Hive Wasp: Ultra-lightweight 25W battery-powered LED from Hive Lighting with smartphone control, designed for mobile and run-and-gun lighting setups.
Technical Details
The Hive Wasp is based on a proprietary LED array with 144 individual diodes and achieves a color temperature accuracy of ±100K. The cooling system uses passive convection without a fan, ensuring a noise level of 0 dB. Power is supplied via 14.4V V-Mount batteries or AC adapters with 24V/5A. The beam angle is 60° without attachments; with the available Fresnel or spot attachments, this can be varied from 15° to 80°. DMX-512 control allows for 16-bit dimming from 0.1% to 100%.
History & Development
Hive Lighting introduced the Wasp in 2018 in response to the growing demand for battery-powered, daylight-balanced LED units. Development took two years and focused on maximum light output with minimal physical size. In 2020, the Wasp-C followed with an additional Tungsten option (3200K), and in 2022, the RGB variant Wasp-Plasma was launched. The current generation (Wasp MkII since 2023) offers improved color rendering with TLCI values over 98.
Practical Application in Film
The Hive Wasp quickly established itself as a standard accent light for documentaries and low-budget productions. In "The Batman" (2022), cinematographer Greig Fraser used over 40 Wasp units for background lighting and practical light sources. Its compact design allows for mounting in vehicles, on rigging points, or as a hidden light source on sets. Typical workflow: battery operation for 90 minutes at full power, wireless DMX control via Lumenradio protocol. Disadvantage: limited power for large areas, advantage: zero noise development during sound recording.
Comparison & Alternatives
The Wasp directly competes with the Aputure MC (12W, significantly weaker) and the Quasar Q-Lion (similar power, larger form factor). Compared to traditional HMI sources like the Arri 575, it offers lower power consumption (100W vs. 750W) with comparable light output in spot mode. Modern alternatives include the Aputure Nova P300c for RGB applications or the Creamsource Vortex8 for broad illumination. The Wasp remains the first choice for mobile productions where weight and battery life are crucial.