Lighting producer Nanlite is contemporary off a string of releases that embody the Forza 720B, 300B, and the 60C (first look right here). The “C” within the identify – Nanlite Forza 60C – stands for colour, and the event of the C is thrilling sufficient to warrant a full assessment of this nifty little 88W draw mild. Within the race for larger output fixtures, it’s straightforward to overlook the necessity for smaller, extra compact, and versatile lights that work as every thing, from product to background to cellular Steadicam/gimbal and even as occasion protection lights. After all, for content material creators in small areas, the Forza 60C may also make for the proper key mild the place you aren’t preventing the solar. Right here’s my full assessment of the Nanlite Forza 60C.
First, let’s acknowledge we’re in the course of an interesting know-how race in the direction of high-output fixtures which are colour succesful. Presently, there’s an inherent output tradeoff between Bi-Coloration and Daylight, after which with Coloration and Daylight fixtures. Usually, when put next watt to watt, the daylight-only fixtures will merely present the next output. With Bi-Coloration and Coloration lights, you’ll see a 20% and even 30% drop in output as a tradeoff for the added flexibility of bi-color or colour.
This lower in output is not any shock. There’s solely a specific amount of house in a lamp head, and the combo required between totally different LED emitters to create a given colour signifies that not all emitters can function at 100%. Splendidly saturated colour is the end result, however not the identical output as emitters are dedicated to doing one factor and doing it nicely – like outputting 5600K daylight.
Which brings me again to the Nanlite Forza 60C and some questions – why do we want a light-weight like this? Who’s it for? And the way far can we push that “C” within the Forza 60?
First impression
The Forza 60C is an RGBLAC fixture – which means, past the frequent purple, inexperienced, and blue LED emitters, Nanlite engineers have added lime, amber, and cyan chips into the lamp head to create a wide range of colours. It is a comparable mixture of chips to the Prolycht model of lights – although it undoubtedly issues what every model is doing on the software program aspect to precise these colours. Time will inform which combine know-how will win the day out there, however for my part, the Forza 60C mixture of six colour chips tends to make richer orange and brown colours.
For my work, I take a look at the Forza 60C as a substitute or accomplice to my use of LED Dedolights on set. Each are good decisions for highlighting small particulars, or as a hair mild in a pinch. At $699 for the bottom bundle, the Forza 60C is actually cheaper than the Dedolight DLED7 Turbo Bi-Coloration. At bi-color (not colour), this Dedolight has a comparable wattage draw of 90W with a price ticket of roughly $1600, relying on gross sales.
The Forza 60C ships with the next within the package:
- 45-degree Reflector
- Lamp Head
- Small Mushy Case
- AC Energy Cable (10′)
- Bowens Mount Adapter
- Battery Grip (NP-F)
The primarily plastic-included Bowens adapter does work in a pinch for adapting to different Bowens equipment, however I might be very cautious about what bigger Bowens S-Sort equipment you employ with it. For example, not every thing is optimized for the COB of the Forza 60C and a few equipment are heavy metallic, which could injury your adapter.
I’ll say that the battery grip stands out as a snug instrument to mean you can stroll simply with the Forza 60C, whereas underneath battery cost. This function, paired with a Nanlite Forza 60 Softbox, makes for a extremely cellular package for difficult spots or the place you merely don’t have time to place down a stand. The lamp head is only some kilos too and might be handheld with ease.
I wish to see the Forza 60C obtainable in a 3-Gentle package with some kind of rolling laborious case choice. To me, it seems like a fixture that might require further lights to achieve its full potential. Given the comparatively cheap worth level, I additionally suppose shopping for a number of may be an appropriate choice, as a plane-friendly journey package.
The outside physique of the Forza 60C has a carbon-fiber fashion to it and doesn’t really feel like it may well take too many hits or stand up to difficult climate. Nonetheless, given the output capabilities of this fixture, it additionally doesn’t really feel like a light-weight you’ll depart outdoors within the snow for an excessive amount of. The Forza 60C would really feel most at house throughout interiors, or throughout evening exteriors in favorable climate.
Past the core package, I used to be capable of take a look at the $79 Nanlite FL-11 Fresnel with a ten–45-degree adjustable beam unfold, the beforehand talked about $119 Forza 60 Softbox, and the $299 19-degree Forza 60 Projector. Extra on these equipment later.
Controlling the Nanlite Forza 60C
The rear menu shouldn’t be difficult to navigate, however the Bluetooth Nanlink app will simplify choosing colours and making quick choices, like turning the fan on or off. There’s no silent choice obtainable but.
Just a few banner selectable options:
- Selectable Coloration Temp from 1,800K-20,000K
- HSI Mode, RGB Mode and XY Mode for colour choice
- 15 Customizable Results like fireworks and welding
- +/- Inexperienced Management
The massive selectable colour temp vary obtainable on the Forza 60C is especially spectacular when in comparison with opponents that may prime out at 10,000K and even decrease on the daylight finish of the spectrum.
