Stelos is the latest flagship model among broncolor’s mobile monolights.

With 800 joules of flash energy, legendary broncolor light quality, and battery operation that allows charging while in use, it lets you make the world your studio.

Stelos combines maximum performance with outstanding portability. Its fast flash durations and precise colour stability open up new creative possibilities.

At the same time, it’s rugged enough for demanding on-set use and light enough to take with you anywhere.

Thanks to the broncolor bayonet mount, Stelos is compatible with the full range of light shapers and accessories. From small reflectors to large softboxes – all the familiar tools can be used without an adapter.

When the team from Switzerland asked me to test the new broncolor Stelos, I knew I wanted to take it straight to the streets of Berlin. I teamed up with the charismatic jazz musician David Hermlin, and together we set out to see what this light could really do.

Right away, I loved how compact it was. The side-mounted battery clicks off in a second, making it easy to travel light between locations. Indoors, I could plug it in while shooting, and it would quietly recharge itself — so when we stepped outside again, I had a fresh battery ready to go. That meant at least 300 full-power flashes without missing a moment.

What impressed me most was the range. From overpowering bright midday sun to dialing it down for moody, low-light interiors, the Stelos handled it all. Paired with high-speed sync, it gave me complete creative freedom to match the mood of each scene. Berlin was alive with trams rattling past and music drifting through the air, and the Stelos kept pace the entire time. It didn’t just light the scene — it became part of the performance.

Guernsey’s harbor, rugged seashore rocks, and Karl Taylor’s own studio became the testing grounds for broncolor’s newest light. Over several days, Karl put the compact 800 J unit through real-world scenarios — from braving breezes with a Para reflector to crafting precise studio setups. “Its size, its power, its flash duration, portability… even the fact you can charge it while using it — I’ve been blown away,” Karl says.

Karl praised its wide power range, rock-solid output consistency, and ultra-fast flash durations, freezing motion at speeds up to 1/15,000s. The LED modeling lamp, with adjustable color temperature, stayed visible even outdoors, adding versatility to both studio and location work.

When asked for his top features, Karl chose compact size, consistent power, and speed — with battery life as a close fourth. “This is going to be my go-to location lighting choice,” he concludes, reflecting on a week where one light lit harbor scenes, seashore portraits, and intricate studio shots with the same precision and reliability.

In the gardens of a centuries old estate in Switzerland, Yannick De Bakongo proved how far one light can go. With only one light, the broncolor Stelos and the Octabox 150, he built an entire visual world: cinematic, intimate, and uncompromising in detail.

By the weathered stone steps, Yannick De Bakongo used the Stelos and Octabox 150 to sculpt light that was soft yet impeccably controlled. The folds of the gown revealed texture with painterly subtlety, while the contrast between rough stone, vivid foliage and luminous skin stayed remarkably consistent, frame after frame, despite the shifting daylight. The Stelos’s unrivaled stability ensured that every image carried the same depth and precision, without compromise. Showing that artistry grows strongest when the tools never hold you back.