Nanlux, the pro-oriented accomplice of lighting model Nanlite, has made large and, dare I say, thrilling claims with their new Nanlux Evoke 1200B fixture. First, the 1200B (B=Bi-Coloration) can compete with their beforehand launched 1200-watt daylight fixture, providing an almost 1:1 ratio when it comes to output however with the flexibleness of a extra complete Kelvin choice. Different information is the a number of hundred-dollar value reduce for the Nanlux daylight-only 1200-watt fixture. Past that, Nanlux has additionally up to date the design of their fresnel accent from the base-mounted yoke design we beforehand examined on the Daylight 1200 fixture. Hold studying for my assessment of the brand new Nanlux Evoke 1200B paired with the brand new Nanlux fresnel accent.
After totally reviewing it, my total impression of the Nanlux Evoke 1200 (daylight-only model) was fairly constructive. Strong equipment combined with an ever-improving Nanlink Bluetooth app and an IP54 moisture-resistant design (when the ballast is positioned absolutely parallel to the bottom and never upright) all made for a fantastic first impression. With the arrival of the Evoke 1200B, the engineering crew over at Nanlux has pushed the Evoke platform to bi-color with a selectable Kelvin vary of 2700K – 6500K.
First, a number of clarifying factors on what I reviewed.
Throughout a number of shoots over a month, I examined the whole package with a” trolley case” and 45-degree reflector that retails for $3,949. The trolley case is probably 40% of the scale of the “flight case” and has the proper footprint for an proprietor/op with a small SUV or van, and even for a Gaffer with a small 1-ton package. Massive rental homes or house owners of bigger G&E packages will probably be glad with the” flight case” package deal that has area for the fresnel. Each the trolley case and the flight case have locking industrial-grade metallic wheels.
I additionally had the chance to work with the newer Nanlux Fresnel (mannequin quantity FL-35YK), which retails for $1,075. Beforehand, I examined the F-35 Fresnel with the unique daylight Evoke. That fresnel proved to be front-heavy (even with the Evoke lamp head connected) due to the design’s heart of gravity. The yoke design of the FL-35YK mannequin is now mounted to the fresnel itself and never the metallic base, and past that, every part else appears the identical with the identical spot and flood vary and identical shadow character. We’ll contact on this accent a bit extra later.
So, for those who’re within the older fresnel design or the bigger flight case, give my authentic Evoke 1200 assessment a peek right here.
Please notice that the Evoke 1200B ballast is appropriate with the Evoke 1200 daylight lamp head, however the authentic Evoke ballast gained’t work with the newer bi-color lamp head.
First Impressions
I used to be curious whether or not Nanlux might have made the daylight-only Evoke a bit out of date after its arrival only some months in the past. If the Evoke 1200B has the identical brightness as the unique daylight model, then I’d counsel everybody go together with the bi-color variant for added flexibility. The price of the bi-color lamp head alone is almost $900 greater than the daylight model. Nevertheless, at an total value level of a number of thousand {dollars} at minimal for this package, I’d take into account this enhance to be nicely price it. I’ll dig into my causes extra throughout output and Kelvin testing later on this article.
I just like the Evoke 1200B exterior design components — the ballast is well-protected, and the lamp head is powerful sufficient to take successful or two. Each the lengthy head cable (out there in 7.5 meters, 10 meters, and 12 meters) and energy cable are strengthened with further rubber, which can assist make for a protracted life on location. The pinnacle cable additionally has a metallic locking mechanism on each ends that feels very stable — no by accident yanking a cable out right here.
The trolley case is a standout. It’s nice for defense, and every part matches neatly inside, together with a 45-degree reflector attachment. If you would like extra reflectors, you’ll want to purchase them individually to the tune of $90-ish every, relying on the diploma beam angle you’re searching for. Keep in mind that you’ll want reflectors particularly designed for the Nanlux Evoke collection, as this isn’t a Bowens-mounted fixture.
