Nanlite has just announced two new compact round panel LEDs, the Miro 30c and Miro 60c, offering a small footprint, bright output, and natural round catchlights, all powered by Nanlite’s Nebula C4 light engine. For anyone working in streaming, podcasting, or content creation, that combination is a winner.

Both lights are more powerful than they appear. The Miro 30c consumes just 30 W, and the 60c doubles that at 60 W, but at one meter, they produce 4,854 lux and 8,382 lux respectively at 5600K. This is more than enough to serve as a key light for creating content at your desk or workstation.

Each light includes a magnetic diffuser you can swap in and out depending on whether you want soft fill or crisp punch, and both are certified RG0 for safe, comfortable long-term use.

Above: The video trailer for the Nanlite Miro Series

Colour control is where these new panels stand out. Nanlite’s Nebula C4 system combines RGB and white LEDs, providing a full CCT range from 2700–7500K, plus green/magenta adjustment for easy matching with other fixtures. Switch into HSI mode and you get access to 36,000 colour options, while the 14 built-in effects cover things like hue loops and fire simulations. That’s a lot of flexibility for fixtures starting at this price.

The practical setup looks straightforward. There’s a circular 1.28-inch display that clearly shows settings, and the stepped yoke rotates 360° with 20 preset tilt positions, making it easy to dial in a desk setup without awkward clamps. Mounting options include a 1/4"-20 thread and a supplied 5/8" adapter, allowing it to work with tripods or light stands.

Power is via USB-C PD or Sony NP-F batteries, which is great for creators moving between desk, studio, or location. The Miro 30c runs for about an hour on a single NP-F750 or up to 1.5 hours on an NP-F970, while the bigger 60c manages nearly 100 minutes on dual NP-F970s. There’s also an optional holder for a power bank if you want to extend runtimes.

In addition to the physical interface, the lights can be controlled wirelessly through Nanlite’s Nanlink App 2.0 over Bluetooth, supporting both individual and group control. Effects, scene recalls, and firmware updates can all be handled directly in the app.

Cooling is vital and is handled by a low-noise fan, rated at just 20 dBA, which should be quiet enough for podcast or streaming setups. Both models come in either mint blue or midnight blue and include a carry bag in the box.

The Miro 30c is priced at $119 / £99 and the Miro 60c at $159 / £133, with shipping expected to begin in October 2025.

That positions them close to recent releases from Amaran and other compact LEDs, but with a round design that looks especially appealing for anyone spending hours on camera.

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Sometimes, lighting a scene requires more than a boring steady white light – and a new pocketable light from Nanlite gives creators the ability to mimic the light from fires, lighting, or a dozen more scenarios all inside a pocketable LED. The Nanlite Pico LED Mini Pocket Light is a compact, color-adjustable light for creators.

Announced earlier this week alongside the new Lumo smartphone ring light, the Nanlite Pico LED Mini Pocket Light includes 14 preset lighting effects, a list that includes the red and blue flashes from emergency lights, the orange of a fire, the flicker of an old light bulb, or even the flash from paparazzi.

Of course, the Pico has traditional steady illumination too. The constant LEDBW light gives creators the ability to adjust the hue and saturation that the light gives off. At the brightest setting, the 4W light is ranked for 4211 at .3 meters or one foot away.

The light’s settings are adjusted using a small 1.28-inch screen on the back of the light, along with a dial and two buttons. Or, the light can also be controlled remotely with the Nanlite app.

The light sits on a tilting base to help creators get the right angle. That base is also magnetic to mount the light in a variety of different locations. A cold shoe adapter will also house the light on top of a camera. A magnetic diffuser is also included with the light.

Despite the light’s versatility, Nanlite describes the Pico as pocketable. The Pico weighs 130g.

The light’s battery is rated for up to 6.5 hours, and the battery recharges via USB-C.

The Nanlite Lumo is a folding smartphone ring light

Nanlite also announced the Lumo earlier this week, a folding MagSafe ring light that magnetically attaches to smartphones. The light also includes a magnetic adapter for smartphones without built-in magnetic charging.

Besides delivering the flattering ring of light situated around the smartphone’s camera array, the folding design of the Lumo allows the light to double as a phone stand. The single button design allows users to choose from three brightness levels with a short press and use a long press to change the light’s color temperature.

Like the Pico, the Lumo recharges with USB-C. The battery life is rated for up to five hours and 30 minutes.

The Nanlite Pico retails for $59 / £35 / AU$68 and is already available at multiple retailers – it’s currently discounted to about $35 in the US at Adorama.

