This channel is terrific! Helps out so much having a well tested and comprehensive professional gaffer's perspective and not just a bunch of opinions from b-roll-shooting kids.
Hahaha! 15:20 is the neighbours getting revenge over you beaming your lights to them! Great videos. Thank you so much for amazing infos. I’m a TV director who loves getting to understand all these geeky knowledge just so that we can all speak the same language. Thanks again for your wonderful channel. Keep up the great work! - your new fan from Malaysia (ps, I can make a lot more noise then that fan you’re testing)
Sorry for all the comments I've been leaving on your channel over the past few days, but I have to tell you this review is fantastic! First time I see a light actually tested like that, outside at night and trying to emulate the sun. Really helps A LOT to see the light in real sotuations. Will definitely consider one but price could make me go for the 300 however...
Interesting looking back at this review, Andrew. Prior to seeing this video, I had a couple HMIs and thought that LEDs were a bit of a fad. Today I’ve got 300s, 600s, 720Bs, and 1200 watt LEDs. This video really changed the trajectory of my personal career decisions. Crazy how things can change.
I convinced my buddy to not sell his joker 1600 because he uses it for super long throws (no lens) and the parabolic reflector and tiny pin light source allows it to throw extremely far compared to a cob with dish. Cob leds have their uses but for my guy he was better off keeping his HMI par.
I would recommend a Honda inverter generator. I have been using those for about 20 years. Battery wise 26v is really a last resort at full power. I'm finding they run real hot so that can't be good. I have en episode on block batteries (I think it may be called Skypanel battery system or something like that). But if going block batteries you definitely need a DC to DC inverter to stabilise the power otherwise you will damage the circuit boards as the batteries flatten.
great review! I saw this at cinegear 2019 and with my Sekonic 858 read 400fc w/reflector at 10ft, and 410fc with the fresnel at flood at 10ft. This was obviously not a scientific test as I was on a showroom floor, but I was still very impressed!
Hi .. I would love for you to explain to me or refer me to your video that explains how to deal with a location inside a building that has huge windows in day shots and I do not want the windows to look burnt and I do not want the interior to look dark. What is the right and best way to deal with this?
5:10 - The Genaray Powerhouse LED, which is less than half the cost, with no reflector is around 1600 lux at 95 inches (3 meters = 118 inches). 7:53 - The Genaray Powerhouse LED is also outputting 5500 lux with the included reflector at 95 inches (the inner design of the reflector is different than the FORZA 500).
I know that you have warned about moths burning into the cob on this model, is there anything that protects the phosphorous on the cob? If a moth lands on it what do you do? Any clarity you can provide me with is very much appreciated. I don't have any experience with these and I am looking to pick some up. Thanks!
Their is some type of Silicon gel layer protecting the COB. If a moth lands on it you get a lot of smoke, and a small pit mark in the Silicon. A damp micro fiber cloth is all you need to clean.
Hi .. I have 2 Forza 500 and the computer of one of them is not working, probably because I turned it on on a generator. Is there a way to fix this? The bulb flashes but does not light.
I just ordered the Forza 500. Thanks to you! and your great videos.. I trying to make my kit as light weight as possible and things are really heading in the right direction it seems... Working on series and features moving around 18Ks on gorilla stands and riggin lifts really hurts your back. Some times when i get home my back is hurting and my hands are all swollen and im thinking how can one do this for 30+ years?? But seeing this lamp and thinking that in 10 years lights might be significantly smaller and wont be needing 63A cables ect. is really cool. Yea, things are looking up:) Cheers
Love your videos - you’ve inspired me to get a couple of Forza 500s. I would love to ask if you could review the intellytech litecloth? The 160 and the mega lite cloth look very interesting. Greater output than the much more expensive Litemat.
I have to give high marks for Aputure for their "ballast" design compared to the Nanlite. Given the current draw on these bigger LED lights, I'm thinking it might be worthwhile for Nanlite to make a "ballast" that is all inclusive with no VLok battery option, or at least, as a base not an option. The current "ballast" setup of the Nanlite is quite crude in a sense.
The Rayzr 7 is a Fresnel I think. I will have a video soon using this light with the new Fresnel attachment. That will help anyone with the rayzr do a comparison. For the moment the forza 500 with Fresnel is just a tad brighter than a 1200 HMI Fresnel.
Hello Andrew. Thanks for the review and all your content. Can you comment about the noise of this unit. I have seen reports that the noise level is a real downside to use this lights during interviews or when location sound is critical.
They are working on a new power supply. I won't touch it until then, it's too dam loud. The version in the review is the one they went with on first release. Australian supplier won't sell it until fan is sorted.
@@gaffergear Saw you said in a comment here that you now have 4 of these lights - so did the fan noise get sorted? What kind of noise are we talking now? Thanks so much for all these in-depth reviews.
@@DaCarnival yes, fan noise is sorted, power supply has two fans now, so heaps quieter.... However..... Their must still be old power supplies floating around as just yesterday someone complained. I have asked and have been told that will replace the power supply if you get an old one. If possible, test before you buy, and hold them too giving you a new power supply, not an old one.
Hi. I Want To Ask If I Want To Buy A Cable For The Flashlight Do I Have To Buy The Cable That This Company Offers That Is Very Expensive, Or Can I Buy Another Cable That Will Fit? And another question - if I want to control the flashlight through the cell phone, how do I do it?
Unfortunately you have to use their cable. The unit can't run directly off a cell phone, it needs the nanlight (nanguang LEDGO) wi-fi box which is over priced.
Hey! Love your videos - I need to watch more. Thank you for taking the time. Curious though - you put the appropriate lens on the 1200 to match the spread of the 500 so it was apples to apples. But when you pinged the ceiling you had no lens on the 1200 (careful not to peel paint) yet the same wide spread from the 500. That doesn't sound apples to apples.
Yes. The Forza 500 can outpunch a 1.2k PAR in situations where an even flood is required. But if I didn't point out that the 1.2k Par can also kill the Forza then the message could be misinterpreted as this being a 1.2k replacement. They are both very different tools with different strengths. But I needed to compare the forza output to something, and comparing it to a 1.2k in flood, but running off two v-locks shows the units definite advantage.
Thank you so much for this specific info that is difficult to find elsewhere. A question - would it be feasible to run these units off AC coming from a small generator? Not a well-voltage-regulated film generator but a consumer putt-putt?
Hi, I am about to pull the trigger for either this one or Hive plasma killer which has 2 heads. Have you ever worked with Hive Plasma killer? Do you think Forza 500 would be as powerful as Hive plasma? I want to use this as light coming from the window. I’m scared this won’t be powerful enough to get that narrative light coming through the window type shots which used HMIs. I’d appreciate if you can answer as I trust your experience and knowledge a lot. I have lots of quasar science tubes and Falcon eyes 36RX light Matt which is pretty good. However I don’t have any hard light powerful and hard to imitate those movie window shots or light a room with enough power so that actors can walk around and wouldn’t be affected by inverse square law that much. Thank you.
