LED COB (Chip On Board) lights are high-output, point-source LED fixtures designed for film, television, and video production. A COB light uses a single, dense LED emitter to produce a focused beam that behaves more like a traditional tungsten or HMI source than a panel or tube.
LED COB fixtures have become one of the most common lighting tools on modern sets because they offer high output, controllable beams, and compatibility with a wide range of modifiers.
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What LED COB Lights Are
COB lights produce light from a single LED source rather than an array of LEDs spread across a panel. This creates a harder, more directional source that can be shaped, focused, and modified in predictable ways.
Lights
What LED COB Lights Are Known For
High output from compact fixtures
Point-source beam behavior
Excellent compatibility with modifiers
Flexible color temperature options
Lower power draw compared to tungsten and HMI
LED COB lights are often used as modern replacements for tungsten Fresnels and smaller HMIs.
Where LED COB Lights Are Used
Key and back lighting
Punchy sources through diffusion
Lighting through windows
Bounce and indirect lighting
Small-to-large narrative and commercial productions
COB lights are often the backbone of modern lighting packages.
Advantages of LED COB Lighting
High output relative to size
Efficient power consumption
Wide modifier compatibility
Battery and AC operation options
Suitable for small and large crews
Limitations of LED COB Lighting
Harder light without diffusion
Beam quality varies by brand and optics
Some fixtures require external control boxes
Color accuracy varies across manufacturers
Common Types of LED COB Lights
Daylight COB lights
Single-color-temperature fixtures optimized for maximum output, often used outdoors or as punchy sources.
Bi-color COB lights
Fixtures that allow adjustable color temperature, commonly used for interiors and mixed-light environments.
RGBWW COB lights
Full-color fixtures capable of producing a wide range of colors as well as accurate white light.
High-output cinema COB lights
Large fixtures designed to replace HMIs and high-wattage tungsten units on professional sets.
LED COB vs Other LED Types
Compared to LED panels:
COB lights are more directional
Panels produce softer light without modifiers
Compared to tube lights:
COB lights offer more punch and throw
Tubes are better for practicals and wraparound light
Compared to tungsten:
COB lights use far less power
Produce far less heat
Offer more color flexibility