The Z CAM ZOLAR Blade 60C is the most recent addition to the ZOLAR vary of LED fixtures. The ZOLAR Blade 60C is a 150-watt skinny LED mild designed for use by itself, or in an array. It has six zones for pixel mapping functions. It was first proven at NAB earlier this yr.
Please observe that I used to be reviewing an early model of the sunshine and since that point some points have been addressed.
The ZOLAR skilled LED lighting system was developed by Shenzhen ImagineVision Know-how Restricted, the identical crew that created Z CAM Cinema Cameras. ZOLAR merchandise are claimed to have been developed with profound shade science information, main picture processing algorithms, in addition to digital camera lens and sensor calibration experience. They had been made to ship high-fidelity shade copy and wonderful shade rendition with performances very near pure daylight.
The in-house developed “Self Adaptive Spectral Nonlinear Dynamic Illuminance Calibration System” is claimed to get rid of the inconsistent LED efficiency points. As well as, the ZOLAR mild sequence has been designed in an effort to match all the lights within the sequence with none inconsistencies.
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ZOLAR Toliman 30S -
ZOLAR Toliman 30C -
ZOLAR Vega 30C
Final yr Z CAM began to department out into making LED lights after they unveiled their ZOLAR 1×1 panel lights that consisted of:
The Z CAM ZOLAR Toliman 30S, Toliman 30C and Vega 30C are all 1×1 panels. It was in all probability a clever choice for Z CAM to launch 1×1 panel lights as an alternative of COB spotlights. COB spotlights using Bowens mounts have flooded the market, however there aren’t almost as many 1×1 panels, at the very least respectable ones. Choices from Litepanels, ARRI, Rotolight, Velvet, KinoFlo and Creamsource are all fairly costly. Lupo, Luxli, and Rayzr 7, at the very least in my view, are the one ones who’re making 1×1 panel lights which might be moderately inexpensive and in addition supply good high quality and efficiency.
The ZOLAR Blade 60C Blade follows within the footsteps of the Toliman 30S, Toliman 30C, and Vega 30C, but it surely was designed to be a a lot thinner and modular fixture.
In a variety of methods, the ZOLAR Blade 60C jogs my memory of the Kino Flo Diva-Lite 21 LED.
Key options
- CRI: Ra≥97 (R9 & R12 as much as 95), TLCI≥98
- Spectral Similarity Index SSI as much as 90
- 140W energy draw
- Gentle Weight & Extremely Skinny, edge thickness = 1 inch;
- IP 65 rated;
- Multi Panel Configuration: 2×1 Horizontal, 2×1 Vertical, 2×2 Grid;
- Full RGBAW Coloration Gamut, 2,000-20,000K CCT
- LumenRadio CRMX, DMX, Cell App management;
- 6 Lighting Zones with pre-programmed dynamic pixelated eects.
- Multi Gentle Sync – ZolarLink (wi-fi), fast auto sync grouping
- Helps Artwork-Internet 4 & sACN (by way of wi-fi connection);
- Constructed-in Gentle Results for various scene functions
Measurement & Weight
The ZOLAR Blade 60C has bodily dimensions of 23.6 x 11.8 x 1.8″ / 59.9 x 30 x 4.6 cm and it weighs in at 6.97 lb / 3.16 kg.
This does make it comparatively skinny and the load isn’t too dangerous contemplating what it’s made out of and the truth that it’s basically a 2×1-sized panel.
Now you do have to issue within the further weight of the controller unit and the facility provide. Here’s what they weigh:
- Controller 850g / 1.87 lb
- Energy Provide 545g / 1.20 lb
Having three separate elements isn’t ideally suited, nevertheless, as a result of the ZOLAR Blade 60C was designed in order that you could possibly connect a number of fixtures collectively, it wouldn’t have made sense to have an built-in energy provide/controller.
It will have been good to see Z CAM make an built-in energy provide/controller unit as an alternative of getting two separate elements.
In case you might be curious the Kino Flo fashion goose neck mount weighs 1kg / 2.20 lb.
Arguably, the Z CAM ZOLAR Blade 60C in all probability shares extra in widespread with the Kino Flo Diva-Lite 21 LED in terms of dimension and weight than anything available on the market.
| WEIGHT | SIZE | |
| Z CAM ZOLAR Blade 60C | 10.03 lb / 4.55 kg | 23.6 x 11.8 x 1.8″ / 59.9 x 30 x 4.6 cm |
| Kino Flo Diva-Lite 21 LED | 12 lb / 5.5 kg | 23.5 x 11.5 x 4.5” / 60 x 29 x 11.5cm |
Above you possibly can see a weight and dimension comparability if we embrace the controllers and energy provides.
So how does this weight examine to some 1×1 lights which might be accessible? Under you possibly can see:
| Weight | |
| ZOLAR Toliman 30S | 5.22 kg |
| ZOLAR Toliman 30C | 4.53 kg 6.03 kg with energy provide |
| ZOLAR Vega 30C | 4.53 kg 6.03 kg with energy provide |
| Luxli Timpani² | 3 kg |
| Rotolight Titan X1 | 12.2 kg (together with energy provide) |
| Creamsource Vortex4 | 11.4 kg (Together with Yoke) |
| ARRI S30-C SkyPanel | 10.3 kg (together with energy provide) |
| Litepanels Gemini 1×1 | 5.31 kg** |
| Rayzr 7 MC120 | 3.63 kg* |
| Lupo Superpanel 30 Full Coloration | 3.7 kg* |
| Luxli Timpani 1×1 RGBAW | 3.37 kg* |
| Aputure Nova P300C | 10.35 kg (Together with Yoke, Cable, Body, Mount, Receiver) |
* Together with the load of the facility provide.
* This mild has a built-in energy provide
Now, I made a decision to check the load towards conventional 1×1 panel lights, as a result of most 2×1 panel lights have a a lot, a lot larger energy draw. Whereas this definitely isn’t an apples-to-apples comparability, it does provide you with a sign of how the load compares to fixtures you might be in all probability aware of.
Construct High quality
The construct high quality of the ZOLAR Blade 60C is fairly good contemplating its worth level. Whereas I don’t suppose it’s fairly as robustly made because the earlier ZOLAR fixtures I reviewed, it’s also rather a lot thinner and lighter.
Not all the casing is made out of aluminum just like the ZOLAR 1×1 fixtures. The again of the ZOLAR Blade 60C is made out of some kind of sturdy composite materials.
The ZOLAR Balde 60C options an IP65 weatherproof design which suggests it is protected against whole mud ingress and high-pressure water jets from any course.
The general construct high quality of the ZOLAR Blade 60C is superb and it’s proper up there with comparable lights that price considerably more cash.
The controller field is solidly constructed and all the buttons and dials are very tactile.
I like that the Z CAM has positioned two carry handles on the again of the ZOLAR Blade 60C. This can be a good contact and it permits somebody to handheld the sunshine if want be.
There are additionally two connection factors on the controller field for attaching it to a light-weight stand or different sorts of rigging.
Now, I did run into construct high quality points once I tried attaching the optionally available honeycomb grids that screw onto the entrance of the fixture. Both the mounting holes on the fixture itself or the holes on the honeycomb grids weren’t aligned correctly and I couldn’t get all 4 screws to do up as a result of one gap was at all times out of alignment.
I might have most well-liked to have seen some kind of clip-on system as screwing in honeycomb grids wasn’t a nice expertise.
I talked to Z CAM about this concern they usually had been conscious of it they usually advised me that the present transport variations don’t have this drawback.
