Review: The Zhiyun Molus X100 COB continuous light

Friday 1 March 2024, 15:30 by Nando Harmsen | 3,734 views | 2 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

Video requires continuous light. Until recently, I used a couple of LED panels. But their light output was not particularly impressive. Instead, I chose the Zhiyun Molus X100 COB. How has this light performed after several months of use?

There are a few options for continuous light. An ordinary lamp, whether an incandescent bulb, halogen or one of the other types, an LED panel with a large surface and multiple LEDs in a pattern, or a COB light, short for Chip-on-Board.

A COB light is essentially an LED lamp that you can compare with a normal continuous light. It is a small light source that must or can be used with a light modifier such as a softbox or umbrella.

A Chip-on-Board, or COB, light. This is the chip of the Zhiyun Molus X100, neatly covered with a plastic protective cover.
The difference from an LED panel is the light output and the surface from which the light is emitted. In general, an LED panel produces less light, especially when it is a bicolour LED panel. Read my article about the differences to find out more.

The Zhiyun Molus X100

I had to choose between a 60 Watt, 100 Watt or 200 Watt COB lamp. The Zhiyun Molus comes in several versions. I chose the Molus X100, which is clearly the 100 Watt version. One of the reasons for choosing it is its compact shape. It is about the same size as a camera body.

A unique design that makes it an ideal COB light for location work. Despite its small size, you get 100 Watts of light.
The X100 has an open design for optimal airflow to aid cooling. The housing is essentially a large fan with the COB lamp in the centre. Its dimensions are just 144.5 x 94 x 26.1 millimetres.

There are two buttons on the side and a red on/off button. The small LCD panel provides the necessary information about the intensity and colour balance. It weighs just 385 grams.

The size of the Molus X100 becomes clear when it is compared with a camera body.
Power is supplied via a mains adapter or the included battery. This offers 2,600 mAh, which is enough for 30 minutes at 100% intensity. The battery also works as a grip for holding it. The dimensions of the battery are 52.8 x 94 x 61 millimetres.

The buttons on the Molus X100. Operation is simple.
Although the lamp is mainly made of plastic, it is good quality. The battery is made of aluminium, as are the buttons on the side. These buttons rotate with small clicks and can also be pressed.

There is a proprietary connection system for light modifiers, the ZY-mount. This allows light modifiers developed specifically for this lamp to be attached. These light modifiers are compact, keeping the complete system compact. A mini reflector is included as standard, which increases the light output somewhat.

Mounting the Zhiyun Molus X100

There are two 1/4-inch screw holes on the underside of the unit. No spigot is included, which means you have to provide one yourself.

There are two 1/4-inch connections, but no spigot is included. I bought a Neewer ball head to mount the unit on a light stand.
A Bowens-mount adapter is available, type B, which allows you to use light modifiers with this type of connection. It also makes it possible to mount the lamp on a stand. There is also an opening for an umbrella.

The Bowens-mount adapter supports both the light modifier and the lamp itself. This prevents heavy light modifiers from putting unnecessary strain on the ZY-mount of the Molus X100.

You can use Zhiyun's special ZY-mount. Or you can choose the Bowens-mount adapter.

A lot of light

The Molus X100 is a bicolour light. This allows you to vary the colour balance between 2,700 and 6,500 Kelvin with one of the buttons. Pressing the button lets you quickly switch between 2,700K, 5,200K and 6,500K. Rotating it changes the colour in small steps.

The CRI rating is 95 or higher, while the TCLI is 97 at a distance of one metre. This is the manufacturer's specification. It promises stable light output and colour temperature, which is important for video and photography.

The colour temperature of the Molus X100, 2,700K on the left and 6,500K on the right.
The COB lamp produces 3,881 Lux at 100% output at a distance of one metre at 4,500K. With the included mini reflector, this becomes 17,317 Lux. You can change the intensity in steps with the button. Or press the button to switch between 0% - 20% - 50% - 100%.

Using the Zhiyun app

Using the Molus X100 is simple. If the lamp is mounted on a light stand, it becomes difficult to operate everything, especially if it is just out of reach. Fortunately, there is a free app that connects to the Molus X100 via Bluetooth. This is Zhiyun's ZY Vega app.

