OxyLED Q6 LED camping lantern or a Westcott Ice light alternative.

I had always intended to use the OxyLED Q6 as a camping lantern, however I have since discovered that it’s also a really effective and affordable option for photography lighting. For this reason I’m going to take the time to cover both aspects of it’s functionality. So if you’d prefer to light a studio rather than a tent, feel free to skip the camping section.

Almost all campers will have a head-torch and potentially a flash light on overnight trips. Neither are ideal for hanging around the camp as they both produce a directional beam that will often blind your camp mates.

A camping lantern, especially to a lightweight hiker like myself, could be considered a luxury item that takes up space and adds extra unwanted weight. The OxyLED Q6 has become one of the few additions to my “only essentials rule” along with a small portable phone charger. I have found it extremely useful for trips with limited daylight hours especially when camp fires are not an option.

On it’s lowest setting (70+ hours) I could have the OxyLED LED lantern on all night long for a week without needing to recharge it.  The Q6 feels robust and durable despite it’s relatively inexpensive cost and has proved reliable enough to take the place of my regular backup torch.

While I don’t claim to be a professional photographer, I have a number of years experience taking still life shots of products. I typically tend to use a couple of large softbox lights and some simple reflective surfaces for highlighting the darker areas. Sometimes reflecting light back from the main source is not an option, especially if you have limited space. The OxyLED Q6 has proved to be an absolutely fantastic way of adding some additional natural lighting to the scene.

There is a product on the market called the Westcoot Ice Light, it’s priced at a staggering $499.  While the Ice light is brighter than the OxyLED Q6, it does share exactly the same natural colour temperature of 5500k. Considering the fact the most shots require nowhere near the max output of the Westcott LED, the Q6 really is an amazing Ice light alternative for anyone on a budget.

Whether you are looking for a good quality rechargeable LED camping lantern, or a cost effective Ice Light alternative, the OxyLED Q6 is a great option.

I should also mention that between photo shots and camping trips, the Q6 is either found in my boys room as a reading/night light or in the kitchen draw. Proving just how useful and versatile the OxyLED Q6 lantern is – I could actually do with a few more!