SmallRig x CineD OrBrella Light Introduced – 60W Umbrella-Style Light That Deploys in Five Seconds

por Johnnie BehiriSeptiembre 11, 2026

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We’re excited to finally be able to say: The SmallRig x CineD OrBrella Light is here! It is a portable soft light built around a simple idea: put the LEDs inside an umbrella, bounce them off the white fabric, and get wraparound light for interviews, podcasts, portraits, and product shots without a single extra modifier. It folds down to 34cm / 13.4in, weighs 1.3 kg (2.87lb), opens in about five seconds, and reservations start today at $1. Here is the story of how it came to be, what it does, and how you can get one.

A while back, Nino, I, and the CineD team made a strategic decision to put our filmmaking expertise into practice by designing original, useful products for people who appreciate ease of use, quality, and portability. Leveraging our knowledge and bringing projects like this to fruition requires (a lot of) patience, in addition to flexibility. The OrBrella soft light is just the beginning, and we are very proud of the outcome!

Before diving into specifications and usability scenarios, I would like to thank Stefan Karle of DoPchoice, my mentor on this project, who guided me from the beginning with great advice and helped build the early prototypes. Next to Stefan, I would like to thank Mike, Miss Way, Jarvan, and Sandra from SmallRig, who believed in the concept and made it possible to get to where we are now. Last but not least, Nino, Jackie, Florian, and Claudia were always there to support me with this dream. I can’t thank my team enough for lending a helping hand and good advice throughout this long and winding road.

How it all started

I have been a documentary cameraman and editor for 33 years, and like other veterans in our industry, I can confidently say that I’ve seen it all. Most noticeably: lower budgets, smaller crews, better, compact, and more light-sensitive cameras, and the list goes on. But when looking around, one thing hasn’t changed. When filming documentaries, much of the work involves filming interviews, and when you take into account that there is less time (and budget) to light a scene properly, a solution was required. I mean, the market is now flooded with COB (Chip-on-Board) solutions from many respected companies, but all of them offer a similar approach: light directly and strongly, then start diffusing with different modifiers. This is of course a valid option, one that I’ve been using for years, but being passionate about shaping light, I was looking for something completely different.

Traditionally, getting soft, diffused “book light style” lighting requires quite a lot of equipment, so I aimed to create something much smaller that carries that heritage in a far more compact, easy, and portable way.

I do most of my “brain work” while jogging, so a few thousand kilometers of running on mountaintops later, the OrBrella soft light was born!

Eight LED strips, two ways to use them

At the core of this light are eight LED strips mounted facing the inner white fabric of the umbrella. The light is bounced back off the fabric before it reaches your subject, which is what gives the OrBrella its very soft, wraparound quality on an interviewee. If additional diffusion is needed, the supplied cap goes over the front. And if a stronger output is what you are after, the reverse also works: press the knob at the end of each LED strip and flip it over to the outside, so the strips fire directly forward. The strips can be flipped individually, which is where the operational flexibility of this concept comes from.

For this model, we decided on 60W of output, as we found it sufficient for sit-down indoor interviews. The fixture is bi-color, and we also included green/magenta control so that skin tones can be corrected on the spot. Being a documentary filmmaker means constantly being on the move, and one of the prime requirements was to make this light as portable as possible. The result is a 34cm / 13.4″ fixture (68cm / 26.7in when opened) that can be deployed in about five seconds.

Power and control

We took care to make powering the light straightforward but flexible. The umbrella connects to a separate control box via a single thin cable, and since that cable is permanently attached to the light, you cannot forget it or leave it behind. The control box has a built-in V-mount battery plate, and a Sony NP-F adapter will be offered as an accessory. At the bottom of the control box, there is a USB-C connector, so you can also run the light from a power bank or a laptop charger.

The control box offers all the usual functions (intensity, color temperature, green/magenta) plus NFC. The same controls will be available in the latest version of the SmallRig app, so you can adjust the light from your phone without walking over to the box mid-interview.

Why SmallRig?

When we started this journey, our aim was to collaborate with a company that was willing to listen to us and acknowledge that, yes, we are a media outlet, but our core strength is our experience. Next to that, we wanted a strong partner that could deliver goods at an affordable price. For this specific project, SmallRig ticked all the boxes and even exceeded my expectations. The company was extra supportive and always willing to listen.

Product launch roadmap: secure your light for $1

From today until September 24, you can enjoy early bird pricing ($149.99, to be exact) on the first 100 units. All you need to do is use this link and reserve your light for $1/€1. Special bonus: get 10-day free access to our entire MZed educational platform.

Our crowdfunding campaign goes online September 25 and will run until November 8. During this period, the light can be reserved for $169.99.

On January 20, 2027 the first batch of lights will ship. From then on, the light will be available for $199.99.

So here we are, modestly starting a new chapter in our never-ending effort to reach farther and better support our fellow filmmakers, this time with a new, innovative production tool. Much more to come. Stay tuned!

Please note: The OrBrella soft light is currently under development, and all the images in this article are from a prototype.

Guys, what do you think about the OrBrella concept, and would a soft light like this find a place in your interview kit? Please share your thoughts with us in the comment section below!