Well I just checked the photometrics and two heads plasma has 10,000 FC in 3 meters. It means 100,000 lux in 3 meters. It seems like Hive plasma is much more punchy. The question is if Forza 500 is enough for those window lightings.
@@osmanarslan6364 I have never used the plasma lights. I only know one production house / rental house that has them. Advantage is a lot of firepower and not much heat. So they use them for high speed shots of ice cream. However they don't rent them out because they have had massive problems with reliability. They are subject to magnetic and gravitational fields, so they sometimes change colour when tilted. The solution they used to get around this was magnets. I use Forza lights through windows as sunlight, but only if we do not see out any of the windows. They are bright enough to look like sunlight, but not bright enough to be convincing if you can see bright exteriors outside that window or windows. Hope this helps!
@@gaffergear Thank you very much. It helps a lot yes. I know it’s been out for many years now. Even though brand new one is $7300 US I found one plasma for $1500. It was used only in a studio for 200 hours. It’s like new. I always thought I needed an HMI for those nice window shots like the ones we see in the films. My main purpose to use this is self produced commercials and narrative projects. I’m confused now which one to go with. I will check with the studio if they had any problem with color shift. I know Forza will be much easier to use, lighter, better modification but it is hard to decide. Im changing my mind every minute. If you wanted an HMI originally to light your scenes, and if the color shift wasn’t a problem with plasma would you chose plasma over this? Or forza would be good enough for my purposes? Commercials including table top and commercials like a seller at the door types and those nicely lit window shots in narratives. I’m sorry for asking and taking your time. It’s because you have much more experience than me. If you don’t have time please don’t answer. I would understand and not get upset at all. Thank you.
@@osmanarslan6364 check price and availability of replacement lamp too. I almost purchased some HMI lamps real cheap when I was starting, luckily a friend told me the globes not available anymore.
@@gaffergear actually I just ordered a Forza 500 instead. Looking at your review and considering I’m in Canada Forza 500 should be ok for now. Plasma was made 5-6 years ago and with all the lenses ballast and everything it was going to take too much of my time. Plus it requires a bigger light stand. If I need bigger lights I should rent them I guess. Thank you so much.
Very close to each other on preliminary specks, by memory the 600 is only a fraction brighter (single figure percentage by memory) but pulling about 720 watt power draw in DC. But that was with the prototype they had on show, so never discount Aputure, they will be working hard to get more from the 600.
Just thinking. How hot does the cob get in terms of gelling. Could you make up a slip in laminated cto? Or would it melt. Be boring to have to clip one on awkwardly...
@@gaffergear For my needs being able to control the Forza 60 and a light tube brightness from behind the camera would be great. Where did you order the remote? Do you know what the model number is? It’s so hard to find the info on these systems. It’s very unclear what will work with what...
@@gaffergear Thank you so much! I hope they will release a model that works with the tubes and Forza models... Perhaps you can mention this to your contacts. Thanks again for taking the time to share all this knowledge.
@@sebastianziegler5212 Hello, they've released a wireless DMX for all nanguang/nanlite products with 512 channels, controllable via phone or tablet app. It's a bit pricey, but it gets everything done.
Hey Andrew, thanks for much for all these incredible videos! I'm curious, does the Nanguang remote you got off eBay also work on your other Forza lights? Specifically interested to know if it will work with the 60B.
Hey Andrew, I’m a one man band moving towards being a dp on bigger shoots with actual crew. I’ve got a decent kit of daylight balance stuff 300dmki, a few 120d’s, as well as some basic tungsten fresnels 150, 650, 3x 1,000 watt, and a 2,000 watt in arri and mole Richardson. I’m into large directional soft sources for things I don’t have to shoot with natural light, and am looking for the best route to take to achieve those types of setups for bigger setups than just interview sized shots. My question is for shooting through diffusion, making booklights, etc, is something like this 500 watt led going to be a lot worse than a par fixture used open faced in flood like a 1200 HMI, or an m18 dialed to flood? Am I better off shooting soft sources like a skypanel through diffusion if this is my intended goal, and I already have the lighting kits to do hard light? I’m trying to add whatever to my arsenal that will allow me to do the brightest, biggest key sources off house power, while taking up the least space to be that efficient. I was loving your bit of advice in the video about how grids help smooth out the first bit of fall off, because this has been one of my biggest issues trying to build these giant sources in tiny rooms! We don’t have a healthy rental market around here because I’m in a small market, so I prefer to buy fixtures because they usually pay for themselves on that job I need them for, But I do get this is a situation where one may consider renting only when needed, and I’m open to that suggestion if you think it’s smartest!
I got all my gear because like you I found renting to be difficult. When deciding what light I put through a diffuser my 1st consideration is colour. (most times daylight). Then firepower, then space, then depending on the room sound (hmi lights buzz). So if I'm pushed for space I might go a Skypanel over a spot light because of its spread. A lot of times now I will use 2 forza 500s in place of a 2.5K MHI just because it's easier to move around. The only time I really worry about using a spot light or a soft light in not the frame is if I'm worried a hot spot may appear in reflections, especially if it's talent with glossy make up or a reflective product.
I got this light and its really amazing! The problem with the loudly power supply is still here. 50 db measured 2cm from the fan. Then I put a "Air filter for HONDA generator models EU30i" under the ps fan and presto, the loud is highly reduced to ~ 20db. The filter allows the airflow to pass trough it and works flawlessly. Hope, this MOD;) can help. Or you can change the fan with 60mm Noctua NF-A6x25-PWM , but I still haven't do that.Its just an idea, not sure what is the real voltage for the fan inside.
@@gaffergear Honestly, I didn't expect the production unit to be so loud as well...Probably they will fix the fan problem with Forza 500 Mark 2. Anyway, this light is amazing and I highly recommended it. Waiting for the fresnel :)
Update with the noise: The fan inside the power unit is SUNON Maglev 60x60x10. The noise problem doesn't come from the fan itself. Its something with the overall airflow in the box. It cannot be fixed, unless the cooling is passive. Probably the best solution up to day, will be an option to switch on/off the power unit fan.
@@wsfvn they are working on new power supply and apparently will replace the old one if people want, the Australian distributor won't even sell those original units. I can't believe Nanlite released that unit! Apparently the shape of the units acts like a trombone!
