BUYERS’ GUIDE GEAR
BREAK WITH CONVENTION
Don’t just reach for a standard COB light when there are so many different options available
Wise filmmakers invest in other LED lights too. Maybe some that could look like household lamps or fluorescent tube fixtures – or large, flat panels that don’t take up much room. Many are full colour with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, app or even DMX control, which is very useful for lights that are hard to get to. Here, we showcase some of the best and most useful alternative lighting options at a range of price points.
W hen choosing LED They offer a crisp look for dramatic shots and work with everything from fresnels to huge softboxes and projectors so you can lights, many filmmakers automatically splurge on powerful COB hard lights.
fine-tune the look you want. But they are not the only, nor are they always the best, solution. They can be too large, especially when fitted with modifiers, and they are difficult to hide on-set, employ in tight spaces or use as practical light sources that actually appear in the frame.
AMARAN PANO 120C £299/$289 amarancreators.com
The panel achieves excellent fidelity across the spectrum, so skin tones look natural and creative looks are easy to dial in. Whether you’re working in a small studio, a corporate interview or an indie short film, the Pano 120c provides reliable results without needing heavy correction in post. It includes a clear on-board colour screen with a Quick Operation Mode for fast adjustments. For bigger projects, the Pano 120c slots straight into pro workflows thanks to DMX and CRMX support, while the Sidus Link app
The Amaran Pano 120c is an affordable yet capable fixture, recently earning the crown for best light panel in the Pro Moviemaker Gear of the Year Awards. Bringing pro-level tech to filmmakers at a reasonable cost, the Pano 120c is a full-colour RGBWW panel delivering 13,490 lux at 1m (6500K) from a slim, laptop-sized body weighing just 1.6kg. Colour accuracy is particularly strong, thanks to its RGBWW chipset with full control over saturation, intensity and hue and its wide CCT range to mimic anything from candlelight to daylight.
lets you tweak colour, brightness and effects from your phone. It’s equally at home lighting a YouTube set as it is scaling up into a multi-light set-up for commercials or music videos.
Pros: Great features, portable Cons: Not the most powerful option
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