The Nanlite Lumo is expected out in August for about $40.That converts to about £30 / AU$61.

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LED (light emitting diode) lights come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, from the best light wands to the best LED light panels (both rigid and flexible). The PavoSlim 120C is a rigid but very slim rectangular LED light panel, but you can also buy circular LED panels.

The PavoSlim 120C is manufactured by Nanlite, a company who have been producing a wide range of professional lighting equipment for 30 years - from portable LED light sticks like the PavoTube 30C to more traditional-looking LED spotlights such as the Nanlite Forza 60C. 

I’ve enjoyed testing and reviewing 17 LED lights for Digital Camera World to date, three of which were manufactured by Nanlite. The Nanlite PavoSlim 120C is comparable in features to the like the Rotolight AEOS 2 though the PavoSlim is rectangular in comparison to the Rotolight AEOS 2 circular shape. 

Regardless of their shape LED lights remain illuminated during a shoot, so you don’t need to sync them to flash at the press of a camera’s shutter button. This review is designed to help you decide whether the PavoSlim 120C panel will suit your requirements as a photographer or a videographer. Spoiler - it’s suitable for both!

Nanlite PavoSlim 120C: Specifications

Nanlite PavoSlim 120C: Price & Availability

At the time of writing the PavoSlim 120C panel costs $799 / £875.  The smaller 1 x 1 shaped PavoSlim 60C is a cheaper $599 / £649. 

Nanlite PavoSlim 120C: Design & Handling

The PavoSlim 120C ships in a padded carry case and my first impression was "this is heavy!". The PavoSlim 120C itself weighs in at 1.76kg / 3.88lb so it’s light enough to carry in one hand, but the rest of the case’s weight comes from a wide range of accessories such as a light stand, various clamps, and cables plus its chunky control unit (which itself weighs .84kg / 4.06lb which makes it heavier than the PavoSlim 120C panel). 

The front of the PavoSlim panel was initially concealed in a fabric soft box but after unclipping its hook and look (velcro) fasteners I was able to examine the panel’s LEDs.  

At 1.86 cm the LED panel looked and felt very slim. The rear of the panel was constructed of a satisfyingly lightweight but sturdy metal (which is designed to dissipate heat so there’s no need for a built-in noise-inducing fan). The rear of the panel had a range of mounting points that you could easily and quickly clip a range of supplied attachments to with a simple slide-and-click operation.  This made the light very quick and easy to mount on the supplied light stand. The front of the panel featured rows of LED chips that looked like tiny opaque lenses, but these became dazzlingly bright and colorful when powered up and set to various modes.

To power the light I attached the rather large and heavy control box to the light stand using the supplied clamp. I then attached the control box to the mains and plugged the panel’s power cable into the control box. Initially, I struggled to attach the mains power cable’s plug to the control box until I realized I had to rotate it slightly so it would lock into place. The locking mechanism ensured that the plug wouldn’t pop out during a shoot - a nice design touch! 

Despite the control box weighing more than the light panel, the whole rig was relatively stable when attached to the light stand (though there can be an initial short wobble after you’ve handled the control box buttons to make adjustments). The two main dials on the control box enabled me to adjust a host of LED properties with ease. The dials also function as clickable buttons for more control. The panel’s soft box with its built-in diffuser was very easy to attach the the panel using the hook and loop fasteners. 

Nanlite PavoSlim 120C: Performance

For a detailed look at the PavoSlim 120C in action check out my supporting video below. I took the PavoSlim 120C to a local TV studio and was glad I could park outside the location as the carry case was rather heavy. 

However, once I reached the studio it didn’t take long to slip the panel from its protective pocket in the case, clip it on the light stand, and power it up. The softbox with its built-in diffuser is clamped flat to the panel when stored, but with a quick unclipping of hook and loop straps the softbox expanded (thanks to collapsible metal prongs that push the diffuser a few inches away from the LED panel). 

The diffuser enabled the panel to emit a strong but soft key light, though to produce harsher shadows you can easily remove the diffuser and soft box completely as you’ll see in my video. 

The LED panel was attached to the light stand via a double ball-jointed mount, so it was an easy operation to tilt the panel at various angles. The bulky control box clipped via its quick-release v-mount onto a clamp attached to the light stand. The control box has a screen that instantly shows you the properties of the mode you’ve chosen. You can then rotate the left and right dials to change properties such as color temperature or gel color. These physical dials/buttons provide a pleasantly tactile way to fine-tune your lighting set-up.

The control unit has a wide range of color-changing modes, from HSI which lets you change hue, saturation, and brightness from the LEDs to the very handy Gel mode which lets you dial in specific gels such as Dark Lavender or Daylight Blue. 