Hi and thank you for your great gear reviews. Having had the forza 500 for a while and I guess with the modified ballast could you tell me what you think to the actual noise outputs from the ballast fans. The reason I'm asking is I'm looking to invest in some continue lighting that will work in multiple scenarios. For instance as a stills guy predominantly I have a couple of up coming jobs involving stills and video. To this end I was hoping to use the same set up lighting wise for both. The first job is an outdoor under cover shoot which I think the forza would handle power wise in regard to balancing the lighting outdoors but another project I've been asked to do would involve meeting room type talking heads interviews and I'm concerned that the noise levels on the ballast would pick up. Thanks in advance Jon Hutchings Jam Photography UK
I am told they are working on a leko Mount. I do have (for testing and review) a Aputure Leko, but I doubt it would transfer across with super fine optics as the COB is larger on the 500. I will do future videos on this, I also hope it's possible!
@@gaffergear thanks for all the hard work you put into this. did you have the time to try the aputure spotlight attachment on the forza 500 ? thanks for your answer
Hi Andrew, I know from your videos that you have shed loads of small led bi-color lights that you can hide around the set, but just wondering if you have demoed the Boling BL-P1 RGB light, seems to be getting rave reviews! From one Gaffer to another, you're the best on UA-cam mate!
The boling looks good, and I think they are a company to keep an eye on, because most companies experiment with a small LED before moving on to 1x1's and bigger. I just haven't got my hands on one yet, and distribution deals in Australia keep falling through because they want to sell the lights to distributors for the same price they sell them to you and me on eBay. No distributor here means no back up and repairs. Personal I'm waiting to see how the RBGW Aputure small units will hold up, (due in December) the app that controls them all should be amazing, plus a wireless charging station built into the pelican case!
Thanks for the video. Very informative. Any insight on flicker (free) - could this work undimmed at 1000/2000 FPS ? I’m seriously tired of still using T12s and T24s in 2019!
I personally haven't tested it for this (I currently don't trust my flicker meter) but nanguang do boat about how flicker free their lighting range is, so it should be capable!
Thank you for your video, I compared the official data between Forza 300 and 500, they only have 1/2 stop difference of LUX, and the 26V vlock battery is also expensive on the market , what would you reckon it's still worth to get Forza 500 over 300? For the package size, the Forza 500 is more larger that Forza 300? Thanks.
The 300 was made for people who can't afford 26v batteries, it's actually the same COB just being under powered. The only reason I went with the 500s was I had battery systems in place for existing lights, otherwise forget it. The only other difference I have come across is the 300 can do a smooth fade to black where as the 500 is rough down the bottom end.
Noisy ballast. This is how to start a sound / light was on set. I hope they come up with a better solution. You say it s comparable to a 1.2. is it ? On a meter? Sounds big and I just watched another video that compares it to a 575.
Hello Andrew, the results of the thermo-colourimeter are astonishing! Thank you for this analysis. By the way, what tripod or stand do you recommend for this forza 500? Thank you again from Spain.
I have a Forza 500 and used it maybe a Dozen times in the last 8 months only in studio and yesterday I got an over heating warning and realized my fan is not working.. Have you had any of the fans die on you?
Can't say that I have, all my issues have been with the lock offs. Check the Nanlite Facebook user groups, they are actually very helpful and the administration WON'T take down a post from a user who has a problem like yours.
Have you had much real world use of this light now? How does it cope with interviews outside in bright daylight and is the final build spec satisfactory? Thanks
Own 4 now, only problem we have is bouncing them off a ceiling in moth season, moths fall on the COB and burn into the gel covering the COB. This might not be a problem with the Fresnel mount once we get that. I still haven't got my hands on the Fresnel, that's about 4 weeks away still. I wish the reflector had barn doors. Fans a bit loud but way quieter than the HMIs it replaces. My crews love the light weight. Primary use is for back light in large daylight locations
@@DaCarnival works shit, they currently have Fresnel's for this shipping, so wait for those. They are worth the wait, much better than aputure. Real old school Fresnel quality barn door cuts
Using it in that situation it doesn't require the beam hitting the ceiling to be nice and even. So there is no need to put a lens into the par to clean up the beam. Without a lens the HMI has way higher output. But it's beam is not clean enough to light talent directly.
Yes, it has two fans now. The fans on the PSU are way quieter than the fan on the head. So until you turn off the fans on the head you can't even here the PSU fans
Gaffer & Gear hello, I would appreciate if you can answer me ASAP because I’m about to make a purchase and it is time sensitive. How do we differentiate the updated version from the noisy ones? Also if you had to choose would you choose 1 Forza 500 or 2 x 300s? The last question would be what size softbox from nanlite would you choose? 59” or 45”? Thanks for great videos. Big fan of you.
Gaffer & Gear thanks for the reply. Much appreciated. However one part of my question is unanswered still. How do we differentiate the newer models from the older noisy ones? Should we check the PSU to see if there is twin fan? Is that the only difference?
Andrew, thanks for the videos, taking the time to share your insights. Would like to know if there are any plans for a USB to allow for firmware updates?
I looked everywhere but could not find a USB port on the unit so I assume no updates. But I do have HMI lights where the firmware can be updated via the DMX port, but I highly doubt that's the case with this unit
As you demonstrated in the review, not all the effects settings are useful as programmed in the production prototype. Built in effects are the min app of lights in my world, it is nice to have and be able to customize as needed. A means of making updates would make the Forza 300 & 500 a lot more attractive in the current market. Lumen radio would also add to their appeal. I will reach out to NaNite.
Hi, Andrew, thank you for your channel, i am really learning a lot from your videos as a newcomer to this topic. I have a question for you, hope you can help. I want to be able to shoot through a window on an outcast day and i see that people are using HMI for this task. I wonder if i have two Forzas 500 with fresnel both punching into ultra bounce frame, would they be able to compete with the overcast sun ambiance. In another word do the power of both units multiply in this case like having one Forza gives you 7500 lux in 3 meters but two Forzas gives 15 000 lux or it doesn't work this way. Sorry for the dumb question.
I'm starting to do this now. In the past (last year) it was easier to use one big light rather then several small units. But I would rather use two forza because they are sooooo light weight and use less power. Same outcome as a 2.5k hmi.
@@gaffergear So the output of several small units punching into one bounce board equals the same amount as one big unit? In other words, two Forzas 300 into bounce board equals the one Forza 500 into the same bounce board?
I am thinking to buy Forza 500 or 300 B . I like 300 b because you can change color of light and you get a remote . And I think it is using cheaper Battery. I am not shure how much stronger is nano 500 ? I don't beleav I can afford 500 and 300 b so this is one time choice , can you help me with your advice. I have a small studio with high walls 7x 4 Meters and sometimes i want to shoot videos and documentary movies outside . What should I get ?
