Gaffer & Gear 275 - Nanlite PavoSlim 60CL & 240C

[@fanjan7527]

Andrew, this is a silly compliment of appreciation, but compliment none-the-less. The fact that you include the fact that you get to keep the items to do with whatever you like, is an important one. Many youtubes state only that they didn't get paid, then state the items was sent to them, but they don't state if they need to return the items or get to keep them. Kudos mate. It creates a sense of trust in your videos, apart from me clearly seeing that you are in fact a Gaffer (having worked as one myself over the years on various jobs).

[@arjuna207]

Europe vs USA. In Eu compensation can be in the form of products. You still have to declare it.

[@tomazambrus2570]

Mister Locke. I strive to speak as clearly and as precisely as you do. Thank you for your time and for all the instructions you give. Be well Tomaž Ambruš

[@gaffergear]

@@tomazambrus2570 Thank you. Although my first and second takes are usually not so good

[@tomazambrus2570]

@@gaffergear And then strive some more... Again, thank you. Good day :)

[@12yfilms]

Thank you Andrew for sharing! It's pretty surprising to see how the slim 60cl lights up the entire front of your house!!! Ever seeing these lights on John Roche's YT channel I've fallen in love with the PavoSlim. Thank you for reviewing the 60CL too. I just added a few to my arsenal 2 weeks ago. They are amazing clean lights!

[@xx1simon1xx]

The 60cl looks like the old carpetini by carpetlight, i loved that thing, great formfactor. I still hope they come out with a 2x4 version, which in theory would be the same as the 240c, just oriented the other way around.

[@amokaddem635]

I believe you got a shout out from Grieg Fraser while he was on the team deakins podcast s2e100. I'm sure he was referring to you when he researches lighting on youtube.

[@gaffergear]

@@amokaddem635 back in the day I worked with Grieg on corporate videos and low end TVCs

[@philpritchard5173]

Wow, great mounting options.

[@danielsvanberg4627]

Can You please make a video about pvc cables, and your thoughts about them? I bet many people would like to know 😁

[@JeremyLevis]

Great review as ever Andrew. If it didn't fold but had the pop out diffusion it would be perfect for me, but even as it is I may well get one.

[@gaffergear]

@@JeremyLevis agree

[@fanjan7527]

I think a possible solution for the 240c babypin, is possibly a longer babypin, but also one that is angled at say 60 degrees. OR...just came to mind, increase the babypin plate plate length to then by design, move the babypin to the edge of the structure of the light. It probably will require a slight change of the baseplate, to include a structural rib in the design to prevent bending.

[@PROtogPhotographic]

Terrific information Andrew. Thank you.

[@Madoxbeatbox]

great review! Funny tho how the video looks like it is 10+ years old. 😅

[@gaffergear]

@@Madoxbeatbox it's all shot on a phone

[@mmaneage86]

Looking forward to see your review of the Nanlite Alien panel lights compared to these.

[@DrumHead23]

Shame on the velcro softbox, as I have a 120C and love the fast it is to work with, tho I do not know how can you be able to fold it and keep a pop up softbox... But i think they missed the opportunity to make it modular, so you could either have a 2x2 or a 1x4, since you are taking more time to set it up. This could be done with detachable hinges bulit to two sides and pins that transmit data and power. They would need to include another softbox for that but they already make it for the dual 120c...

[@JoATTech]

I thought 240C has pop-up softbox, not sure why, since it folds :D. Wasn't aware the diffusion eats so much of the output, I was considering Amaran 22C too. BTW, I watched the review 20minutes after I ordered it (It was on my wish list for almost 2 months) :D. I hope this is faster to setup and easier to transport than 600D + softbox or Godox F600Bi, which are my usual suspects for key. But 60CL seems like a really useful light. I've been thinking about 2 120Cs, but now I think I'll get 60CLs. Great review ... as always. Thx.

[@atriux7]

Just saw your reviews too, excellent job. Would you say the 240c is twice as efficient in output per watt as the f600bi? I regret getting the Godox already!!

[@JoATTech]

​@@atriux7 It's rather like 4 times as efficient, since it's 4 times smaller (area). Based on power draw it's also like 4 times more efficient, because at 250W it generates 23% more light than 600Bi at 650W :D. But it's virtually more efficient, because it's based on the design with the lenses on the diodes. These are two different lights, I haven't compared them side by side in the same scenario yet, but based on what I see 240C is nice for talking heads and maybe medium shot tops. F600Bi is able to light full body shot and you still get really soft light. Oh and if you use diffusion on 240C, then the whole magic disappears and it become as effective as 600Bi in lx / W department. 240C is definitely better at fighting the sun, because the light is more concentrated (60 degrees beam). I do not regret buying F600Bi, because it's my softest light, which is powerful enough to fight the sun (to an extent).

[@atriux7]

@@JoATTech thank you for your detailed response, very helpful

[@JoATTech]

@@atriux7 BTW, have you seen new Nanlite Alien 300C? Better output than 240C, more robust desingn, IP55 rated and just just $400 more. Only con is the fans, but they promise 19dB which is very quiet.

[@atriux7]

@@JoATTech No but I just checked it out. Nice evolution of their hard panel units..nanlite is killing it

[@Cinegavo]

The key feature on the 120c was that popup softbox. Wish there was a solution like that here on the 240. Maybe a folding one if possible?

[@Ranger7Studios]

I always use the articulated mount on my 120c. I don't think I've ever used the baby pin as of yet.

[@gaffergear]

@@Ranger7Studios I think I'm the same

[@Cinegavo]

Same

[@daanjessevenmans]

Thank you for the in-depth review once again! One question, which magnetic mounts did you use on the cars’ windows? Big thanks in advance!

