Hobolite’s new Max series kicks off with 80W Avant Max and 40W Mini Max

Lighting newcomer Hobolite has expanded its lighting range with a new Max series. It launches with two lights, the Hobolite Avant Max ($699) and the Hobolite Mini Max ($599). Both lights are bi-colour, with the Avant Max and Mini Max offering 80W and 40W of output, respectively.

The Avant Max is designed as a primary light source, while the Mini Max is designed as a complementary light source for fill, background, rim, etc.

Hobolite Avanta Max

The Hobolite Avanta Max is a retro-inspired 80 Watt bi-colour LED light. It’s design style actually looks a lot like old medium format film cameras, like Hasselblad and Bronica. But, as mentioned, it’s not a camera, but an LED light. Unfortunately, for many, it’s not a Bowens mount LED light. It uses a proprietary magnetic modifier attachment system.

It has a CRI and TLCI of 96, so it should be pretty colour-accurate. It has a white balance temperature range from 2700-6500K with dimming from 0-100%. Of course, there’s no green/magenta shift adjustment if you want to match it more closely with other lights.

The magnetic mount system, however, does allow some adjustment via the use of gels – if you need to tweak the colour a little (or a lot). It also features Bluetooth and NFC Tap support for easy wireless control of one or multiple units.

Hobolite Mini Max

The Hobolite Mini Max is a smaller offering. It, too, is a bi-colour LED light, but with a 40 Watt output. It shares a similar design to the Avant Max but in a smaller form factor. It uses the same magnetic mount modifier system, and also offers Bluetooth and NFT Tap support.

Like the Avanta Max above, the Mini Max comes supplied with a 99Wh V-Mount battery. This provides the Mini Max with up to 2.3 hours of runtime at full power or 19 hours at minimum brightness. It also offers a white balance range from 2700K up to 6500K with CRI and TLCI ratings of 96.

Yes, these lights are quite expensive, but when you figure the typical – high quality – 99Wh V-Mount battery, like the SmallRig VB99 Pro, will set you back at least $200-250, that doesn’t make the light itself seem all that expensive. Of course, it’s still not as inexpensive as others on the market.

Price and Availability

The Hobolite Avant Max is available to buy now for $699 in the basic kit in either brown or black. A Hobolite Avant Max kit, including several small magnetic gel modifiers and barndoors, is available to buy now for $899, also in brown or black.

The Hobolite Mini Max is also available in black or brown. It is available to buy now for $599 as a basic kit or for $799 with the gels and barndoors.