I bought forza 300b and 60 b And I think I made a mistake. I am awaiting the package , and realize that forza 300b is using just a half of the power comparing it with forza 300 and forza 60 . That is just 150 w on 3200 and 150 on 5600 - fan off ... Omg I wanted strong light ... Forza 300 is double stronger and I can just use Filters to get warm light if my logic is good . Is it possible to mix those ( warm and cold ) lights so you can get max power around 300 w just like forza 300 ? Thank you so much.
@@TheMalimica these days a Bi-colour light usually comes in at about 70% the brightness of the mono colour because a 300w mono colour is a true 300wat, not 150 split. The difference in brightness is due to a mono light only having a single phosphour that can be clumped all around the emitters.
Hi Bob. I've checked up, one shipment went out with the old power supplys to the USA. In 6 to 8 weeks they can give you a replacement when the rest ship with the problem fixed.
@@gaffergear does this mean they solved the noisy fan issue w/ the ballast? I'm prepping one for a shoot this week but the fan noise won't fly. Going back to HMI's for now. Would really like if the Forza would play well, I'd buy one for sure.
Didn‘t you upload a teaser for a 300d ii review? Didn‘t find it anymore... maybe I just dreamed that 😅 But in case I didn‘t dream it,: I would love to hear you thoughts on the builtquality of the nanlites vs the aputure Mk ii COBs Cables, connections, knobs and so on. Think a lot of people are on the fence and need to decide between the nanlite forza‘s and the aputure COB lights Love your videos!!!
Filming 300D II video now. But it's still under a media embargo. It won't be a comparison video, but all the readings are done at the same distance in the same room so comparisons can be made easy enough. Both systems have pros and cons. At the moment the 300D II video is sitting around 48 minutes long, so I've got some trimming to do
Hey. Appreciate what you do. Thanks! Bought these lights based on your review. Love them! I have a question though. The remote your using (I think www.aliexpress.com/item/32810784848.html), does it do on/off for the lights or only up/down brightness? For example, if I'm at 80% brightness can I hit that power button to go to 0 immediately to see how they are affecting the scene? I ask because I bought the Nanlite RC-1 unit they sell and it can only do up/down only on these units. So to get to 0% from the remote, I'd have to sweep down to it. Cheers.
@@gaffergear Thanks for confirming! Yeah seems like an oversight IMO but I guess a small tradeoff for the power vs cost. Haven't & won't try their app since it needs the add-on router (I believe?). Hopefully they come out with a new remote or improve in the future, but it might be a limit to the components inside. Guess I'll stick with the RC-1 for now then. Cheers!
Bad news man. I just tested my brand new Forza 500 I just got and the ballast sound is so loud it is unusable on a film set. Even though you can turn the fan of the light off and reduce brightness by 50%, the ballast fan keeps going at a very high loudness level. I saw a floor model who's ballast didn't have a peep coming from it during an expo and was so excited and purchased. Finally tested it and the sound.. it's like having a large fan on. It is too bad. Did you end up picking any of these up? If the cable from the control unit to the light was 40-60 feet long, it might be usable.
I have been told that nanlight will swap out the controllers. It seems that a batch was sent to the US and Canada. Your seller should contact nanguang (the parent company) and it should be swapped over. If you have uses I can youse my contacts to find out the name of the person your person should talk to
I‘ve been waiting and hoping for a video on this light. This looks amazing. Any thoughts on using the Aputure Fresnel on this? Wouldn‘t it give it even more punch or is this reflector so well made that the difference wouldn‘t be too big? Or would it cause heat issues? Love your videos!
Nanlite are currently working on a Fresnel, the original design they had for both the 300 and 500 was choking in heat on the 500. I suspect a Fresnel won't be as bright as this reflector. But I could be wrong.
This channel is terrific! Helps out so much having a well tested and comprehensive professional gaffer's perspective and not just a bunch of opinions from b-roll-shooting kids.
Man it’s so great to get a Gaffer’s opinion on this. Thank you! Loved the real world scenarios and avoiding hype. Subbed!
Hahaha! 15:20 is the neighbours getting revenge over you beaming your lights to them! Great videos. Thank you so much for amazing infos. I’m a TV director who loves getting to understand all these geeky knowledge just so that we can all speak the same language. Thanks again for your wonderful channel. Keep up the great work! - your new fan from Malaysia (ps, I can make a lot more noise then that fan you’re testing)
Thank you for making these video's. As a young gaffer this really helps me!
Sorry for all the comments I've been leaving on your channel over the past few days, but I have to tell you this review is fantastic!
First time I see a light actually tested like that, outside at night and trying to emulate the sun. Really helps A LOT to see the light in real sotuations. Will definitely consider one but price could make me go for the 300 however...
Interesting looking back at this review, Andrew. Prior to seeing this video, I had a couple HMIs and thought that LEDs were a bit of a fad. Today I’ve got 300s, 600s, 720Bs, and 1200 watt LEDs. This video really changed the trajectory of my personal career decisions. Crazy how things can change.
This was the first COB that I took seriously. The fact it was so light weight and ran off v-mounts was a game changer
just found your channel. Super informative and useful. Love that I now have another lighting channel to follow aside from Meet the Gaffer.
Subscribed. I always appreciate and respect real professionals reviews. We need more like you on UA-cam.
Great review, love the part where you talk about the different scenarios where it's brighter or not compared to the 1.2k
I convinced my buddy to not sell his joker 1600 because he uses it for super long throws (no lens) and the parabolic reflector and tiny pin light source allows it to throw extremely far compared to a cob with dish. Cob leds have their uses but for my guy he was better off keeping his HMI par.
Hi Mate, Just want to say the videos are really informative and down to earth. Keep it it!
Do you have any specific gas generators or electric generators that you would recommend for this light? Or a battery pack that can be bought?
I would recommend a Honda inverter generator. I have been using those for about 20 years.
Battery wise 26v is really a last resort at full power. I'm finding they run real hot so that can't be good. I have en episode on block batteries (I think it may be called Skypanel battery system or something like that).
But if going block batteries you definitely need a DC to DC inverter to stabilise the power otherwise you will damage the circuit boards as the batteries flatten.
great review! I saw this at cinegear 2019 and with my Sekonic 858 read 400fc w/reflector at 10ft, and 410fc with the fresnel at flood at 10ft. This was obviously not a scientific test as I was on a showroom floor, but I was still very impressed!
Was the power supply loud?
Gaffer & Gear I don’t believe so
@@chrissymostuy I would love to get to that show one year
Thanks for posting another informative video. Im in the UK waiting for the Nanlite's to go on sale so hopefully I won't have to wait too long
SO much gold! Thanks as always for the info
Hi .. I would love for you to explain to me or refer me to your video that explains how to deal with a location inside a building that has huge windows in day shots and I do not want the windows to look burnt and I do not want the interior to look dark. What is the right and best way to deal with this?
