Nanlite FS-300 5600K Daylight LED Monolight

I own Nanlite FS-150 and FS-300 lights. I use them in the aputure soft boxes (light dome II, mini, lantern) and these lights are a fantastic bargain. Let me explain.First of all, the light quality is far greater than the price you are paying. I put the quality of light higher than the Aputure lights as they are much more accurate and more powerful. The COB design is different from other lights in that it is a series of LED's, not a single light source exactly, which has pros and cons. The pro is that the light is a bit softer and provides a slightly softer overall light when used with a diffuser at the cost of not spotting as well as other COB designs (Forza series/Aputure). If you plan to use these in diffusers, which I always will, they are fantastic.Second, ... MoreI own Nanlite FS-150 and FS-300 lights. I use them in the aputure soft boxes (light dome II, mini, lantern) and these lights are a fantastic bargain. Let me explain.First of all, the light quality is far greater than the price you are paying. I put the quality of light higher than the Aputure lights as they are much more accurate and more powerful. The COB design is different from other lights in that it is a series of LED's, not a single light source exactly, which has pros and cons. The pro is that the light is a bit softer and provides a slightly softer overall light when used with a diffuser at the cost of not spotting as well as other COB designs (Forza series/Aputure). If you plan to use these in diffusers, which I always will, they are fantastic.Second, the build quality is outstanding. For this price point you might expect flimsy material but no, the materials used are very sturdy and much stronger than similarly priced lights such as the Aputure Amarans.Third, these light heads are all-in-one designs, which means there will be no ballasts or power sources hanging off of cables. For me, this is very important because I often shoot in cramped areas, so having anything hanging is a big NO for me. It also avoids that extra point of failure in the kit but all of this is at the cost of no battery operation. I do not battery power my lights so this is not an issue for me.The bad part of this light is that does have active cooling with a fan, but it is not nearly as loud as some have claimed. I have tested this light in a small office with bare walls 2 meters from subject. As long as you are using proper microphones and positioning, the fan noise is barely audible and a minor noise reduction in post (which I always do in real situations) will make the noise only noticeable by people trying to hear it. If you add background music underneath for a talking head, it is entirely inaudible.So, basically the noise is there, but unlikely to be a problem in real life.Considering the tremendous power and quality at this price point, its an absolute steal even at full price.

These are fantastic. Great color, excellent dimming and control options, and all in one design (no ballasts, power supplies etc. required). I've got other 300 COB lights and these are very similar power wise, but much nicer spread due to the size of the COB making them nicer in modifiers like soft boxes and lanterns. For those people complaining about how loud they are - yes they make noise, as all COB lights have some kind of cooling system and fan especially on higher output lamps, but learn how to place a mic properly and you won't hear them. If your idea of recording audio is throwing a shot gun on your camera, or putting a zoom recorder in the middle of a room - well yah, you're gonna hear these.

I use mine for product photography. The way the LEDs are setup gives me a nice soft light with enough output to make my job so much easier.Well built, easy to understand a real bargain. Since I am trusting them with my livelihood I haven't been disappointed.