# What is a COB light?

> COB stands for Chip on Board — a design where multiple LED chips are packed tightly together on a single substrate, acting as one powerful point light source.

URL: https://camerashop.com.eg/what-is-a-cob-light/
Language: en

## COB stands for **Chip on Board** — a design where multiple LED chips are packed tightly together on a single substrate, acting as one powerful point light source. COB lights produce significantly more brightness than LED panels of the same wattage and accept professional light modifiers through a Bowens or other standard mount.

## **Why COB lights are the professional standard**

A COB light concentrates all its power into a **single point source**, similar to a traditional studio strobe or Fresnel light. This means it can project light effectively through modifiers — softboxes, beauty dishes, barn doors, Fresnel lenses, and snoots.

LED panels spread light across a large flat surface. While this is useful, panels cannot focus or shape light as precisely as a COB source with modifiers.

COB lights typically produce **3-5x more usable light** output than a panel of the same wattage because the concentrated source works more efficiently with reflectors and modifiers.

## **COB light wattage guide**

**60-100W COB:** Compact and portable. Excellent for solo creators, small studios, and on-location work. Enough for one-person interviews and product photography.

**150-200W COB:** The most popular range for professional video. Handles softboxes up to 90cm comfortably. Good for two-person interviews and small group lighting.

**300W COB:** Serious studio power. Can drive large modifiers (120cm+ softboxes) and compete with window light in daylight-balanced scenes.

**500W+ COB:** Broadcast and cinema grade. Overpowers ambient light in most environments. Used for film sets, large studios, and outdoor shooting.

## **COB lights at Camera Shop Egypt**

## **COB vs LED panel — which to buy**

Buy a **COB light** if you want maximum flexibility with modifiers, need to overpower ambient light, or want a single powerful source for key lighting.

Buy an **LED panel** if you need even, broad light for video calls, fill lighting, or situations where a modifier is not practical.

The ideal setup for most creators is **one COB light as key** (with a softbox) and **one LED panel as fill**. This covers 90% of professional lighting scenarios.

## 

When buying your first COB light, get one with a Bowens mount. This is the universal standard for light modifiers — softboxes, beauty dishes, and barn doors from any brand will fit. It future-proofs your investment.

## Gear that does this

Available in Egypt and suited to what this guide covers.

- [COLBOR CL120R Lite 120W RGB COB LED Video Light](https://camerashop.com.eg/product/colbor-cl120r/) - 11103.13 EGP, in stock, SKU 15473
- [COLBOR CL 220 COB LED Video Light](https://camerashop.com.eg/product/28192/) - 14212 EGP, in stock, SKU 15474
- [Zhiyun FIVERAY V60 Bi-Color LED Light Wand](https://camerashop.com.eg/product/zhiyun-fiveray-v60-bi-color-led-light-wand/) - 10973 EGP - 13063 EGP, in stock, SKU 14695