As a videographer my favorite mode was Effect. Here I could summon lighting using Storm or unleash a throng of Paparazzi photographers. My favorite effect was Police Car - very handy for crime dramas. Many LEDs can only produce the red and blue flashes of American police cars but with the PavoSlim 120C, you can customize the LEDs to flash blue and white to suit the lights from other police forces. 

At 12,830 lux the PavoSlim was able to illuminate the distant recesses of my TV Studio test location so I often needed to dial down its brightness to around 60%. One feature I particularly enjoyed was using the Nanlink app to control the PavoSlim 120C remotely. This Bluetooth connectivity enabled me to film myself standing in front of the light while controlling its modes and settings from a distance.

Nanlite PavoSlim 120C: Verdict

Being able to remote control every mode via the free smartphone Nanlink app makes the PavoSlim 120C an attractive purchase for self-shooting solo operating videographers. Its extra-wide CCT range gives you the ability to complement (or mimic) a wider range of color temperatures than you can with many other LEDs.  I was also impressed by the option to power the PavoSlim 120C with a v-mount battery and the control unit’s thick leather carry handle meant I could comfortably carry and operate the Control Unit and LED on location. 

I enjoyed using the PavoSlim 120C, though, for my ‘run and gun’ approach to shooting everything on an iPhone (including this page’s video review of the PavoSlim 120C), I would probably stick to a much cheaper LED light wand such as the ZHIYUN Fiveray F100 so I could travel light. Nevertheless, there will be studio photographers and videographers who will find the PavoSlim 120C a versatile and essential addition to their lighting set-ups.

Alternatives

Nanlite has just launched the highly anticipated Nanlite PavoTube II XR Pixel Tubes. Engineered to cater to the diverse needs of photographers, filmmakers, and content creators, the XR Series of light wands promises to reshape creative boundaries through its integrated CRMX technology, stunning pixel effects, and versatile lighting capabilities.

The XR Series builds upon the strong foundation laid by its predecessor, the X-Series tubes, celebrated for their adaptability and ruggedness. Known for making some of the best video lights , the Nanlite XR series, introduces a robust metal construction that guarantees durability even in challenging studio and on-location scenarios. A standout feature of the XR tubes is the capacity to dynamically sweep frequencies, optimizing transmission between devices. 

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Boasting a range of lengths to suit various applications, the XR Series is available in 2-foot 15XR, 4-foot 30XR, or 8-foot 60XR variants. Each kit is accompanied by a charger for the internal batteries plus a mains power supply for continuous usage. The 15XR and 30XR kits also come equipped with rigging accessories neatly organized within a padded carrying case while the 60XR model offers the same flight case as the 60X variant including several accessories, swivel casters, and stackable wheel plates.

Each of the new Nanlite PavoTube II boasts exceptional luminosity, captivating animated pixel effects, advanced diffusion technology that allows for evenly distributed areas of illumination, various-sized models to suit different needs, a color rendering index (CRI) of 97 and a Television Lighting Consistency Index (TLCI) of 98. Intuitive onboard controls enable the tubes to be controlled wirelessly, they have a wide color temperature range from 2,700K to 12,000K and precise green-magenta adjustment allowing for complete color accuracy.

Other features include dimming capabilities, 15 practical effects, 10-pixel effects and multiple mounting points for versatile usage. Water-resistant housing can be bought separately for each of the models allowing photographers to use them even in rainy conditions or close to water. 

The 15XR model has a battery life of 1 hour and 26 minutes when used on full power and a complete recharge time of 3 hours with prices starting from $399 / £425 (around AU$832). 

The 30XR model has a slightly longer battery life of 1 hour 36 minutes, a recharge time of 3.5 hours and prices start at $579 / £595 (about AU$1,166). 

With prices starting at $1,999 / £2,095 (around AU$4,105) for the 60XR kit it’s by far the most expensive and takes an enormous 5.5 hours to fully charge and for that, you get just under 2 hours of charge on full power. 

Nanlite's PavoTube II XR Pixel Tubes are set to redefine the lighting landscape, propelling creative professionals toward unmatched artistic possibilities. With its unrivaled feature set, durable construction, and wireless innovations, the XR Series is poised to become an industry standard for dynamic lighting solutions.