[@gaffergear]

@@daanjessevenmans I got those from a on line UK seller, and they haven't been available since. Dam hard to find large magnets with 1/4-20 threads

[@daanjessevenmans]

@@gaffergear thanks for letting me know. I will contact a UK reseller to see if they can deliver it

[@Cinegavo]

I would totally not mind a bag that allows the 2x2 to be fully built out already like the other ones in tbe series. Would sacrifice more shelf space for that

[@DurrrrrrtyKurty]

Norms pins should come standard with every mat light. They make articulating them so much easier.

[@gaffergear]

Nobody sells them in Australia, and I've been reluctant to buy online sight unseen. Is there a brand you would recommend?

[@RobertJohnPhotography]

Great review Andrew, Nanlite just told me that the 240c will only run full power on two 26V batteries. So you tested and it runs full power off of 14.8? I ask because I only have 14.8V batteries. Really don't want to buy 26V if I don't have too.

[@gaffergear]

@@RobertJohnPhotography mine is definitely running at full power off two 14.8v.

[@RobertJohnPhotography]

@@gaffergear Thanks for this info.

[@roemerfilm]

Thanks for reviewing these Andrew! I had a 240C here to test for a day and I ended up sending it back. I found the light on the harsh side even with the softbox. I get nicer light with a Chimera + 500B II or 300B II (probably because the diffuser sits further out) and with the 240C on the heavy side plus the setup time for its softbox - I'd rather go with the COB lights. I also wasn't fully convinced the build quality of the 240C would last. It felt a bit janky and I did notice the ball joint not being up to the task, too. I may still try a 120C or 60CL as the weight and pop-up softbox features are enticing. I like your idea of using the 60CL instead of a tube light a lot.

[@JoATTech]

Build quality question. Does velcro on diffusions falls apart on your unit? My diffusion velcro is loosing like 50 velcro hooks every time I de-attach it. Hooks are flying all over the place and I already inhaled and eaten some of them. Really nasty thing. I keep them in a plastic bag and threat them as toxic material 😅😅😅

[@gaffergear]

@@JoATTech I haven't had that issue at all, on any of the PavoSlim

[@JoATTech]

​@@gaffergear Interesting. Can you double check? :D Seems like my unit is from quite a new batch, cause they ordered it for me from EU distributor (unless it was on the shelf in the warehouse) - lead time almost 2 weeks. I do not know what to thing about that, I will definitely contact Nanlite customer support. Yesterday I got some hooks in my hair, so they were scratching my head when I was wearing baseball cap and I thought I got a tick there. I guess I should wear safety glasses and the face mask when I operate these diffusions :D.

[@JoATTech]

Andrew, what spectrometer do you use? Sekonic C800?

[@gaffergear]

@@JoATTech yes, it's about 6 months old

[@JoATTech]

@@gaffergear Thanks. Mine is on the way :D.

[@Cinegavo]

Hi Andrew I know it's a little below you, but are you reviewing the fs300c 9d or the fc500c any chance?

[@gaffergear]

@@Cinegavo what brand are those

[@Cinegavo]

@@gaffergear they are Nanlite. Didn't mean to write '9d' lol

[@gaffergear]

@@Cinegavo I'm not sure, they don't seem keen to send me any. The full colour looked great at Cinegear.

[@JoATTech]

Strange - my unit has like 1 stop lower RED readings but almost 3 times more of BLUE output 🤔🤔🤔😮😮😮 in HSL mode. Haven't seen it disturb CCT modes. But I do not have spectrometer, so hard to say really. But maybe it's my mistake how I measure colour output. I use 100% saturation and 0, 120 and 240 values.

[@gaffergear]

@@JoATTech I measured in HSI mode, it could possibly be different if you measured in RGB mode over DMX for example.

[@JoATTech]

@@gaffergear I measure in HSI mode too. But I use 0, 120 and 240 with 100% Saturation. Not sure I should use 100% or 50% saturation for the measurements. What color values do you use and what % of saturation? I guess I'm making a mistake somewhere.

[@gaffergear]

@@JoATTech same as me

[@gaffergear]

I take my F-Stop reading on a separate meter as a sort of double check as I go. So for example if my lux readings on my C-800 are double the previous, I would expect to see one F-Stop difference on my exposure meter too. My results are directly entered into my editing software as I'm filming to ensure I don't get any notes mixed up between other lights I'm reviewing. (That has happened in the past) I have no logical explanation for the difference.

[@JoATTech]

@@gaffergear Your results are much closer to what Nanlite publish on their product page for 240C. Maybe I have different firmware. Or maybe my Sekonic L-858D has a problem measuring color light. Hope it's not the case my unit is broken :D.

[@666size666]

I have a feeling that a smart person would "grip" their way around that tilt problem.

[@queefreak666]

Why would anyone need to mount the 240c flat, when it's that close to the stand. More practical to just put an arm on the stand.

[@igetitlitsoicansit2950]

I SPY a LIT by ELI sticker

[@gaffergear]

@@igetitlitsoicansit2950 I was wondering when anyone would see that. I met him at a party in LA. I wonder if he knows yet?

[@jameswire100]

Just a warning, I work at a rental house and we have recently had a Pavoslim (120c) go out on a hire where the client was using 2 Kinefinity cameras. The 120C connected to both cameras mid interview via its wireless control, corrupting footage and almost bricking the cameras.

[@gaffergear]

@@jameswire100 via Bluetooth? CRMX? I've never heard of such a situation, did you replicate the scenario. But either way I will be switching off my Bluetooth, so thanks for the warning.