Gaffer & Gear 221 - Forza 500 Series II

Gaffer & Gear 221 - Forza 500 Series II
In this episode I take a look at the Forza 500 Series II Lights. These are 500w output and also have green and magenta hue adjustment.
We will look at how these preform with the hard light modifiers that are on offer
00:00 Intro tip
00:48 Intro
02:36 Cost and what you get
05:55 500 Daylight with no modifier
06:26 500 Daylight with supplied reflector
07:02 500 Daylight with Fresnel
07:39 500 Daylight with 19 degree projector
08:32 500 Daylight with 36 degree projector
09:43 500B with no modifier
10:35 500B with supplied reflector
11:08 500B with Fresnel
12:00 500B with 19 degree projector
13:02 500B with 36 degree projector
14:50 DMX
19:19 500 Daylight power draw
19:33 500 Daylight dimming characteristics
20:03 500 Daylight spectrometer data - No modifier
20:42 500 Daylight spectrometer data - Supplied reflector
21:24 500 Daylight spectrometer data - Fresnel
22:09 500 Daylight spectrometer data - 19 degree projector
22:52 500 Daylight spectrometer data - 36 degree projector
23:36 500 Daylight power draw
23:56 500 Daylight dimming characteristics
24:51 500 Daylight spectrometer data - No modifier
26:05 500 Daylight spectrometer data - Supplied reflector
27:26 500 Daylight spectrometer data - Fresnel
28:48 500 Daylight spectrometer data - 19 degree projector
30:01 500 Daylight spectrometer data - 36 degree projector

[@igorrutsch]

very detailed and inspiring content ! thank you !

[@timdanyo898]

I love that projector tip! Thank you!

[@PROtogPhotographic]

As always Andrew, good thoughtful informative review. Thank you

[@italianbull]

I have no desire to ever get these lights but let the full video and ads play in the kitchen to support the channel. But did hear a few interesting things. Great review as always. Waiting to see the review for the Evoke 900C

[@connorcolebrook9800]

You are the man in the biggest way. Thank you for your advice. Love your work!

[@nshea3286]

The 500b seems great for softbox key lights. No need for gels(for tint), unless you want color.

[@DreamingOfReality]

very excited for ur review on the kelvin 600c fixture!

[@auroraborealis7472]

Nanlite looking more and more better. Please do Nanlux 900c!

[@gaffergear]

It should arrive today for testing

[@SpLitSecondS_]

Как всегда, отличный обзор! Nanlite последнее время очень радуют доработками!

[@tasothdevil01]

nice review!

[@pablomarin1746]

wow the orion 300 FS has more punch in flood mode with the frenel

[@MichelArens]

Hey man! I love your videos I’m a DOP based in holland but really find light/ light gear so important it really makes a difference in the end product. My light kit currently exists of : Forza 60b + projector mount, Forza 300B, 2x pavo tube 30c II, cineflex hue 100W I’m looking to get a more powerful light in the kit and I’m thinking of getting a 500 ii / 500 b ii would you go for the extra output or the bicolor and when you need it warmer just go and gel it? Love to hear your thoughts on this one! And keep up the great videos 😊

[@ivanbys9319]

the 720b it's great too

[@cagf2013]

This is super helpful, thanks for taking the time to test all the modifiers. Looking at the 300B ii review it measured significantly brighter than the 500b ii through the 19 degree projector and had much better optics. Sounds like the 300b ii might be the sweet spot of this new range of lights?

[@stosto3]

Super interesting because the original Forza 500 seemed to give much more output with the spotlight

[@buzzzzer]

I suspect it might be a measurement error. On the Nanlite website, the 500B II @ 5600K with the PJ-BM-19 is supposed to output 16010 lux @ 3 m.

[@stefankarzauninkat164]

I bought a lot of equipment following your tests, thanks for your professional and thorough testing and views! Did you test the fresnel and projection with full green/magenta adjustments? You mentioned slight g/m spots (which are a problem for tabletop product photography) when you tested the 60C II with fresnel and tight barndor cuts a while ago, I found something similar on the 300 B II with vertical barndoor cuts (not horizontal), I am wondering if that happens to the 500B II as well?