Pre-order the Nanlite PavoTube II XR range at B&H Photo

Why not also check out our guide on the best DSLR and mirrorless gimbals so you can capture perfectly smooth footage

These days LED (Light Emitting Diode) stick (or wand) lights are all the rage due to their versatility, portability, and affordability (compared with more traditional-looking studio LED lights such as the Nanlite Forza 60C.)   As a light wand, the Nanlite PavoTube 30C consists of dozens of tiny diodes arranged inside a long plastic tube.  These diodes can work together to emit an even field of light and simultaneously change to any color in the spectrum, which is an effective way to add drama and atmosphere to a photo shoot. They can also be triggered to produce a range of colors and intensities at different times which enables you to add animated lighting effects to your creative video projects. 

The PavoTube 30C is part of a wider range of Nanlite light wands. At the cheaper end of the range, we have the simple yet effective Nanlite PavoTube T8-7X. The Nanlite PavoTube T8-7X is very functional but its opaque white frame looks cheap and it isn’t as robust as the sturdier and more robust PavoTube 30C (which costs around 3 times as much as the T8-7X). 

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There’s also a newer version of the PavoTube 30C (the Mark II) which has additional Bluetooth app connectivity and a 20% brighter output, so you should be able to pick up the original PavoTube 30C for a slightly cheaper price. If your budget is tight then it’s worth considering the 30C’s little brother - the PavoTube 15C. This shorter tube still boasts all of the functions of the 30C when it comes to changing color hue and special effect presets.

Specifications

LED Total Power: 32W
CRI: Average 95
TLCI: Average 95
Color Temperature: 2700K to 6500K
Dimming: 0 - 1-00% (Continuous)
Control: Onboard controller, 2.4G
Special effects: Cop Car, Storm, Candlelight, Multi-Flash, SOS
Size: 1170 x 48 x 48mm / 46.1 x 1.9 x 1.9’'
Weight: 1.2kg / 2.65lb
Diameter: 4.8 cm
Illumination: 579 Lux at 1 meter

Key Features

Thanks to its LEDs the PavoTube 30C can change its colour temperature (in CCT Mode) to match other light sources in your location. You can use its two onboard control knobs to reduce the intensity of the light and dial in colour temperatures between a warm 2700K to a cooler 6500K. 

The HSI button enables you to use the two knobs to dial in a wide range of colours for more creative lighting, as well as change the hue, saturation and intensity produced by the LEDs. 

The Special button enables you to toggle between special animated lighting effects such as the obligatory red and blue alternating flashes of a police car.  You can power the light stick from the mains or charge its internal battery for cable-free roaming.

Build & Handling

At a length of 117cm, the PavoTube 30C can be a challenge to transport safely.  Fortunately, our test model shipped in a padded Nanlite carry case that offered some protection to the wand (as well as providing pockets for accessories such as a power supply and metal support wires that you can use to suspend the tube on location.) 

The carry case’s handles are in the middle, which means the case is designed to carry the PavoTube 30C in a horizontal position. If you’ve ever used a fishing rod then you’ll know that it’s safer to carry long thing poles vertically to stop them from hitting other objects. A shoulder strap on the carry case would be more useful as it would enable you to transport the PavoTube 30C in a vertical orientation and reduce the chances of damaging it.

Inside the carry case is a handy clip that snaps onto the body of the PavoTube 30C. You can then use the clip’s 1/4-inch thread to mount the light on a tripod. On our test shoot, we used a ball-head tripod so that we could rotate and position the PavoTube 30C in a more useful (and safer) vertical position (see our supporting test video). 

The 6 buttons near the base of the wand enable you to jump between modes such as HSI and CCT with ease and the mini OLED screen lets you know which property is currently being adjusted when you twist the control knobs.  You can also control the PavoTube 30C remotely via the Nanlink app, but to do so you need to buy an additional Nanlink WS-TB-1 Transmitter Box. The newer PavoTube 30C II comes with a built-in Bluetooth feature which makes it easier to control the light remotely via the smartphone app (and it doesn’t require the additional wireless transmitter.)  The lack of Bluetooth connectivity may knock the PavoTube 30C's overall rating, but as you’ll see from our video review it was still easy to control via the onboard buttons and knobs.

Performance

At 579 Lux (from a range of one meter) the PavoTube 30C is not as intense as the blinding 12.810 Lux produced by the Nanlite Forza 60C spotlight but that’s not really a limitation. Wand lights such as the PavoTube 30C are designed to produce a softer and wider field of multi-colored light that can add modeling illumination to your photographic subjects (or enhance your video projects with dramatic animated lighting effects). 

The fact the PavoTube looks like a lightsabre (and changes color too) meant that we couldn’t resist treating it like one on our test shoot. I set the HSI to a vibrant blue and posed as an attacking Jedi while snapping a shot on the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s Slow Shutter app. I then turned the PavoTube 30C’s control dial to create a red saber and snapped a second exposure to create a motion-blurred Jedi joust!