It's on the list, Thanks
Is there an easy and cheap way to switch out the mount on the forsa 500? I can’t believe they built it like that.
5:10 - The Genaray Powerhouse LED, which is less than half the cost, with no reflector is around 1600 lux at 95 inches (3 meters = 118 inches).
7:53 - The Genaray Powerhouse LED is also outputting 5500 lux with the included reflector at 95 inches (the inner design of the reflector is different than the FORZA 500).
Interesting!
Great channel! I sure wish you would publish the Joker full Sekonic readout - would be really good to compare.
Love your Videos
i want to get a hold of one of these things. my gosh u can get two of these and it would equal to a 1.2
Can you make these accept gold mount with a gold mount to v mount Adapter ? I have Gold mount batteries
I have no idea, gold mount is very uncommon in Melbourne.
I know that you have warned about moths burning into the cob on this model, is there anything that protects the phosphorous on the cob? If a moth lands on it what do you do? Any clarity you can provide me with is very much appreciated. I don't have any experience with these and I am looking to pick some up. Thanks!
Their is some type of Silicon gel layer protecting the COB. If a moth lands on it you get a lot of smoke, and a small pit mark in the Silicon.
A damp micro fiber cloth is all you need to clean.
Gaffer & Gear Great! Glad to know it’s too big of a deal. Thank you for your time! Appreciated.
Hi .. I have 2 Forza 500 and the computer of one of them is not working, probably because I turned it on on a generator. Is there a way to fix this? The bulb flashes but does not light.
It will most likely just be a bird replacement, shouldn't take long and won't cost too much
I just ordered the Forza 500. Thanks to you! and your great videos.. I trying to make my kit as light weight as possible and things are really heading in the right direction it seems... Working on series and features moving around 18Ks on gorilla stands and riggin lifts really hurts your back. Some times when i get home my back is hurting and my hands are all swollen and im thinking how can one do this for 30+ years?? But seeing this lamp and thinking that in 10 years lights might be significantly smaller and wont be needing 63A cables ect. is really cool. Yea, things are looking up:) Cheers
The biggest lights I have to lift are 4Ks. I'm only 45 and I'm starting to struggle to get them off a stand by myself at days end.
Love your videos - you’ve inspired me to get a couple of Forza 500s. I would love to ask if you could review the intellytech litecloth? The 160 and the mega lite cloth look very interesting. Greater output than the much more expensive Litemat.
I would love to get my hands on these to see if they are any good myself.
I have to give high marks for Aputure for their "ballast" design compared to the Nanlite. Given the current draw on these bigger LED lights, I'm thinking it might be worthwhile for Nanlite to make a "ballast" that is all inclusive with no VLok battery option, or at least, as a base not an option. The current "ballast" setup of the Nanlite is quite crude in a sense.
I'm pretty new in lights, but what do you mean with "ballast"
Hey there, anyone aver compared this thing to the Rayzr 7... ? Any opinions on this...? Would appreciate getting some nerdy heads up on this...
The Rayzr 7 is a Fresnel I think. I will have a video soon using this light with the new Fresnel attachment. That will help anyone with the rayzr do a comparison. For the moment the forza 500 with Fresnel is just a tad brighter than a 1200 HMI Fresnel.
@@gaffergear Thanks so far.... looking forward... Cheers
Looking forward to the review with fresnel attachment. Be great to see a comparison with the Lupos DAYLED.
Hello Andrew. Thanks for the review and all your content. Can you comment about the noise of this unit. I have seen reports that the noise level is a real downside to use this lights during interviews or when location sound is critical.
They are working on a new power supply. I won't touch it until then, it's too dam loud. The version in the review is the one they went with on first release.
Australian supplier won't sell it until fan is sorted.
@@gaffergear Saw you said in a comment here that you now have 4 of these lights - so did the fan noise get sorted? What kind of noise are we talking now? Thanks so much for all these in-depth reviews.
@@DaCarnival yes, fan noise is sorted, power supply has two fans now, so heaps quieter.... However..... Their must still be old power supplies floating around as just yesterday someone complained.
I have asked and have been told that will replace the power supply if you get an old one.
If possible, test before you buy, and hold them too giving you a new power supply, not an old one.
Hi. I Want To Ask If I Want To Buy A Cable For The Flashlight Do I Have To Buy The Cable That This Company Offers That Is Very Expensive, Or Can I Buy Another Cable That Will Fit? And another question - if I want to control the flashlight through the cell phone, how do I do it?
Unfortunately you have to use their cable.
The unit can't run directly off a cell phone, it needs the nanlight (nanguang LEDGO) wi-fi box which is over priced.
@@gaffergear thenk you!
Hey! Love your videos - I need to watch more. Thank you for taking the time. Curious though - you put the appropriate lens on the 1200 to match the spread of the 500 so it was apples to apples. But when you pinged the ceiling you had no lens on the 1200 (careful not to peel paint) yet the same wide spread from the 500. That doesn't sound apples to apples.
Yes.
The Forza 500 can outpunch a 1.2k PAR in situations where an even flood is required.
But if I didn't point out that the 1.2k Par can also kill the Forza then the message could be misinterpreted as this being a 1.2k replacement.
They are both very different tools with different strengths.
But I needed to compare the forza output to something, and comparing it to a 1.2k in flood, but running off two v-locks shows the units definite advantage.
Thank you so much for this specific info that is difficult to find elsewhere. A question - would it be feasible to run these units off AC coming from a small generator? Not a well-voltage-regulated film generator but a consumer putt-putt?
Hi,
I am about to pull the trigger for either this one or Hive plasma killer which has 2 heads. Have you ever worked with Hive Plasma killer? Do you think Forza 500 would be as powerful as Hive plasma? I want to use this as light coming from the window. I’m scared this won’t be powerful enough to get that narrative light coming through the window type shots which used HMIs. I’d appreciate if you can answer as I trust your experience and knowledge a lot. I have lots of quasar science tubes and Falcon eyes 36RX light Matt which is pretty good. However I don’t have any hard light powerful and hard to imitate those movie window shots or light a room with enough power so that actors can walk around and wouldn’t be affected by inverse square law that much. Thank you.
Well I just checked the photometrics and two heads plasma has 10,000 FC in 3 meters. It means 100,000 lux in 3 meters. It seems like Hive plasma is much more punchy. The question is if Forza 500 is enough for those window lightings.
@@osmanarslan6364 I have never used the plasma lights. I only know one production house / rental house that has them.
