The PiXAPRO Top Hits of 2022

Ever wondered what our most popular lighting equipment is? You can probably guess at least a few, but here's a rundown of what products were a total hit with you this year!

Flash/Strobes

It may come as no shock to anybody that the PIKA200 Pro was the top of the strobes list this year! A hugely popular battery flash, the PIKA200 (AKA the Godox AD200) is a super versatile, handy flash that can be used just about anywhere! Being one of the most versatile flashes on the market clearly works for this flash, and many photographers will have had their own experiences with them. So useful to have as part of your flash collection, we know so many photographers that swear by them! If you're looking for a great all-rounder, the PIKA200 is a great choice. 

The R200 Ringlight for PIKA200/AD200 is also a newcomer to the equipment range, but has proved very popular too, to be paired with the most popular flash choice!

A close runner up, the LUMI400 MKII is another popular choice, being a very affordable, yet powerful and quality flash. This studio strobe runs on mains power only, but is a great option for beginner photographers or those building a collection of studio-suitable equipment. The LUMI400 is easy on the budget, and is robust and dependable, and suits most people well, offering up to 400w of power, and with fast recycling times and a built-in 2.4GHz receiver. 

 LED Lighting

LED lighting, while currently not quite as popular as strobes at the moment, have also caused a splash this year, with some being quite popular! The hottest LED on our store this year was the Godox TL30 RGB Tube, a bright and colourful RGB LED, perfect for use for both photography and videography! With the choice of 36,000 colours and hues, and high colour ratings (CRI rating of 97 and a TLCI of 99) the TL30 is perfect for professionals and amateurs alike, and offers high quality light and colour, all through handy control via the Godox App! 

The second runner up for LED lighting, however, was the Godox VL150 Video Light! At 150w, this continuous studio light has the option to be powered via mains for studio use, or batteries if you want to use it cable-free or on location, and offers the equivalent brightness (At full power) of a traditional 1,500W tungsten light. Impressive! The VL150 is daylight-balanced and is perfect for any projects, from professional broadcasting and filming, to home YouTube setups, with flicker-free technology and a super quiet cooling fan. 

Softboxes

 Again, at little surprise to many, the most popular softbox we stock happens to be the 105cm Rice Bowl Softbox in Silver! A versatile softbox that is easily paired with a wide range of lighting, this easy-open softbox is easy to use, transport, and comes with an inner deflector dish plus diffusion, making it a great modifier to create soft lighting with, and therefore perfect for a most portrait and beauty photography. So many people swear by PiXAPRO softboxes, and this range comes with interchangeable fitting rings for Bowens, Elinchrom, Hensel, Broncolor, Profoto and more, so you'll find an option for you no matter what lighting you use! The smaller 65cm version of this softbox is also a close runner up if 105cm is bigger than you need.

The 30x90cm Strip Softbox is another popular choice for many photographers too. With the same easy-open design, the strip softbox is considered the workhorse to a photographer’s equipment arsenal, providing a soft, even, natural looking light, and is often used as a backlight, rim light, or side light. With a wide range of fitting options, the 30x90cm is another option for any photographer. 

Light Stands

 The most popular stand this year, and the most popular overall is is the Telescopic Background Stand! This background stand earns its 5-star rating with it's high-quality construction, affordable price, and overall usefulness, making it the most popular item in 2022. If you have a background roll, chances are you have one of these! Comprised of two 3m tall Air Cushioned light stands and one Telescopic bar, this set can be kept together as a kit or the stands can be used separately if needed, so you're not stuck with a kit with only one use! The combination will hold up to 8kg of weight, and the stands can be adjusted between 1.2m and 3m of height via it's 3-tier extension, depending on how raised your background needs to be, and the whole kit comes in one handy carry-bag! Just read the reviews to see why this handy kit is so popular.

The 240cm Air Cushioned Light Stand is also a popular choice for many photographers. Collapsing down to just 76cm in length, this affordable and portable light stand still manages to hold up to 5kg and is designed with air-cushioned tiers so that any sudden drops of the main pole won't damage your stand or equipment! With 4 adjustable tiers, you can adjust the height between 79cm and 240cm, and use it for most lights and projects! 

Accessories

Top accessories for this year are led by the SMART Bowens Bracket, used to turn speedlite heads into Bowens fittings, to allow you to use your standard Bowens modifiers! This is no surprise, especially considering the popularity of the PIKA200, which is commonly bought with the SMART bracket to widen the range of suitable modifiers past the limited selection of speedlite softboxes. 

The top trigger this year also happened to be the Pro ST-IV trigger (AKA the Godox XPRO)! Compatible with the PiXAPRO ONE System, this 2.4GHz trigger works with any flash we sell that has a built-in 2.4GHz receiver, making it a popular choice for those with multiple ONE System lights in their collection. 

Have any of these items caught your eye? We wouldn't blame you, they've been popular this year! If you're after some advice for products you're interested in, feel free to get in touch with our team via info@essentialphoto.co.uk for some assistance from our Product Advisor. 

Header image used with permission by Paul Bell.