Verdict

The PavoTube 30C has a professional and robust look and feel (compared to the toy lightsaber look of the much cheaper PavoTube T8-7X). The various color and effect modes of the PavoTube 30C provide a springboard for creative photography and videography.

However, the lack of Bluetooth connectivity means it’s not as easy to remote control as the newer PavoTube 30C II which supports Bluetooth remote control of the Nanlink app on a smartphone.  The newer model also boasts 15 special lighting effects (compared to the PavoTube 30C’s miserly 5). 

Read more: Interested in LED lighting? Find the right lights for you with our guides to the best video lights, the best photography lighting kits, best LED light sticks, and the best LED lighting panels.

Nanlite produces a wide range of the best LED video lights for photographers and videographers, from lightsaber-sized wand lights like the PavoTube 30C to palm-sized spotlights such as the Forza 60C.

Wand lights like the PavoTube 30C produce a wide spread of soft fill or key light. The Forza 60C ships with an RF-FMM-45-S spotlight reflector attachment that focuses the Forza’s light into a tight and bright beam which makes it a powerful key light. Thanks to a supplied Bowens mount adaptor you can attach other FM mount lighting accessories (such as the Nanlite SB-FMM-60 softbox) to the front of the Forza 60C and create a wider and more diffuse field of illumination (though you’ll need to buy these accessories separately). 

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The Forza 60C is a full-color spotlight that boasts a wider spectrum of colors than other lights in the Nanlite range and you can adjust the colors that it emits to match the color temperatures of other light sources or provide creative tints for a more dramatic look. 

Specifications

Power consumption: 88W
Beam angle: 56.5º
CCT range: 1800K - 20000K (GM+100)
CRI: Average 96
TLCI: Average 95
TM-30 Rf: Average 100
Special Effects: HUE Loop, CCT Loop, INT Loop, Flash, Pulse, Storm, Police Car, TV, Paparazzi, Candle/Fire, Disco, Bad Bulb, Firework, Explosion and Welding
Size: 224 × 110 × 88mm / 8.82 x 4.33 x 3.46”
Weight: 1.08kg / 2.38lb

Key Features

Unlike fixed color temperature lights such as the more expensive SmallRig RC COB 350D (see review) you can use the Forza 60C’s CCT menu to emit a wide range of color temperatures - from a warm 1800 degrees K to a cooler 20,000 degrees K. This is the widest range of degrees Kelvin that I’ve encountered when reviewing LED lights over the past year. This versatility means that you can make the Forza 60C match a range of natural light sources at different times of the day. (Such as sunrise or midday) or mimic indoor light sources such as tungsten or even candlelight.

Talking of candles leads us to the lamps’ Effects menu. Here preset effects enable you to conjure up a flickering candle, alternating blue and red flashes from a police car and the type of flickering lightbulb on the blink that you tend to find when exploring a house in a scary movie. 

The HSI (Hue, Saturation and Intensity) menu enables you to twist a dial to produce a wide range of color tints for a stylized lighting set-up. To produce millions of colors LEDS traditionally mix Red, Green and Blues (RGB) together. The Forza 60C is able to produce a wider spectrum of colors by adding Lime, Amber and Cyan LED beads to the mix (hence the RGBLAC abbreviation). This six-color mixing technology certainly helps the Forza 60C stand out from the more limited RGBWW  (RGB + White + warm White) crowd. It also ensures more accurate color reproduction.

For more precise color selection you have independent control over the mix of Red, Green, Blue and White channels using RGBW mode. An additional XY mode enables you to choose colors that rest within a specific color space so that you don’t produce out-of-gamut colors (though you’ll need to do this via the Nanlink app rather than the lamp’s physical control dials). 

Build & Handling

The beauty of the Forza 60C is that it’s compact and portable. As it only weighs 1.08 Kg you can carry it around on its supplied handheld BH-FZ60 battery grip with ease (though the batteries clipped to the grip will make it a little heavier).  This handheld grip frees you from being constrained by the length of a cable plugged into the mains, so you can illuminate a wider range of locations.

The lamp and accessories (including a Bowens mount adaptor, battery grip, and main power adaptor) all fit snugly into a branded and padded Nanlite case for easy transport. The case also contains a strap for you to attach if you prefer to carry it over your shoulder instead of by its handle.