The ZY Vega app is well thought out and easy to use. Zhiyun deserves praise for this.
The app is user-friendly and very clear to use. You can connect multiple units and control them individually or in groups. There are presets, light position maps and a music mode. You can also scan a colour and set the lamp to match it.

Using the app lets you control the Molus X100 remotely. It is not an unnecessary option.

Warm becomes hot

A COB light produces heat. That is obvious. Thanks to the open design of the Molus X100, no heat is trapped inside the housing. As a result, the fan does not need to be used in many situations. The fan starts completely automatically when necessary.

When the fan comes on, you do not notice it. It is virtually inaudible and you literally have to hold your ear against the lamp to hear anything. Even then, it is probably just the sound of air moving. There is no way to operate the fan manually.

You cannot miss the warnings when you take the Molus X100 out of the box. Do remove the stickers before use.
The Molus X100 gets very hot during prolonged use and at full power. There is a reason why warning stickers are placed all over the unit when it is taken out of the packaging. Keep this in mind and always let the lamp cool down before storing it.

The battery and power supply

The battery has enough capacity to run the lamp for 30 minutes at 100%. At lower intensities, it will of course last longer. Charging takes about 2.5 hours. It is also possible to power the lamp via a USB-C connection. Depending on the power bank you connect via USB-C, the maximum intensity may remain at 20%.

The battery has its own connection. Unfortunately, it is not a V-mount. The USB-C connection is for charging, or you can use it as a power bank.
If you have a mains socket nearby, you can connect the Molus X100 directly to the mains. Unfortunately, the connection has no way of locking in place. This means the plug can easily and unintentionally come loose. This is the biggest drawback of the Molus X100.

The battery itself is charged via USB-C. You can also use this battery as a power bank for your smartphone. The disadvantage, however, is that the battery also has a unique connection. A V-mount type connection would have provided more flexibility.

There is room on the underside for a USB-C connection or a mains adapter. Unfortunately, it is not locked in place, creating a significant risk of it coming loose.

Conclusion

The Molus X100 is a fantastic COB lamp. The design is well thought out and the finish is of high quality. Thanks to the open design, heat is dissipated perfectly and the fan makes virtually no noise.

The small dimensions make the lamp perfect for location work. The special light modifiers with a ZY connection also keep the system compact. The ZY Vega app is user-friendly, so the lamp can be controlled perfectly from a distance.

Unfortunately, no spigot is included, so you have to provide one yourself. It is a small purchase, but it should have been included. I find the mains connection to be the biggest problem. Since there is no locking mechanism, the plug regularly falls out when you move the lamp or the mains adapter. Apart from that, there is no V-mount battery connection. This forces you to use Zhiyun batteries.

In use on location. The compact dimensions are ideal for carrying the Zhiyun Molus X100 in your bag.

Pros

• COB lamp is protected by a plastic cover
  
• Compact dimensions and lightweight
  
• Good build quality
  
• Open design minimises fan use and noise
  
• Good-quality buttons
  
• High light output
  
• Simple operation
  
• Bowens-mount adapter supports the light modifiers and the lamp
  
• Proprietary ZY-mount allows for a compact system
  
• Battery provides a good and secure grip
  
• Well-designed and user-friendly ZY Vega app
  
• USB-C power possible, but limited to 20% light output
  
• Battery can also be used as a power bank
  

Cons

• No spigot included
  
• The lamp gets very hot
  
• Mains adapter can easily be pulled loose
  
• Battery has no V-mount
  
• Lamp takes quite a while to start up
  
• No battery percentage display, only LEDs
  
• Connecting the ZY-mount light modifiers can be difficult
  
• No physical on/off switch
  
• Included bag has no room for the Bowens-mount adapter or other accessories
  

Despite its few shortcomings, the Zhiyun Molus X100 is certainly worth recommending. The price is somewhat higher than that of some other brands, but the advantages more than make up for it. If you want even more light intensity, also take a look at the Zhiyun Molus X200.

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