NanGuang CN-60F LED Fresnel Review
Categories
Review of Light Fixtures

NanGuang CN-60F LED Fresnel Review

A complete review of the NanGuang CN-60F LED fresnel light.

Review rating: ***
List of sponsored/free gear: None
Did I get paid for this review? No

This is the complete review of the NanGuang CN-60F LED fresnel.

Exclusive Bonus: Download your FREE Blueprint: How to make a movie. A complete visual representation of the filmmaking process from beginning to end.

Goals

Here are the important questions I wanted answered:

  • Does the NanGuang CN-60F LED fresnel sacrifice quality for its low price?
  • Is the CRI rating of 95 worth it?
  • Is the light output of the fixture high enough?
  • Are the barn doors only for show?
  • Is the dimming really stepless, and will there be a shift in color?
  • Can it be used for high frame rate (HFR) video?

Let’s get started.

Important: Prices, specifications and my observations and analysis can be totally wrong or incorrect. Please refer to the manufacturer’s website for correct information. You are responsible for your own actions. Results seen here might only apply to me personally and may not reflect your experiences.

NanGuang CN-60F LED Fresnel Review

Watch my entire review:

Notes and specifications from the review

Here’s a quick list of specifications of the NanGuang CN-60F LED fresnel:

Specifications
Power draw 60 Watts
Fresnel size 4.3″
Spot/Flood 12/55 degrees
Fan No, fully quiet
CRI Rating 95
Rated Color Temperature 5600K
LED Rated Lifespan 50,000 hours
Lumens 4,497
Wireless band 2.4GHz
AC 100-240V
DC 12-18V, 4-pin XLR
Size (inches) 15″x8″x6.7″
Weight 2.5 kg

You get a fresnel attachment, three warming filters (3200K, 4000K and 4800K), AC adapter and connector to light stand, plus a bag. I got a free silver/gold reflector (small size, 24″) but either that was an oversight or a gift. You might not get that.

Remote control and Bowens adapter are optional extras.

Light output

All measurements were taken at 6 feet, and are in lux.

Here are the measure light output results compared to a Zylight F8 (B&H) and Arri L7-C (B&H, Amazon):

ComparisonoffresnelsLED

You can see quite clearly the performance is very similar, and even better in flood mode. But the thing that takes the cake is the power draw. Only 60 Watts!

The NanGuang CN-60F dims all the way to 0%, but not linearly (Readings in flood mode):

LightFallOff

It’s okay till 50%, but then drops off rapidly. In any case, once you use the light a few times, you’ll know where the numbers are and you can dial it in.

Color reproduction

All white balance measurements were taken with a DSC Labs OneShot Chart and a Sony a7S II.

Cheap LEDs change color temperature when dimmed, not the NanGuang CN-60F:

MeasuredColorTemperatureDimming

It holds on to its rated 5600K rating strongly.

Here are the results of the green color cast test:

NanGuangGreenCastComparison

And here are the original vectorscope readings:

ComparisonofVectorscopes

You can see how only the Yongnuo YN900 is off, the CN-60F performs admirably! Here’s the full image:

NanGuangCN60FResult

Color filters

Here are the results with the three color filters measured for color temperature:

MeasuredColorTemperature

They are pretty close enough, though the 3200K filter is off by 200K, which is okay but not perfect.

Adding a filter reduces the light output. Here are the results of the light loss when using each filter:

LightLossduetofilters

You lose about a stop and a half with the 3200K filter.

High frame rate mode

I tested the light at 25p, 50p and 100p, and didn’t find any issues. I believe it will be fine up to 120 frames per second, and maybe more!

Bottom line

The NanGuang CN-60F LED fresnel is cheap ($398), and is rated to run for 50,000 hours. If you’re shooting 4 hours a day for 300 days a year, that’s 40 years.

The NanGuang CN-60F LED fresnel for its price and features, is unbeatable. The only major downside I see to it are the plastic composite construction, which includes the yoke and the tightening knobs. The fresnel attachment is detachable but also feels flimsy. This lighting fixture is great for the independent filmmaker and solo cinematographer and videographer.

But it’s definitely not made for rentals.

I purchased this light from Wit Vision Supplies at AliExpress. You can also contact the manufacturer directly at Alibaba. I believe you can also purchase it on Ebay.

Well, that’s the end of my review. I hope you have found it beneficial.

Exclusive Bonus: Download your FREE Blueprint: How to make a movie. A complete visual representation of the filmmaking process from beginning to end.

22 replies on “NanGuang CN-60F LED Fresnel Review”

Hi Sareesh,
How is the CN-60F holding up after almost 2 years of usage? Am considering purchasing but am keen to hear your thoughts after having owned if for this period of time. Are there any new improved competitors on the market with similar characteristics that you are aware of?
Cheers,
Ben

It still works fine. The Aputure 300D with a fresnel attachment is another, more powerful, option. Albeit expensive.