Performance

The Forza 60C may be small but it packs a punch thanks to its 60W output.  Indeed during our test shoot the spotlight reflector that ships with the Forza focused the light to such an intensity that skin tones became over-exposed at full brightness. At 1 metre the Forza produces a blinding 12,810 Lux!

Fortunately, we could rotate one of the two rear dials to drop the brightness to a more suitable level (or drag a slider on the Nanlink smartphone app to adjust brightness while standing in front of the LED.) The app, which controls the Forza 60C via Bluetooth is an invaluable tool, especially if you’re a single operator and need to adjust the light while you talk to the camera. 

In my test video (below), I should have dropped the brightness a bit more than I did to reduce over-exposure, but that’s my fault and not the Forza’s!

Verdict

The Forza 60C is an expensive bit of kit but when it comes to accurate and creative color rendition this powerful yet compact LED outperforms many of its rivals thanks to its advanced RGBLAC color technology. We also enjoyed its wide range of creative animated lighting effects though these will be of more use to creative video drama producers than to photographers. 

Despite the intensity of light funneling through the attached reflector, the LED didn’t run too hot (and we didn’t notice any distracting fan noise), so we could quickly pack it away at the end of the shoot without a long cool-down period.  A compact, powerful, precise, and versatile LED.

Read More: Interested in LED lighting? Find the right lights for you with our guides to the best video lights, the best photography lighting kits, and the best LED lighting panels.

When shooting in low-light locations photographers and video makers can struggle to get a well-exposed and interesting shot. They can position their camera’s subject so that available light (such as street lamps) illuminates the subject’s face but this can limit the photographer or videographer’s compositional choices. That's where the best video lights come in.

By adding the Nanlite PavoTube T8-7X light stick to your kit you can bathe your subject in light from any angle. As well as bringing out the shape and contours of a model’s face (which is great for a stills photographer) the PavoTube T8-7X can add animated lighting effects (such as flashes of lightning or the flicker of a police car’s emergency lights) to a video shoot. This makes the PavoTube T8-7X a useful bit of kit for photographers and filmmakers alike.

Nanlite PavoTube T8-7X specifications

Size: 39 x 1.5 inches
Weight: 0.61 lbs
Color Temp: 2700K–7500K with G/M Adjustment
CRI: 96
TLCI: 97
Wireless Control: Bluetooth
Mount: 1/4 20 Socket
Firmware Upgrade: via USB-C

Nanlite PavoTube T8-7X features

The PavoTube T8-7X seems a fairly basic device at first glance. Its hard plastic body is light and rigid. My test unit had a slight dent in the body of the tube due to it being bent in transit by the courier company that delivered it to me. However once I pressed one of the three buttons at the base of the lamp the LEDs inside lit up without any issues, making the dint negligible.  

A second CCT button enables the user to adjust the color temperate so you can get the lamp to match the location’s warm or cool tungsten or daylight light sources. The same button also triggers the Hue mode. With a few button taps, you can cycle through a spectrum of neon-style colors. A third button enables you to adjust the brightness of the lamp. Once you attach the PavoTube to a tripod using the 1/4” socket at the base then the control buttons are hidden.  

Fortunately, you can control the PavoTube via Bluetooth using the Nanlink app and this is where the fun begins!  The app unleashes the true power of the PavoTube by enabling you to summon animated lighting presets. You can also dial in different hues more quickly and easily by swiping a color wheel.  Check out our accompanying video to see these clever lighting effects in action. 

Nanlite PavoTube T8-7X Build & handling

Compared to more compact LED lights such as the ZHIYUN Fiveray FR100C Light Wand, the PavoTube T8-7X is much longer - around 3 feet in total.  Its long length initially made me think twice about lugging the lamp around the city all day before my planned evening test shoot. Once I’d attached a belt to the PavoTube’s cardboard carrying tube I was able to sling it over my shoulder and carry it with ease (especially as it only weighs 0.61 lbs). 

However, it did make me look a bit more conspicuous than I usually do when on an iPhone shoot. On entering a gallery I was stopped by a security guard who wanted to know what I was carrying in the cardboard tube. Perhaps he thought it was a samurai sword! He soon waved me on when he saw the innocuous opaque white plastic body of the PavoTube.

Nanlite PavoTube T8-7X Performance

With its built-in battery, the PavoTube T8-7X runs for 3.5 hours at 20% brightness (or 56 minutes at full brightness) and it works with external batteries that support a USB-C charger. I brought a SmallRig VB99 mini V mount battery with me and used it to quickly top the PavoTube up between the day’s two test shoots. The VB99 also charged my iPhone 14 Pro Max at the same time due to its multiple output sockets. As a result, the lamp and iPhone performed perfectly without any power issues until my shoot finished at 8-30 in the evening.