Advantage is a lot of firepower and not much heat. So they use them for high speed shots of ice cream.
However they don't rent them out because they have had massive problems with reliability.
They are subject to magnetic and gravitational fields, so they sometimes change colour when tilted. The solution they used to get around this was magnets.
I use Forza lights through windows as sunlight, but only if we do not see out any of the windows. They are bright enough to look like sunlight, but not bright enough to be convincing if you can see bright exteriors outside that window or windows.
Hope this helps!
@@gaffergear Thank you very much. It helps a lot yes. I know it’s been out for many years now. Even though brand new one is $7300 US I found one plasma for $1500. It was used only in a studio for 200 hours. It’s like new. I always thought I needed an HMI for those nice window shots like the ones we see in the films. My main purpose to use this is self produced commercials and narrative projects. I’m confused now which one to go with. I will check with the studio if they had any problem with color shift. I know Forza will be much easier to use, lighter, better modification but it is hard to decide. Im changing my mind every minute. If you wanted an HMI originally to light your scenes, and if the color shift wasn’t a problem with plasma would you chose plasma over this? Or forza would be good enough for my purposes? Commercials including table top and commercials like a seller at the door types and those nicely lit window shots in narratives. I’m sorry for asking and taking your time. It’s because you have much more experience than me. If you don’t have time please don’t answer. I would understand and not get upset at all. Thank you.
@@osmanarslan6364 check price and availability of replacement lamp too. I almost purchased some HMI lamps real cheap when I was starting, luckily a friend told me the globes not available anymore.
@@gaffergear actually I just ordered a Forza 500 instead. Looking at your review and considering I’m in Canada Forza 500 should be ok for now. Plasma was made 5-6 years ago and with all the lenses ballast and everything it was going to take too much of my time. Plus it requires a bigger light stand. If I need bigger lights I should rent them I guess. Thank you so much.
Hi Andrew...are there any gel options for the Forza 500? I need to be able to do some 3200k scenes
Clipping a full CTO hell to the reflector will work
Another quality video
Does anyone know how this might compared to the upcoming 600D? Been looking all over for some comparison.
Very close to each other on preliminary specks, by memory the 600 is only a fraction brighter (single figure percentage by memory) but pulling about 720 watt power draw in DC. But that was with the prototype they had on show, so never discount Aputure, they will be working hard to get more from the 600.
@@gaffergear Thanks for your reply! And keep up these great videos!!
Just thinking. How hot does the cob get in terms of gelling.
Could you make up a slip in laminated cto? Or would it melt.
Be boring to have to clip one on awkwardly...
I think you would be OK as long as you were about 2 to3 inches away
So youd have to clip on gel and bubble it. That sucks.
@@chaosfilmsoz yep, I hope they make barn doors like Aputure where a gel holder is built in.
Does the remote also work with the pavolite tubes?
It's a mono light remote so it's only sets brightness level, not bi-colour or RGB.
@@gaffergear For my needs being able to control the Forza 60 and a light tube brightness from behind the camera would be great. Where did you order the remote? Do you know what the model number is? It’s so hard to find the info on these systems. It’s very unclear what will work with what...
I just tested this remote with the tubes, no go!
@@gaffergear Thank you so much! I hope they will release a model that works with the tubes and Forza models... Perhaps you can mention this to your contacts. Thanks again for taking the time to share all this knowledge.
@@sebastianziegler5212 Hello, they've released a wireless DMX for all nanguang/nanlite products with 512 channels, controllable via phone or tablet app. It's a bit pricey, but it gets everything done.
Hey Andrew, thanks for much for all these incredible videos!
I'm curious, does the Nanguang remote you got off eBay also work on your other Forza lights? Specifically interested to know if it will work with the 60B.
Yes, I use it a lot
Hey Andrew, I’m a one man band moving towards being a dp on bigger shoots with actual crew. I’ve got a decent kit of daylight balance stuff 300dmki, a few 120d’s, as well as some basic tungsten fresnels 150, 650, 3x 1,000 watt, and a 2,000 watt in arri and mole Richardson.
I’m into large directional soft sources for things I don’t have to shoot with natural light, and am looking for the best route to take to achieve those types of setups for bigger setups than just interview sized shots.
My question is for shooting through diffusion, making booklights, etc, is something like this 500 watt led going to be a lot worse than a par fixture used open faced in flood like a 1200 HMI, or an m18 dialed to flood? Am I better off shooting soft sources like a skypanel through diffusion if this is my intended goal, and I already have the lighting kits to do hard light? I’m trying to add whatever to my arsenal that will allow me to do the brightest, biggest key sources off house power, while taking up the least space to be that efficient.
I was loving your bit of advice in the video about how grids help smooth out the first bit of fall off, because this has been one of my biggest issues trying to build these giant sources in tiny rooms!
We don’t have a healthy rental market around here because I’m in a small market, so I prefer to buy fixtures because they usually pay for themselves on that job I need them for, But I do get this is a situation where one may consider renting only when needed, and I’m open to that suggestion if you think it’s smartest!
I got all my gear because like you I found renting to be difficult.
When deciding what light I put through a diffuser my 1st consideration is colour. (most times daylight). Then firepower, then space, then depending on the room sound (hmi lights buzz). So if I'm pushed for space I might go a Skypanel over a spot light because of its spread.
A lot of times now I will use 2 forza 500s in place of a 2.5K MHI just because it's easier to move around.
The only time I really worry about using a spot light or a soft light in not the frame is if I'm worried a hot spot may appear in reflections, especially if it's talent with glossy make up or a reflective product.
Great review! I am thinking of getting the Forza. Do you think the pan noise won't be matter to shoot for interview filming?
It's never been a problem for me personally.
I got this light and its really amazing! The problem with the loudly power supply is still here. 50 db measured 2cm from the fan. Then I put a "Air filter for HONDA generator models EU30i" under the ps fan and presto, the loud is highly reduced to ~ 20db. The filter allows the airflow to pass trough it and works flawlessly. Hope, this MOD;) can help.
Or you can change the fan with 60mm Noctua NF-A6x25-PWM , but I still haven't do that.Its just an idea, not sure what is the real voltage for the fan inside.
Nice solution.
This light isn't available in Australia yet. The importer is waiting for the fan situation to be resolved.
@@gaffergear Honestly, I didn't expect the production unit to be so loud as well...Probably they will fix the fan problem with Forza 500 Mark 2.
Anyway, this light is amazing and I highly recommended it. Waiting for the fresnel :)
Update with the noise: The fan inside the power unit is SUNON Maglev 60x60x10. The noise problem doesn't come from the fan itself. Its something with the overall airflow in the box. It cannot be fixed, unless the cooling is passive. Probably the best solution up to day, will be an option to switch on/off the power unit fan.