Energy Draw
Lots of LED panel lights nowadays are inclined to have excessive energy attracts, and even a variety of 1×1 fixtures attract extra of 200W, particularly the RGBWW ones. The ZOLAR Balde 60C attracts 140W.
The ZOLAR Blade 60C can simply be run at full energy from a single flight-safe V-mount battery. This can be a massive deal in case you are touring rather a lot or have to energy your lights remotely within the area. Z CAM did inform me that an AB Gold Mount model can even be accessible sooner or later.
The controller field has a single built-in V-mount plate. Now, what is sweet is which you could run 14.4V or 28.8V batteries immediately on the V-mount battery plate. This permits for a ton of versatility.
If you wish to run the sunshine by way of mains energy then you want to connect the separate energy provide to the controller field utilizing its built-in V-mount adapter plate and plugging in a brief cable.
I like that the controller field has a 36-48V DC enter. This lets you energy the sunshine for very lengthy prolonged intervals of time utilizing a block battery or different battery resolution.
As an illustration, I may use a SWIT TD-R230S energy adapter and two SWIT HB-C420S 420Wh 28.8V batteries to run the ZOLAR Blade 60C at 100% output for greater than 6 hours repeatedly.
The ability provide for the sunshine weighs 545g / 1.20 lb as I beforehand talked about.
Sure, there are some benefits to separating the controller field and the facility provide from the sunshine as you should utilize a barely smaller mild stand. You may as well use the facility provide as a ballast additional down the sunshine stand if want be.
So how does the facility draw of the ZOLAR Balde 60C examine to another 1×1 fixtures and the Kino Flo Diva-Lite 21 LED? Under you possibly can see:
| Energy Draw | |
| Z CAM ZOLAR Blade 60C | 140W (nominal) |
| Kino Flo Diva-Lite 21 LED | 150W (nominal) |
| Z CAM ZOLAR Toliman 30S | 120W (nominal) |
| Z CAM ZOLAR Toliman 30C | 200W (nominal) |
| Z CAM ZOLAR Vega 30C | 200W (nominal) |
| Luxli Timpani² | 120W (nominal) |
| Rotolight Titan X1 | 230W (nominal) |
| Creamsource Vortex4 | 325W (nominal) |
| ARRI S30-C SkyPanel | 200W (nominal) |
| Litepanels Gemini 1×1 Smooth | 200W (nominal) |
| Litepanels Gemini 1×1 Exhausting | 200W (nominal) |
| Rayzr MC 100 | 98W (nominal) |
| Lupo Superpanel 30 Full Coloration | 200W (nominal) |
| Luxli Timpani 1×1 RGBAW | 120W (nominal) |
| Aputure Nova P300C | 360W (nominal) |
The power to energy a light-weight at 100% by way of a single flight protected battery could be a massive deal to some customers. On the flip aspect, lights with a decrease energy draw don’t are inclined to have as a lot output as another fixtures.
Mounting
Z CAM has put a Kino Flo fashion mounting plate on the nack of the ZOLAR Blade 60C.
The Z CAM ZOLAR Blade 60C makes use of a Kino Flo fashion goose neck heart mount with a child pin on the finish.
Personally, I discover these mounts rather a lot simpler to make use of on panels like this as an alternative of getting a standard yoke body. It permits for extra adjustment and it makes it simpler to attach it as much as different panels to create bigger arrays.
The controller field could be mounted in a few methods. First, you should utilize the loop, which in a pleasant contact, could be retracted again into the field when it doesn’t have to be used, to connect it to a light-weight stand.
There may be additionally a small V-mount wedge on the aspect of the controller field that you could possibly use to connect it to a suitable mount.
You can additionally simply place the controller field on the bottom as Z CAM offers you a pleasant lengthy 8m / 26.24′ cable that runs from it to the sunshine.
What is sweet is that Z CAM got here up with these adapter plates that permit you to simply join a number of ZOLAR Blade 60Cs collectively to create bigger arrays. This can be a good means of making bigger, extra highly effective fixtures.
Above you possibly can see the configurations you possibly can create.
Now, I have to warn you that this isn’t one thing you are able to do in 2 minutes. It does take a little bit of time to attach two ZOLAR blade 60Cs collectively. It’s essential to line up the plate after which insert and do up 8 screws.
You then want so as to add two different joiner help items that go within the center. This complete course of took me round 5-7 minutes as a result of I discovered that a few of the included screws had hassle going by way of the holes. Once more, Z CAM was conscious of this concern and I’ve been advised that it was addressed with transport variations.
As soon as the whole lot is put collectively it creates a pleasant, stable connection. I weighed each fixtures with the connection plate and located that the entire setup tipped the scales at 7.7kg / 16.97 lb. This does imply that you will want to make use of a heavier-duty mild stand to help the elevated weight.
I like the flexibility of having the ability to make bigger fixtures out of smaller ones. With two ZOLAR Blade 60Cs mixed you possibly can create a fairly highly effective and enormous fixture that solely attracts 300W. The opposite profit is that as a result of they’re separate lights and have their very own controller field and energy provide, you possibly can nonetheless run this et-up at 100% output from two flight-safe batteries.
Show & Controls
The built-in shade LCD show on the controller field enables you to clearly see all the relative data. What I like is that the format is strictly the identical as it’s on the earlier ZOLAR 1×1 panels. It’s good that Z CAM has created consistency throughout the vary.
With the ability to see all of the related details about your mild with out having to stroll up actually near it’s at all times good. All of the working modes could be accessed by way of the pushing of a single button, and every mode is clearly and concisely proven on the LCD display screen.
You choose what parameter you need to modify by urgent the corresponding Perform Button (F1-F3). No matter parameter is chosen might be displayed in blue. You then use the dial to make changes.
The ZOLAR Blade 60C has full +/- G/M adjustment.
When you press the Mode button you possibly can then cycle by way of and choose what working mode you wish to use. Your decisions are:
- CCT
- HSI
- xy Coord
- Gel
- Supply Matching
- RGBW
- Impact
In CCT mode you possibly can modify the CCT vary from 2000-20,000K.
When you press the principle dial button in CCT mode, it brings up a CCT Profile mode. Right here you possibly can choose from the next:
- BlackBody (that is the default setting)
- Daylight
- ARRI Digital camera
- RED Digital camera
- Z CAM
- SONY Digital camera
- Panasonic Digital camera
- Canon Digital camera
- Nikon Digital camera
Now, this can be a very, very fascinating setting that I haven’t personally seen in a light-weight earlier than. What it basically is for is that totally different digital camera manufacturers calibrate their cameras to totally different curves (some are blackbody and a few will not be), so Z CAM needed the consumer to have the ability to have the proper white steadiness after they arrange their lights and cameras.
Above you possibly can see a fast take a look at I did to see if the CCT BlackBody setting seemed any totally different to the ARRI setting when utilizing an ARRI digital camera. First I used the sunshine in each modes at 5600K and I set the WB to 5600K on the Amira. I then did a white steadiness with the digital camera and examined it once more. To be sincere, I can’t see a lot of a noticeable distinction between the 2 modes, however after a white steadiness I did really feel just like the ARRI setting was a tiny bit higher.
In HSI mode you possibly can modify the Hue, Saturation, and Depth of the sunshine. You get a visible reference that helps you choose the colour you wish to produce.
Within the xy Coordinate mode, you possibly can modify the coordinates for the x and y axis and in addition the depth.
In Gel mode, you possibly can choose from a big selection of gels. You may as well modify the CCT temperature and depth.
