Hire 100w LED Fresnel with barndoor, DMX  

Hire F96VW Variable White LED Fresnel

Silent, Broadcast-Safe Key Light

The F96VW is a variable white LED fresnel that covers more ground than almost any other fixture in the Edwards hire fleet. Broadcast-safe key lighting for presentations, livestreams and video recording. Silent fanless operation for studios, theatres and quiet boardrooms. Accurate tunable white from 2,700K tungsten warmth to 5,700K daylight for photography, artwork, and display lighting. Manual zoom from 20 to 50 degrees, barndoor included, 2.3kg, and no dimmer pack required. Hire code FRESF96.

It is driven by two 48W COB LEDs: a cool white 5,700K module and a warm white 2,700K module, mixed in any proportion to produce any colour temperature between the two. CRI 95+ across the full range, which means colours under this light are rendered accurately whether you are shooting a person's face, a product, or a painting. The 1,200Hz PWM frequency is well above the threshold for camera flicker at normal frame rates and shutter speeds, making it one of the safest LED fresnels available for any application where a camera is involved.

The completely fanless housing means zero noise at any output level. No fan spin-up, no fan hum, no change in noise floor when the light comes on. For recording studios, rehearsal spaces, church sanctuaries, quiet boardrooms, and any environment where a fan running in the background is a problem, this is the fixture.

DMX control is via a 5-pin XLR input and output, with 1, 2, or 7-channel modes available. The 1U mode is particularly useful for simple hires: set the colour temperature on the LCD panel, then operate the fixture on a single DMX fader for intensity only -no controller needed beyond the Soundcraft Performer 2's built-in DMX output or the simplest DMX dimmer. For full control, 7-channel mode gives independent CW and WW intensity, strobe, zoom, and additional parameters. Wireless DMX is available as an optional upgrade.

Key specifications:

• 2 × 48W COB LED: cool white 5,700K and warm white 2,700K
• Colour temperature range: 2,700K to 5,700K variable
• CRI: 95+
• PWM: 1,200Hz,  broadcast and camera safe
• Zoom: 20° to 50° manual
• Output: 1,230 lux at 3m at 20°, 395 lux at 3m at 50°
• Dimming: 0–100%, 16-bit
• Lens: 80mm Fresnel
• DMX modes: 1ch, 2ch, 7ch (plus 1U preset mode)
• Power: True1 in/out, 75W
• Barndoor: included
• Gel clip: included
• Cooling: fanless -completely silent
• Weight: 2.3kg
• LED lifespan: 50,000 hours
• Warranty: 3 years

What It's Used For

Presentation and corporate stage lighting. Two FRESF96 units as front wash one from each side at 45 degrees; give a corporate presenter or panel discussion clean, flattering illumination that reads well in the room and on camera simultaneously. The variable colour temperature lets you match whatever colour the venue's house lighting or the client's camera white balance requires.

Livestreaming, hybrid events, and Zoom. A single FRESF96 on a stand, positioned at 45 degrees in front of and above the presenter, transforms a Zoom call or hybrid event stream from a grainy underlit webcam feed into something that looks intentional and professional. The fanless operation means it can sit in the corner of a boardroom running all day without anyone noticing it is there. No controller is required, the fixture holds whatever colour temperature setting you leave on the LCD until you change it.

Video recording and broadcast key lighting. The 1,200Hz PWM and 16-bit dimming make the FRESF96 safe for camera use at normal shutter speeds and frame rates. It does not produce visible flicker on video at 24, 25, 30, 50, or 60 fps in standard operating conditions. For events being recorded professionally or streamed to an external audience, it is the minimum specification LED fresnel Edwards recommends as a camera key light. Run it at higher output levels - above 70%- for best broadcast performance, as LED PWM dimming at very low levels can increase flicker risk on some cameras.

Photography studios and product photography. Variable white to CRI 95+ is the specification photographers look for in a continuous light source. Accurate colour at any point in the 2,700K to 5,700K range, a smooth Fresnel beam with the barndoor to control spill, and a zoom range that works for close product shots at 50 degrees and longer studio throws at 20 degrees. It does not replace a strobe for freezing motion, but as a continuous modelling and video light it is highly capable for product, portrait, and still life work.

