Gear of the Year | awards
It’s time to put the spotlight on the very best lighting systems to suit all budgets
ilmmakers expect ever brighter, stronger and more
colour-accurate lights that can work anywhere from compact home studios to major commercial shoots. LED panels still dominate thanks to their versatility and portability. Aputure’s Nova 9° 2x1 impressed with big output and refined colour control, while the Amaran Pano 120c and Verge Max offered creator- friendly flexibility for compact set-ups. Astera’s Hydrapanel remains a favourite for those needing rugged RGB lighting, and Litepanels’ Astra IP delivers reliable professional performance. Nanlite’s Alien 300C and Pavoslim 360C pushed slimline RGB lighting further, while Godox’s Knowled P1200R Hard P8 delivered serious output for larger productions. In the hard light class, output and precision are king. Aputure expanded its Storm range with the 1000c, 1200x and CS32, while Nanlux’s Evoke 150C pairs high output with advanced colour performance. Godox continued its push into high-end work with the Knowled M1000R and massive MG6K, while the Creamsource Vortex 24 is a premium choice for demanding productions. For creators and smaller crews, the Amaran Halo 600x, Zhiyun Molus X200 and Neewer HB80C offer compact lighting solutions without sacrificing performance in terms of power or consistency. Specialist lighting also saw innovation this year. Astera’s Lunabulb and Solabulb introduced creative practical lighting options, while the Quikbeam added
portable fresnel-style control. Atomos’ Sun Dragon flexible light stands out for cinematic effects and rigging possibilities, while Nanlite’s Pavotube II 6CP and Pico are perfect for compact creator set-ups. Lighting accessories and modifiers also evolved rapidly. Aputure’s Quick Domes and Spotlight Mount II refined shaping control, while Dedolight’s Eflect system remains one of the most advanced reflector solutions available. Meanwhile, Nanlux’s FL-35E Motorized Fresnel Lens and Yoke-L also showed how automation is part of modern lighting workflows. This year’s lighting gear proves filmmakers have never had more creative control over shaping a scene. Cast your vote at promoviemaker.net
Practical benefits From the Atomos Sun Dragon flexible light (top left) and Nanlite’s Alien 300C panel (bottom) to powerful COBs and small spotlights, LEDs dominate
The shortlist
Light panel
Hard light
Nanlite Miro Nanlite Pavotube II 6CP Nanlite Pico
Aputure Storm Parallel Beam 70 Dedolight Eflect Harlowe Atom 2 Nanlite BE55 Parallel Beam Reflector Nanlux FL-35E Motorized Fresnel Lens Nanlux Motorized Yoke-L
Nanlux Evoke 150C Neewer HB80C Profoto L600C Zhiyun Molus X200 Specialist lighting Amaran T4c Aputure Infinibar PB6 Astera Lunabulb Astera Quikbeam Astera Solabulb Atomos Sun Dragon Harlowe Max Air 40
Amaran Ace 25c Amaran Pano 120c Amaran Verge Max Aputure Nova 9° 2x1 Astera Hydrapanel Kenro Smart Lite RGB Litepanels Astra IP Nanlite Alien 300C Nanlite Pavoslim 360C Godox Knowled P1200R Hard P8
Amaran Halo 600x Amaran Ray 660c Aputure Storm 1000C Aputure Storm 1200x Aputure Storm CS32 Creamsource Vortex 24 Godox Knowled M1000R Godox Knowled MG6K Litepanels Studio X4 Bi-Color Nanlite FC-500B
Nanlux Evoke 5C Quasar Science Double Rainbow Lighting innovation Amaran Peak Aputure Quick Domes Aputure Spotlight Mount II
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