@@wsfvn they are working on new power supply and apparently will replace the old one if people want, the Australian distributor won't even sell those original units.
I can't believe Nanlite released that unit!
Apparently the shape of the units acts like a trombone!
Hi and thank you for your great gear reviews. Having had the forza 500 for a while and I guess with the modified ballast could you tell me what you think to the actual noise outputs from the ballast fans. The reason I'm asking is I'm looking to invest in some continue lighting that will work in multiple scenarios. For instance as a stills guy predominantly I have a couple of up coming jobs involving stills and video. To this end I was hoping to use the same set up lighting wise for both. The first job is an outdoor under cover shoot which I think the forza would handle power wise in regard to balancing the lighting outdoors but another project I've been asked to do would involve meeting room type talking heads interviews and I'm concerned that the noise levels on the ballast would pick up.
Thanks in advance
Jon Hutchings
Jam Photography UK
Hi , any chance to mount it to a LEKO Tube Lens ? So make it a FORZleko ?
That would be fantastic...
I am told they are working on a leko Mount. I do have (for testing and review) a Aputure Leko, but I doubt it would transfer across with super fine optics as the COB is larger on the 500.
I will do future videos on this, I also hope it's possible!
@@gaffergear thanks for all the hard work you put into this.
did you have the time to try the aputure spotlight attachment on the forza 500 ?
thanks for your answer
@@blaisebasdevant7985 it won't fit into the mount of the forza.
Gaffer & Gear
thanks mate.
Hi Andrew, I know from your videos that you have shed loads of small led bi-color lights that you can hide around the set, but just wondering if you have demoed the Boling BL-P1 RGB light, seems to be getting rave reviews!
From one Gaffer to another, you're the best on UA-cam mate!
The boling looks good, and I think they are a company to keep an eye on, because most companies experiment with a small LED before moving on to 1x1's and bigger.
I just haven't got my hands on one yet, and distribution deals in Australia keep falling through because they want to sell the lights to distributors for the same price they sell them to you and me on eBay.
No distributor here means no back up and repairs.
Personal I'm waiting to see how the RBGW Aputure small units will hold up, (due in December) the app that controls them all should be amazing, plus a wireless charging station built into the pelican case!
Thanks for the video. Very informative. Any insight on flicker (free) - could this work undimmed at 1000/2000 FPS ? I’m seriously tired of still using T12s and T24s in 2019!
I personally haven't tested it for this (I currently don't trust my flicker meter) but nanguang do boat about how flicker free their lighting range is, so it should be capable!
Thank you for your video, I compared the official data between Forza 300 and 500, they only have 1/2 stop difference of LUX, and the 26V vlock battery is also expensive on the market , what would you reckon it's still worth to get Forza 500 over 300? For the package size, the Forza 500 is more larger that Forza 300? Thanks.
The 300 was made for people who can't afford 26v batteries, it's actually the same COB just being under powered.
The only reason I went with the 500s was I had battery systems in place for existing lights, otherwise forget it.
The only other difference I have come across is the 300 can do a smooth fade to black where as the 500 is rough down the bottom end.
@@gaffergear Thank you so much for the detail!!
Noisy ballast. This is how to start a sound / light was on set. I hope they come up with a better solution.
You say it s comparable to a 1.2. is it ? On a meter? Sounds big and I just watched another video that compares it to a 575.
Yep, on a meter, but with it reflector on against a 1.2 in flood.
Naked COB is a bit over a 575.
Hello Andrew, the results of the thermo-colourimeter are astonishing! Thank you for this analysis. By the way, what tripod or stand do you recommend for this forza 500? Thank you again from Spain.
I have a Forza 500 and used it maybe a Dozen times in the last 8 months only in studio and yesterday I got an over heating warning and realized my fan is not working.. Have you had any of the fans die on you?
Can't say that I have, all my issues have been with the lock offs.
Check the Nanlite Facebook user groups, they are actually very helpful and the administration WON'T take down a post from a user who has a problem like yours.
@@gaffergear thanks!!
Have you had much real world use of this light now? How does it cope with interviews outside in bright daylight and is the final build spec satisfactory? Thanks
Own 4 now, only problem we have is bouncing them off a ceiling in moth season, moths fall on the COB and burn into the gel covering the COB. This might not be a problem with the Fresnel mount once we get that.
I still haven't got my hands on the Fresnel, that's about 4 weeks away still. I wish the reflector had barn doors.
Fans a bit loud but way quieter than the HMIs it replaces.
My crews love the light weight.
Primary use is for back light in large daylight locations
@@gaffergear Have you tried it with your Aputure fresnel? Or is that not advisable due to heat?
@@DaCarnival works shit, they currently have Fresnel's for this shipping, so wait for those. They are worth the wait, much better than aputure. Real old school Fresnel quality barn door cuts
@12:00 Would you mind explaining why the 1.2K had more output for the bounce test than the Forza 500?
Using it in that situation it doesn't require the beam hitting the ceiling to be nice and even. So there is no need to put a lens into the par to clean up the beam. Without a lens the HMI has way higher output. But it's beam is not clean enough to light talent directly.
Hi there, thanks for this review. Do you know if they fixed the noise power supply?
Yes, it has two fans now. The fans on the PSU are way quieter than the fan on the head. So until you turn off the fans on the head you can't even here the PSU fans
Gaffer & Gear hello, I would appreciate if you can answer me ASAP because I’m about to make a purchase and it is time sensitive. How do we differentiate the updated version from the noisy ones? Also if you had to choose would you choose 1 Forza 500 or 2 x 300s? The last question would be what size softbox from nanlite would you choose? 59” or 45”? Thanks for great videos. Big fan of you.
@@filmmakinginstitute8295 fan noise fixed, I have 4 forza 500s. I would not have purchased them with the old fans
Other questions depends on your situation and individual needs so not willing to give advise on what to buy and what not to
Gaffer & Gear thanks for the reply. Much appreciated. However one part of my question is unanswered still. How do we differentiate the newer models from the older noisy ones? Should we check the PSU to see if there is twin fan? Is that the only difference?
Andrew, thanks for the videos, taking the time to share your insights.
Would like to know if there are any plans for a USB to allow for firmware updates?
I looked everywhere but could not find a USB port on the unit so I assume no updates.
But I do have HMI lights where the firmware can be updated via the DMX port, but I highly doubt that's the case with this unit
As you demonstrated in the review, not all the effects settings are useful as programmed in the production prototype. Built in effects are the min app of lights in my world, it is nice to have and be able to customize as needed. A means of making updates would make the Forza 300 & 500 a lot more attractive in the current market. Lumen radio would also add to their appeal. I will reach out to NaNite.