In Supply Matching mode you possibly can choose from a big selection of assorted lighting sources that you just need to replicate.
In RGBW mode you possibly can individually modify the values for Purple, Inexperienced, Blue White, and Amber.
Within the Impact mode, you possibly can choose and modify numerous results in addition to play them again. It’s essential to press the Settings button after which rotate the dial to decide on the impact you need to use.
If you choose the Menu you might be greeted by the next gadgets:
- Gentle Management
- DMX
- Artwork-Internet
- Wi-Fi
- Ethernet
- ZolarLink
In Gentle Management you get the next choices:
- Dimming Curve (you possibly can select from Exp/Log/Linear/S Curve)
- Calibrated RGBW
- Render Mode
- Calibrated Stylist
- Gentle Matching
- Impact Group ID
You possibly can both select to allow or disable Calibrated Stylist. I’m nonetheless ready to try to discover out precisely what this operate does.
In Render Mode, you possibly can choose between Excessive Output and Excessive Energy. I’ll take a look at these additional down within the evaluation.
In Gentle Matching, you possibly can set the ZOLAR Blade 60C to match the Toliman 30C and Toliman 30S. I can even take a look at this additional down within the evaluation.
There are additionally choices for adjusting the DMX, Artwork-Internet, Wi-Fi, language, and so on.
Now, in case you would favor to make use of wi-fi management you even have that choice. There may be additionally a free iOS/Android app known as ZolarLink that’s accessible. The ZolarLink app may have a Multi Gentle Sync Protocol, so as much as 16 teams with a most 60 slave items per group (wi-fi) can be utilized.
I used to be beta-testing the app and I discovered that it labored rather well. It’s easy and easy to make use of and the interface is intuitive.
All you want to do is open up the app and so long as you’ve The ZolarLink activated within the menu it’s going to seem as a tool immediately. You then faucet on the sunshine and it connects up inside just a few seconds.
On the principle display screen, you possibly can change between the varied working modes.
There are a ton of things you possibly can modify as you possibly can see from the screenshots above. The app is superb, and it is extremely intuitive and simple to make use of. It is among the finest lighting apps I’ve come throughout.
For studios and other people wanting management over plenty of totally different fixtures, the ZOLAR lights can use DMX, Artwork-Internet 4 & sACN + powerCON.
DMX
Above you possibly can obtain the ZOLAR DMX RDM data.
Pixel Mapping Results
The ZOLAR Blade 60C has 6 Lighting Zones with pre-programmed dynamic pixelated results.
To make the most of the pixel results within the ZOLAR Blade 60C you want to do the next relying on whether or not you might be utilizing DMX or CRMX.
Under is the way you arrange the DMX connection:
- Connection: Utilizing DMX cable to attach a number of of them collectively. For instance, there are 3 lights: A/B/C
- Grasp Slave setup：
A act as Grasp：menu → DMX → Grasp mode →on
B or C act as slaves：menu → DMX → Grasp mode →off - Impact rolling:
A（Grasp：
F1（setting） → Group Whole → 3（whole numbers of the lights together with grasp and slaves）
menu → mild management→ Impact group ID→1（1 means it begins from this mild）
B/C set Impact group ID to be 2 or 3
Then the impact will go from Impact group ID 1->2->3
Under is the way you arrange the CRMX connection:
- Grouping: Let’s take A/B/C for example
A setup as Transmitter：
menu → DMX → Grasp mode→ on
menu → DMX → CRMX→ state→ on
menu → DMX → CRMX→ Mode→ Transmitter
B/C setup as Receiver：
menu → DMX → CRMX → state→ on
menu → DMX → CRMX → Mode→ Receiver
Pairing: go to the CRMX choices inside Slave lights (B/C), clear the hyperlink after which go to CRMX choice inside Grasp mild (A) to decide on hyperlink. They are going to get paired in seconds
2. Impact rolling
Similar as DMX mode.
Inputs & Outputs
The controller on the ZOLAR Blade 60C has the next inputs and inputs:
- 5-pin DMX IN
- 5-pin DMX OUT
- 3-pin 36.6-48V DC Enter
- 5-pin output for connecting the facility provide to the controller
On the sunshine itself, there’s a single 5-pin receptor cable
Fan Noise?
There may be none! The ZOLAR Blade 60C is passively cooled and it doesn’t characteristic any followers. That is nice as a result of you possibly can have it very near your expertise when you find yourself recording essential audio and it gained’t make any noise.
Beam Angle
The ZOLAR Blade 60C has a local beam angle of 90°. You possibly can change this to 60° or 30° through the use of one of many optionally available honeycomb grids.
1×1 lights which might be available on the market have a big selection of various beam angles. Usually they’ve both a really tight beam angle or a really large beam angle. Though there are exceptions to this rule such because the Rotolight Titan X1 and Ceamsource Vortex4 the place you possibly can modify the beam angles.
Under you possibly can see what the beam angle is of different competing lights:
| Beam Angle | |
| ZOLAR Blade 60C | 90° |
| ZOLAR Toliman 30S | 40°/ 88° |
| ZOLAR Toliman 30C | 90°/ 127° |
| ZOLAR Vega 30C | 90°/ 127° |
| Luxli Timpani² | 78° |
| Rotolight Titan X1 | 68° to 150° |
| Ceamsource Vortex4 | 20° |
| ARRI SkyPanel S30-C | 110° |
| Litepanels Gemini 1×1 | 95° |
| Razyr 7 MC120 | 120° |
| Lupo Superpanel 30 Full Coloration | 40° |
| Lupo Superpanel 30 Full Coloration Smooth | 115° |
| Luxli Timpani 1×1 RGBAW | 78° |
| Aputure NOVA P300c | 120° |
With lights such because the ARRI SkyPanels, you possibly can put equipment akin to honeycomb grids, benders, and intensifier panels that may change the beam angle. Different lights even have the power to alter the beam angle by way of using numerous mild modifiers.
Photometrics
So now let’s get to the photometric outcomes. I at all times take a look at lights on this means in order that I get a reference to how they examine to different fixtures. Outcomes solely inform a part of the story and may by no means be used alone to evaluate a light-weight. I’ve discovered from in depth testing over time that sure lights which have good photometric outcomes don’t at all times look good, and lights which have worse photometric scores can typically look higher than their outcomes point out. It is necessary that you just don’t choose a light-weight from one particular person consequence. You must collect all the info to make a complete conclusion and that’s the reason I accomplish that a lot testing.
Completely different lights also can look totally different relying on what digital camera you occur to be utilizing.
There are a variety of outcomes to get by way of right here so seize a espresso as a result of that is going to take some time!
Output & CCT Accuracy
I examined the ZOLAR Blade 60C at quite a lot of CCT settings with a Sekonic C-800 Spectrometer to learn the way a lot output the sunshine had and the way correct the CCT copy was. All readings are taken at a distance of 1m (3.28ft) in a managed surroundings.
Above you possibly can see the claimed output listed by the producer.
First, let’s have a look at how the lights carry out at 5600K.
5600K
ZOLAR Blade 60C 5600K (Excessive Output)
Above you possibly can see that the ZOLAR Balde 60C recorded an output of 5020 lx (467 fc) when set at 5600K in its Excessive Output mode and run by way of mains energy. This was a good quantity of output for a light-weight with a 140W energy draw.
The sunshine recorded a CCT of 5554K which was an excellent studying.
When you connect two Z CAM ZOLAR Blade 60Cs collectively and run the sunshine within the Excessive Output moe you may get over 10,000 lx @1m / 3.3′ which is fairly spectacular.