I’m seeing continued enhancements to the Nanlink app over time, after an preliminary section the place it felt prefer it was very a lot in Beta testing. The app would possibly work superb for routine work, however for something advanced, you’ll need to look into DMX choices. Sadly, built-in wi-fi DMX isn’t obtainable, so that you’ll want to make use of the again DMX port to discover wired choices. My guess is that inner wi-fi DMX would have pushed this fixture out of a sure worth level Nanlite was making an attempt to hit.
Energy
You possibly can energy the Forza 60C utilizing normal AC energy by connecting the barrel to the lamp head. I want the barrel connector was locking, as I all the time fear about these connectors getting pulled out by mistake throughout mid-shot.
The sunshine additionally comes with a helpful hand grip (which additionally suits on a C-Stand) that has slots for 2 Sony NP-F batteries, or you should buy the Nanlite V-Mount battery adaptor for $42 HERE.
That is the kind of fixture that lends itself nicely to battery operation, given the 88-watt draw and the flexibility so as to add batteries to an adjunct that doubles as a hand grip.
Output & colour dealing with
I grabbed a number of measurements on my Sekonic C-700U Spectrometer (now up to date with the C-800U) to see how precisely the 60C handles colour temp measured in Kelvin and output (lx) from a distance of three ft. Listed here are my readings with a goal of 5600K and output set to 100%. This take a look at was accomplished with the package’s 45-degree reflector attachment.
A studying of 5492K with a goal of 5600K is great and nicely inside a standard working margin on the lights I’ve examined. I’d love for extra output right here, however one thing’s gotta give in a battery-powered mild that’s so compact.
And right here’s a take a look at with a goal of 3200K.
Almost spot on with a studying of 3194K. This is likely one of the finest outcomes I’ve seen when testing kelvin accuracy, and the [lx] ranges are additionally remarkably constant.
And now, a take a look at with a goal of 4700K.
A studying of 4593K can also be nice.
The output numbers are very constant from kelvin to kelvin with a slight output drop in the course of the vary between normal daylight and normal tungsten kelvin targets.
Equipment
There’s a lot to love concerning the Forza 60 Softbox, the FL-11 Fresnel, and the 19-degree projector. For one, all of them are produced from plastic (aside from the barn doorways that include the Fresnel and the glass parts inside the projector) and that really serves to maintain the general rig light-weight – although maybe not making every thing impervious to wreck.
I really feel a lot better about these equipment being optimized for the Forza 60 line of lights and never adapting heavier Bowens S-Sort mount equipment designed with different fixtures in thoughts.
The Forza 60 Softbox makes use of the click-in-place mechanism I’ve develop into very keen on over the past a number of years, and it seems that forcing metallic rods into an unmovable ring may be a factor of the previous. Setup is fast and painless, turning into a configuration that content material creators and streamers will recognize.
I discovered that the FL-11 Fresnel does certainly slender or widen the beam angle, however it’s liable to mild leaks on the edges and doesn’t fairly offer you that fresnel-like look {that a} bigger supply will. That is extra a perform of the scale of the Forza 60 COB and fewer a difficulty with the fresnel accent itself. In the event you’re actually searching for a high quality fresnel shadow, then I might recommend wanting on the Forza 300, the Forza 500, and up.
The Forza 60 19-degree projector is extremely compact and lightweight in comparison with the larger projector attachment from Nanlite. I can’t stress sufficient how helpful having the ability to put a tiny splash of sunshine in any a part of your picture is and the projector offers you that flexibility with out the trouble. That is the attachment you want when you’re doing something associated to product pictures or video. It’s simply so darn helpful in these situations as a result of you may make tiny laborious cuts of sunshine simply. You additionally get a gobo holder and a wide range of normal gobos for the value of this accent. Nonetheless, due to the output wants of my work, I discover myself utilizing the bigger projector on bigger Nanlite fixtures once I used these gobos.
Given the comparatively reasonably priced worth of every of those three equipment (about $500 for all three), my selection can be to buy them regardless of any quibbles – if solely to get extra flexibility out of the fixture.
Closing ideas on the Nanlite Forza 60C
In the event you’ve learn or watched my critiques, you recognize I’m not a slam-dunk fan of including increasingly lights to a package. I’m all the time asking what works for what function, contemplating all of us have a minimal quantity of storage. In the direction of that finish, when you’re beginning to construct a set of Nanlite Forza 60C’s, you’ll need to think about a set or trio on the minimal in your work.
Over the course of testing for this assessment, I discovered myself constructing my regular lighting plots, which incorporates tossing the Forza 60C delicate case in my car or on the G&E truck after which taking it out in a pinch once I wanted it to avoid wasting me for that second I didn’t think about in my lighting plan. The dimensions and weight (even with the projector attachment) made it a simple mild to throw into the combo on shoots, together with its bigger cousins – and the addition of colour simply makes it that rather more versatile.
On the danger of stressing out but one other engineer, I’m very excited for even the opportunity of a Nanlite Forza 300C, 500C, and 1200C maybe coming to the market sooner or later. I’ve no inside information on this regard, I’m simply making an attempt to manifest a number of extra stellar lights with a “C” on the finish of their identify. Within the meantime, I’ll should dwell with my small, reasonably priced, and ever-versatile Forza 60C.
Hyperlink: Nanlite web site
What do you suppose? Will you be including the Nanlite 60C to your package? Tell us within the feedback under!
