amaran F22c RGBWW LED Mat (V-Mount, 2 x 2')

Not in the Box

• Essential Light Stands (Not Included)

Killer for the Price

Definitely a step down from the usual Aputure signature, but does quite a lot nicely. It's fairly portable, decently bright, the colors look great, and the ballast makes it all super easy to control. Series of small complaints-- no lightning clamp, the mounting system for the light is a bit of a mess, and the build quality of the light generally feels a little cheaper. The build feels quite slow compared to the 300/600 series as well as Litemats, doesn't particularly feel ready for professional level sets. If you're willing to put up with the drawbacks though, you get fantastic value for the money. I just wish they went that extra 20% to really make this thing a Litemat killer.

The Only Light You Will Need In Many Situations

I am a big fan of productivity. Power and specs are one thing. But usefulness can be most important. I have a lot of different lighting fixtures for production. Big, small, very small, very big. The F22c is great because it is super light, super portable, and relatively affordable. With the included softbox and grid, it's great for interview situations of for lighting subjects closeups. It breaks down quickly. And with the Vmount option, I am able to slap on a Vmount, power it wirelessly, and move it around easily regardless of the shooting situations. With RGB capability, I don't have to worry about gels. And the whole thing packs up into a tiny bag that can fit just about anywhere. No reason not to have this light in your kit. And, if you are travelling light, it might be all you need.

Bright and effective light

This is a light-weight alternative to a Litemat. The light kit packs away into a case that is roughly 4x14x26. Much more compact than its competitor. The gak (cabling) is what you'd expect: cable from fixture to ballast, ballast cable to power supply box, then a third cable to an outlet. It does come with an extension head cable and what I really enjoy in the design is the head cables have twists locks: no worrying about pulling out copper wires in comparison to the Litemat. The kit supplies a bracket (X frame) with four legs that slide into each corner. I would advise to go in slowly as there is a gap in the circular corner pieces designed to let the bracket legs enter. No need to jam it in. In addition to the bracket (X frame) you are given two pins: a straight and a 90 degree option. You have to use one of them to mount onto a stand as the bracket center piece will not accept a C stand arm. Tough break. You can also put the pin in a grip head or in the supplied adapter which then can be put atop a baby pin, C stand arm, etc.. What I noticed when first mounting the light and having the fixture aimed downward was the sag between the LED mat and the bracket (X frame). One solution I use is to gently bend the bracket legs, at about the middle of their lengths upward, to create tension. Otherwise if the light is moved, jostled or bumped one of the bracket legs may slide out of a corner holder. Something to keep in mind. Softbox is easy to attach via Velcro sides and the rest is self explanatory. This light is bright for its size and cost point. I'm glad I did not buy the Litemat. You receive a fixture that has a wireless interface capability, RGB options and simple mounting. A couple things that I would keep an eye on is the bracket (X frame) and the the supplied adapter. I have a P60c and the adapter broke after being overcranked/over tightened. It's not an expensive item but having one allows rotation options. Always handy to have even though its build quality isn't meant to last forever. In regards to the bracket (X-frame), because the legs are malleable this may lead to warping. Also, the piece where the straight or right angle pin are inserted into the X frame (receiver) uses a tightening mechanism that latches closed. Something tells me if a filmworker over tightens the lock/lever/latch/whatever the Hell you call it and it breaks, you won't be having a good day because unless you have a spare or clever contingency this light won't be fun to mount. I did notice this part of the X frame has an Allen bolt holding it in place. I imagine replacing it with a different receiver is not out of the question. You can mount this on a wall using tape. Just tape each corner well. Can you place this flush against a ceiling aimed downward? I say no. One last thing is to take a photo of how you pack up the kit. Helps with rentals so people don't cram it all together. It's a good light. Hope it lasts.