Does the dearth of a Bowens mount bug me? Not but — third events like DoPChoice are already supporting the Evoke “NL” mount, and Nanlux has a variety of appropriate equipment that, whereas not bulletproof, do the job. Plus, the value factors of their NL softboxes, specifically, are very cheap. The one accent I’m lacking for the Evoke 1200B is a appropriate Leko-style projection mount. In truth, the market as a complete lacks projection or highlight equipment designed for 1200-watt LED fixtures.
The outside look of the Evoke 1200B and accompanying equipment isn’t a lot completely different from the daylight model of the Evoke. The onboard menu is very simple to navigate, and I’m glad to say 4 completely different fan modes can be found. There’s even one known as “sensible mode,” which I ended up utilizing more often than not with out seeing the necessity to change over to low mode even as soon as. And consider me, the audio mixer would have let me know.
There are the ever-present results modes (11 in all) on the 1200B. Every little thing is dimmable in 0.1% increments, and the options are all accessible on the brilliant rear 2.8-inch display on the lamp head itself. The lamp head weighs 17 lbs. and due to this, the entire setup requires a combo stand and never a C-Stand to be used, so that you’ll need to issue that into your budgeting for those who’re constructing a package from scratch.
Who’s the Evoke 1200B for?
There’s a case to be made that not each filmmaker wants the output that the 1200B supplies. I just lately reviewed the Nanlite 720B, and that fixture has a superb cost-to-lumen ratio. Total, the Nanlite 720B is smaller than the 1200B and with out the identical strong exterior construct. within the Nanlite 720B? You’ll be able to learn my assessment right here.
On my first shoot with the Evoke 1200B, I used it along side the brand new fresnel attachment. Arrange outdoors a window casting daylight onto an inside hearth within the background of a 2-shot, the fixtures performed for hours in direct solar in a California warmth wave and by no means missed a beat. The lamp head needed to be raised on a combo stand roughly eight toes within the air, a place that exposed the drawbacks of getting all of the guide controls on the lamp head itself and never on a ballast/energy provide sitting on the bottom or mounted to the stand itself. At that top, you’ll be able to’t entry the controls immediately on the fixture, forcing you into utilizing the Bluetooth app or one other DMX answer – or an apple field paired with a tall crew member…
Being “pressured” into utilizing the Nanlink Bluetooth app on my apple iPhone 12 didn’t imply I couldn’t join immediately and acquire nearly instant management over the sunshine. Oddly the 4 dimming curves – Exponential, Logarithmic, S-Curve, and Gamma 2.2 – are solely changeable over DMX. A LumenRadio TimoTwo transceiver is constructed into the instrument to unlock wi-fi DMX choices.
You’ll be able to obtain the Nanlink app for iOS right here.
Now to the fresnel. The shadow high quality out of the newer fresnel is great. Nevertheless, the massive change is the angled yoke. You now not get that jerk ahead as with the earlier design. In case you haven’t had an opportunity to experiment with an excellent fresnel and the natural-feeling, soft-edged shadows one creates, you’re lacking out. Out of this new fresnel, you do nonetheless get a bit of sunshine leak from the perimeters, however I by no means had a difficulty with that on any of my shoots because the instrument itself was by no means shut sufficient to my topic the place it made a distinction. That’s the benefit of upper output fixtures. You’ll be able to put them additional away in order that the actors can do what they do greatest, which is performing — and never be continually reminded they’re on a movie set. Through the years, I’ve tried to mount extra lighting overhead or outdoors home windows as a part of this actor-friendly philosophy, so the Evoke 1200B is correct at house on my units.
For this take a look at interval, it didn’t take lengthy for the Nanlux Evoke 1200B to turn into an important a part of my tasks. I used it as a tough key, tender key (with the Nanlux 150cm softbox), background gentle, and even added a bit of opal in entrance of it and had it play in direct competitors, or I ought to say concord with the solar throughout an exterior. On overcast days, the Evoke 1200B combined with some unfavourable fill is the proper gentle for including form to an in any other case flat scene. The bi-color performance let me mess around with warming or cooling up the supply and seeing how these modifications made the general scene really feel. In case you’ve mounted a body with a gel in it in entrance of the lamp head, simply know these changes will take extra time.