ZOLAR Balde 60C 5600K (Excessive Coloration Mode)
Because the ZOLAR Balde 60C could be run in a Excessive Coloration Mode, I needed to see if this affected the output of the fixture.
Above you possibly can see that the ZOLAR Balde 60C recorded an output of 4920 lx (457 fc) when set at 5600K and run by way of mains energy in its Excessive Coloration mode. This was simply 1.99% lower than its output within the Excessive Output mode.
The sunshine recorded a CCT of 5551K which was very correct and nearly an identical to the 5554K it recorded in its Excessive Output mode.
ZOLAR Blade 60C 5600K (Battery Energy)
Above you possibly can see that the ZOLAR Blade 60C recorded an output of 4920 lx (457 fc) when set at 5600K and run by way of a battery in its Excessive Output Mode. This tells me that the sunshine can run at 100% output from a flight-safe battery with none points.
How does the output of the ZOLAR Blade 60C examine when used at 5600K to different 1×1 fixtures? Properly, that’s difficult, as a result of it’s laborious to check lights with vastly totally different beam angles, energy attracts, and diffusion. I’ve listed outputs, beam angle and energy draw for a few of the competing lights under.
5600K
| OUTPUT | POWER DRAW | BEAM ANGLE | |
| ZOLAR Blade 60C | 5020 lx | 150W | 90° |
| Kino Flo Diva-Lite 21 LED | 2409 lx* | 150W | 60° |
| ZOLAR Toliman 30S | 4690 lx | 140W | 40° |
| ZOLAR Toliman 30C | 8190 lx | 250W | 90° |
| ZOLAR Vega 30C | 7900 lx | 250W | 90° |
| Luxli Timpani² (No Diffusion Panel) |
6171 lx | 120W | 78° |
| Luxli Timpani² (Diffusion Panel) |
3810 lx | 120W | 78° |
| Luxli Timpani (No Diffusion) |
3840 lx | 120W | 78° |
| Rotolight Titan X2 (100% Smartsoft Diffusion) |
3180 lx | 230W | 150° |
| Rotolight Titan X2 (No Diffusion) |
8210 lx | 230W | 68° |
| ARRI SkyPanel S30-C | 5950 lx | 200W | 110° |
| Litepanels Gemini 1×1 Smooth |
6260 lx | 200W | 95° |
| Litepanels Gemini 1×1 HARD (Gentle Diffusion) |
15700 lx | 200W | 46° |
| Lupo Superpanel 30 Full Coloration Smooth |
4380 lx | 200W | 115 |
| Lupo Superpanel 30 Full Coloration |
16900 lx | 200W | 40° |
| Aputure NOVA P300c | 9600 lx | 360W | 120° |
*Producers claims (not independently examined)
As you possibly can clearly see, the output varies relying on the beam angle, diffusion, and energy draw of the sunshine. It’s not possible to do an apples-to-apples comparability except the 2 lights you might be evaluating have the identical energy draw, beam angle and diffusion.
3200K
ZOLAR Balde 60C 3200K (Excessive Output Mode)
Above you possibly can see that the ZOLAR Balde 60C recorded an output of 5460 lx (507 fc) when set at 3200K and run by way of mains energy in its Excessive Output mode. This was 8.76% extra output than when it was used at 5600K.
The sunshine recorded a CCT of 3168K which was very correct.
ZOLAR Balde 60C 3200K (Excessive Coloration Mode)
Above you possibly can see that the ZOLAR Balde 60C recorded an output of 5080 lx (472 fc) when set at 3200K and run by way of mains energy in its Excessive Coloration Mode. This was 3.25% greater than the output it recorded at 5600K.
The sunshine recorded a CCT of 3140K which was very near the 3168K it recorded when it was set at 3200K in its Excessive Output mode.
ZOLAR Blade 60C 3200K (Battery Energy)
Above you possibly can see that the ZOLAR Blade 60C recorded an output of 5410 lx (503 fc) when set at 3200K and run by way of a battery in its Excessive Output Mode.
How does the sunshine carry out at numerous CCT settings?
So how does the ZOLAR Blade 60C carry out at numerous CCT settings in terms of output and Kelvin shade temperatures? Properly, under you possibly can see.
ZOLAR Blade 60C (Excessive Output Mode)
| KELVIN SETTING | LUX | CCT READING |
| 2500K | 5620 lx | 2504K |
| 3200K | 5460 lx | 3168K |
| 4500K | 5150 lx | 4481K |
| 5600K | 5020 lx | 5554K |
| 6500K | 4870 lx | 6350K |
| 8000K | 4730 lx | 7603K |
| 10000K | 4570 lx | 9454K |
These outcomes inform me that the sunshine has wonderful CCT accuracy throughout its vary, nevertheless, it’s at its most correct when used between 2500-5600K. At 5600K and above it wasn’t overly CCt correct. The output varies by 18.68% from the best to lowest recorded readings.
ZOLAR Blade 60C (Excessive Coloration Mode)
| KELVIN SETTING | LUX | CCT READING |
| 2500K | 4880 lx | 2473K |
| 3200K | 5080 lx | 3140K |
| 4500K | 5020lx | 4436K |
| 5600K | 4920 lx | 5551K |
| 6500K | 4830 lx | 6373K |
| 8000K | 4730 lx | 7603K |
| 10000K | 4570 lx | 9466K |
Identical to the Excessive Output mode, these outcomes inform me that the sunshine has wonderful CCT accuracy from 2500-5600K. Once more, the CCt accuracy wasn’t nice at above 5600K. The output varies by 10.03% from the best to lowest recorded readings.
Ideas
The output of the sunshine might be extra constant throughout its CCT vary. The sunshine’s output was fairly constant throughout its CCT vary. What was fascinating to see is that the sunshine has probably the most output when used round 2500-3200K.
CCT consistency & linear output when dimming the sunshine
Now, what you need to at all times do when testing lights is to see if the CCT stays constant when dimming the sunshine. Simply since you set a light-weight at say 5600K, that doesn’t imply that the CCT will stay secure as you begin dimming the fixture down. I additionally needed to see how linear the dimming curve was.
I made a decision to do a sequence of checks at 100%/75%/50%/25percent10% to see if the Kelvin shade temperature being recorded modified. This was completed at a distance of 1m utilizing a Sekonic C-800. These checks had been performed within the mild’s Linear Dimming modes.
ZOLAR Blade 60C 5600K (Excessive Coloration Mode)
| CCT READING | OUTPUT | INTENSITY % |
| 5551K | 4920 lx | 100 |
| 5547K | 3680 lx | 75 |
| 5524K | 2500 lx | 50 |
| 5516K | 1290 lx | 25 |
| 5491K | 540 lx | 10 |
The ZOLAR Blade 60C maintained superb shade temperature consistency even when dimming it proper down. The studying solely modified by 60K. So far as how linear the output is once you begin dimming the sunshine, at 50% output it had 49.2% much less output than when used at 100%. At 25% it had 73.8% much less output than when used at 100%. At 10% output it had 89% much less output than when used at 100%. This reveals me that the sunshine’s dimming curve may be very near being completely linear.
Coloration Rendering
So now that we’ve got seen how a lot output the ZOLAR Blade 60C produces, how does it carry out in terms of replicating correct colours? Properly, let’s first take a look at mild when it’s used at 5600K.
