Ultimate RGB Tube Light Comparison: Part 3 (Nanlite, Weeylite, GVM, Soonwell, Ulanzi, & More)

In this video I review and compare 10 new RGB tube lights ranging from 4" to 4' for budgets of $30 to $500 or more each.
Included are the Ulanzi I-Light, Weeylite K21, Nanlite Pavotube II 15X and 30X, Sutefoto TP25, Soonwell Sensei ST25 and ST50, Nexili Valo T, GVM BD-100, Fotobetter LW R180F, Folisobo AY6C, and Digital Sputnik Voyager.
I can't cover every single feature in one video, but I do talk about the pros and cons that stand out the most to help you decide what might be the best RGB tube light for your budget and needs.
Watch the full video to see which lights have the best diffusion, support mobile app control, include advanced features like green/magenta tint control, provide the most realistic special effects, and more.
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== LINKS ==
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Ulanzi I-Light: geni.us/ulanziilight
Weeylite K21: geni.us/weeylitek21
Nanlite Pavotube 15X: geni.us/nanlitepavotubeii15x
Nanlite Pavotube 30X: geni.us/nanlitepavotubeii30x
Sutefoto TP25: geni.us/sutefototp25
Soonwell Sensei ST25: geni.us/soonwellsenseist25
Soonwell Sensei ST50: geni.us/soonwellsenseist50
Nexili Valo T: geni.us/nexilivalot
GVM BD-100 2 Light Kit: geni.us/gvmbd1002
Fotobetter LW R180F: geni.us/fotobetterlwr180f
Ulanzi Folisobo AY6C: geni.us/folisoboay6c
Digital Sputnik Voyager: geni.us/digitalsputnikvoyager2
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== TABLE OF CONTENTS ==
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0:00 - Intro
0:27 - Ulanzi I-Light
1:36 - Weeylite K21
2:08 - Nanlite Pavotube II 15X/30X
3:48 - Sutefoto TP25
4:53 - Soonwell Sensei ST25/ST50
7:16 - Nexili Valo T
8:18 - GVM BD-100
9:24 - Fotobetter LW R180F
10:09 - Ulanzi Folisobo AY6C
11:09 - Digital Sputnik Voyager
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== CONNECT ==
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Instagram: / newlayercom
Facebook: / nwlyr
Twitter: / nwlyr

[@NewLayer]

Which of these RGB tube lights do you find the most intriguing? 🤔🤔🤔

[@flaviopresutti]

part 4 now with the new nanlite t7 and the Aputure Tubes!

[@NewLayer]

@@flaviopresutti I've got a whole new batch for Part 4 when the time is right :)

[@BerlsMcSquirrels]

Awesome content! Straight and to the point, well shot, links and timestamps for everything. I wish every creator was this thorough!

[@NewLayer]

Thanks! Glad you found it helpful, I do my best :)

[@Evan-tp7ur]

This was just what i was looking for! Very informative and concise. The perfect video for amateur filmmakers like me

[@NewLayer]

Glad it was helpful! I'll have a Part 4 sometime in the future with some new options as well

[@shantietv3540]

I have been waiting for this. Keep up your good works.

[@NewLayer]

Glad I could finally post it for you, it's been a while :)

[@BensTechLab]

Hey, nice round up! 👍 Helpful high level overview of the market. Everyone making tube lights now!

[@NewLayer]

Glad it was helpful! Definitely on the more high level level :)

[@GeraldBertramPhotography]

Great video from a fellow tube light addict! I fell in love with my Soonwell tubes. The other day Ted Sim dropped a little comment that Aputure may finally be coming out with their own tube lights. Fingers crossed they aren't priced beyond my reach!

[@NewLayer]

Soonwell definitely makes some solid stuff! I can't imagine Aputure wouldn't have tube lights coming soon this year, although I haven't heard any BTS stuff yet.

[@WORTHITORNOT]

Now THAT is a RGB tube light comparison !

[@NewLayer]

Thanks! I think I've covered a total of 27-28 now!

[@hiawrj]

Thanks, these videos are invalueable. :)

[@NewLayer]

You're welcome, glad you liked it! :)

[@mrshaheedmalik]

Another great video.

[@NewLayer]

Thanks again!

[@potatoolivia]

Another great video! Maybe you can give a video on those budget lights, which will help those beginners or amateurs:)

[@NewLayer]

Thanks. There's so many lights coming out I can barely keep up!

[@PaulFeinberg]

Awesome video! I really want 2 Weeylite 4ft K21! Love those things. Great video dude!

[@NewLayer]

I'm gonna trademark Weeylite K42 right now just in case 😏😏

[@radmediatv]

Ulanzi with some strong budget options!

