a heat dissipation section on the back of the unit prevents it from overheating.

Price and availability

The BB&S Lighting CFL (Compact Fresnel Light) is now available for purchase from the company’s website. It comes in two color options: Black and White, which are currently priced at $695 and $750.

For more information, please visit BB&S Lighting’s website here.

Disclaimer: This article and the video were created in cooperation with BB&S Lighting.

Do you need a compact Fresnel light in your kit? What do you think about the new BB&S Lighting CFL? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!