Review: NEEWER FS60B

Reviewer: Adam Duckworth

Adam Duckworth is a filmmaker who specialises in commercial work for clients like Red Bull and Honda, and has worked on music videos and feature films. He is also editor of Pro Moviemaker magazine.

The days when using LED lighting meant hauling heavy monoblocs and bulky batteries are rapidly disappearing. Advances in COB LED technology have shrunk fixtures dramatically, and NEEWER has taken that trend a step further with the FS60B.

At first glance it’s difficult to believe this really is a fully featured 60W COB light. It looks very different to the norm – more like a portable radio, original Walkman or perhaps a portable hard drive in both size and form.

At just 150x89x33mm and 298g, this bicolour light will happily disappear into the corner of a bag or into a tight space on-set. Despite its size, the FS60B claims 34,300 lux at one metre when fitted with the supplied reflector and our test using a Sekonic Spectrometer C-800 shows this is no exaggeration.

The FS60B is built around a bicolour COB engine covering 2700-6500K, with brightness adjustable from 0-100%, a choice of three lighting modes and four dimming curves. Colour accuracy is rated at CRI 96+ and TLCI 98+. Our tests with the Sekonic and an LIT DUO 1 colour meter showed that, without any reflector, the actual colour temperature was around 40-90K cooler than the setting on the dial, and the tint was towards green, but only slightly. For a light that costs just £120/$110, that’s particularly impressive. Especially as it was very consistent right across the intensity range and colour temperature range.

 

Small but serious

Despite its unusual form factor, the FS60B feels well engineered. Controls are straightforward, with one dial on the rear panel altering colour temperature and the other intensity. There’s a lot to be said for simple, obvious controls.

The intelligent cooling system deserves praise too. In standard mode the fan is barely noticeable, while silent mode makes it suitable for interview work where microphone placement is close to the fixture.

Output isn’t comparable with a 300W or 600W fixture, but that isn’t the point. Used as a key light for interviews, product work or tabletop filming, the FS60B delivers ample illumination. In smaller studios it can light a presenter through diffusion, while on location it works as a fill or accent light.

Being able to mount it in hard-to-access areas mean it’s best to control it via the free NEEWER Studio App. This is also simple to use, and allows you to access not only the intensity, colour temperature and dimming curve but 12 scene effects such as lightning or TV screen and 11 simulated light sources such as tungsten, halogen, sunlight and HMI. You can also use it to specify lighting in groups for larger set-ups.

Of course, it’s the accessories that make any system usable, and thankfully NEEWER’s FS60B is part of an ecosystem of lightweight, inexpensive and portable add-ons. The head comes supplied with a small reflector and basic rubber dome diffuser, but for £50 the optional NS68P 12-inch octagonal softbox is handy. It uses NEEWER’s own Mini Mount system and pops open almost instantly. Twin diffusion panels produce pleasantly soft light, while the supplied soft grid tightens beam spread for more controlled lighting. Despite its compact size, it creates flattering illumination for interviews and talking-head content.

For power, it can use a USB-C source or the included mains power block. For use on location, the £78 PH74E battery grip powers the FS60B for around an hour at full output while doubling as a handheld support or a very compact light stand. The battery grip also includes 100W USB-C power delivery, meaning it can charge cameras, phones and accessories between takes.

The size is right

If you want to use full-size Bowens mount modifiers, the £30 CHB1 Mini Mount to Bowens adapter lets you do just that. The adapter is light and NEEWER limits supported modifiers to around 1.5kg. That’s more than enough for most practical lighting set-ups, which is what the light is best at. You’re not going to use a tiny light like this to illuminate large lanterns or softboxes, of course.

A 60W fixture simply can’t compete with larger COB lights when you’re attempting to overpower sunlight or illuminate large sets. Likewise, the Mini Mount ecosystem currently offers fewer dedicated modifiers than the established Bowens standard.

But neither of those issues should surprise anyone considering a light this small. Mounted on a lightweight stand with the softbox, it becomes an excellent interview light. Add the battery grip and it transforms into a genuinely useful handheld fixture for run-and-gun productions. Fit the Bowens adapter and suddenly it slots neatly into an existing professional lighting kit.

Perhaps most importantly, its tiny size means you’re more likely to carry it as it can live in your camera bag, ready whenever an extra light is needed.

Conclusion

NEEWER has produced something that’s impressive in terms of size, performance and price. The FS60B isn’t trying to replace high-powered studio fixtures, but it fills an increasingly important role as a highly portable professional light that delivers excellent colour, surprising output and remarkable flexibility for very little money. This is one of the biggest bargains in filmmaking lighting right now.

This article appears in the August/September 2026 issue of Definition