[@NewLayer]

They've got a good design team over there! Lots of great products for very little money.

[@TheGoldenOne12]

My favourite is the Weeylite K21 😊

[@NewLayer]

Good little light! I don't have mine anymore, but I do like them :)

[@renehasp]

Hi what are the 2 tube lights next to your monitor? I really like them. Thank you so much for putting this video together for us.

[@NewLayer]

In this video, they are the Nanlite Pavotube II 6C. I did a full review on them here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYqmlWuPm7eHedE I also REALLY like the Aputure MT Pro, which I've switched to: geni.us/aputuremtpro

[@cacca8]

I suggest to put more information about brightness in rgb and non rgb modes and Test of the yn360iii pro 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@MrNoipe]

I really appreciated the website you made for the part one, any chance of updating it with these new ones?

[@NewLayer]

I'm glad it was helpful. Unfortunately I just don't have time to update that at the moment. Each light takes 1-2 hours to test and upload into the system.

[@A1Bokeh]

Man i ordered that little one after this video. The ulanzi. Man it is NICE if it had app support ah man I would choose it over the aputure mc

[@NewLayer]

It really is a great little light for how inexpensive it is. App control would be nice, but then it would probably be double the price.

[@N1cah25]

I want to use a tube light for light painting and I really don't like the individual led trails that are sometimes visible. Which of these would you say displays that effect the least (or eliminates it)? If there is more than 1, of those which would you recommend? Thanks very much! Great video by the way

[@NewLayer]

Out of these, the Pavotube X series, the Weeylite K21, and the Soonwell Sensei have the best diffusion. I also recently did a quick review of the Amaran lights, which have very good diffusion, and are what I currently use: instagram.com/reel/CpN_qkVjo0c/ geni.us/amaranpt1c geni.us/amaranpt2ckit geni.us/amaranpt4ckit Hope that helps!

[@brettsmithphotography2463]

The SCG Prism tube lights also have removable batteries and work with Aputure’s app. I’d love to see how they stack up against some of these others

[@NewLayer]

I covered those lights in Part 2, just forgot about the battery :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZ2rmXmkmNWKd9E

[@peterwood1066]

please repeat for 2023!

[@NewLayer]

I've got a Part 4 in the works, hopefully I can finish it in the next 2-3 weeks!

[@ShawnCaple]

The SGC tubes lights also have a removable battery.

[@NewLayer]

True, I forgot, even though I covered them in Part 2.

[@MiroAcronymity]

I have been wondering how the Zhiyun F100 or it's similar predecessor stack up against the competition. They are 100W lights and I assume that should make them the brightest by far. Any plans to review them?

[@NewLayer]

Funny you should mention that! I am almost finished with my next video, a dedicated review on the Zhiyun FiveRay FR100C tube/stick light and M40 pocket light. I'll post it in ~2 weeks :)

[@MiroAcronymity]

@@NewLayer perfect! I'll order mine in December and hope they are as good as everyone makes them out to be!

[@NewLayer]

@@MiroAcronymity You are right that they are insanely bright, and the barn doors/diffusion combo they come with is 1 of a kind, and turns them into a super soft light source for their size. They are the only tube light that works as a legitimate key light in my opinion. Not perfect, but unique and very cool lights. They're having a huge deal on them, so keep an eye out, I'll include a link in my video description :)

[@MiroAcronymity]

@@NewLayer that's just what I wanted to hear! I already signed up for the deal and I am already wondering about what I can do with two. I plan to use these both outdoors to illuminate backgrounds and indoors for product videos. Very happy to hear that the light is well-diffused.

[@NewLayer]

@@MiroAcronymity The built-in diffusion is a good balance so it diffuses the individual LEDs but stil lets a lot of light through. Then, there is an external diffusion cloth that makes it even better, AND turns it into a softbox, so it's softer and bigger, which is awesome.

[@jephthahls840]

What are the benefits of tube lights in comparison to pocket lights aside from size?

[@NewLayer]

Pretty much just the size, extra brightness, and form factor. Long tubes give softer light than a pocket light. Not quite like a softbox, but a lot closer, while still being very low profile. They also give really good rim lighting and reflections because they are a long light source, rather than a small spot light. Tubes are also very popular and useful for practical lights in-frame. Good for music videos, sci-fi scenes, and a lot more. Hope that helps :)

[@ivanyamson]

Recently got the Duken T60 retractable tubes and they're pretty awesome, have you tried them out?

[@NewLayer]

No, hopefully I can get my hands on them for part 4 :)

[@JasonSebastian]

are the nanlite fs series still the best powerful budget lights?

