> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.nothingspecial.blog/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # NEEWER RGB1200 Review: A Real-World Test During a Drum & Bass DJ Promo Shoot - URL: https://www.nothingspecial.blog/neewer-rgb1200-review-dj-promo-shoot/ - Published: 2026-08-19T21:20:31.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-19T21:22:42.000Z - Author: Luke Evans - Tags: Product Review, Photography, Behind The Scenes, Showcase I don't often get a chance to shoot this kind of thing. When Gavin Steel (*@vinnisteel*) got in touch about creating some promo content for his [Felbeat](https://linktr.ee/felbeat?ref=nothingspecial.blog) project, I was immediately interested. Gavin is a drum & bass DJ with influences that extend into alternative music. We got together and discussed what a final product would look like, and the reference material he gave me involved a lot of two-tone RGB portrait lighting. That presented me with a bit of a problem. I didn't really have the lighting equipment I needed to create the look, so I started looking at what I could add to my kit without spending a fortune on something that I'd only use once. That's where the NEEWER RGB1200s came in. --- ## Choosing the NEEWER RGB1200 Initially, I was looking at the NEEWER RGB600s due to my budget. They were cheaper and they probably would have been enough for this particular shoot. Then I started thinking beyond this one job. If I was going to invest in a pair of RGB lights, I wanted something I'd still find useful for future shoots and give me room to grow. So I ended up buying a two-light kit of the **NEEWER RGB1200s** instead. That turned out to be a decision I'm very glad I made. **NEEWER RGB1200 — key specifications** - 60W output - RGB colour control - 2500K–8500K colour temperature range - 0–100% brightness - Bluetooth/app control - Built-in lighting effects - NP-F750/NP-F970 battery compatibility --- ## The shoot We shot at THÊ DEPØ, which was not only the best option we had available to us, but it turned out to be perfect for what we were trying to achieve. The combination of exposed brick, black walls and the amount of space gave us plenty to work with. Rather than trying to fight against the environment, or having to buy a backdrop set, we could use it as part of the look. The idea was to create something dark, atmospheric and slightly unconventional, something inspired by a mixture of both DnB and alternative music, while still keeping Gavin as the focus. This was where I started to appreciate just how much flexibility having two RGB lights gave me. Rather than simply using them as conventional lights, I could use colour to change the entire feel of a scene. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/41/7a/417a6c19-fcc2-4ff8-87e9-2bfaec06ddd1/content/images/2026/08/bts-felbeat.jpg) --- ## Using the RGB1200s One of the things I loved the most when using the RGB1200s was how much control you have over them. The lights can be controlled directly from the units themselves, and you can control them individually or together. There's also a NEEWER iOS app that allows you to control the lights via Bluetooth (again, either individually or grouped together). Being able to make adjustments without constantly having to walk back and forth between the camera and the lights was super useful. There are also a variety of lighting effects, colour options and other controls, including music control and a colour picker. To be honest though, I didn't use every feature. For this shoot, I was primarily interested in two things. The conventional lighting options and the RGB functionality. That's what I spent most of my time experimenting with. --- ## Playing with colour This was probably the most enjoyable part of the shoot. I've used conventional lighting before, but introducing RGB colour into the setup gave me another creative variable to work with. Instead of simply thinking about where I wanted the light to come from, I could start thinking about what colour I wanted that light to be and how it interacted with the environment. The brick walls at The Depo were particularly useful here. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/41/7a/417a6c19-fcc2-4ff8-87e9-2bfaec06ddd1/content/images/2026/08/STEEL-10-1.jpg) It meant that relatively small changes to the position, intensity or colour of the lights could make a surprisingly significant difference to the final image. --- ## How did the RGB1200s perform? They performed brilliantly. I went into this shoot knowing that I was relatively inexperienced with this particular style of lighting, and I wasn't sure how good the results would be. But the lights gave me the flexibility I needed to achieve what I'd hoped for. The output was more than enough for what I was trying to achieve, and having two lights meant I could create much more interesting setups than I could with a single source. I also really liked having the option to switch away from RGB and use a more conventional colour temperature when required. That makes them feel considerably more versatile than a light that exists purely to throw coloured light around your subject. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/41/7a/417a6c19-fcc2-4ff8-87e9-2bfaec06ddd1/content/images/2026/08/STEEL-7-ALT.png) --- ## What about battery power? One thing I haven't tested yet is battery operation. The RGB1200s can be powered using NP-F750/NP-F970 batteries, which would obviously make them much more useful for shoots where mains power isn't available. I haven't bought batteries for mine yet, so for this shoot I used mains power and a reel extension lead. That's something I'll probably change in the future, particularly if I find myself taking these lights out on location more often. Mains power and an extension lead is ideal where the option is available though. --- ## Would the RGB600s have been enough? Probably. If you're buying lights specifically for specific shooting conditions and you're working within a tighter budget, I don't think you should automatically assume that you need the RGB1200s. The RGB600s were initially what I was considering, and for what we actually did on the day, they may well have done the job. The reason I went for the RGB1200s was less about this specific shoot and more about future-proofing my kit. I'd rather spend a little more now on something I can see myself using repeatedly than buy the cheaper option and find myself wanting something more powerful six months later. After using them, I'm particularly glad I made that decision. --- ## The final images Ultimately, none of this really matters if the photos aren't any good, but I'm really happy with how the final images turned out. This was a style of shoot that I haven't done a huge amount of before, and it pushed me to think differently about lighting and how I wanted to approach the shoot. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/41/7a/417a6c19-fcc2-4ff8-87e9-2bfaec06ddd1/content/images/2026/08/STEEL-11-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/41/7a/417a6c19-fcc2-4ff8-87e9-2bfaec06ddd1/content/images/2026/08/STEEL-13-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/41/7a/417a6c19-fcc2-4ff8-87e9-2bfaec06ddd1/content/images/2026/08/STEEL-20-2.png) I'm also really pleased with how the images responded to editing. The lighting gave me a strong starting point, rather than trying to manufacture the entire look afterwards in Lightroom or Photoshop. The RGB1200s didn't magically make the photographs better on their own. They gave me more creative control, which allowed me to create something that would have been considerably more difficult with the equipment I already had. --- ## My NEEWER RGB1200 verdict I'm genuinely impressed with these lights. I bought them because I needed something specific for a particular shoot, but after using them I'm confident they'll become a regular part of my kit. The combination of conventional lighting, RGB control, effects, Bluetooth app control and the ability to use multiple lights together makes them extremely versatile. I particularly like that the RGB functionality doesn't come at the expense of being useful as a conventional light. For me, that's what makes them more appealing as a long-term investment. ### Would I recommend them? Based on my experience so far, **yes**. Especially if you're a photographer, videographer or content creator looking for a flexible and portable lighting setup that gives you the option to experiment with colour. I still need to try them on batteries, and I'd like to spend more time experimenting with some of the effects and other features, especially with video, but based purely on what I've used them for so far, they've already exceeded my expectations. The biggest compliment I can give them is that I went into this shoot wondering whether I'd made the right decision spending the extra money on the RGB1200s. I came away wondering what else I can shoot with them. --- ## Final thoughts Working with Gavin on the Felbeat project was a great opportunity to try something outside of my usual comfort zone. It also reminded me why I enjoy photography in the first place. Sometimes buying a new bit of kit isn't about having the latest or most expensive equipment. Sometimes it's about finding something that gives you an excuse to experiment and try something you wouldn't have otherwise tried. For me, the NEEWER RGB1200s did exactly that. And judging by the final images, I'm very glad I bought them. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/41/7a/417a6c19-fcc2-4ff8-87e9-2bfaec06ddd1/content/images/2026/08/STEEL-1.png)