Nanlite’s PavoSlim panel lights are a hybrid mix of a flexible panel light and a traditional panel light. They utilize a lightweight hard backing material that is very thin, but robust.
We first saw prototypes of these lights at IBC 2023 back in September. You can see my interview with Nanlite from the show above.
The Nanlite PavoSlim was designed to be lightweight and quick to set up with the versatility to be used for a wide range of lighting applications.
The panels are available in 1×2 and 1×1 sizes and as either Bi-color or Full color.
Size & Weight
The Nanlite PavoSlim 120C and 60C fixtures are 60.2 x 30.63 x 1.86 cm / 23.7 x 12.06 x 0.73″ and 30.63 x 30.65 × 1.86 cm / 12.06 x 11.84 x 0.73″ respectively.
The lights are very thin.
Both lights utilize a separate power supply/controller and the PavoSlim 60B and 60C have both V-mount and Sony NP-F battery plates.
The PavoSlim 60C weighs in at 0.94kg / 2.07lb and the power supply/control unit is 1.37kg / 3.02lb.
The PavoSlim 120C weighs in at 1.76kg / 3.88lb and the power supply/controller is 1.84kg / 4.06lb.
| WEIGHT (Controller/Power Supply & Panel) | |
| Nanlite PavoSlim 60C | 5.09 lb / 2.31 kg |
| Nanlite PavoSlim 120C | 7.94 lb / 3.6 kg |
| Westcott Flex Cine DMX RGBW LED Mat 1 x 2′ | 3.4 lb / 1.6 kg |
| amaran F21c 2 x 1′ RGB LED Flexible Light Mat | 3.37 lb / 1.54 kg |
| LiteMat Spectrum 1 Kit | 4.7 lb / 2.1 kg |
So how does the weight of the PavoSlim 60C and 120C compare to some other competing solutions on the market? Well, above you can see. The PavoSlim 60C and 120C are going to be heavier than flexible panel lights of a similar size.
Easy to travel with?
The PavoSlim, as I previously mentioned, are not flexible LED panels that you can fold up to make smaller. They are more like LiteMats as they have a hard backing plate. For anyone who travels a lot, the 2×1 PavoSlim may arguably not be the best option given its physical footprint. You could put the 1×1 PavoSlim in a case or a bag as long as you have one that is big enough. The low weight, versatility, and ability to be powered via flight-safe batteries mean that the 1×1-sized version does tick a lot of boxes for shooters who need to travel light.
Power Draw
The Nanlite PavoSlim 60C draws 72W, and the PavoSlim 120C draws 150W. This is a low power draw and it means that both fixtures can be run at 100% output using a single flight-safe 14.4V or 26V battery. This is handy for anyone who travels a lot and needs to run the lights remotely.
| POWER DRAW | |
| Nanlite PavoSlim 60C | 72W |
| Nanlite PavoSlim 120C | 150W |
| Westcott Flex Cine DMX RGBW LED Mat 1 x 2′ | 240W |
| amaran F21c 2 x 1′ RGB LED Flexible Light Mat | 120W |
| LiteMat Spectrum 1 Kit | 50W |
So how does this power draw of the PavoSlim 120C compare to some of the competition? Well, above you can see.
Above you can see the claimed run times for the fixtures when using different batteries.
RGBWW
Both lights are RGBWW and not RGBACL. Lights that utilize RGBACL don’t use any white LEDs, instead, they mix all of those different color LEDs to produce white light. Hive Lighting has also been using 7 LED-chip blending. Instead of the traditional 3 colors, Hive uses red, amber, lime, cyan, green, blue, and sapphire. The advantage RGBACL has over RGBWW is that it is capable of giving you a larger CCT range and it can produce more saturated colors with more output. RGBWW lights tend to struggle to create saturated colors like yellow and they don’t always have as much output when generating saturated colors. They can also have a large drop-off in output at different CCT settings.
There is a lot of debate and argument over what is better. Certain companies will tell you that RGBACL is better, while others will tell you that RGBWW is better. I don’t have any horses in this race, so I am not influenced by what lighting companies say. All my reviews are based on data and facts, and every light gets the same unbiased treatment regardless of who makes it or how much it costs.
I am not a fanboy of any one particular brand who is going to give you a biased assessment of a light. I have seen, used, and reviewed hundreds of lights over the years so I think I have a pretty solid background in giving you a professional opinion that isn’t influenced by marketing hype.
What do you get?
The lighting kits consist of:
- 1x PavoSlim fixture
- 1x Control box/power supply
- 1x DC connection cable
- 1x AC power cable
- 1x Universal holder
- 1x Baby pin holder
- 1x Quick release clamp
- 2x Diffusion (two different strengths)
- 1x Softbox
- 1x Eggcrate
- 1x Carrying bag
- 1x User manual
The case for the PavoSlim 60C is rather compact, and with everything inside it, it weighs 14.5 lb / 6.6kg.
The case for the PavoSlim 120C is about twice the size, and with everything inside it, it weighs 20.72 lb / 9.4kg.
The cases the lights come in are pretty well made and in line with other Nanlite products, but I’m in no position to comment on how they would handle the rigors of air travel. That is something you would only find out over time. The cases do come with the lights, so you can’t really complain. You can use them if you want, or if you prefer another option you can decide what works best for you.
If you are going to use the case for the PavoSlim 120C then I would put other items inside there to maximize the space. It is actually long enough that you could easily sneak in a light stand and a battery to have a fully self-contained lighting set-up, which is exactly what I have done above.
Build Quality
The overall build quality of the Nanlite PavoSlim 60c and 120C is solid. The backing plates are made out of metal and are nicely made.
On the front of both lights, there is an acrylic screen that protects the LEDs.
Both power supply/control units are robustly constructed and all of the connections are solidly made.
Both units feature a nice color display on the front of the controller/power supply. This is very easy to see and it shows you clearly and concisely what your operating parameters are.
The buttons and dials are tactile and easy to use. They are also solidly made.
