By rifanmuazin 
Main Facts
In an industry where speed and light quality often sit at opposing ends of a compromise, a new collaborative product aims to bridge the gap. SmallRig, a prominent name in camera support and lighting accessories, has partnered with CineD—a leading digital platform for filmmakers—to introduce the OrBrella FM 60B Foldable LED Video Light.
At its core, the OrBrella FM 60B is a two-in-one, 60-watt bi-color umbrella light designed specifically to address the rigorous demands of documentary videographers, mobile journalists, and run-and-gun creators. Weighing in at just under 2.9 pounds (1.3 kilograms) and collapsing down to a compact 13.4 inches (34 centimeters), the fixture re-imagines how soft lighting is deployed in the field.
Unlike traditional softboxes that require assembly rods, speed rings, and separate light fixtures, the OrBrella integrates its illumination source directly into its structural skeleton. It features eight internal LED strips mounted onto the folding arms, designed to project light backward against the interior white reflective fabric of the umbrella. This bounce-lighting technique creates an exceptionally soft, wraparound illumination ideal for sit-down interviews.
Key technical specifications of the OrBrella FM 60B include:
- Power Output: 60 Watts of bi-color LED power.
- Color Temperature Range: 2700K to 6500K.
- Color Accuracy: A Color Rendering Index (CRI) of 97 and a Television Lighting Consistency Index (TLCI) rating exceeding 98.
- Advanced Controls: On-device manual dials and remote control via the SmallGoGo smartphone application, complete with green/magenta tint adjustment for flawless skin-tone management.
- Power Versatility: Built-in V-mount battery plate, compatibility with optional Sony NP-F battery adapters, and USB-C power input supporting power banks and standard USB chargers.
- Deployment Speed: A lightning-fast 15-second setup and teardown process.
SmallRig is currently offering the OrBrella FM 60B through an unconventional direct-to-consumer crowdfunding model hosted on its official website, priced at an introductory backing rate of $169.99—representing a $30 discount off its eventual standard MSRP.
Chronology: From Documentary Frustrations to Product Launch
The genesis of the OrBrella FM 60B traces back decades of on-the-ground filmmaking experiences, culminating in a development timeline that prioritized rapid deployment above all else.
The Decades-Long Bottleneck
For more than 30 years, Johnnie Behiri—co-founder of CineD—navigated the chaotic environments of documentary production as a camera operator and editor. Throughout his career, Behiri observed a recurring paradox: while modern LED lighting technology had advanced remarkably in terms of color accuracy and power efficiency, the physical workflow of shaping that light remained stubbornly slow.
Documentary crews spend a substantial portion of their working hours conducting interviews. However, setting up a professional, soft three-point lighting kit—unpacking stands, mounting heavy monolights, assembling softboxes, running cables, and applying diffusion panels—routinely eats up valuable minutes. In high-pressure documentary scenarios, crew members and interviewees alike are forced to wait while gear is meticulously constructed.
The Conception and Collaboration
Recognizing this persistent inefficiency, Behiri conceptualized a lighting tool that could bypass the tedious assembly process entirely. He envisioned a light where the modifier was the light source, engineered with the familiar, intuitive mechanics of a classic umbrella.
Approaching SmallRig, known for its rapid prototyping and manufacturing agility, Behiri found a willing partner. SmallRig and CineD entered a collaborative development phase to turn the concept into a production-ready hardware device. The engineering team focused on merging umbrella mechanics with high-performance LED strips, robust heat management, and flexible power options.
The Launch Strategy
Moving away from traditional third-party crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter or Indiegogo, SmallRig launched the OrBrella campaign directly through its proprietary web store in September 2026. Setting an introductory window of over 40 days, the company established a modest baseline goal of selling 500 units during the initial launch phase. Demonstrating confidence in the product’s viability, SmallRig announced that shipping will commence in January regardless of whether the specific crowdfunding threshold is met, effectively shifting the campaign into a hybrid pre-order model that guarantees product fulfillment for early backers.
Supporting Data and Technical Breakdown
To fully understand the market position of the OrBrella FM 60B, one must examine its performance metrics, physical dimensions, and operational versatility.
Optical Physics and Light Quality
The defining feature of the OrBrella is its indirect lighting architecture. Traditional point-source lights blast direct light forward, requiring external modifiers—such as softboxes, umbrellas, or grids—to soften the harsh beam. The OrBrella reverses this philosophy. The eight LED strips integrated into its ribs face inward, bouncing illumination off the expansive white interior fabric.
This indirect bounce increases the effective surface area of the light source, resulting in the coveted "wraparound" effect that flatters human skin tones and eliminates harsh facial shadows. For creators needing a more direct, punchier throw, SmallRig engineered a clever workaround: users can press a mechanical knob at the end of each LED arm, flipping the individual strips 180 degrees so they point directly forward. Furthermore, an included front diffusion cap can be slipped over the umbrella to soften the direct output even further.
