Providing the essentials for location shooting, this Astra IP Half Traveler Trio Kit with Gold and V-Mount Plates from Litepanels includes three Astra IP Half Bi-Color LED Light Panels, three medium diffusers, three Gold mount battery adapter plates, three V-mount battery adapter plates, three mounting plates, three 83" lighting stands, and a rugged, custom-designed, cut-foam Pelican case for transporting the entire kit.
| Item Type | |
| Included Storage Case | |
| Photometrics at 3.3' / 1 m | |
| Color Temperature | |
| Color Modes | |
| Color Accuracy Standard | |
| Dimming | |
| Front Accessory Mount | |
| Wireless Remote Control Type | |
| Power Source | |
| Battery Plate Type | |
| Battery | |
| Input Power | |
| Power Consumption | |
| Fixture Mounting |
| Item Type | |
| Included Filters | |
| Included Storage Case | |
| Photometrics | |
| Color Temperature | |
| Color Modes | |
| Color Accuracy Standard | |
| Dimming | |
| Expected Lamp Life | |
| Beam Angle | |
| Built-In Flash | |
| Preprogrammed Effects | |
| Umbrella Mount | |
| Front Accessory Mount |
| Wireless Remote Control Type | |
| Mobile App Compatible | |
| Wireless Channels | |
| Wireless Groups |
| Power Source | |
| Inputs/Outputs | |
| Battery Plate Type | |
| Battery | |
| Input Power | |
| Included Adapter / Cable | |
| Power Pass-Thru | |
| Power Consumption |
| Included Light Stand / Mount | |
| Yoke Type | |
| Fixture Mounting |
| Display | |
| Environmental Resistance | |
| Operating Conditions | |
| Dimensions | |
| Weight |
| Package Weight | |
| Box Dimensions (LxWxH) |
I have used every iteration of Litepanels 1x1 panel. The original, Astra, Astra 4x, Astra 6x, 1x1 Gemini Hard. The 6x was my go-to for many years. The Gemini 1x1 Hard was my favorite in terms of light quality but the Gemini 1x1 Hard was heavy for the work I do (small crew corporate & academic films) and had its limitations when trying to adapt soft boxes larger than 24x24 to them. So, as COB lights ramped up in quality I gravitated in that direction. Now, I have the need for simple ballast-free lights, quick to setup, and easy to pop a 24x32 or larger softbox onto. Given those requirements, I thought I'd try the Astra IP. Weighing less than the Gemini 1x1 Hard but having about the same output at 5600K it seemed like a great fit. The Astra IP is also ~1⁄2 the price of the Gemini 1x1 Hard (based on B&H's NAB 2026 pricing for the Astra IP). In testing though I found the following. On two Astra IPs the fan noise in Auto was louder than I liked and on one unit the fan noise had a slight crunchy mechanical quality to it. Also, in designing the IP Litepanels tightened the beam angle from ~46° of the 6x to 30° of the IP. This makes for too tight a beam to be used effectively in a Chimera Small Pop Bank (24x32). I read somewhere that the Chimera Small Pop Bank fits the Astra IP but I found it's a bit janky in use. The back of the IP is smooth so the Pop Bank's elastic corner holds have nothing to grab onto. Additionally, there is zero tilt with the Pop Bank on the IP. I know that DoPChoice makes a 17x17 fluted softbox for the IP but I find that size too small. Plus, as has been the case for years with LItepanels, they charge through the nose for accessories and do not include things like battery plates when most every other manufacturer does these days. I can see how the Astra IP is a great fit for news crews, especially if the primarily use it bare, with its diffusion panel ,or with the 17x17 softbox, but for myself, I found it was not the working the way I had hoped.
These guys are great. A more robust build than the original Astra, lots of punch outside, but come with a built in diffuser. They are waterproof, so no hassle with covers if it starts to rain. The LED display is great, it takes the guesswork out when you are matching temps or intensities. Overall, a great tool to have in the truck.