The mounting plate system has been well thought out and designed and I like how Nanlite gives you two backing plates.
One features a straight pin, while the other has an adjustable mount if you need to angle the lights.
This is a really robust mounting system and it gives you complete confidence that the light won’t detach from the plate.
The lights also come with a clamp that has a V receptor on it if you need to attach the power supply/controller to a lightstand.
Power Supply/Controller
The PavoSlim 60C and 120C both come with a separate power supply/controller. While they are reasonably similar there are some key differences.
The PavoSlim 60C features both a V-mount battery plate and a dual Sony NP-F battery plate.
This allows you to run a V-mount battery or dual Sony NP-F batteries if you want to remotely power the light. A single flight-safe battery of at least 75Wh will run the 60C at 100% output.
The PavoSlim 120C just has a single V-mount battery plate. The plate allows you to run either a 14.4V battery or a 26V battery. With the PavoSlim 60C, you can also run 14.4V or 26.6V batteries.
The power supply/controller for both lights is very intuitive and straightforward to use. You can clearly see all of the parameters on the display screen. There is nothing overly complicated about the operation.
Both power supply/controllers feature a little V-mount style receptor quick-release plate on the side. You can use the included clamp mount to attach the power supply/controller to a lightstand.
One negative aspect I came across is that the head cable that goes from the light to the power supply/controller is, in my opinion, too short. If you have the light out on a boom arm you can’t put the power supply/controller on the ground because the cable isn’t long enough. In saying that, you can buy an optional longer head cable if you need one.
On paper, one of the appeals of the PavoSlim lights is that you can power them from a single flight-safe battery. If you are traveling a lot then this is a big deal.
LED mats are great because they are compact and lightweight, but they still require power like any other light. They can’t magically produce a lot of output without a fairly large power supply. I like that Nanlite has managed to keep the weight of both power supply/controllers to a minimum.
The PavoSlim 60C Power Supply/Controller has the following inputs & outputs:
- 1x Power Output
- 1 x USB-A Female Service Input
- 1 x powerCON AC Power Input (110 to 240 VAC, 50 / 60 Hz)
- 1 x DMX Input
The PavoSlim 120C Power Supply/Controller has the following inputs & outputs:
- 1x Power Output
- 1 x XLR 4-Pin Male Battery/Power Input (24 VDC)
- 1 x USB-A Female Service Input
- 1 x powerCON AC Power Input (110 to 240 VAC, 50 / 60 Hz)
- 1 x DMX Input
The power supply/controllers do have an in-built fan, however, there are no fan controls or options.
The fan noise is basically non-existent and the lights are extremely quiet which is fantastic.
Control
The power supply/controllers have two large dials that you use to navigate between modes and to make adjustments.
There are also two buttons:
- MODE
- MENU
The MODE button toggles between the following operating modes:
- CCT
- HSI
- RGBW
- GEL
- EFFECT
In the CCT mode, you can make adjustments to the CCT from 2700K to 7500K. You can also change the intensity and also the +/- G/M.
It is nice that the lights feature the ability to adjust the +/- G/M bias. This can really help you match other lighting sources.
In the HSI mode, you can individually adjust the Hue, Saturation, and Intensity.
In the RGBW Mode, you can individually adjust Red, Green, Blue, and white.
In the GEL Mode, you can choose from a vast array of digital gels. You can also choose tour base CCT from either 3200K or 5600K.
In the Effects Mode, you can choose from a decent collection of special effects.
If you press the MENU button you can choose to view or alter various settings, including the wireless, DMX, language, etc.
Overall the UI is very intuitive and easy to use. This is also partly due to the fact there are not a ton of menus or options to choose from. You don’t need a manual to be able to work out how to use this light. This is always a good thing, especially if you are handing the light off to someone who hasn’t used it before.
You can also control the lights using DMX/RDM or LumenRadio.
NANLINK Bluetooth app
As well as making adjustments directly from the power supply/controller you can also use the free NANLINK Bluetooth app to control the light remotely.
With the app, the first thing I am going to do is create a new Scene and name it PavoSlim 120C
It will then ask me to add a fixture.
Once I click to add a new fixture it will ask me how I would like to connect. In this case I will choose Bluetooth.
The app will then show me any Nanlite fixtures that are tuned on.
I am now going to just select the PavoSlim 120C.
It will then start setting the fixture up to use with the app.
Once that has been completed you will see the above screen. All I will now do is click on that light.
I then end up at the main UI screen.
If I want to enter the various operating modes I can do so from here.
Above you can see what the screens for each mode look like.
I can also save presets that I can store and recall at a later date.
Overall, the app works well. It is easy to make changes and it connects up without any issues.
Beam Angle
The beam angle of both the PavoSlim 60C and 120C is 60 degrees. This is relatively narrow for lights like this.
Set-Up Time & Usability
The biggest downside of using a lot of flexible or foldable LED lights is that they are a pain to set up. You normally have to construct up frames and mounts and then hook them up to controller units and power supplies.
The PavoSlim series is a little different because it features hard backing plates. This allows you to set them up very quickly, which is always handy. It is also nice that there are several different positions you can mount the plate, depending on your requirements.
As I mentioned earlier, the lights come with nice and robust locking backing plates which makes them very easy to mount.
I also really like the clever softbox design. It is held on via velcro and because it utilizes small bendable rods you can collapse the softbox down when it isn’t in use so that you don’t have to take it off and put it back on again.
Above you can see how it works.
If you are working by yourself or in a small crew you need to be able to set up lighting quickly. The PavoSlim series can literally be set up in a couple of minutes by a single person.
Speaking of the softbox, you also get a honeycomb grid and two different strengths of diffusion in the kit.
I actually found that you combine both pieces of diffusion and use them together if you wanted to create a softer source.
With the included angled mounting connector you can get the arm to point down at a reasonable degree, but you won’t be able to face it completely down given its design. You can, however, point it directly up without any issues.
Now, the PavoSlim doesn’t feature any type of inbuilt diffusion in front of the LEDs so if you want to create a softer source you will need to use the included softbox.
