Compact, versatile, and with power support even from power banks, the Nanlite FC-120C is the latest LED launched by the Chinese company that has been creating lighting solutions for over 30 years. With 36000 RGB color support and an ongoing 20% discount allowing you to grab one for just $295, this might be the best LED you could buy right now to help add an extra splash of color to your portrait shoots.
Some years ago, Nanlite wouldn’t be one of those companies you’d think of when photography accessories and lighting options were mentioned. However, in the last handful of years, they’ve really stepped up their game, coming up with a range of products to aid photographers with their lighting challenges on set and outdoors. I often use their Forza 60B monolight to illuminate interviewees during documentary filming, and it provides a really clean and consistent color output no matter how long it runs.
What’s New About The Nanlite FC-120C
The lightweight Nanlite FC-120C is the newest multicolor LED to be released by Nanlite. It’s the sibling of the bi-color FC-120B, and does step up the game quite a bit. For something that is often just looked at as an accessory, the FC-120C comes with quite a few modern features:
- RGBW light source delivers 36,000 different colors
- White light range from 2700K–7500K to seamlessly adjust warmth levels
- Brightness up to 12,850 lux (1193 fc) with the included reflector @5600K 1m
- Accurate skin tone lighting with an SSI of 82 (3200K) and 70 (5600K), TCI of average 95 and TLCI of average 94
- 15 inbuilt lighting effects
- Fully compatible with the Forza range of lighting modifiers and also comes with a Bowens mount adapter
- Weighs just 2.49 lb (1.13 kg) and comes with a hard foam storage and carry case
- Powered by an AC adaptor, V-Mount batteries (using the separately available BT-BG-XLR4II Battery Grip), or even PD 3.0 and 2.0 battery power banks using a USB-C cable
- Controllable using the LCD screen, or via the Bluetooth smartphone app, 2.4G handheld remotes, and DMX/RDM
- 2-year warranty extendable to 3 years with online registration
Versatile With Lots Of Potential
As someone who’s used Nanlite products for over a year now, I’m fairly confident that the Nanlite FC-120C will be one of those products that would benefit almost every kind of photographer and videographer who doesn’t rely solely on natural light. In photography, when utilizing strobes to light your subject, LEDs like this can be something you can use as a rim light or background light. If you’re creative enough, you can even turn day into night depending on the location or set you’re on. Of course, the extent of your creativity is limited only by the modifiers you can get your hands on. However, it’s safe to say that Nanlite has a very sizeable collection of these.
Currently on sale for USD 295, this impressively compact and bright multicolor LED is worth considering if you’re a photographer or filmmaker looking to add extra color or mood to your frames.
Images used in this article are screenshots from NanliteUSA