Artwork and gallery display lighting. CRI 95+ at any colour temperature means artwork colours are rendered accurately — no colour cast, no spectral gaps. The zoom allows a tight spot at 20 degrees to be focused on a single painting or sculpture from a stand position, and the variable temperature allows matching to the gallery's existing light sources so the hired fixture does not create a visible colour discontinuity alongside the installed lighting.

Theatre — school productions and corporate theatre. The FRESF96 is a direct replacement for the legacy FRES650 halogen fresnel for most applications. It uses less than a tenth of the power, requires no dimmer pack, gives DMX control of colour temperature as well as intensity, and is completely silent — important for theatre where a noisy fixture is not acceptable during quiet scenes or spoken dialogue.

Conference and lecture theatres. For permanent and semi-permanent lecture theatre setups where a lectern position needs consistent, camera-ready lighting, the FRESF96 can be set to a fixed colour temperature matching the room and left. The 1U DMX mode means it can be brought up and taken down on a single fader alongside the room's other lighting controls without requiring a dedicated lighting desk.

Quiet and noise-sensitive environments. Houses of worship, recording studios, rehearsal rooms, interview suites, broadcast studios — anywhere that fan noise from a light fitting is genuinely disruptive. The FRESF96 runs completely silently at all output levels.

Frequently Asked Questions — FRESF96 Hire

What does variable white mean and why does it matter?

Variable white means the fixture can produce any colour of white light between its two endpoints — 2,700K (a warm tungsten-like tone) and 5,700K (a cool daylight tone). Colour temperature affects how the light looks on camera and on the human eye. A camera set to tungsten white balance will make 5,700K light look blue. A camera set to daylight will make 2,700K light look orange. A variable white fixture lets you match exactly what the camera needs, or to choose the atmospheric quality that suits the event — warm for a dinner, neutral for a conference, cool and crisp for a technical presentation.

Is it safe to use with a camera or livestream?

Yes. The FRESF96 has a confirmed PWM frequency of 1,200Hz and 16-bit dimming. At 1,200Hz the LED switching cycle is far faster than a camera's frame rate in normal use, which means the camera cannot capture the LED in its off state in most configurations. It is the same PWM specification as the larger FRESF200 and is used by Edwards as the standard recommendation for camera key lighting. For best results, run it at 70% output or above.

Do I need a dimmer pack or controller?

No dimmer pack is required — the fixture is self-powered and plugs directly into a standard mains outlet via its True1 connector. For simple operation, no DMX controller is required either: use the 4-button LCD panel on the fixture to set colour temperature and intensity manually. For DMX control, plug in a 5-pin XLR cable from any DMX source including the Soundcraft Performer 2's built-in DMX output. The 1U mode lets you preset colour temperature on the LCD and then run intensity from a single DMX fader.

How does it compare to the FRESWW3?

The FRESF96 is smaller (2.3kg versus 5kg), has a narrower zoom range (20–50° versus 12–35°), lower maximum output (1,230 lux at 3m versus 14,223 lux at 2.5m), and is variable white rather than fixed 3,200K. The FRESWW3 produces more light over a longer throw and is the better choice for large stage main washes. The FRESF96 is the better choice where variable colour temperature is needed, where silent operation is essential, where the fixture will be close to the subject, or where a compact and lightweight unit is preferred. Both are broadcast-safe.

How does it compare to the FRESF200?

The FRESF200 is the larger sibling — same variable white technology, same 1,200Hz PWM, same fanless silent operation, but with two 100W LEDs (versus the FRESF96's two 48W LEDs), giving roughly three times the output. The FRESF200's cool white also reaches 6,500K versus the FRESF96's 5,700K maximum, which matters for cameras set to a true daylight white balance. For most Zoom calls and smaller stage applications the FRESF96 is sufficient. For larger stages, longer throw distances, or where the FRESF96 cannot produce enough light, the HFRESF200 is the step up.

Can it be used outdoors?

The fixture is not weatherproof and is designed for indoor use only. For outdoor events where IP65-rated lighting is required, contact the hire team to discuss appropriate alternatives.

What mounting options are available?

The FRESF96 can be mounted on a lighting stand with a standard spigot, clamped to a truss, hung from a ceiling bar, or floor-mounted.  Contact the hire team to confirm what hardware is included with your hire.