One of the downsides, as I mentioned earlier with these types of LED lights, is you have to carry around a separate controller/power supply, the light, and a bunch of cables and accessories.
Output & Color Temperature Accuracy
A big factor for a lot of people when buying a light is how much output it can produce.
I tested both lights output at a variety of CCT settings both running on mains and battery power using a Sekonic C-800 at a distance of 1m (3.28ft) in a controlled environment; you can see the results below. With any diffusion or attachment, I measure from the end of it and not from the light source. I do this with all my measurements for lights.
Above you can see what Nanlite quotes as the output for both fixtures when used at various CCT settings at a variety of distances.
Nanlite PavoSlim 60C 5600K Open Face
Above you can see the Nanlite PavoSlim 60C recorded an output of 6720 lx (624 fc) when set at 5600K and run off mains power. 6720 lx from an LED light with this form factor and size that has a power draw of just 72W is very impressive. My result of 6720 lx was below the claimed output of 7074 lx, but not by a huge margain.
| OUTPUT @1m / 3.3′ 5600K | |
| Nanlite PavoSlim 60C | 6720 lx |
| Godox KNOWLED F200Bi | 9610 lx |
| amaran F22x 2×2 | 6960 lx* |
| Falcon Eyes RX-24TDX III | 6990 lx* |
| Intellytech LC-160 2.0 | 3880 lx |
*Manufacturers’ claims (not independently tested)
As a comparison, above you can see how that output compares to some other larger flexible LED panel lights. The Nanlite PavoSlim 60C had almost as much output as the larger amaran F22x 2×2 and Falcon Eyes RX-24TDX III.
The PavoSlim 60C produced a CCT reading of 5745K, which was just over 140K off being correct.
As a competition comparison, the Intellytech LC-160 LITECLOTH 2.0 produced a CCT reading of 5666K
Nanlite PavoSlim 60C 3200K Open Face
Above you can see the light’s output when it was set at 3200K. It produced 5700 lx (530 fc), which is 15.45% less than the 6742 lx it produced at 5600K.
As far as CCT accuracy goes, it recorded a very good reading of 3236K. The light is more CCT-accurate at 3200K than it is at 5600K.
Again, as a comparison, the Intellytech LC-160 LITECLOTH 2.0 produced a CCT reading of 3319K
Nanlite PavoSlim 120C 5600K Open Face
Above you can see the Nanlite PavoSlim 120C recorded an output of 12,800 lx (1190 fc) when set at 5600K and run off mains power. 12,800 lx from an LED light of this size and with a power draw of just 150W is extremely impressive.
The reading of 12,800 lx that I obtained was almost exactly the same as the claimed output of 12,830 lx.
| OUTPUT @1m / 3.3′ 5600K | |
| Nanlite PavoSlim 120C | 12,800 lx |
| Godox KNOWLED F200Bi | 9610 lx |
| Westcott Flex Cine DMX RGBW LED Mat 1 x 2′ | 3500 lx* |
| amaran F21c 2 x 1′ RGB LED Flexible Light Mat | 3660 lx* |
| LiteMat Spectrum 1 Kit | 1943 lx* |
*Manufacturers’ claims (not independently tested)
As a comparison, above you can see how that output compares to some of the competition. The Nanlite PavoSlim 120C had substantially more output than other similar lights.
The PavoSlim 120C produced a CCT reading of 5754K, which was just over 150K off from being correct.
As a comparison, the Intellytech LC-160 LITECLOTH 2.0 produced a CCT reading of 5666K
Nanlite PavoSlim 120C 3200K Open Face
Above you can see the Nanlite PavoSlim 120C recorded an output of 10,900 lx (1010 fc) when set at 3200K and run off mains power. Again, 10,900 lx from an LED light of this size and with a power draw of just 130W is outstanding.
| OUTPUT @1m / 3.3′ 3200K | |
| Nanlite PavoSlim 120C | 10,900 lx |
| Godox KNOWLED F200Bi | 8020 lx |
| Westcott Flex Cine DMX RGBW LED Mat 1 x 2′ | 3500 lx* |
| amaran F21c 2 x 1′ RGB LED Flexible Light Mat | 2890 lx* |
| LiteMat Spectrum 1 Kit | 1792 lx* |
*Manufacturers’ claims (not independently tested)
As a comparison, above you can see how that output compares to some of the competition.
The PavoSlim 120C produced a CCT reading of 3166K, which was a very good result.
How do they perform at various CCT settings?
Nanlite PavoSlim 60C Open Face
| OUTPUT | CCT | |
| 2700K | 5390 lx | 2749K |
| 3200K | 5700 lx | 3236K |
| 4500K | 6100 lx | 4510K |
| 5600K | 6720 lx | 5745K |
| 6500K | 6140 lx | 6753K |
| 7500K | 5900 lx | 7823K |
The light’s output wasn’t overly consistent across its CCT range. The output across its CCT range varied by 19.79%. While there is nothing wrong with having a higher output at certain CCT settings, on really good lights the output is almost identical no matter what CCT setting you select.
The results also show me that the light is pretty accurate when it comes to CCT reproduction from 2700-5600K. Only at 6500K and 7500K was it a little off. The CCT was excellent at 2700K, 3200K, and 4500K.
Nanlite PavoSlim 120C Open Face
| OUTPUT | CCT | |
| 2700K | 10,400 lx | 2730K |
| 3200K | 10,900 lx | 3166K |
| 4500K | 12,400 lx | 4484K |
| 5600K | 12,800 lx | 5754K |
| 6500K | 12,800 lx | 6780K |
| 7500K | 12,300 lx | 7746K |
The light’s output wasn’t overly consistent across its CCT range and it varied by 18.75%. Although, in saying that, from 4500K to 7500K it only varied by 3.9%.
The results also show me that the light is pretty accurate when it comes to CCT reproduction from 2700-5600K. Only at 6500K and 7500K was it a little off. The CCT was excellent at 2700K, 3200K, and 4500K.