5600K
ZOLAR Blade 60C (Excessive Output Mode)
Above you possibly can see that when the ZOLAR Blade 60C was set at 5600K in its Excessive Output mode recorded an common CRI (R1-R8) of 97.2 and an prolonged CRI (R1-R15) of 97.24. For replicating correct pores and skin tones it recorded 99.0 for R9 (crimson), 98.7 for R13 (closest to caucasian pores and skin tones), and 97.9 for R15 (closest to Asian pores and skin tones).
These had been excellent outcomes and a few of the finest I’ve ever seen from any LED mild. No worth was under 90.
Above you possibly can see that the ZOLAR Blade 60C had a TLCI rating of 99 when used at 5600K.
ZOLAR Blade 60C 5600K (Excessive Coloration Mode)
Above you possibly can see that when the ZOLAR Blade 60C was set at 5600K and utilized in its Excessive Coloration Mode it recorded an common CRI (R1-R8) of 97.1 and an prolonged CRI (R1-R15) of 97.08. For replicating correct pores and skin tones it recorded 99.0 for R9 (crimson), 98.6 for R13 (closest to caucasian pores and skin tones), and 97.8 for R15 (closest to Asian pores and skin tones).
These had been excellent outcomes and nearly an identical to these when the sunshine is utilized in its Excessive Output mode. That is simply the second mild I’ve ever examined the place each single worth from R1-R15 was above 90. The opposite mild was additionally made by Z CAM.
Above you possibly can see that the ZOLAR Blade 60C had a TLCI rating of 98 when used at 5600K in its Excessive Coloration mode.
So how do the prolonged CRI outcomes taken at 5600K examine to a few of the competitors? Properly, under you possibly can see:
| EXTENDED CRI | |
| ZOLAR Blade 60C | 97.2 |
| ZOLAR Toliman 30S | 96.69 |
| ZOLAR Tolman 30C | 97.73 |
| ZOLAR Vega 30C | 96.60 |
| Luxli Timpani² | 94.70 |
| Luxli Timpani | 96.2 |
| Rotolight Titan X1 | 95.44 |
| ARRI SkyPanel S30-C | 93.39 |
| Litepanels Gemini 1×1 Smooth | 91.32 |
| Litepanels Gemini 1×1 HARD | 96.52 |
| Lupo Superpanel 30 Full Coloration Smooth | 93.4 |
| Lupo Superpanel 30 Full Coloration | 93.59 |
| Aputure NOVA P300c | 95.34 |
As you possibly can see, most of those lights are very shut and you’d be hard-pressed to inform any of them aside. Nonetheless, all 4 of the ZOLAR fixtures I’ve now examined have larger scores than any of those competing lights I’ve examined at 5600K.
3200K
Now, that we’ve got seen how the sunshine performs at 5600K, let’s have a look at the way it does at 3200K.
ZOLAR Blade 60C 3200K (Excessive Output Mode)
Above you possibly can see that when the ZOLAR Blade 60C was set at 3200K in its Excessive Output mode recorded an common CRI (R1-R8) of 94.2 and an prolonged CRI (R1-R15) of 91.39. For replicating correct pores and skin tones it recorded 52.9 for R9 (crimson), 96.8 for R13 (closest to caucasian pores and skin tones), and 88.9 for R15 (closest to Asian pores and skin tones).
These weren’t the outcomes I used to be anticipating and I believe there was positively a difficulty when utilizing the sunshine at 3200K in its Excessive Output mode. R7, R9, and R15 had been all under 90. The consequence for R9 (crimson) was horrible.
Above you possibly can see that the ZOLAR Blade 60C had a TLCI rating of simply 93 when used at 3200K in its Excessive Output mode. This was a nasty consequence and you’ll see that the spectral response isn’t nice.
ZOLAR Blade 60C 3200K (Excessive Coloration Mode)
Above you possibly can see the outcomes for the ZOLAR Blade 60C at 3200K when it was utilized in its Excessive Coloration Mode. The sunshine recorded an common CRI (R1-R8) of 95.8 and an prolonged CRI (R1-R15) of 95.37. For replicating correct pores and skin tones it recorded 95.1 for R9 (crimson), 96.5 for R13 (closest to caucasian pores and skin tones), and 98.0 for R15 (closest to Asian pores and skin tones).
These had been fairly good outcomes, however not almost nearly as good as when the sunshine was used at 5600K. Solely R11 (Inexperienced was under 90.
Above you possibly can see that the ZOLAR Blade 60C had a TLCI rating of 91 when used at 3200K in its Excessive Coloration mode. Once more, this wasn’t nice.
So how do the prolonged CRI outcomes examine to a few of the competitors? Properly, under you possibly can see:
| EXTENDED CRI | |
| ZOLAR Blade 60C | 95.37 |
| ZOLAR Toliman 30S | 95.69 |
| ZOLAR Toliman 30C | 96.93 |
| ZOLAR Vega 30C | 94.69 |
| Luxli Timpani² | 96.90 |
| Luxli Timpani | 95.45 |
| Rotolight Titan X1 | 91.83 |
| ARRI SkyPanel S30-C | 93.56 |
| Litepanels Gemini 1×1 Smooth | 93.32 |
| Litepanels Gemini 1×1 HARD | 93.32 |
| Lupo Superpanel 30 Full Coloration Smooth | 91.86 |
| Lupo Superpanel 30 Full Coloration | 90.7 |
| Aputure NOVA P300c | 95.64 |
Once more, as you possibly can see, all of those lights are very shut and you’d be hard-pressed to inform any of them aside.
CC Index & ⊿uv
The CC Index shows the CC correction worth and whether or not any magenta or inexperienced must be added or subtracted. 1 CC corresponds to 035 Kodak CC values or 1/8 Rosco filter values. Any studying lower than +1.00 or -1.00 and also you’re in all probability not going to wish to make any type of adjustment. The ⊿uv is the worth to point out how a lot this mild is away from being a perfect mild supply (black physique radiation = incandescent lamp). As with the CC Index you need this quantity to theoretically be zero. Kelvin is just not a linear worth, so we have to convert from Kelvin to MK-1 to check the values of shade temperature. To calculate from Kelvin to Mired is MK-1= 1*1000000/Kelvin. Whereas this will likely sound complicated, it’s the solely means of measuring if the Kelvin shift is critical sufficient to warrant having to make use of a filter for correction. Under are the outcomes for the ZOLAR Blade 60C.
ZOLAR ZOLAR Blade 60C Kelvin Vs MK-1
| CCT | Distinction in Okay | MK-1 | Distinction in MK-1 |
|
| SET VALUE | 2500K | 0 | 400 | 0 |
| ACTUAL READING | 2473K | 27 | 404.36 | -4.36 MK-1 |
| SET VALUE | 3200K | 0 | 312.5 | 0 |
| ACTUAL READING | 3140K | 60 | 318.47 | -5.97 MK-1 |
| SET VALUE | 4500K | 0 | 222.22 | 0 |
| ACTUAL READING | 4436K | 64 | 225.42 | -3.20 MK-1 |
| SET VALUE | 5600K | 0 | 178.57 | 0 |
| ACTUAL READING | 5551K | 49 | 180.14 | -1.57 MK-1 |
| SET VALUE | 6500K | 0 | 153.84 | 0 |
| ACTUAL READING | 6373K | 127 | 156.91 | -3.07 MK-1 |
| SET VALUE | 8000K | 0 | 125 | 0 |
| ACTUAL READING | 7641K | 359 | 130.87 | -5.87 MK-1 |
| SET VALUE | 10000K | 0 | 100.00 | 0 |
| ACTUAL READING | 9466K | 544 | 105.64 | -5.64 MK-1 |
The sunshine may be very CCT correct in any respect of its settings. Any MK-1 rating that’s below -9/9 means you wouldn’t have to make use of any shade correction gels. The MK-1 scores for this mild had been superb. Any rating that’s below +/- 6 is taken into account to be superb. The MK-1 scores had been very constant.
