MINI TESTS
NANLITE PAVOTUBE T8-7X £95/$95 nanlite.co.uk
ADOBE-WAN KENOBI It’s almost impossible to hold the tube without pretending it’s a lightsabre
We’ve all come across cool tube lights that spark ideas about how they could be used creatively. From deployment as practicals on film sets, to appearing in shots as these funky- coloured LED tubes that glow like Luke Skywalker’s lightsabre. Thing is, we’d all love to own lots of them, but the cost is prohibitive – unless you have money to burn. However, Nanlite wants to bring the technology to lower-budget productions. The new PavoTube T8-7X RGBWW LED Pixel Tube costs just £95/$95, or buy a set of four in a bag for £370/$389. That’s a great deal. The PavoTube T8-7X is a metre- long RGBWW LED with a compact 3.9cm/1.5in diameter body, powered by a built-in lithium-ion internal battery. Yet, despite its price, it still has all the key features, including the same customisable animated pixel effects
found in PavoTube II X series LEDs. This also comes with the same 96 CRI, 97 TLCI, bi-colour CCT, RGB, dimming and effects as its bigger and rather pricier siblings. While it may not have an LCD screen to show settings, or come with an AC adapter or even a bag, this makes it inexpensive, light and simple. It can be handheld thanks to a handgrip, or mounted via the 1/4in-20 socket at one end. This lets you mount the T8-7X to a tripod or floor stand, or an eye bolt to hang it. The end cap is octagonal, so if the light is on the floor, it doesn’t roll away. And it’s up to 50% thinner than similar LED tube lights. The end of the tube has three rudimentary control buttons, but this is often all you need. Here, set white or colour modes, and cycle through intensity in 20% increments. But it also has built-in Bluetooth, and can be operatred wirelessly with the free
SPECIFICATIONS Power consumption: 8W Power supply: DC 5v/2A CRI/ TLCI: Average 96/97 Colour temperature: 2700-7500K Dimming: 0/20/40/60/80/100%
onboard, 0-100% via app Control: Onboard, 2.4G, Bluetooth, DMX, wired Dimensions (lxh): 100.2x3.9cm/39x1.5in Weight: 280g/0.61lb
Nanlink app – or connect to a DMX network, if you buy the cable. The app gives total control of intensity and colours, as well as the same 15 practical and ten pixel-based lighting effects found in the flagship PavoTube II X series. An internal 3.7v, 2200mAh rechargeable battery is claimed to last for about an hour at 100% brightness – we got slightly more than that. It is charged up by the USB-C port, which also allows for power delivery through an external battery. Nanlite offers a control bank that supplies extra battery power, plus more control buttons and an LCD display. The light is simple to operate. We used it up close to a subject for a wonderfully soft glow, and further away to mimic practical office lighting. There is no flicker, and colour temperature is accurate. For the money, it’s hard to beat. PRO MOVIEMAKER RATING: 9/10 Effective and affordable tube, with straightforward controls Pros: Simple and light Cons: Only one fitting screw
WARM GLOW Hiding the LED tube behind a door casts a flattering light on our talent
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