So, now, let’s have a look at how much output you get when using the included softbox.
Nanlite PavoSlim 60C 5600K Softbox
Above you can see that when the light was using its included softbox it recorded an output of 1150 lx (107 fc). This was 82.88% less output than when using the light open face. This tells me that the diffusion being used is quite strong.
Now, the softbox did alter the CCT slightly, but in a good way. With the softbox, the CCT reading was 5514K which was actually better than the 5745K it recorded with no diffusion. As most people are more likely to use an LED mat with diffusion, it is nice to know that when doing so, the CCT will be more accurate.
Nanlite PavoSlim 60C 3200K Softbox
Above you can see the light’s output when it was set at 3200K and using the softbox was 1060 lx (98.5 fc), which was 81.4% less than the 5700 lx it produced when used open face.
As far as CCT accuracy goes, it recorded an outstanding reading of 3227K, which was only 9K different from the reading when used open face. It was nice to see that the softbox didn’t alter the CCT values as I have seen on so many other lights in the past.
Nanlite PavoSlim 120C 5600K Softbox
Above you can see that when the light was using its included softbox it recorded an output of 2820 lx (262 fc). This was 77.96% less output than when using the light open face.
Now, the softbox did alter the CCT slightly, but in a very good way. With the softbox, the CCT reading was 5627K which was actually way better than the 5754K it recorded with no diffusion. As most people are more likely to use an LED mat with diffusion, it is nice to know that when doing so, the CCT will be more accurate.
Nanlite PavoSlim 120C 3200K Softbox
Above you can see the light’s output when it was set at 3200K and using the softbox was 2410 lx (224 fc), which was 77.88% less than the 10.900 lx it produced when used open face.
As far as CCT accuracy goes, it recorded a very good reading of 3150K, which was only 16K different from the reading when used open face.
Battery Output
One of the nice aspects about both the PavoSlim 60C and 120C is that they can be both run by a single flight safe battery at 10% output.
Nanlite PavoSlim 120C 5600K Single V-lock Battery
Ok, so now let’s see what happens to the output if I try running the Nanlite PavoSlim 120C via a single V-mount battery.
Above you can see that when the light was running off a single V-mount battery it recorded an output of 12,600 lx (1170 fc). This was basically the same amount of output as when it is run via mains power.
Nanlite PavoSlim 60C 5600K Single V-lock Battery
Above you can see that when the light was running off a single V-mount battery it recorded an output of 6150 lx (572fc). This was 600 lx than what it recorded when running off mains power.
CCT consistency & linear output when dimming the lights
Now, what you should always do when testing lights is to see if the CCT remains consistent when dimming the light. Just because you set a light at say 5600K, that doesn’t mean that the CCT will remain stable as you start dimming the fixture down. I also wanted to see how linear the dimming curve was.
I decided to do a series of tests at 100%/75%/50%/25%10% to see if the CCT being recorded changed. This was done at a distance of 1m / 3.3′ using a Sekonic C-800. These tests were done at 5600K with the light being used open face.
Nanlite PavoSlim 60C
| CCT READING | OUTPUT | INTENSITY % |
| 5745K | 6720 lx | 100 |
| 5682K | 4900 lx | 75 |
| 5693K | 3090 lx | 50 |
| 5737K | 1720 lx | 25 |
| 5699K | 814 lx | 10 |
The Nanlite PavoSlim 60C maintained very good CCT consistency as you start dimming the fixture. My testing showed that the CCT readings varied by 1just 52K from 100% to 10%.
As far as how linear the output is when you start dimming the light, at 50% output it had 54% less output than when used at 100%. At 25% it had 74.4% less output than when used at 100%. At 10% output, it had 87.88% less output than when used at 100%. This shows me that the light’s dimming curve is reasonably linear.
Nanlite PavoSlim 120C
| CCT READING | OUTPUT | INTENSITY % |
| 5754K | 12,800 lx | 100 |
| 5690K | 9710 lx | 75 |
| 5706K | 6490 lx | 50 |
| 5577K | 3340 lx | 25 |
| 5532K | 1510 lx | 10 |
The Nanlite PavoSlim 120C maintained decent CCT consistency as you start dimming the fixture, but it could have been better. My testing showed that the CCT readings varied by 222K from 100% to 10%.
As far as how linear the output is when you start dimming the light, at 50% output it had 49.29% less output than when used at 100%. At 25% it had 73.9% less output than when used at 100%. At 10% output, it had 88.2% less output than when used at 100%. This shows me that the light’s dimming curve is reasonably linear.
Color Rendering
So now that we have seen how much output the Nanlite PavoSlim 60C and 120C produce, how do they perform when it comes to replicating accurate colors?
Nanlite PavoSlim 60C 5600K
Above you can see that when the light was set at 5600K and used open face it recorded an average CRI (R1-R8) of 95.1 and an extended CRI (R1-R15) of 93.07. For replicating accurate skin tones it recorded 84.0 for R9 (red), 93.4 for R13 (closest to caucasian skin tones), and 92.9 for R15 (closest to Asian skin tones). These were ok results, but not as good as I was expecting. R9 (Red), R11 (Green), and R12 (Blue) were all below 90.
The light when set at 5600K also recorded a TLCI score of 98.
As a comparison, I compared the color rendering of the PavoSlim 60C against the Godox KNOWLED F200Bi, Aladdin Bi-Flex2 Bi-Color LED Panel 1×2 and the Intellytech LC-160 LITECLOTH 2.0. The Aladdin and Intellytech both have excellent color rendering scores and I personally consider them to be a benchmark for these types of thin LED panels.
| CRI | EXTENDED CRI | R9 | R13 | R15 | |
| Nanlite PavoSlim 60C | 95.1 | 93.07 | 84.0 | 93.4 | 92.9 |
| Godox KNOWLED F200Bi | 96.3 | 95.46 | 97.5 | 98.4 | 97.5 |
| Intellytech LC-160 LITECLOTH 2.0 | 98.2 | 97.25 | 97.6 | 99.5 | 98.7 |
| Aladdin Bi-Flex2 Bi-Color LED Panel 1×2 | 98.5 | 97.54 | 96.7 | 98.6 | 98.8 |
Above you can see a head-to-head comparison against the Godox KNOWLED F200Bi, Aladdin Bi-Flex2 Bi-Color LED Panel 1×2, and the Intellytech LC-160 LITECLOTH 2.0 when used at 5600K. The Nanlite PavoSlim’s scores were all below the Godox, Aladdin, and Intellytech, which are what I personally consider to be the industry benchmarks for flexible panel lights when it comes to color accuracy. I saying that any light with scores in the 90s is going to be pretty good.