ZOLAR Blade 60C CC INDEX & ⊿uv
| CC INDEX | ⊿uv | |
| 2500K | 0.3G | -0.0008 |
| 3200K | 0 | -0.0007 |
| 4500K | 0 | 0.0001 |
| 5600K | 0.0 | 0.0008 |
| 6500K | 0.1G | 0.0010 |
| 8000K | 0.4G | 0.0009 |
| 10000K | 0.8G | 0.0002 |
Once more, these scores had been superb. The correct ⊿uv scores throughout the sunshine’s complete Kelvin shade temperature vary had been exceptionally good. The lights CC INDEX scores had been wonderful from 2500K to 6500K. At 8000K and above it does begin to shift, however you don’t have to fret about it except it’s above 1.0 G/M.
TM-30
TM-30 is a comparatively new shade rendering normal that was developed to cope with the constraints of CRI. TM-30 seems at 99 particular person colours. These 99 colours are categorized into seven teams: nature, pores and skin shade, textiles, paints, plastics, printed materials, and shade programs.
TM-30 scores go from 0 – 100. The upper the rating, the extra correct a light-weight is at producing colours. Any TM-30 Rf rating within the ’90s is taken into account to be good. What’s fascinating and one thing that you want to be very conscious of is that two separate mild sources with the very same CRI scores can render colours very otherwise. A lightweight with a excessive CRI score may have a low TM-30 rating. Conversely, a light-weight with an excellent TM-30 rating may have a nasty CRI rating.
Now, there are two measurements related to TM-30, Rf and Rg.
Rf (Coloration Constancy)
Rg (Coloration Gamut)
With Rf worth, ideally, you desire a rating within the 90’s.
With Rg worth, a rating under 100 signifies that the sunshine supply renders colours with much less saturation than the reference supply. So ideally you need this rating to be above 100.
ZOLAR Blade 60C (Excessive Coloration Mode)
Above you possibly can see the scores for the ZOLAR Blade 60C at numerous CCT settings. Under I’ve listed the figures as nicely.
| Rf | Rg | |
| 2500K | 91 | 106 |
| 3200K | 94 | 104 |
| 4500K | 96 | 103 |
| 5600K | 96 | 103 |
| 6500K | 95 | 103 |
| 8000K | 93 | 104 |
| 10000K | 91 | 104 |
The TM-30 scores are all good and it reveals me that the sunshine is fairly constant at replicating correct colours with full saturation.
Output & accuracy when creating saturated colours
I additionally needed to check the sunshine to see the way it carried out when creating super-saturated colours.
0° – RED
Above you possibly can see that the sunshine in its Excessive Coloration mode recorded an output of 685 lx (63.6 fc). What you clearly have to know when utilizing RGBAW lights like that is that the output ranges you possibly can produce when creating tremendous saturated colours are rather a lot lower than when utilizing the sunshine in a CCT mode.
So far as creating an correct 0° RED, the ZOLAR Blade 60C was excellent.
120° – GREEN
Above you possibly can see that the sunshine when in its Excessive Coloration mode recorded an output of 2940 lx (273 fc).
So far as creating an correct 120° GREEN, the ZOLAR Blade 60C was spot on with a 120° studying and 100% saturation.
240° – BLUE
Above you possibly can see that the sunshine when set in its Excessive Coloration mode recorded an output of 389 lx (36.1 fc).
So far as creating an correct 240° BLUE, the ZOLAR Blade 60C was 1° off with a studying of 241°, but it surely did have 100% saturation.
60° – YELLOW
Above you possibly can see that the sunshine when utilizing its reflector and medium diffusion recorded an output of 1590 lx (147 fc).
So far as creating an correct 60° Yellow, the ZOLAR Blade 60C was means off with a studying of 46°, but it surely did have 100% saturation.
As a result of the sunshine is RGBAW and never RGBACL it’ll battle to recreate some totally saturated colours precisely.
SSI
SSI (Spectral Similarity Index) was developed by the Sci-Tech Council of the Academy. SSI offers me the power to set any mild as an ordinary, or use predefined requirements (akin to CIE D55), after which give different lights an SSI rating primarily based upon how nicely they may match requirements akin to CIE D55. This manner I can measure spectral response and examine it immediately towards a perfect mild supply. That is really a significantly better take a look at than recording CRI scores.
First, let’s have a look at 3200K.
3200K
ZOLAR Blade 60C 3200K (Excessive Coloration Mode)
Within the above graph, the crimson bars point out an ideal Planck 3200K supply. The gold bars point out an ideal 3200K Tungsten supply. This lets us examine how near an ideal 3200K lighting supply the ZOLAR Blade 60C is. Any SSI rating within the low ’80s is superb for a 3200K LED mild, nevertheless, the ZOLAR Blade 60C was within the very excessive 80s’ which was excellent. .
As a comparability, above are the outcomes for the Z CAM ZOLAR Vega 30C.
As one other reference, above you possibly can see the identical consequence for the Rotolight Titan X1.
5600K
ZOLAR Blade 60C 5600K
Within the graph above the gold bars point out an ideal CIE D55 supply. The crimson bars point out an ideal CIE D 5600K supply. This lets us examine how near an ideal 5600K lighting supply the ZOLAR Blade 60C is. A rating within the low 70’s is typical for a 5600K LED supply. A rating of 91 is ridiculously good.
As a comparability, above you possibly can see the scores for the Z CAM ZOLAR Vega 30C when it’s used at 5600K.
As a reference, above you possibly can see the identical consequence for the Rotolight Titan X1.
SSI Comparisons
The principle purpose we need to document SSI scores is so we will see how nicely they match with different lights. Now right here is the place issues develop into tough. As a result of the ZOLAR Blade 60C has such excessive SSI scores it isn’t going to match different lights almost as nicely, notably at 5600K. For example, I’ll present you the way nicely the ZOLAR Blade 60C matched an ARRI Orbiter and the Prolycht Orion 675 FS. Under you possibly can see the outcomes when the lights are set at each 5600K and 3200K.
3200K
As you possibly can see the ARRI and the Prolycht will not be that near being an ideal match to the ZOLAR Blade 60C at 3200K, though with a little bit of fine-tuning you could possibly in all probability get them to work collectively with none massive points. A rating of 80 remains to be fairly affordable.
5600K
Right here is the place issues get fascinating. At 5600K each the ARRI and the Prolycht are miles off being wherever close to an ideal match to the ZOLAR Blade 60C.
As one other comparability, let’s see how nicely the ZOLAR Blade 60C matches itself in each its Excessive Output and Excessive Coloration modes, in addition to its Excessive Output mode when being run by way of a battery.
Above you possibly can see that at 5600K the sunshine is actually an ideal match when run in its Excessive Output and Excessive Coloration modes. The truth is, the Excessive Output mode working by way of a battery was a 100% match to the Excessive Coloration mode. That is the primary time I’ve ever seen a rating of 100.
Let’s now do this very same take a look at however at 3200K.
Above you possibly can see that at 5600K the sunshine is just not an ideal match when run in its Excessive Output and Excessive Coloration modes. These outcomes had been stunning as a result of, in actuality, I might count on them to be rather a lot nearer.
