GEAR
COB LED LIGHTS
THE MID-RANGE CHOICE If you want a mid-powered COB bicolour light, it pays to do your homework. Most brands – Nanlite included – offer subtly different options. For example, the Forza 150B and FS-300B are both bicolour, DMX/RDM – and has intelligent fan control. This £563/$539 unit weighs 1.56kg/3.44lb and outputs 23,130 lux at 1m using the standard reflector at 5600K. This gives an average TM-30
but there’s more to differentiate them than simply power rating. The Nanlite Forza 150B is a mobile bicolour light with a 170W power rating. Like the 60C, there’s a handheld battery grip, as well as the standard AC adapter. But this time it’s an optional extra and works with bigger V-Mount batteries. So you need a strong assistant, if they are going to hold it for long periods. The FS-300B also uses the smaller FM mount for accessories, like its RGBLAC sibling, although this 150B has a full-size Bowens adapter in the kit. It all comes in a sturdy carrying case. Colour temperature can be adjusted from 2700-6500K. For remote control, it connects via 2.4G, Bluetooth, Nanlink app and “With reflector – or even bare – the Nanlite FS-300B has marginally softer roll-off from highlight to shadow”
Fidelity Index rating of 93 Rf and 102 Rg. CRI average rating is 96 and TLCI 98. Its body is made of metal and carbon fibre for light weight and sturdiness. Simple two-knob and one-button user control keeps things simple. The Forza 150B has 12 built-in special effects, adjustable from the head or via the app. In comparison, the Nanlite FS- 300B puts out twice the power and actually costs less – £430/$399 for the head only. But it does weigh roughly double at 3.06lb/6.68lb. The ‘S’ designation means it’s built for studio use. This means there’s a plug-in mains adapter only and it’s not designed to work with batteries. With reflector on, it emits up to 38,720 lux of 5600K daylight- balanced light at 1m, and a bicolour design lets it provide a CCT range of 2700-6500K, while maintaining a high CRI/TLCI of 96/97 for accurate colour rendition. Bluetooth allows the FS-300B to be controlled with the free Nanlink app for iOS and Android. Built-in 2.4GHz provides remote wireless control by using the optional extra WS-RC-C2 remote control – or the WS-TB-1 transmitter box for more elaborate set-ups.
PROS AND CONS The FS-300B (above) is twice as powerful as the 150B, at a lower price – but is a weightier unit
However, the actual COB LED panel is much bigger than the Forza 150B, and the lamp accepts full-size Bowens S-fit accessories. A larger COB panel makes little difference alongside a big lighting modifier. But with a reflector – or even bare – the light has a marginally softer roll-off from highlight to shadow. For studio use, the powerful and relatively inexpensive FS-300B is great. The smaller Forza 150B is lighter, more flexible and works on location off batteries. en.nanlite.com
STRIKING Nanlite’s Forza 150B is a great location light, with 170W of bicolour power (left)
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