Nanlite PavoSlim 60C 3200K
Above you can see the scores for when the light was used at 3200K open face. It recorded an average CRI (R1-R8) of 94.7 and an extended CRI (R1-R15) of 93.35. For replicating accurate skin tones it recorded 90.4 for R9 (red), 93.0 for R13 (closest to caucasian skin tones), and 94.5 for R15 (closest to Asian skin tones). Just like at 5600K, these were decent results, but I expected better. OR11 (Green) and R12 (Blue) were below 90.
The light, when set at 3200K, recorded a TLCI score of 97.
| CRI | EXTENDED CRI | R9 | R13 | R15 | |
| Nanlite PavoSlim 60C | 94.7 | 93.35 | 90.4 | 93.0 | 94.5 |
| Godox KNOWLED F200Bi | 98.1 | 96.84 | 92.5 | 99.5 | 98.9 |
| Intellytech LC-160 LITECLOTH 2.0 | 98.3 | 96.97 | 92.7 | 99.3 | 97.3 |
| Aladdin Bi-Flex2 Bi-Color LED Panel 1×2 | 98.5 | 97.54 | 96.7 | 98.6 | 98.8 |
Above you can see a head-to-head comparison against the Aladdin Bi-Flex2 Bi-Color LED Panel 1×2 and the Intellytech LC-160 LITECLOTH 2.0 when used at 3200K. Again, just like at 5600K, the Nanlite’s scores were all below the competition.
Nanlite PavoSlim 120C 5600K
Above you can see that when the PavoSlim 120C was set at 5600K and used open face it recorded an average CRI (R1-R8) of 95.3 and an extended CRI (R1-R15) of 93.32. For replicating accurate skin tones it recorded 85.2 for R9 (red), 93.5 for R13 (closest to caucasian skin tones), and 93.1 for R15 (closest to Asian skin tones). Again, just like with the PavoSlim 60C, these were ok results. R9 (Red), R11 (Green), and R12 (Blue) were all below 90.
The light when set at 5600K also recorded a TLCI score of 98.
As a comparison, I compared the color rendering of the PavoSlim 120C against the Godox KNOWLED F200Bi, Aladdin Bi-Flex2 Bi-Color LED Panel 1×2 and the Intellytech LC-160 LITECLOTH 2.0. The Aladdin and Intellytech both have excellent color rendering scores and I personally consider them to be a benchmark for these types of thin LED panels.
| CRI | EXTENDED CRI | R9 | R13 | R15 | |
| Nanlite PavoSlim 120C | 95.3 | 93.32 | 85.2 | 93.5 | 93.1 |
| Godox KNOWLED F200Bi | 96.3 | 95.46 | 97.5 | 98.4 | 97.5 |
| Intellytech LC-160 LITECLOTH 2.0 | 98.2 | 97.25 | 97.6 | 99.5 | 98.7 |
| Aladdin Bi-Flex2 Bi-Color LED Panel 1×2 | 98.5 | 97.54 | 96.7 | 98.6 | 98.8 |
Above you can see a head-to-head comparison against the Godox KNOWLED F200Bi, Aladdin Bi-Flex2 Bi-Color LED Panel 1×2, and the Intellytech LC-160 LITECLOTH 2.0 when used at 5600K. The Nanlite PavoSlim 120C had lower scores than all of these other lights, bu not by any huge margin.
Nanlite PavoSlim 120C 3200K
Above you can see the scores for when the light was used at 3200K open face. It recorded an average CRI (R1-R8) of 94.6 and an extended CRI (R1-R15) of 93.32. For replicating accurate skin tones it recorded 91.3 for R9 (red), 92.9 for R13 (closest to caucasian skin tones), and 94.6 for R15 (closest to Asian skin tones). Just like at 5600K, these were decent results. R11 (Green) and R12 (Blue) were both below 90.
The light, when set at 3200K, recorded a TLCI score of 97.
| CRI | EXTENDED CRI | R9 | R13 | R15 | |
| Nanlite PavoSlim 120C | 94.6 | 93.32 | 91.3 | 92.9 | 94.6 |
| Godox KNOWLED F200Bi | 98.1 | 96.84 | 92.5 | 99.5 | 98.9 |
| Intellytech LC-160 LITECLOTH 2.0 | 98.3 | 96.97 | 92.7 | 99.3 | 97.3 |
| Aladdin Bi-Flex2 Bi-Color LED Panel 1×2 | 98.5 | 97.54 | 96.7 | 98.6 | 98.8 |
Above you can see a head-to-head comparison against the Aladdin Bi-Flex2 Bi-Color LED Panel 1×2 and the Intellytech LC-160 LITECLOTH 2.0 when used at 3200K. Again, just like at 5600K, the Nanlite PavoSlim 120C had lower scores than the competition, but not by a huge margin.
Nanlite PavoSlim 120C 5600K Softbox
Above you can see that when the light was set at 5600K and used with its softbox it recorded an average CRI (R1-R8) of 95.2 and an extended CRI (R1-R15) of 93.2. For replicating accurate skin tones it recorded 84.3 for R9 (red), 93.5 for R13 (closest to caucasian skin tones), and 93.3 for R15 (closest to Asian skin tones). R9 (Red), R11 (Green), and R12 (Blue) were all below 90.
| CRI | EXTENDED CRI | R9 | R13 | R15 | |
| Nanlite PavoSlim 120C Open face | 95.3 | 93.32 | 85.2 | 93.5 | 93.1 |
| Nanlite PavoSlim 120C Softbox | 95.2 | 93.2 | 84.3 | 93.5 | 93.3 |
Above you can see how those scores compare to when you are using the light open face.