To test the PavoTube T8-7X I hired a model to be my subject. By the time we met at 5.30 PM it was completely dark so the PavoTube complemented the available city lights perfectly. I shot a mix of stills and clips on the iPhone 14 Pro Max and also used my iPhone to control the PavoTube via the Nanlink app. The opaque plastic body of the lamp hides the individual LEDs inside the tube when you need a flat and even spread of illumination. 

However, once you use the app to trigger the creative effects inside the lamp you can see the individual LEDs and change their colors to create moving patterns of light. As you’ll see from the accompanying test video we were able to make the LEDs flash red and blue like a police car (which is a lot cheaper than hiring a cop car on location). Another setting caused the lamp to flash randomly to simulate a lightning storm! This enabled us to produce some fun and creative clips for this review.  

You can use the app to customize properties such as the frequency of the flashes and change the hue of various LEDs. This enables you to create the effect of moving street lamps which would be great for clips set at night inside a car for example. Any of the special lighting effects (and customized versions) can be added to the app’s Preset menu so you can trigger your favorites with ease.

Nanlite PavoTube T8-7X Verdict

At first glance, the Nanlite PavoTube T8-7X appears to be a basic light source that adds fill or key light to your photo shoots. However, once you link the PavoTube T8-7X to your smartphone via the Nanlink app then you have a powerful and versatile resource for your video shoots, especially in low-light locations. 

It's similar to the Zhiyun Fiveray FR100C Light Wand in its premise and should appeal in particular to filmmakers thanks to the ability to add customized animated light and color to your movie sequences. And at under £100 it won’t break your budget.

NanLite has just announced four new products are to be added to its range, including a two monolights and a light tube. As part of the Nanguang group, the company has 29 years of experience in specialized imaging equipment while NanLite focuses on lighting equipment and strives to design technology that expands the creative horizon of photographers.

The four new products that will be released simultaneously are the Nanlite PavoBulb, the Nanlite PavoTube T8-7X and the Nanlite Forza 720 & 720B – two high-powered monolights that excel in performance and value. These products join a lineup that already includes the impressive Nanlite Forza 300, a professional-grade LED constant light designed for the studio. 

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First up is the PavoBulb 10C, a practical lighting solution that will let you adjust the CCT or HUE of the bulb using built-in buttons or the Nanlink app. With dedicated powering and mounting accessories, it’s designed to inspire filmmakers and enable them to quickly achieve their ideas while delivering subtle, beautiful light. Weighing just 170g, it features a bi-colour range of 2700-7500K, a Colour Rendering Index (CRI) of 96 and a Television Lighting Consistency Index (TCLI) of 97. It’s able to accurately render 36,000 colors, includes 15 fully customizable effects and gives you complete control of brightness. 

Next up is the Nanlite Pavotube T8-7X, a handholdable, 1M long LED tube light designed to create moody atmospheres, dazzling stage decorations, to be used as a light painting tool for night photography or to create dramatic effects. Like the PavoBulb, the pixel tube also has a CCT range from 2700-75000K and it has the same CRI and TLCI rating of 96 and 97 respectively. These fun lights also provide an incredible 36,000 colors and its slim, lightweight design makes it a perfect choice for small spaces. It can be controlled wirelessly via the Nanlite WCUSBCC1 Wire Controller which also provides extra battery power and additional controls. 

Finally, the last two products Nanlite is releasing take the form of the Forza 720 and 720B. These constant, LED monolights offer a convenient alternative to flash with the only difference between them being that the Forza 720 is a daylight lamp whereas the 720B is a bi-color light with an expanded range of 2700K - 6500K. 

Both lamps are 800W and can be controlled onboard or via Bluetooth. They have special effect settings that include  CCT Loop, flash, pulse, storm, paparazzi, candle/fire, bad bulb, firework, explosion and welding all of which will help you be more creative on your shoots. They’re perfect for anyone who wants to view the final image before taking the shot and with enhanced intensity, an optimized design and improved build quality, the latest edition to the Forza family promise to be the best and brightest Nanlite spotlights ever. 

Prices start at just £75 (about $98/AU$131) for the PavoBulb and go up to £1,416 (about $1,846/AU$2,465) for a 12-bulb kit (with case and accessories) which is perfect for lighting large spaces on big productions. For those interested in the PavoTube, a single tube will set you back £95 (about $124/AU$165) while the 4-tube kit will cost £370 (about $482/AU$644). The Forza 720 and 720B are priced for professionals and cost £1,745 (about $2,275/AU$3,038) and £1,963 (about $2,559/AU$3,417) respectively and can be purchased as individual lights.