[@NewLayer]

They are still my recommendation for 150 and 300 watt budget lights without v-mount support, yes. The Aputure Amaran 60d/x are my 60 watt recommendation. Hope that helps :)

[@pabmore]

Thank youuu this is very nice! I guess theres no perfect light as there is no perfect camera that suits all needs, I would love to have WATERPROOF, MAGNETIC BACK, EASY CONTROLS AND APP for less than $200 ...is that too much to ask? lol

[@NewLayer]

Glad you liked it, and you're 100% right. You almost always have to juggle priorities to choose the best light for your work :)

[@A1Bokeh]

Have you seen or used the sokani x25 or ambitiful a2

[@NewLayer]

Nope, but I'll try to get them for Part 4 :)

[@A1Bokeh]

@@NewLayer the sutephoto seems to be the sokani. Same exact light. You think maybe you could do a video on best apps with lights ? Or best lights with apps 🤷‍♂️

[@alfonsojarago]

Do you know how these compare to an Astera Helios or Titan?

[@NewLayer]

Unfortunately they've never responded when I try to get ahold of some for comparison videos :)

[@adrianwongmedia]

I would to see you review Godox tl120.

[@NewLayer]

I covered the TL30 and TL60 in Part 2 here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZ2rmXmkmNWKd9E I might be wrong, but I think the TL120 is just the same as the 60 but twice as long.

[@itspeache]

Can you cover ambitful

[@NewLayer]

I'd be happy to if I can get my hands on some :)

[@shutterrecoil]

Is there a tube capable to show still half red and half green without gradient?

[@NewLayer]

The Nanlite Pavotube 15X, 30X and 60X have pixel functionality, as do the Aputure MT Pro. There are some more that have pixel functionality too, so look for that phrase in the features list of any light you're considering to confirm! geni.us/nanlitepavotubeii30x geni.us/aputuremtpro

[@shutterrecoil]

@@NewLayer I see hardware supports, but I doubt that software allows that. All what I saw looks pretty limited in controlling individual pixels.

[@NewLayer]

@@shutterrecoil The built in controls on the Aputure MT Pro let you do it, in a bit of a workaround way. You choose the Color Fade mode, set it to 2 colors, select the colors, then set it to animate at a very slow speed. Then you scroll to the bottom and when it's at the halfway point, hit pause, and it'll stay that way. It may be easier in Sidus Link but I didn't have time to check. They may also add an easier way in the future if you request it. Hope that helps.

[@NewLayer]

@@shutterrecoil It may also just be easier to get a 1/4"-20 adapter, screw two small tube lights together, and set each one to a different color.

[@shutterrecoil]

@@NewLayer this solution would have a bezel between.

[@itspeache]

Which would you recommend? Top 3?

[@NewLayer]

From this video, these would be my personal favorites. If you're looking for a super tiny, super inexpensive option. Ulanzi I-Light: geni.us/ulanziilight If you want something very solid with a big ecosystem of other lights that all work with the same control system. Nanlite Pavotube 15X: geni.us/nanlitepavotubeii15x Nanlite Pavotube 30X: geni.us/nanlitepavotubeii30x If you want something high quality and with removeable batteries. Soonwell Sensei ST25: geni.us/soonwellsenseist25 Soonwell Sensei ST50: geni.us/soonwellsenseist50 Hope that helps.

[@lailai8585]

When I was shooting with my 15x, I put it upright on the ground and it was accidentally blown over by the wind. As a result, it stopped lighting up. It was the plastic side that hit the ground, and there wasn't a big collision sound, but it couldn't be driven anymore, and if you bought a parallel import instead of a company product, it would be very difficult for you to repair it.

[@TheAvacadoShow]

Bower rgb light

[@peterlangdown]

Nanlite it is then lol

[@NewLayer]

I think you'll like them! They are among my favorites :)

[@jpemile]

I think you mean translucent and not opaque cause opaque also blocks light, which wouldn’t really work in this case loll

[@NewLayer]

Meh, I think I said "more opaque", just meaning "less transparent" on the spectrum. Translucent works too, haha.

[@jpemile]

@@NewLayer All good

[@theDanDeleon]

Part 3? Where was part 1 and part 2? Lol

[@NewLayer]

Part 2 here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZ2rmXmkmNWKd9E and Part 1 here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/baevdIajr5Kqgdk Hope that helps :)

[@belkacem5600]

Hey, 4 inches is not small. It's pretty average imo...

[@NewLayer]

The 2 footers seem short to me 😏

[@wojciechneprostipotocki]

And all made in same factory in China

[@NewLayer]

Can't wait for you to do a KZbin video on your entirely non-Chinese made lighting kit. And then the follow up on your office furniture, camera gear, and all the other accessories 🤣🤣