These tests basically tell me that the color rendering performance is basically identical whether you use the light with the softbox or open face.
How do they perform when creating saturated colors?
I also wanted to test the PavoSlim 120C to see how it performed when creating super-saturated colors.
0° – RED
Above you can see that the light recorded an output of 4940 lx (459 fc).
As far as creating an accurate 0° RED, the PavoSlim 120C was 1° off.
120° – GREEN
Above you can see that the light recorded an output of 8330 lx (774 fc).
As far as creating an accurate 120° GREEN, the PavoSlim 120C was spot on with a 120° reading and 100% saturation.
240° – BLUE
Above you can see that the light when set in its High Color mode recorded an output of 1730 lx (161 fc).
As far as creating an accurate 240° BLUE, the PavoSlim 120C had a perfect reading of 240°, with 100% saturation.
60° – YELLOW
Above you can see that the light recorded an output of 6240 lx (580fc).
As far as creating an accurate 60° Yellow, the PavoSlim 120C was way off with a reading of 47°.
Because the light is RGBWW and not RGBACL it is going to struggle to recreate some fully saturated colors such as yellow accurately.
CC Index & ⊿uv
The CC Index displays the CC correction value and whether any magenta or green need to be added or subtracted. 1 CC corresponds to 035 Kodak CC values or 1/8 Rosco filter values. Any reading less than +1.00 or -1.00 and you’re probably not going to need to make any kind of adjustment. The ⊿uv is the value to show how much this light is away from being an ideal light source (black body radiation = incandescent lamp). As with the CC Index you want this number to theoretically be zero. Kelvin is not a linear value, so we need to convert from Kelvin to MK-1 to compare the values of color temperature. To calculate from Kelvin to Mired is MK-1= 1*1000000/Kelvin. While this may sound confusing, it is the only way of measuring if the Kelvin shift is significant enough to warrant having to use a filter for correction. Below are the results for the Nanlite PavoSlim 60C and 120C:
Nanlite PavoSlim 60C Kelvin Vs MK-1
| Kelvin | Difference in K | MK-1 | Difference in MK-1 | |
| SET VALUE | 2700K | 0 | 370.37 | 0 |
| ACTUAL READING | 2749K | 49 | 363.76 | 6.61 MK-1 |
| SET VALUE | 3200K | 0 | 312.5 | 0 |
| ACTUAL READING | 3236K | 36 | 309.02 | 3.48 MK-1 |
| SET VALUE | 4500K | 0 | 222.22 | 0 |
| ACTUAL READING | 4510K | 10 | 221.72 | 0.50 MK-1 |
| SET VALUE | 5600K | 0 | 178.57 | 0 |
| ACTUAL READING | 5745K | 145 | 174.06 | 4.51 MK-1 |
| SET VALUE | 6500K | 0 | 153.84 | 0 |
| ACTUAL READING | 6753K | 253 | 148.08 | 5.76 MK-1 |
| SET VALUE | 7500K | 0 | 133.33 | 0 |
| ACTUAL READING | 7823K | 323 | 127.82 | 5.51 MK-1 |
These figures might look confusing, but what they tells me is that the light is very CCT-accurate at all of its settings. Any MK-1 score that is under -9/9 means you wouldn’t have to use any color correction gels. The MK-1 scores for this light were excellent. Any MK-1 score that is under -6/6 is a very good result. At 4500K the score was very good. The light had very good MK-1 consistency.
Nanlite PavoSlim 120C Kelvin Vs MK-1
| Kelvin | Difference in K | MK-1 | Difference in MK-1 | |
| SET VALUE | 2700K | 0 | 370.37 | 0 |
| ACTUAL READING | 2730K | 30 | 366.30 | 4.07 MK-1 |
| SET VALUE | 3200K | 0 | 312.5 | 0 |
| ACTUAL READING | 3166K | 34 | 315.85 | -3.35 MK-1 |
| SET VALUE | 4500K | 0 | 222.22 | 0 |
| ACTUAL READING | 4484K | 16 | 223.01 | -0.79 MK-1 |
| SET VALUE | 5600K | 0 | 178.57 | 0 |
| ACTUAL READING | 5754K | 154 | 173.79 | 4.78 MK-1 |
| SET VALUE | 6500K | 0 | 153.84 | 0 |
| ACTUAL READING | 6780K | 280 | 147.49 | 6.35 MK-1 |
| SET VALUE | 7500K | 0 | 133.33 | 0 |
| ACTUAL READING | 7746K | 246 | 129.09 | 4.24 MK-1 |
The light is very CCT-accurate at all of its settings between 3200K-9999K. Any MK-1 score that is under -9/9 means you wouldn’t have to use any color correction gels. The MK-1 scores for this light were excellent. Any MK-1 score that is under -6/6 is a very good result. At 4500K the score was excellent. The PavoSlim 120C had very good MK-1 consistency across its CCT range.
Ok, now let’s look at the CC INDEX & ⊿uv.
Nanlite PavoSlim 60C CC INDEX & ⊿uv
| CC INDEX | ⊿uv | |
| 2700K | 0.0 | -0.0001 |
| 3200K | 0.0 | 0.0001 |
| 4500K | 0.0 | 0.0000 |
| 5600K | 0.1G | 0.0003 |
| 6500K | 0.3G | 0.0005 |
| 7500K | 0.4G | 0.0009 |
These were outstanding results across the board. There was nothing here that anyone should be concerned about and the ⊿uv scores at all CCT values were right up there with the best lights I have ever tested. At 4500K it had a perfect ⊿uv score and at 2700K and 3200K it was just a smidge from being perfect.