SSI checks are an effective way of telling you what lights you personal or use will work nicely collectively.
Spectral Distribution
ZOLAR Blade 60C 5600K (Excessive Coloration Mode)
Above you possibly can see the spectral distribution of the ZOLAR Blade 60C when set at 5600K. The spectral distribution is exceptionally good at 5600K. This spectral distribution is correct up there with the very best LED lights I’ve ever examined at 5600K.
As one other reference, above you possibly can see the spectral distribution for the Rotolight Titan X1.
ZOLAR Blade 60C 3200K
Above you possibly can see the spectral distribution of the ZOLAR Blade 60C when set at 3200K. The spectral distribution was not nice and I positively suppose there is a matter right here.
As a reference, above you possibly can see the spectral distribution for the Rotolight Titan X1.
Actual-World Efficiency
As I at all times say, photometric scores solely let you know a part of the story. A number of LED lights rating nicely nowadays in technical checks, however an excellent mild ought to be straightforward to make use of, versatile, and supply good real-world outcomes.
The diffusion getting used on the entrance of the ZOLAR Blade 60C is fairly gentle in energy. I I cease the digital camera down, even at 100 output you possibly can nonetheless see the person LED clusters.
The ZOLAR Blade 60C does produce a good quantity of spill due to its moderately large beam angle. That is one thing you want to keep in mind when utilizing the sunshine. Nonetheless, you possibly can at all times simply purchase one of many optionally available Honeycomb grids if you wish to management it extra.
The sunshine works nicely indoors for interview situations, however as a result of the diffusion isn’t that robust, you might need to punch it by way of one thing else if you wish to create one thing a bit softer.
As a result of the Zolar Blade 60C isn’t overly heavy you possibly can put it out on an arm to make use of as a backlight or to position over topics as a prime mild.
The ZOLAR Blade 60C produces a very nice high quality of sunshine, and most significantly it’s comparatively straightforward to make use of and function.
When you don’t have a excessive sufficient output, to start with, after which try to closely diffuse that lighting supply, usually the brightness of that mild is diminished to some extent the place it’s solely usable when positioned very near a topic. The ZOLAR Blade 60C has various output so that you don’t have to position it too near your topic or run them at full output when utilizing them indoors.
This mild is an effective resolution for solo operators or touring cameramen or ladies who want a light-weight that’s fast to arrange and could be powered remotely within the area from a single flight-safe digital camera battery.
With the ability to energy the sunshine remotely from a flight-safe battery is an enormous deal. too many lights popping out nowadays have such excessive energy attracts that it makes it nearly not possible to energy them from batteries you possibly can simply journey with.
I additionally like that Z CAM offers you such a protracted cable that goes from the controller to the sunshine. This lets you place it a great distance away from the fixture and it helps massively if you want to put it up excessive or in locations the place you want entry to the controller.
The ZOLAR Blade 60C would even be a fairly respectable choice for information crews as a result of its fast setup time and skill to be run at full output by way of a flight-safe battery. You can additionally two of them or mix them collectively to create a a lot bigger supply.
I like how even when you’ve two of the fixtures collectively you possibly can nonetheless use the Honeycomb grids.
I personally love the power to mix two of those fixtures collectively to create a a lot bigger supply. This creates a way more versatile lighting resolution and you’ll nonetheless energy each lights from two flight protected batteries. That may be a massive deal.
So far as the RGB Coloration Mode, results modes, gels, supply matching, and so on. go, whereas they’re nice to have, not everybody will want them.
The largest query folks will need to be answered is do these excessive SSI scores when utilizing the lights at 5600K make any massive real-world distinction?
-
ZOLAR Blade 60C -
Litepanels Gemeni 1×1 SOFT -
Luxli Timpani²
That may be a good query. I made a decision to do a real-world take a look at evaluating the ZOLAR Blade 60C with the Litepanels Gemini 1×1 SOFT and the Luxli Timpani². I white balanced for every particular person mild after which took a picture. Nothing has been altered or adjusted. As you possibly can see there isn’t an enormous distinction between all three of the lights. The Litepanels is maybe a tiny bit on the inexperienced aspect, however that mild does have +/- G/M adjustment so you could possibly change it. The Luxli and ZOLAR are extremely shut.
A lightweight that has excessive SSI scores when used at 5600K is definitely able to producing nice outcomes, nevertheless, you shouldn’t learn an excessive amount of into it relying on what you are attempting to perform. As you possibly can see from my real-world take a look at, the Luxli Timpani² which doesn’t rating almost as excessive in SSI checks when used at 5600K remains to be in a position to produce extraordinarily good outcomes when used on this specific state of affairs.
Only for the document, above are the SSI scores for the Luxli Timpani² when it’s used at 5600K.
Now, you’ll typically get fairly shut outcomes in case you are white balancing and are in managed situations, however in case you are making an attempt to truly match a daylight supply just like the solar, then having a light-weight with the power to seize a fuller spectrum will make a distinction. What number of instances have you ever seen photographs on TV the place they’re utilizing a LED mild outside and the colours look horrible?
Above you possibly can see an SSI comparability the place I acquired a studying from the solar outside in brilliant daylight and in contrast it to the ZOLAR Blade 60C. Within the graph, the crimson bars point out an ideal CIE D55 supply. The gold bars point out the spectral response of the ZOLAR Blade 60C. This lets us examine how near matching the solar the Blade 60C is. A match of 89 is ridiculously good for an LED mild when used at 5600K.
As a comparability, above you possibly can see the identical take a look at with the superb ARRI Orbiter. Within the graph above the crimson bars point out an ideal CIE D55 supply. The gold bars point out the spectral response of the ARRI Orbiter. This lets us examine how near matching the solar the Orbiter is. As you possibly can see the ARRI Orbiter solely had an identical rating of 66 which is fairly dangerous.
What this basically means is that lights which have the power to seize a larger spectrum when set at 5600K will match daylight sources such because the solar an entire lot higher. Now, for smaller-sized panel lights with this skill, this benefit will not be that nice since you might be making an attempt to match a supply (such because the solar) with not sufficient output.
What can be fascinating to see is that if producers may put this fuller spectrum know-how into high-powered LED fresnels. This could make a ton of sense, particularly when utilizing lights outside.
-
Zolar Blade 60C -
Gentle Off
Above you possibly can see a comparability when utilizing the ZOLAR Balde 60C outside to try to match the solar. I white-balanced for the solar after which turned the sunshine on. As you possibly can see, the sunshine was in a position to present sufficient fill to assist even out the scene.
Above you possibly can see how far-off I used to be from the sunshine.
Okay, so now let’s do that very same take a look at once more, and this time I’ll mix two of the ZOLAR Blade 60Cs collectively to create a bigger supply.
-
Gentle On -
Gentle Off
Above you possibly can see the sunshine turned on and turned off with the very same digital camera settings. Two ZOLAR Blade 60Cs mixed create a lighting supply that’s greater than able to getting used outside in a variety of situations. What is sweet is that it creates a mushy supply and never a harsh one such as you would get from level supply COB lights.
When you simply use a single ZOLAR Blade 60C you may get somebody to carry it which may be very helpful. Because the management field doesn’t weigh that a lot you could possibly put it with a battery inside a backpack that somebody may put on.
What I discovered is that the sunshine is superb at replicating correct colours when used outside. The truth that I didn’t even have to do a WB with the sunshine on reveals you the way intently it really matches daylight sources such because the solar.