Color Fidelity and Adjustability
In professional video production, color accuracy is non-negotiable. Poorly calibrated LEDs can introduce green or magenta color casts that require hours of painstaking color grading in post-production. The OrBrella FM 60B mitigates this with industry-standard color metrics:
- CRI of 97: Ensures that objects and skin tones are rendered with high fidelity relative to natural sunlight.
- TLCI of 98+: Guarantees exceptional performance when used alongside professional broadcast and cinema cameras.
- Green/Magenta Shift Control: Allows cinematographers to dial out unwanted color spikes directly on set, matching the fixture precisely to ambient indoor environments or other brand-name lights.
Power Ecosystem
Location documentary work rarely affords the luxury of constant wall outlets. SmallRig designed the OrBrella with a tiered power ecosystem to accommodate diverse shooting conditions:
- V-Mount Battery Plate: Built directly into the fixture, allowing for high-capacity broadcast batteries for all-day field durability.
- Sony NP-F Adapter Support: Provides a lightweight, highly accessible battery alternative using ubiquitous consumer-grade camera batteries.
- USB-C Power Delivery: Enables the light to run off modern high-capacity power banks or standard USB-C wall chargers, lowering the barrier to entry for mobile and solo content creators.
Official Responses and Industry Perspectives
The announcement of the OrBrella FM 60B has sparked considerable discussion across filmmaking forums and review platforms, driven largely by the insights of its co-creator.
Reflecting on his decades in the field, Johnnie Behiri articulated the driving philosophy behind the project in his official launch notes:
"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… Documentary crews spend most of their time doing interviews, but lighting setup still takes minutes. We want it to take seconds."
Behiri’s sentiments strike a chord with a broad demographic of videographers who feel that modern lighting manufacturers have become overly fixated on raw output power and complex App ecosystems, occasionally losing sight of pure field ergonomics.
Industry analysts and early observers have noted that while 60 watts of output may not be sufficient for lighting large outdoor scenes or overpowering bright midday sun, it occupies a specialized sweet spot. For indoor sit-down interviews, controlled corporate environments, and tight documentary spaces, 60W of beautifully diffused, bounce-softened light is more than adequate.
SmallRig’s corporate strategy—utilizing a direct-to-consumer crowdfunding page that guarantees fulfillment regardless of goal completion—has also garnered attention. By removing the risk profile typically associated with crowdfunding campaigns (where backers frequently worry about vaporware or indefinite delivery delays), SmallRig has positioned the OrBrella rollout as a low-risk, high-transparency venture designed to gauge initial manufacturing volume rather than finance basic research and development.
Implications for the Filmmaking Gear Market
The introduction of the SmallRig x CineD OrBrella FM 60B carries several notable implications for the broader photography and cinematography equipment market.
1. The Death of the Traditional Setup Penalty
For years, the quality of a lighting setup has been directly proportional to its complexity. Achieving a truly soft, beautiful interview light meant carrying multiple heavy bags and spending 10 to 15 minutes assembling modifiers. By proving that a fully integrated, umbrella-style LED fixture can be deployed in a mere 15 seconds, SmallRig and CineD have established a new benchmark for gear efficiency. Competitors will likely be forced to re-evaluate their portable lighting lines to match this rapid-deployment capability.
2. Convergence of Modifiers and Light Fixtures
Historically, lighting manufacturers and modifier manufacturers operated in somewhat distinct spheres—you bought a light from A and a softbox from B. The OrBrella blurs these boundaries completely. By embedding the light sources into the skeletal ribs of the modifier itself, the product eliminates dead weight and mechanical failure points associated with heavy Bowens-mount speed rings and external brackets. This integrated approach points toward a future where modularity gives way to purpose-built, all-in-one form factors.
3. Democratization of High-End Interview Lighting
Professional lighting kits that offer high CRI/TLCI accuracy, green/magenta tint control, and versatile battery ecosystems have traditionally carried steep price tags, often putting them out of reach for entry-level videographers and independent journalists. By launching the OrBrella at an introductory crowdfunding price of $169.99 (and a standard MSRP around $200), SmallRig is aggressively democratizing broadcast-quality interview lighting. Solo creators, wedding videographers, and YouTube creators can now access professional-grade soft light without breaking their equipment budgets.
4. Direct Crowdfunding Evolution
SmallRig’s choice to bypass Kickstarter and host the campaign on its own platform represents a maturing trend in hardware manufacturing. Established brands no longer need third-party crowdfunding platforms to validate ideas or build community hype; instead, they can leverage their existing customer databases to run low-risk pre-order campaigns. This guarantees consumer trust—cemented by SmallRig’s promise to ship units in January regardless of funding milestones—and signals a shift toward manufacturer-controlled product launches.
Conclusion
The SmallRig x CineD OrBrella FM 60B is more than just another entry in an overcrowded LED lighting market; it is a thoughtful, experience-driven solution to a universal filmmaking annoyance. By combining the classic, effortless mechanics of an umbrella with modern, high-CRI bi-color LED technology, the collaboration has delivered a tool that respects the most valuable commodity a documentary crew possesses: time. As units prepare to ship in the coming months, the OrBrella may well redefine what creators expect from their portable lighting kits.
Nila Kartika Wati 
Lina Irawan 