Nanlite PavoSlim 120C CC INDEX & ⊿uv
| CC INDEX | ⊿uv | |
| 2700K | 0.0 | -0.0001 |
| 3200K | 0.0 | 0.0001 |
| 4500K | 0.0 | -0.0002 |
| 5600K | 0.1G | 0.0003 |
| 6500K | 0.2G | 0.0008 |
| 7500K | 0.4G | 0.0012 |
Just like the PavoSlim 60C, the 120C had excellent results across the board. The ⊿uv scores were right up there with some of the best lights I have reviewed.
TM-30
TM-30 is a relatively new color rendering standard that was developed to deal with the limitations of CRI. TM-30 looks at 99 individual colors. These 99 colors are categorized into seven groups: nature, skin color, textiles, paints, plastics, printed material, and color systems.
TM-30 scores go from 0 – 100. The higher the score, the more accurate a light is at producing colors. Any TM-30 Rf score in the ’90s is considered to be good. What is interesting and something that you need to be very aware of is that two separate light sources with the exact same CRI scores can render colors very differently. A light with a high CRI rating could have a low TM-30 score. Conversely, a light with a good TM-30 score could have a bad CRI score.
Now, there are two measurements associated with TM-30, Rf and Rg.
Rf (Color Fidelity)
Rg (Color Gamut)
With Rf value, ideally, you want a score in the 90’s.
With Rg value, a score below 100 indicates that the light source renders colors with less saturation than the reference source. Any score above 100 means it is over-saturating colors. So ideally you want this score to be 100.
Nanlite PavoSlim 60C
2700K 
3200K 
4500K 
5600K 
6500K 
7500K
Above you can see the scores for the Nanlite PavoSlim 60C at various CCT settings. Below I have listed the figures as well.
Here are the results:
| Rf | Rg | |
| 2700K | 93 | 99 |
| 3200K | 94 | 101 |
| 4500K | 94 | 103 |
| 5600K | 95 | 103 |
| 6500K | 95 | 103 |
| 7500K | 94 | 101 |
The TM-30 scores were very consistent across its CCT range and it shows me that the light is very consistent at replicating accurate colors with full saturation. However, you can see that it did have a tendency to slightly over-saturate magenta/red colors at 4500K-6500K.
Nanlite PavoSlim 120C
2700K 
3200K 
4500K 
5600K 
6500K 
7500K
Above you can see the scores for the Nanlite PavoSlim 120C at various CCT settings. Below I have listed the figures as well.
Here are the results:
| Rf | Rg | |
| 2700K | 93 | 99 |
| 3200K | 93 | 101 |
| 4500K | 94 | 103 |
| 5600K | 95 | 103 |
| 6500K | 95 | 102 |
| 7500K | 94 | 101 |
The TM-30 scores were very consistent across its CCT range and it shows me that the light is very consistent at replicating accurate colors with full saturation. However, you can see that it did have a tendency to slightly over-saturate magenta/red colors at 4500K and 5600K.
SSI
SSI (Spectral Similarity Index) was developed by the Sci-Tech Council of the Academy. SSI gives me the ability to set any light as a standard, or use predefined standards (such as CIE D55), and then give other lights an SSI score based upon how well they will match standards such as CIE D55 measure spectral response and compare it directly against an ideal light source.
SSI is a much better way to judge an LED light than CRI or TLCI, although they don’t tell the full story of any light and you can’t judge a light by SSI scores alone.
SSI is useful to see how well different lights will play together. As the Sekonic C-800 Spectromaster can measure SSI, I decided to test out the Nanlite PavoSlim 60C and 120C to see how they performed.
Nanlite PavoSlim 60C
3200K
Above are the scores for the light when used at 3200K. The scores show that the light does a very good job of accurately replicating a 3200K (Tungsten) source. Any score in the mid to high 80’s is outstanding for an LED light.
5600K
Above are the scores for the light when used at 5600K. The scores show that the light does a reasonably good job of accurately replicating a CIE D55 source. A score in the low to mid-70s is very typical for a 5600K LED light.
Nanlite PavoSlim 120C
3200K
Above are the scores for the light when used at 3200K. The scores show that the light does a very good job of accurately replicating a 3200K (Tungsten) source. Any score in the mid to high 80’s is outstanding for an LED light.
Above are the scores for the light when used at 5600K. The scores show that the light does a reasonably good job of accurately replicating a CIE D55 source. A score in the low to mid-70s is very typical for a 5600K LED light.
The main reason we want to record SSI scores is so we can see how well they match with other lights. For example, let’s see how well the Nanlite PavoSlim 60C matches the ARRI Orbiter and Prolycht Orion 675 FS at both 3200K and 5600K. Below you can see the results.
PavoSlim 60C 5600K
As you can see the Nanlite PavoSlim 60C is a decent enough match with the Prolycht Orion 675 FS and Orion 675FS when used at 5600K.
PavoSlim 60C 3200K
At 3200K the Nanlite PavoSlim 60C is also a reasonably decent match to the Prolycht and ARRI.
As another comparison, let’s see how it matches the PavoSlim 120C and itself when it is used with the softbox.
As you can see the Nanlite PavoSlim 60C was almost a perfect match to the PavoSlim 120C, and it was also a very good match to itself when used with the softbox.
Let’s now see how well the Nanlite PavoSlim 120C matches the ARRI Orbiter and Prolycht Orion 675 FS at both 3200K and 5600K. Below you can see the results.
PavoSlim 120C 5600K
As you can see the Nanlite PavoSlim 120C is a decent enough match with the Prolycht Orion 675 FS and Orion 675FS when used at 5600K.
PavoSlim 120C 3200K
At 3200K the Nanlite PavoSlim 120C is also a reasonably decent match to the Prolycht and ARRI.
As another comparison, let’s see how it matches the PavoSlim 60C and itself when it is used with the softbox.
As you can see the Nanlite PavoSlim 60C was almost a perfect match to the PavoSlim 120C, and it was also a very good match to itself when used with the softbox.
Being able to measure SSI in advance and compare different lights you may be using together is a great way of finding out what lights will work together and what adjustments need to be made.