Earlier than I get a remark about how the 1200B output interacts with the solar, I ought to say that, in fact, that is very dependent in your location. The fixture will probably be nice on a foggy London or Seattle day and maybe not as nice on a seashore at midday in Florida. Outcomes might range, however I discovered loads of punch from the Evoke 1200B for exterior makes use of throughout filming in Los Angeles in September and October. And for now, you’ll nonetheless discover loads of makes use of for higher-end HMI fixtures till LED bridges that output hole.
Briefly, if you end up in any of the situations I’ve listed, then the Evoke 1200B is perhaps best for you. In case you’re restricted to C-Stands or small gentle stands and filming principally in tiny areas with out exterior entry, then the Evoke 1200B may not be your cup of tea. If you’re searching for portability and punch and don’t want wi-fi DMX or a sturdier construct, the Nanlite 720B is perhaps the ticket.
I didn’t have entry to a genuinely high-speed digicam for this assessment, however I did shoot a good quantity of 120fps and 60fps for the month and didn’t see even the trace of a flicker. FYI: The Nanlux crew has numerous movies exhibiting excessive slow-motion pictures created utilizing the phantom digicam, and from my perspective, every part seems to be nice there too.
Output & shade dealing with
I grabbed a number of measurements on my Sekonic C-700U Spectrometer (now up to date with the C-800U) to see how precisely the Evoke 1200B handles shade temp measured in kelvin and output (lx) from a distance of three ft. Listed below are my readings with a goal of 5600K and output set to 100%. This take a look at was accomplished with the Nanlux 45-degree reflector connected.
160000 lx is a very spectacular output and falls completely in step with the Evoke daylight-only model. The 5625K result’s spot on for Kelvin accuracy.
Now for a goal of 3200K:
We land at 3109K right here with our goal of 3200K and that’s proper close to the highest of the LED COB fixtures I’ve examined with solely a tiny hit to output. Now let’s strive with a goal of 4700K:
Once more, large output numbers right here with the package 45-degree reflector at 3 toes measuring the middle of the beam and a really correct 4784K consequence towards the 4700K goal.
I additionally determined to check Nanlux’s printed numbers (most of their measurements begin at 3 meters or 9.8 toes and I discovered their readings to be spot-on as nicely). So, whether or not you take a look at at 3 toes or 9.8 toes the output out of the Evoke 1200B is totally wonderful with nice stable kelvin accuracy.
At 9.8 toes I used to be measuring within the vary of 19,000 lux with the 45-degree reflector connected. For output comparability with the Evoke 1200 daylight model, I used to be in a position to get 18,700 lux with the identical reflector on the identical distance. Very spectacular.
Last Ideas
The unique Nanlux Evoke 1200 daylight-only model isn’t going away, and it isn’t out of date, both (there may be even a Tungsten-only Evoke 1200 out there now). Throughout testing on a number of shoots, the Evoke 1200B and 1200 performed nicely collectively. I’ll say I a lot desire the newer fresnel with its angled yoke design that isn’t mounted to the metallic base, and I’d 100% counsel going that route when you have a alternative between the older front-leaning fresnel (the FL-35) and the newer FL-35YK.
I requested Nanlux if the unique fresnel is being discontinued, and the reply, for now, isn’t any. Right here’s the official phrase on that as of publishing: “The unique FL-35 will probably be a particular order within the US market. For UK and Europe, you’ll must examine together with your native Nanlux distributor.”
I’m impressed by the Evoke 1200B and, specifically, the quantity of output Nanlux was in a position to squeeze out of the fixture whereas nonetheless retaining it bi-color. You’ll sometimes see an enormous hit to lumens with bi-color as a result of LED chips are requested to do extra as they combine completely different Kelvin temperatures. I’m unsure what engineering’s magic sauce is right here, however the result’s a flexible gentle that may discover a place on most of my productions the place a bi-color punch is required.
What do you suppose? Will you be including the Evoke 1200B or the brand new Fresnel FL-35YK to your package? Tell us within the feedback beneath!