Hi Sareesh – do you know the actual cri (inc R9) of the aputure 120t? I’m reading very impressive claims but the only review I saw (which was a comparison to the CAME-TV Boltzen light) indicated a CRI of around 80. Quite confusing. Were you able to measure the CRI (inc R9) + TLCI ratings for the CN-60F?
Thanks

No Michael, I haven’t measured the readings. However, I did find the measured CRI rating on a separate website. Just google it and you should get it.

Hi Sadesh,
Have you heard of the Nanguang CN-P100WA ? Any thoughts about this one vs the CN-60F ?

Sareesh, sorry this has taken so long but I finally got the photometrics tested on the Aputure COB120t. You measured at 6 feet and I measured at two meters so my rating might come in a little lower for it, but I get 852 lux at two meters from the COB120t. Would you mind measuring the NanGuang WITHOUT the fresnel attached so we can at least somewhat compare? Also, the beam angle on the Aputure COB120t is very wide (around 120º) so that will pull the lux rating down significantly, but should make it work well with a lot of modifiers. Once I can get Aputure’s fresnel ordered I’ll update on how much it increases those numbers, but it should be substantial.

The interest in a light like this is related to the versatility of a light that can be used both open faced in a modifier and given throw via a fresnel attachment. The Aputure is more money than the NanGuang so it will be interesting to hear how they compare. The CRI/TLCI is incredible, I measured both with a spectro and a chart test against tungsten and it is the best LED I own for colow. The output is great for my needs, even inside a softbox.

Thanks Sareesh.

Thanks for the information! If I remember correctly I did meter the LED without the fresnel, it might be in the video itself.

Sir, As always your review is great, is there any customs and other duties attached to it ? kindly let me knoew sir.

Dear Sareesh,

thanks for this review!

Unfortunately, these lights don’t show up on aliexpress, neither they do on Ebay or Amazon. I could only find them through alibaba, but there is no price given.

Do you have any idea how to get them?

Hello. Great review.
What do you think of Aputure Light Storm COB 120t?
Is it better than the CN- 60F?

Best reggards from Brazil

I think it’s fair to say the Aputure COB 120t is better as well. In some ways the NanGuang CN-60F is also better. They simply have different strengths. The blanket statement “no, it’s not better” doesn’t seem fair to the Aputure. The CN-60F is being compared to a 650W tungsten while the COB is supposedly just under a 1.5k tungsten. That makes the CN-60F more expensive. I’m tremendously interested in lights like these which can be used open face for efficiency inside modifiers as well as with attached fresnels. A 60W LED I worry is just not quite powerful enough for diffusion inside a modifier. I’ve been loving my COB 120t from Aputure. Benefits of the Aputure include: higher light output, comes with Bowens mount, has an umbrella holder (very important to me), very impressive CRI and TLCI (I measured 96+ on mine and even has high R9 values which the Yongnuo does terribly with BTW), comes with the remote for remote exposure control, Aputure customer service has been tremendously responsive for me in the past (what type of warranty and customer service come with AliExpress?), the handle on the back of the Aputure makes the light easy to position with the yoke, available in V-mount or AB battery. Again, I think there are a lot of advantages to the Aputure. Disadvantages may include: Price. The Aputure is $645 on AliExpress right now and that DOES NOT include the fresnel accessory (though it does include Bowens S mount AND the remote). However, the Aputure likely outputs significantly more than the NanGuang CN-60F so cost per lumen may actually mean the Aputure could even be cheaper. I also like that Aputure designs accessories for the light specifically–the parabolic and beauty dish are my main interests. For these to work well, the modifier needs to take into account the position of the light source. Because of this, many third party modifiers don’t work optimally with lights even though they share the Bowens mount. Getting the modifier designed for the light can be a real advantage. Availability may be an issue on the NanGuang as well. The Aputure COB 120t is shipping (tungsten only) and I can’t find the CN-60F on AliExpress. The Aputure does have a fan but it is so low you would be very hard pressed to hear it even in the most demanding shooting situation. It also adjusts its speed based on ambient temp. So again, this comes from someone who has used and been quite impressed with the Aputure but not actually tried the CN-60F. Output between the two will largely determine my opinion. I’ll try and get the latter and do a more fair comparison, but I wouldn’t write off the Aputure COB so easily Humberto. Sareesh, any chance of getting the Aputure and comparing on your end? They both look like great lights that are finally becoming more accessible in price. These “circuit on board” LEDs are so much better for my shooting style than the panels. E, Humberto, um grande abraco pra todos os meus amigos na patria amada!

Check the photometrics, not the marketing. Please share your results when you’re done! If you need an open faced light, then why look at an LED fresnel at all? The link to the CN-60F is posted in another comment.

Official Photometrics gives 2500 / 4700lux @2m while you wrote 4500/13000 for the CN-60F…

Is it a typo ? Or did you got a CN-100F for the price of the 60 ? This is a huge difference.

Thanks for clarifying

Stephane

No typos. Readings are as taken. I still get what I’ve written. All are CN-60F.

Comments are closed.