Profoto Launches Two Battery-Powered OCF Lights Built for Hybrid Photo-Video Work

If you have ever been switching between photo and video setups and wished for a single lighting setup to solve both problems easily, Profoto may have had similar thoughts. The company has just released two new battery-powered OCF lights, and both are targeted at hybrid creators who shoot quickly and move even quicker.

The new 250W Profoto B20 and 500W Profoto B30 are intended for location work. They offer robust flash output, compact size, and consistent LED modeling for content creators balancing stills and motion within the same shoot. Here is a closer examination of what each provides and how they might make it easier to streamline your kit.

Profoto B20: Light, Quick, and Built for Control

The B20 is a bit lighter of the two, but it is nonetheless loaded with features that focus on speed and versatility. You have 250Ws of strobe power, along with a 40W bi-color modeling lamp for fine detail work before you release the shutter or roll the camera. The B20’s recycle time varies between 0.01 and 1.2 seconds, depending on the flash mode, and you can get up to 400 full-power pops per battery.

What is notable here is the 11-stop power range. That makes exposure a little less complicated to change as you move from scene to scene, or style to style, particularly when moving from portraits to product photos or from stills to slow-motion footage. Built-in AirX wireless control also means the B20 gets along with Profoto’s remote system, allowing you to shoot unencumbered while still adjusting flash settings with accuracy. 

A look at the B20 specs:

• 250Ws flash output
• 40W bi-color LED modeling lamp
• 11-stop power range
• 0.01 to 1.2 seconds recycle time
• 400 full-power flashes per charge
• Integrated AirX (2.4GHz) wireless support
• Sync, TTL, HSS, and remote flash control
• 90-minute battery charging time

This type of spec sheet strikes a sweet spot for portraiture shooters, wedding filmmakers, or content creators who simply need something fast and agile without compromising light quality.

​

Profoto B30: More Power for High-Demand Workflows

The B30 does it all the B20 does, only louder. With 500Ws of flash power, It is designed for those times when you require more oomph whether lighting big groups, working under bright ambient light, or simply needing more versatility out of a single light source.

Its 40W LED modeling light that sticks with it, but the B30 increases the output to 1700 lux bare at 3.3 feet. You can get away with 8500 lux if you add a Profoto OCF Magnum reflector. Similar to the B20, it has a broad bi-color range of 2800K to 7000K and retains a high CRI rating of 94 for good, consistent light.

B30 specs at a glance:

• 500Ws flash output
• 40W bi-color LED modeling lamp
• 11-stop power range
• 0.01 to 2.1-second recycle time
• 220 full-power flashes on a single charge
• 2800K to 7000K bi-color range
• 94 CRI for accurate color
• Integrated AirX wireless and TTL, HSS support
• 90-minute battery charging time

For commercial photographers, indie filmmakers, or studio teams who frequently shoot under changing natural lighting conditions, that flexibility in color temp and even brightness might be a lifesaver.

​

I have used enough lights to know that sometimes less is more, not in power, but in setup and stress. The new Profoto battery-powered OCF lights provide dependable performance for both photography and videography, simplifying lighting solutions.

The size-to-power ratio is impressive, and color flexibility is increasingly important. Achieving both high performance and portability is uncommon. If they perform as promised, I could see one (or both) earning a spot in my kit.

Pricing and Availability

Both Profoto B20 and B30 are available for orders at $1,995 for the B20 and $2,395 for the Profoto B30.

[via nofilmschool; Image credits: Profoto]

---