I like {that a} single ZOLAR Blade 60C could be carried with its equipment in a comparatively small case. When you journey rather a lot or have to hold a comparatively small print, this can be a good resolution.
Different Alternate options
Arguably the closest competitor to the ZOLAR Blade 60C can be the Kino Flo Diva-Lite 21 LED if we glance solely at type issue, dimension, and energy draw.
-
Litepanels Gemini 1×1 -
ARRI SkyPanel S30-C
If we need to widen the comparability, there are a ton of 1×1 lights on the market available on the market at various worth factors that might be thought of competitors:
- Rotolight Titan X1
- Creamsource Vortex4 1×1 RGBW
- Litepanels Gemini 1×1
- Litepanels Gemini 1 x 1 RGBWW LED Exhausting Panel
- ARRI SkyPanel S30-C
- Lupo Superpanel Smooth Full Coloration 30 Smooth
- Lupo Superpanel Smooth Full Coloration 30
- Rayzr 7 MC120
- Luxli Timpani² 1×1 RGBAW
- Aputure NOVA P300c
- VELVETlight Evo 1 Studio 1×1 Coloration-Tunable LED Panel
- TRIGYN Vari-Gentle RGBW 1×1 LED Smooth Gentle Package
- Falcon Eyes D-S811 RGB 1×1
- Fluotec Cinelight Color30 1X1 Coloration
You’d count on that the latest lights on this checklist can be the very best, however that isn’t at all times the case.
The SkyPanel was introduced means again in 2015 and the Litepanels Gemini in 2017. The SkyPanel sequence has been vastly in style as a result of it’s extensively accessible, tremendous strong, and dependable.
The Lupo Superpanel Full Coloration 30/ Full Coloration 30 Smooth, Luxli Timpani, Rayzr 7 MC120, Falcon Eyes, and TRIGYN are extra budget-friendly choices, that may in all probability attraction to a unique phase of the market than lights just like the Rotolight Titan X1, ARRI SkyPanel S30-C, Creamsource Vortex4, and so on.
The entire competitors have their strengths and weaknesses and what mild will work finest for you definitely comes all the way down to much more elements than simply specs and options.
A rental home is more likely to hold an ARRI, Kino Flo, Rotolight, or perhaps a Litepanels Gemini over a Lupo, Aputure, Rayzr 7, or ZOLAR, though that’s beginning to change in some markets. That is primarily to do with the construct high quality, after-sales service, and a long-term monitor document of reliability. Nonetheless, the construct high quality of the ZOLAR fixtures is superb, as is the efficiency, so there is no such thing as a purpose that they couldn’t be used on the highest ranges of manufacturing.
Worth & Availability
The Z CAM ZOLAR Blade 60C Fundamental Package retails for $899 USD and it ought to begin transport on the 18th of September.
- ZOLAR Blade 60C LED Panel
- ZOLAR Blade 60C Controller Unit
- AC DC Energy Adapter 36V
- ZOLAR Controller Cable 8M
- ZOLAR Goose-Neck Rear Mount Plate
- Carrying Case for ZOLAR Blade 60C
Above is what you get within the package.
The ZOLAR Blade 60C may be very competitively priced.
The sunshine is available in a pleasant mushy/laborious case with customized foam cutouts.
At the very least in my view, the bag is rather a lot higher high quality than those that got here with the ZOLAR 1×1 fixtures.
Under you possibly can see how the worth of the ZOLAR Blade 60C compares to different RGBW panel lights available on the market:
| Worth | |
| Z CAM ZOLAR Blade 60C | $899 USD |
| Kino Flo Diva-Lite 21 LED | $1,799.25 USD |
| Z CAM ZOLAR Vega 30C | $799 USD |
| Luxli Timpani² | $899 USD* |
| Creamsource Vortex4 1×1 RGBW | $2,799 USD |
| Rotolight Titan X1 | $3,699 USD |
| ARRI SkyPanel S30-C | $2,450 USD* |
| Litepanels Gemini 1×1 | $1,495.25 USD* |
| Litepanels Gemini 1 x 1 RGBWW LED Exhausting Panel | $2,517.50 USD |
| Lupo Superpanel Smooth Full Coloration 30 | $1,698 USD |
| Lupo Superpanel Full Coloration 30 | $1,698 USD |
| VELVETlight Evo 1 Studio 1×1 Coloration-Tunable LED Panel | $2,776.75 USD |
| Rayzr 7 MC120 | $744 USD* |
| Luxli Timpani 1×1 RGBAW | $799.99 USD* |
| Aputure NOVA P300c | $1,699 USD |
| TRIGYN Vari-Gentle RGBW 1×1 LED Smooth Gentle Package | $899 USD* |
| Falcon Eyes D-S811 RGB 1×1 | $1,299 USD |
| Fluotec Cinelight Color30 1X1 Coloration | $1,807 USD |
*On sale on the time of this evaluation.
With modern-day lights (and this goes for nearly any of at the moment’s know-how) the lifespan of the product is just not going to be as lengthy. That isn’t to say your mild will develop into out of date in 3 years time, however there might be one thing higher that’s certain to return alongside.
In saying that, a variety of at the moment’s lights are receiving new options by way of firmware updates. That is one thing that will increase their flexibility and have set.
Non-compulsory Equipment
At launch there would be the following optionally available equipment accessible:
- ZOLAR Honeycomb Grid 30D 60×30
- ZOLAR Honeycomb Grid 60D 60×30
- ZOLAR Gentle Management Gird 60×30
- ZOLAR Controller Cable 16M
- ZOLAR Blade 60C Mounting Accent Package ·
- Yoke for ZOLAR Blade 60C 2×2
I don’t at present have any costs for these equipment, however I’ll replace the evaluation as soon as I do.
Full Specs
Above you possibly can see the total specs for the sunshine.
Conclusion
The ZOLAR Blade 60C is a powerful providing. It’s a very versatile and color-accurate fixture that may be run by way of a single flight-safe battery at 100%. It has a good quantity of output, particularly for a fixture that solely attracts 140W.
The general construct high quality is sweet, however there have been these small points that I discussed earlier within the evaluation that you just want to concentrate on (though these have now been addressed with the transport variations based on the corporate). The opposite concern I’ve was that the sunshine didn’t carry out nicely in its Excessive Output mode when used at 3200K.
The construct high quality, distinctive shade accuracy, and other ways of powering and controlling the sunshine are one thing that only a few different producers are doing at this stage of affordability.
The ZOLAR Blade 60C represents superb worth for cash given its efficiency and have set. For a light-weight on this type issue with these options, I don’t suppose anything comes near the worth. The closest competitor for the ZOLAR Blade 60C, at the very least in my view, can be the Kino Flo Diva-Lite 21 LED. Nonetheless, that mild doesn’t have as a lot output, it’s significantly costlier, and it doesn’t have almost nearly as good shade rendering efficiency.
Most ‘inexpensive‘ fixtures are inclined to undergo from common construct high quality and restricted options, however that isn’t the case with the ZOLAR lights. At $899 USD there’s a lot to love about this mild. For my part, it’s arguably a greater choice, or at the very least one that’s value , in case you are after a 1×1 LED mild.
As I discussed earlier, no matter they’re doing over there in China, it ought to be making different lighting producers very involved. The construct high quality, photometric scores, and value of the Z CAM fixtures, together with the ZOLAR Blade 60C, place them proper up there with a few of the finest lights available on the market.
The ZOLAR Blade 60C comes extremely really helpful, and though it’s removed from excellent, it presents customers superb bang for his or her buck.