[@gaffergear]

It can really come down to distance and the size of the cut and (like you have found) the cut angle. With he right (or wrong) combination of this you can create a reverse pin hole camera effect. On the odd occasion using dedo kits I've been able to see the entire emitter aray. and in the old days with a 2k fresnel we managed to project the globe filament, but I could never replicate it intentionally! Just last month I couldn't use a gobo with the 720s because I was at just the wrong distance between the edge of the set and studio walls and we could see the all the emitters. The Forza II, 720s and evokes work on any angle so you could try mounting the light sideways and then doing your cut. But in the workshop here I didn't have any problems with green or Magenta added, but it could be a distance thing

[@stefankarzauninkat164]

​@@gaffergear Very good point, distance and/or angle might be the key to avoid weird effects. Unfortunately I do not have much choice in terms of positioning the lights in a relatively small studio, but there is always some wiggle room. I found the 300B II much more even than the 60c II (with the RGBLAC setup), which both work nicely for tabletop, I do not need more power for my setups. Pobably there will be a 150B II with G/M correction at some time (I do a lot of colour sensitive work, without G/M all the LED lighting does not work at all for me), that would be perfect for my kit collection. Anyway, thanks a lot for maintainig the channel, I learned a lot!

[@maggiechan6724]

Andrew, tks for sharing. Actually, the Fresnel lens is FL-20G, lol..

[@gaffergear]

I didn't have my glasses on when I read the side of it. Getting old

[@ggfderfdffkjjg]

Another fantastic review! I've been waiting for you video ever since these were announced. How do you feel these compare to the 720 and 720B? I adore my 500 with Projector mount, but I'm a bit shocked at how the 500B II performed in output and with gobos. Not sure if it is the replacement I was looking for, at least for the Projector. Otherwise, these feel like they trade blows with the 720 series a lot. Very similar numbers to your prior review of the 720 and 720B from what I can see.

[@gaffergear]

Very similar numbers, I had the 720B with the projector attachment running the other day, and yes it seems to do sharper gobos, but I had it just the right amount of distance from the wall for the emitters to show on the gobo projection. So I really don't know which way to jump.

[@ggfderfdffkjjg]

@@gaffergear How well do they compare when filling out a softbox? I feel like the main reason I lean toward the 500B II is the plus minus green. If they perform similarly in softboxes then I would probably go with the 500B II over the 720B.

[@gaffergear]

@@ggfderfdffkjjg it would fill out a soft box no problem

[@ggfderfdffkjjg]

@@gaffergear Hey Andrew. Don't know if you'll see this as its been several weeks. I just received my 500B ii in the mail and after some testing, I think there may be a mistake in your Projector mount numbers from the 500B ii. I measured roughly 12,000 lux at 3m with the 19 degree spot. Double what you metered, but then I tested it with the donut in and got 6,000 lux. Tested this on my 500 mk i and got 20,000 lux, but with the donut 10,000 lux. Is it possible you measured the 500B ii with the donut in the spotlight? If so, it would explain the drastic difference in numbers.

[@gaffergear]

@@ggfderfdffkjjg that's interesting, I'll have to have a play.

[@cubul32]

Andrew - The specs on their website would have you believe the Bi 500 ii at 5600k is as bright as an aputure LS600d. All their photometrics compare except the 5m one giving away the weaker power. The 500 bi is comparable to 600x right? No way this can replace the 600d? Seems to me they've been measuring their hotspot. And that their light has a narrower cone, maybe?

[@nshea3286]

What is the reason the Nanlite 500b has less output than the Nanlite 300b II with the 19 degree projector? Is the cob/front element too large a diameter for the projector?

