This is cooler than I thought! It really works!
By Art Video
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2026-05-15
The Bolt Flexible Macro Flash already wins as a serious tool because it is a true FLASH system rather than an LED based light as far as intensity goes for such a small light source. That makes a huge difference, especially for macro photography, because it allows you to shoot with a very narrow depth of field while keeping your ISO low, in many cases, ISO 100, PLUS, for being a flash system, it allows you to control the ambient light by mixing it separately from the flash if needed.
And despite the small size, this is not limited to macro photography only. Of course, it works great for tiny subjects like wedding rings or jewelry, but it is surprisingly versatile for larger subjects too. Just for fun, I even tested its range of luminosity power by taking a "headshot" of myself from about 4 feet away from the flash heads, and it had absolutely no problem lighting me properly, still at ISO 100 at f4!
I included photos of it in use (visible only on the full desktop version of the B&H website, not the app).
The 14" flexible arm system, you can position the flash heads virtually anywhere you need, making it extremely adaptable for creative lighting setups.
The arms also fully collapse and fold into three sections, so everything packs neatly back into the carrying case.
The third head functions as an LED focusing light, which becomes incredibly useful in dark environments. Varies from 1 to 9 and it's surprisingly bright. But again, that's for focusing aid only. I recommend that you turn that off once you achieve focus.
Even the Canon EOS R3, despite being a high end camera, can struggle with autofocus in low light sometimes, so having that LED assist light is pretty helpful.
The kit comes complete with everything needed to get started, including color gel caps for creative effects and white diffusers to soften the light output. It also includes a sturdy EVA style carrying case that feels both protective and well made.
It also features a built in 2000mAh battery. Charging is quick, and one of the first things I tested was whether it supports USB C to USB C PD charging, since that is my preferred charging method. Thankfully, it does! Via PD, it charged from zero to full without any problems. BTW, my unit came with a nearly fully charged battery, which means, the battery doesn't easily drain when not used in a while.
Overall, I am very impressed with this product. It is powerful, easy to use, versatile, and simply gets the job done.
[I received this product in exchange for my honest review.]