Spectral Distribution
Nanlite PavoSlim 60C 3200K
Above you can see the spectral distribution of the Nanlite PavoSlim 60C when it is set at 3200K. The spectral distribution is decent, but there is a slight green push.
Nanlite PavoSlim 60C 5600K
Above you can see the spectral distribution of the Nanlite PavoSlim 60C when it is set at 5600K. The spectral distribution is decent , but there is a slight push toward green.
As a comparison, let’s compare that against the best LED light I have ever tested at 5600K, the Maxima 3.
Nanlite PavoSlim 120C 3200K
Above you can see the spectral distribution of the Nanlite PavoSlim 120C when it is set at 3200K. The spectral distribution is nice and full and the light only has the slightest bump in green.
As a comparison, above you can see what the spectral response of an ARRI Orbiter looks like when used at 3200K.
Nanlite PavoSlim 120C 5600K
Above you can see the spectral distribution of the Nanlite PavoSlim 120C when it is set at 5600K. The spectral distribution is reasonably good, but there is a slight push toward green.
Real-World Performance and Quality of Light
As I always say, photometric scores only tell you part of the story. So do the scores from the Nanlite PavoSlim 60C and 120C translate into real-world performance? Well, let’s find out.
As far as how the lights look, you can produce a beautiful soft source. With the included diffusion you get this lovely quality of light, however, this does come at the sacrifice of output.
PavoSlim 120C 2 layers of diffusion and honeycomb grid 
Light off 
PavoSlim 120C 2 layers of diffusion 
PavoSlim 120C 1 layer of diffusion 
PavoSlim 60C 1 layer of diffusion
If you want to see how much output the light has, above are some comparison frames. I have kept the camera settings the same for all of the shots.
PavoSlim 120C no diffusion 
PavoSlim 60C no diffusion 
Light off
Above you can see how much output the light has when used with no diffusion.
I also found it really nice to have lightweight fixtures of this size with lots of output. Both lights certainly punch well above their weight and I found that it could easily be used instead of a more power hungry 1×1 or 2×1 panel light.
Above you can see a couple of quick frames when using the PavoSlim with its included softbox and two layers of diffusion, with the honeycomb grid. For these examples, the light was set at around 30% output.
The lights will create some cross-hatched shadows if you use them without diffusion.
Above you can see what the light looks like when it is positioned out over a table using two layers of diffusion and a honeycomb grid. By using it with or without the honeycomb grid, you can choose how much spill you want.
Also, because the fixtures don’t weigh much you can put them a long way out on an arm which is also very handy.
The included diffusion is reasonably strong, and because it sits away from the light source it can create nice soft light.
Optional Accessories
Nanlite makes a few accessories for the PavoSlim series.
The first one is Magnetic Base Adapter with a 1/4-20″ Thread Set. Each corner of the PavoSlim features a 1/4-20″ mount that you can use with the magnetic base adapter with 1/4-20″ thread set for mounting a fixture to any surface that a magnet will bond to.
The second one is the PavoSlim 120B/C Dual-Panel Coupler Kit, which allows you to combine two 120B/C fixtures together to effectively create a horizontal (2×2) or vertical (4×1) fixture. There are also custom-made foldable softboxes and eggcrates for both horizontal and vertical orienatation.
You can buy everything in a Dual-Panel Coupler Kit that includes the following:
- 1x PavoSlim Dual-Panel Coupler 2×2
- 1x PavoSlim Dual-Panel Coupler 4×1
- 1x Softbox PavoSlim Dual-Panel 2×2 QR
- 1x 2×2 Softbox
- 1x 2×2 Eggcrate
- 1x 2×2 Lite Diffuser
- 1x 2×2 Standard Diffuser
- 1x Softbox PavoSlim Dual-Panel 4×1 QR
- 1x 4×1 Softbox
- 1x 4×1 Eggcrate
- 1x 4×1 Lite Diffuser
- 1x 4×1 Standard Diffuser
Price
The Nanlite PavoSlim series is now available to purchase. Below are the prices:
- Nanlite PavoSlim 60B $399 USD
- Nanlite PavoSlim 60C $599 USD
- Nanlite PavoSlim 120B $599 USD
- Nanlite PavoSlim 120C $799 USD
Alternative Solutions
Other alternatives to the Nanlite PavoSlim 120C include the Westcott Flex Cine DMX RGBW LED Mat 1 x 2′, amaran F21c 2 x 1′ RGB LED Flexible Light Mat, and the LiteMat Spectrum 1 Kit.
| PRICE | |
| Nanlite PavoSlim 120C | $799 USD |
| Westcott Flex Cine DMX RGBW LED Mat 1 x 2′ | $2,399.90 USD |
| amaran F21c 2 x 1′ RGB LED Flexible Light Mat | $479.20 USD* |
| LiteMat Spectrum 1 Kit | $3,790 USD |
*Currently on sale at B&H
Above you can see how the price compares to some of the competition.
Conclusion
The Nanlite PavoSlim 60C and 120C are great fixtures that won’t break the bank. They are solidly made, well-thought-out lights with a good amount of output and good color rendering scores.
It produces a beautiful soft light, especially when used with its diffusion. The output is extremely impressive given the light’s small size and power draw. That high output really helps when you want to create a more diffused lighting source, but you still require a decent amount of punch.
Being able to run them via a single flight-safe battery only adds to their appeal.
As they are on hard backing plates they are super quick to set up and use and I like the mounting system because it is substantially better than what you will find on most flexible LED panels.
The photometric scores across the board are impressive, however, the light doesn’t have consistent output across its CCT range. This is probably not a big deal for most people given the light’s high output.
I like that the diffusion Nanlite has used doesn’t alter the CCT readings. This is a big deal because a lot of diffusion I have previously seen with lights like this alters the CCT readings quite considerably.
The Nanlite app works well and it is easy to use and navigate, as are the physical controls on the power supply/controller.
The Nanlite PavoSlim series is very impressive given their relatively low cost. They have a good amount of output and a low power draw, and they are quick to set up and use.