[@gaffergear]

It's interesting, people are telling me they get more light through the Nanlux projector adaptor using the 900c then they do with the 1200b

[@funny2thag]

@@gaffergearwell, the 900C has a smaller COB and narrower native beam of 60° may factor in the difference. Which Lenses were you using? We’ve found the XDLT lenses are much more efficient than the older lenses.

[@maxbridge8921]

Hey Andrew. I can't seem to find the part where you mention flicker. Are these flicker free? As always, thanks for all you do!

[@gaffergear]

I forgot to mention it. But nanlite and Nanlux are as flicker free as you can get.

[@maxbridge8921]

@gaffergear thanks! I thought they were but best to check. Cheers for the really quick reply too

[@gaffergear]

@@maxbridge8921 when ever I'm on a Phantom shoot above 1000FPS I don't feel safe unless I have plenty Nanlux and Nanlites. So far zero flicker from them

[@maxbridge8921]

@@gaffergear really good to know. Cheers Andrew

[@directoradamg]

have you tried the aputure spotlight mount and f10 fresnel on the 500b ii?

[@gaffergear]

The F10 would be way too heavy for the Forza yoke. I can't remember if I tried the spotlight mount

[@SeanDadras]

Hey andrew I'm looking between buying the Forza 500b series ii vs the aputure 600x. Which one do you recommend?

[@shadowshapers]

He's reviewed both lights. Why not watch both reviews and compare his conclusions yourself?

[@SeanDadras]

@@shadowshapers Dash my man I've done that already... From what I get is that the 600x is slightly brighter w/ the fresnel on but without the fresnel it's not as bright as the forza 500b ii. But I still don't know which light I should go for... I don't know if I should start investing in aperture or Nan lite Forza lights. What would you recommend?

[@cagf2013]

@@SeanDadras personally I’m waiting for a bi-colour light with green/magenta + the double blue LED design like the iFootage lights have. But in the 700+ watt range. I have the ifootage sl1 320dn and the colour quality improvement is noticeable. Aputure already have the double blue tech in their amaran range, so no doubt aputure will use it next in their pro products.

[@shadowshapers]

@@SeanDadras I would recommend the Aputure fixture because it is the more established brand. It's a better investment at the moment because it's an established brand, they have some service centers if repairs are needed, the app is better, it has CRMX for professional wireless control, and the F10 Fresnel will do what you need it to do.

[@gaffergear]

600x has weather protection and CRMX but is way heavier especially with the F10 fresnel. If I'm working indoors I go with the Forza (720) because it's lighter, but outdoors I go the Aputure

[@LucasPimentel14]

Can I power with v mount battery, and which battery can I do that ?

[@gaffergear]

4:39 I would suggest the highest capacity batteries you can get your hands on. I use 290Wh at 26v and 310wh at 14.8v. I definitely wouldn't use anything under a 150Wh as it would strain the battery.

[@cagatota]

Is there a test of Smallrig lights present at 6:45 ?

[@gaffergear]

Next review

[@paulconway1176]

Nanlite Forza 500B Mark II or Godox mg600bi?

[@Bossman_65]

I'm at crossroads over this. Godox is showing flames to competitors at a better price

[@01337]

What about fan noise? Is it as bad as the first version?

[@gaffergear]

They are very quiet

[@MattRozier1]

@@gaffergear would you say the fan noise of the 300b ii and 500b ii is the same level?

[@gaffergear]

@@MattRozier1 I would be going from memory only as I returned these lights for credit immediately after the review. I honestly can't remember.

[@CircuitBoardcokr]

Clamp! finally they throw away crappy attachment for light stand. it was easily broken.

[@gaffergear]

People would return a Forza 500 from a rental and look really nervous. I would say "let me guess, the clamp broke?"

[@Kokorba6iqta]

Another very useful video. I would add just one note - the fresnel lens is FL-20G, not FL-206. I am not sure If you did this on purpose to make fun of their poor choce of font for the model name.

[@gaffergear]

Didn't have my glasses on is my guess

[@stefankarzauninkat164]

@@gaffergear Thanks for the clarification, I just ordered the FL-20G and thought I missed the newest model 😀