PRONEWS AWARD 2022 / Vol. 04: LIGHTING DIVISION: High cost performance lighting gear with enhanced functions was the highlight of 2022

In the LED light market, SmallRig will start selling overseas, and SIRUI will start selling in Japan from January 2023. The market is expected to heat up even further next year.

The products nominated in the lighting category are:

■NANLITE FS-60B

Release date: September 30, 2022
Suggested retail price: 28,600 yen including tax

The FS-60B is a 70W bicolor LED studio light that features high cost performance. NANLITE also released the Forza 60, which supports NP battery operation, but for this award, the FS-60B, which has excellent cost performance, was nominated. The FS-60B features a lightweight size of 0.85kg, a wide range of color temperatures from 2700K to 6500K, and a price of less than 30,000 yen. Equipped with a maximum output mode that always maintains the maximum brightness when changing the color temperature, and a constant output mode that can adjust the color temperature from 2700K to 6500K while keeping the brightness constant. Compatible with FM mount, NANLITE dedicated FM mount accessories can be used. Also, by using the included Bowens mount conversion adapter, it is possible to use Bowens mount accessories.

■NANLITE Strength 720/720B

Release date: April 22, 2022
Suggested retail price: Forza 720 239,800 yen including tax, Forza 720B 264,000 yen including tax

The Forza 720/720B is a constant light LED light with a maximum output of 800W. The Forza 720 is fixed at 5600K and has excellent cost performance, while the Forza 720B has an adjustable color temperature and a wide range of features. If you use the Forza 720B, it is possible to express natural daylight, sunset, and night with a single light. When the reflector is attached, the Forza 720 can achieve 10200 lux, and the Forza 720B can achieve 7919 lux, which can be used as a key light in video production sites. In conversion to HMI, Forza 720 is about 1.5kw, and Forza 720B is about 1.3kw.

■Aputure LS 600c Pro

Release date: May 2022
Suggested retail price: Agai Shoji official store price is 451,990 yen including tax (kit with reflector bag)

The LS 600c Pro is a COB type LED lighting with multi-color (RGBWW) elements. Equipped with an RGBWW chip, it is possible to create a wide range of colors. Even in CCT (color temperature) mode, it can be adjusted in the range of 2300K to 10000K, and the color cast of green and magenta can also be adjusted. It is also possible to specify all colors from HSI mode or XY mode. Adopting the familiar Bowens mount, many of the existing lighting accessories can be used as they are. It is also possible to light up to 50% of the maximum output with two V-mount batteries. It also has a function to automatically detect the voltage with the control box.

■Aputure LS 1200d Pro

Release date: August 2022
Suggested retail price: 580,800 yen including tax

The LS 1200d Pro is the flagship model of Apture’s Lightstorm series. Utilizing a 1200W Daylight COB chipset, it is able to compete at the same level as industry standard HMI lights, and can deliver 83,100+ lux output at 3m when using a hyperreflector (narrow). The LS 1200d Pro is the first and only Bowens mount LED on the market with a 1200W COB and is compatible with Bowens mount modifiers such as Aputure Light Dome softboxes and lanterns. It is also possible to attach Bowens Mount softboxes made by manufacturers such as DoPchoice and Chimera Lighting.

■GODOX KNOWLED M600D

Release date: July 13, 2022
Suggested retail price: 272,800 yen including tax

The KNOWLED M600D is a daylight type high output LED light with a power consumption of 740W. It is possible to achieve 15700 lux at 3m when the attached professional reflector is installed. There are four dimming curves to choose from: linear, S-curve, exponential, and logarithmic, each with its own output to support a variety of settings and applications. In addition to AC power, it supports V-mount batteries, and up to two batteries can be installed. The color rendering index is CRI96, TLCI97 and high color rendering. Bowens is used for the front mount. In addition to the main unit operation, you can choose from four types of controls: RC-A6 remote control (sold separately), DMX, and smartphone application. In silent mode, although there is a limit on the amount of light, it is also possible to use it without sound by stopping the air cooling fan.

■PROLYCHT Orion 675FS

Release date: October 25, 2022
Suggested retail price: 763,400 yen including tax

The Orion 675FS is a full-color LED light that uses a hyperlight engine with six colors (red, green, blue, amber, cyan, and lime). Despite its 675W output, it is said to have brightness and color accuracy comparable to 1200W HMI and 2K tungsten lamps. Equipped with RGBACL COB (Chip on board) that achieves accurate CCT output of 1800-20000K, the output has almost the same color spectrum as daylight. In addition to controlling the light itself, DMX, ART-Net, LumenRadio (CMRX), Wi-Fi and Bluetooth remote control from iOS and Android apps are also possible.

PRONEWS AWARD 2022 Lighting Category Gold Award

NANLITE FS-60B

Mr. Goyo Natori of NANLITE JAPAN commented on winning the Gold award.

PRONEWS AWARD 2022 Lighting Category Silver Award

Aputure LS 600c Pro

Mr. Wally Yoshimura, Aputure’s Japan representative, gave us this comment regarding the award.