This latest announcement from NanLite is exciting news for a wide range of content craters including vloggers, professional photographers, filmmakers and cinematographers. Such versatile lights could be used to shoot anything from music videos to short films, products or people, the possibilities really are endless. For more in-depth information about each individual product, head to the Nanlite website. 

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The Nanlite Forza 300 doesn’t skimp on power, with a mightily impressive output of 43,060 lux at one metre with the reflector provided, which can stretch to 108,679 lux at one metre with an optional Fresnel modifier attached. 

Considering the power output, NanLite has managed to keep the Forza 300 pretty compact, measuring 31 x 20.6 x 14.2cm with a single fan squeezed in to assist with cooling. 

Nanlite may be a new name to the studio lighting game, but the company behind it NanGuang has been one of the pioneers of professional LED lighting, and has been producing products since 1992 - back in the days when strobe lighting was still king. This 300W version is the middle of the new Nanlite Forza range - with 60W and 500W options also being available.

Like the similarly-priced Aputure LS 300X, the Nanlite Forza 300 forgoes any external controls, with this taken care of by a control box that’s hooked up to the light. To keep it out of the way on a shoot, the control box can be mounted to the light stand via a locking collar, while the control box can also accommodate two batteries if you’re planning to shoot on location (optional extras). If you want to change settings, you’ll have to rely on the control box, which might be a pain on some shoots, though there is an optional remote control available as well. 

Specifications

Color temperature: 5,600K
Illumination: 43,060 lux at 1m
Color Rendering Index (CRI): 98
Display: N/A
Control: On-board controller, 2.4GHz, DMX
Power source: Mains (optional Lithium battery)
Max power consumption: 300 watts
Compatibility: Compatible with Bowens bayonet
Dimensions: 31 x 20.6 x 14.2cm
Weight: 2.3kg
In the box: NanLite Forza 300, 55 degree reflector, control box, mains cable, carry case

The Forza 300 sports an impressive CRI rating of of 98, but what might put some users off is the fixed color temperature. While many rival lights have the ability to control the warmth of the light, the Forza 300 is restricted to 5,600K (daylight). While you can’t argue with the powerful output, the payoff is the power consumption at 300 watts – which is more, say, than the Broncolor LED F160 and Rotolight AEOS.

The Forza 300 features a Bowens bayonet that sees it accept a wide range of light modifiers, though it’s bundled with a 55-degree reflector. For those shooting video, there are a number of special effects modes to choose from, including various flash and lightning effects, as well as TV and Bad Bulb.

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Launched in 1992, NanGuang has grown to become a name to be reckoned with in the LED lighting market. Now in the process of a major rebranding, the newly christened NanLite is celebrating its new identity with a host of new products, including the Forza range of monolights. 

Equipped with a COB LED, the Forza 500 and Forza 300 have an output of 500W and 300W respectively - an impressive power level for the relative size and weight of the heads themselves. And then there is a mini 60W version too.

At just 31cm on its longest dimension, the largest light in the family, the Forza 500 weighs in at a mere 2.6kg, yet despite this puts out 66300 Lux of illumination, at 1m from the subject.

The remaining members of the family cater for users of all experience levels and requirements. The entry level model is the Forza 60, which provides 11950 Lux output and a max 20cm, 800g body. Meanwhile the Forza 300 bridges the gap, providing a balance of weight and power with 43060 Lux and 2.3kg weight. This model shares the 31cm length of the Forza 500. 

Colour fidelity is also guaranteed with a high Colour Rendering Index (CRI) of 98, while colour temperature is a balanced 5600K. Handily all of the units can be power-adjusted in stepless increments, from 0-100% brightness. The controls are also discrete from the lights themselves, allowing easy adjustment to settings even when the heads are placed high off the ground. They are also 2.4G wireless and DMX compatible, for remote control. 

Additional features consist of a range of built-in special effects. Flash, storm, TV, and flickering (faulty) bulb are unique lighting effects which mimic ambient lighting conditions - useful for videographers. Meanwhile, compatibility with universal Sony battery systems increases the versatility of the units. 

Accompanying the Forza lights in the initial range of NanLite branded products are the Compac, LumiPad and PavoLite Tube ranges, providing a wealth of new lighting solutions. 

The Forza 60, 300 and 500 are priced £249.95 ex. Vat ($289 approx), £874.95 ex. Vat  ($999 approx) and £1,649.95 ex. Vat ($1990 approx) respectively. 

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