Did you say 26volt v- locks? I didn’t know that was a thing.
Yes, a very dangerous thing, I have a video about it.
@@gaffergear
Could you make a overview video about all available 26v V-mount batteries?
Hi, Andrew, thank you for your channel, i am really learning a lot from your videos as a newcomer to this topic. I have a question for you, hope you can help.
I want to be able to shoot through a window on an outcast day and i see that people are using HMI for this task. I wonder if i have two Forzas 500 with fresnel both punching into ultra bounce frame, would they be able to compete with the overcast sun ambiance. In another word do the power of both units multiply in this case like having one Forza gives you 7500 lux in 3 meters but two Forzas gives 15 000 lux or it doesn't work this way. Sorry for the dumb question.
I'm starting to do this now. In the past (last year) it was easier to use one big light rather then several small units.
But I would rather use two forza because they are sooooo light weight and use less power. Same outcome as a 2.5k hmi.
@@gaffergear So the output of several small units punching into one bounce board equals the same amount as one big unit? In other words, two Forzas 300 into bounce board equals the one Forza 500 into the same bounce board?
@@luisbuxeres6265 exactly
I am thinking to buy Forza 500 or 300 B .
I like 300 b because you can change color of light and you get a remote . And I think it is using cheaper Battery.
I am not shure how much stronger is nano 500 ?
I don't beleav I can afford 500 and 300 b so this is one time choice , can you help me with your advice.
I have a small studio with high walls 7x 4 Meters and sometimes i want to shoot videos and documentary movies outside . What should I get ?
300b I think would be more than enough in that space
@@gaffergear Thanks
I bought forza 300b and 60 b And I think I made a mistake. I am awaiting the package , and realize that forza 300b is using just a half of the power comparing it with forza 300 and forza 60 . That is just 150 w on 3200 and 150 on 5600 - fan off ... Omg I wanted strong light ... Forza 300 is double stronger and I can just use Filters to get warm light if my logic is good . Is it possible to mix those ( warm and cold ) lights so you can get max power around 300 w just like forza 300 ? Thank you so much.
@@TheMalimica these days a Bi-colour light usually comes in at about 70% the brightness of the mono colour because a 300w mono colour is a true 300wat, not 150 split.
The difference in brightness is due to a mono light only having a single phosphour that can be clumped all around the emitters.
Hi Andrew. What would the price range be on this? I bought a Forza 300, and I love its brightness. But this is even more impressive.
I just ordered 5 of these because the fan noise has been fixed.
AU$2599.00
I think B&H sell them if you want US price.
@@gaffergear I'm Europe based, they're about 2000€, I saw! Thanks :) you have a great channel.
I got my Forza 500 today and yes the light is bright. And sadly yes, the fan is loud and the cable is too short!
Hi Bob. I've checked up, one shipment went out with the old power supplys to the USA. In 6 to 8 weeks they can give you a replacement when the rest ship with the problem fixed.
@@gaffergear does this mean they solved the noisy fan issue w/ the ballast? I'm prepping one for a shoot this week but the fan noise won't fly. Going back to HMI's for now. Would really like if the Forza would play well, I'd buy one for sure.
Apparently it's a few months away, but I won't touch it, and neither will the Australian distributor until it is not an issue.
@@gaffergear much appreciated.
Didn‘t you upload a teaser for a 300d ii review? Didn‘t find it anymore... maybe I just dreamed that 😅
But in case I didn‘t dream it,:
I would love to hear you thoughts on the builtquality of the nanlites vs the aputure Mk ii COBs
Cables, connections, knobs and so on.
Think a lot of people are on the fence and need to decide between the nanlite forza‘s and the aputure COB lights
Love your videos!!!
Filming 300D II video now.
But it's still under a media embargo.
It won't be a comparison video, but all the readings are done at the same distance in the same room so comparisons can be made easy enough.
Both systems have pros and cons.
At the moment the 300D II video is sitting around 48 minutes long, so I've got some trimming to do
Gaffer & Gear cool :)
would love a 48 min version!
I’d love a long video too! A few timestamps in the description and you’re done :)
Hey. Appreciate what you do. Thanks!
Bought these lights based on your review. Love them! I have a question though. The remote your using (I think www.aliexpress.com/item/32810784848.html), does it do on/off for the lights or only up/down brightness? For example, if I'm at 80% brightness can I hit that power button to go to 0 immediately to see how they are affecting the scene?
I ask because I bought the Nanlite RC-1 unit they sell and it can only do up/down only on these units. So to get to 0% from the remote, I'd have to sweep down to it.
Cheers.
Up down only. Their remote and app are not good for in camera changes.
@@gaffergear Thanks for confirming! Yeah seems like an oversight IMO but I guess a small tradeoff for the power vs cost. Haven't & won't try their app since it needs the add-on router (I believe?). Hopefully they come out with a new remote or improve in the future, but it might be a limit to the components inside. Guess I'll stick with the RC-1 for now then.
Cheers!
Bad news man. I just tested my brand new Forza 500 I just got and the ballast sound is so loud it is unusable on a film set. Even though you can turn the fan of the light off and reduce brightness by 50%, the ballast fan keeps going at a very high loudness level. I saw a floor model who's ballast didn't have a peep coming from it during an expo and was so excited and purchased. Finally tested it and the sound.. it's like having a large fan on. It is too bad. Did you end up picking any of these up? If the cable from the control unit to the light was 40-60 feet long, it might be usable.
It sounds like you got a first generation. Has it only got one fan in the controller or two? I have 4 fora 500s. Not silent, but quieter than a HMI
I have been told that nanlight will swap out the controllers. It seems that a batch was sent to the US and Canada. Your seller should contact nanguang (the parent company) and it should be swapped over.
If you have uses I can youse my contacts to find out the name of the person your person should talk to
@@gaffergear it is hard to tell. But i don't think the controller has a fan. The ballast has i think a single fan.
@@directoradamg sory, my bad, yes the power supply should have a van top and bottom, if it's just the bottom, it's an old unit and should be replaced
I‘ve been waiting and hoping for a video on this light.
This looks amazing.
Any thoughts on using the Aputure Fresnel on this? Wouldn‘t it give it even more punch or is this reflector so well made that the difference wouldn‘t be too big? Or would it cause heat issues?
Love your videos!
Nanlite are currently working on a Fresnel, the original design they had for both the 300 and 500 was choking in heat on the 500.
I suspect a Fresnel won't be as bright as this reflector. But I could be wrong.
Gaffer & Gear thanks for the fast response
@@gaffergear Yes, from spec sheet at full Flood - not as bright as reflector. At Spot - its brighter than with reflector.
Really want subtitle！
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Select captions.