Good lights can make all the difference in the quality of work you can produce as a photographer. If you’ve never heard of a self-inflating light, then today might be the day you add one to your camera bag.

Light is obviously a crucial part of photography, but not all light is created equal. Many factors come into play when trying to decide if a light is any good or not. Two key areas for many prospective buyers are the power of the light and how portable it is. These two factors seem to score highly in the SIRUI A100B Bi-Color, which is a versatile light that was recently reviewed by photographer and educator Nigel Barros in his latest video.

The review starts with Barros talking about the light and showing some of its potential uses. This is where we learn the product is a little different in construction, as it is self-inflating. This might sound like a bit of a gimmick, but the build quality looks just as sturdy as similar softboxes on the market, with the added benefit that you don’t need to construct anything, and everything can fold down when not in use.

We next see one of the more useful features of the light, which is that the color temperature has a range from 2800k right up to 8500k. This means you’ll be able to get everything from super cool right up to a warm sunny glow if you need to balance multiple light sources. The video goes on to show some of the pros and cons of the light, which you’ll be happy to hear are mostly positive. A few downsides of this particular light are the noise from the fan in the power brick and the way the panel attaches to the stand itself. Two minor details that I think most photographers could live with.

What I really like about Barros’ videos is that they are always informative and educational in equal measure. The video shows us all we need to know about the light in question, as well as showing us a few setups we could try ourselves. As an added bonus, Barros shoots the whole of the video using a 10-year-old Panasonic GH3 camera to illustrate the importance of good light over gear. A lesson I think many of us need reminding of from time to time. Is the SIRUI A100B Bi-Color light worth adding to your camera bag? I think it’s well worth considering, especially if you do a mix of still and video work. These lights are not cheap at roughly $400, so I’d suggest you try and rent one to see if it ticks all your boxes first.

What do you think of this inflatable light? Do you think you’ll be adding one to your camera bag? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.