Great review, thank you for taking the time to make this. Food for thought, here are two reasons why I never put the ballast that high on a stand. 1. it becomes top heavy and can fall and break. Throw that weight closer to the base, combined with a sandbag and you've got a rig that can survive a bigger on set mistake from a green client or pa. 2. If I have to stick the lamp up high, if the controls are lower I can still access the ui if the app isn't working. And any bluetooth device is prone to fail in my experience, so it's pretty important to be able to quickly fix things if and when the app isn't working properly.
Hey man, thanks for the love and for the suggestions. I’m so used doing it this way tho. I never had a problem. I guess I like to live dangerously by setting up the ballast up high 🤣
Also noticed that at 5600K it looks perfect unlike another GVM light you reviewed, maybe ST100R or ST200R, that you need to crank it up to 6000K to get 5600K equivalence. More reasons to get it!
@@Bo_Hazem yes, the ST100R, 300R are spot on. Also for some reason the GVM SD200 is also good at 5600K. The only light I had trouble is the SD300D and the SD150R. The SD300S is also good.
@@ArtVideoProductions Thanks! Also noticed that there is a "version" of the firmware of that control case, so should we expect those SD300D and SD150R to be updated/corrected? Asking so because you seem to be in direct connection with GVM and can get such input. Warm regards.
@@Bo_Hazem yes, I’m very close with them and Godox. As for firmware, I believe it would fix it but I’m afraid the firmware update is only for the App. If these lights can actually be updated though the App that would be great.
Mine arrived broken. Looking at other reviews, it seems more common than it should be that the plastic housing breaks. When this happens, you can't adjust the yoke and position the light. It seems like a design flaw to make that brittle plastic part of the structural integrity of the product. I'd rather have seen a light metal cage (if not 100% metal), and plastic over that, so the plastic is merely cosmetic/dust-guard, vs. being part of the critical structure itself.
Even though I’ve never broken one of those, you’re absolutely correct. I also mentioned that in the video. They have to make that of METAL. These lights have warranty. Contact them (be nice) and they should replace the light or send you a replacement of the broken part. I used to be a customer way before I started doing reviews. On your GVM App, on setting, there’s their email for both, BH or Amazon support.
i tried to buy this, but its back orderd like crazy everywhere, i actually just bought the Godox Knowled bi color 600 because of your video! i should be gettin it tuesday
This might be fate for me. I ordered a godox SZ150R and I received a gaming keyboard instead from Amazon. This seems like a much better light. I also was going to get the rotolights that are coming out and after looking over the attachments I wanted I decided against it and am going with the titan 1x1. Boy you sure make it hard to get any sleep at night for me.
Lots of people (check Amazon reviews) have complained about this light being poorly made and cracking easily. I bought one two weeks ago, and barely a week later, the area around the swivel mount cracked and now the light won't even stay upright. The display also started flickering. Great concept, but for GVM's "premium" light, it's probably one of their most poorly constructed products. Also, I was never able to get over 160 watts on the RGB side, 240 max watts on the bi-color side at 5600K (using a watt meter.) For anyone thinking of buying this light, wait until GVM releases a better built version.
I’m actually curious now…I have two of these. No issues. I tried searching but…The ST300R is not searchable on Amazon. The ST200R I found it with 2 reviews, but nothing like that mentioned. Since you just bought it, every listing they put the item number there. Could I have the item’s ASIN#? So I can find it on Amazon. Thanks.
The electronic is much improved compared to the SD150R and at least CCT seems calibrated but this light is so noisy that I can hear its fan "wobbly" harmonics while you're talking. GVM could have spent an extra $10 to upgrade their fan and increase the MSRP by that $10.
You are a very professional, smart person. I had an idea for "extended" CCT alternative over 7500K as we tend to get 3 months of overcast here. Do you think you can do that on the RGB side using blue and playing around with saturation? And what Hue degree would you suggest? Same goes for below 2700K. Thanks a lot! Maybe make a video about it if it works and you got the time!
It’s up to them to send me one. I’d love to review it. Godox already sent me their 600 watt the M600D. Working on it now…it’s gonna take a about a week for that one.
Yup… Yes indeed. But they will catch up to at least what Godox app is doing. It’s a matter of time…I rarely use the App. Any App. My crew assistants are my “App”
What light stand do you have this light mounted on? I went to my local camera store and they had a lot of them mounted on C Stands but they only had products by Godox and Aputure out. I absolutely do not want to make a purchase on a stand that will end up failing and cost me my light. I have never owned a COB so this is new to me.
My Michael, no problem. I’ve added the link in the description. This light stand is excellent, hold heavy lights. And when loose, as you saw in the video when I did a 360 on the light for B-Roll, it even gives me the smoothest turns like a turntable.
Looks like a great light! It’s not really related but I see GVM have just released a 600w bi color light (2700-7500k). Will you be testing this also? Regarding this 300w light do you find that the COB is protected enough from the back? Is the 300w of rgb as powerful as the white light on the other side?
I just saw it at BH. Thanks for the update on that! I probably will review it if they send it. On the ST100R and 300R, the RGB is as bright as the CCT. Keep in mind, some colors are stronger and others not as strong due to the colors themselves like any other RGB light is. As long as you use the original case they provide, nothing’s gonna happen to the COB.
I don’t know why there are so few reviews for these GVM lights as from the look of it they appear the best value for money for what you get. However Aputure have the brand name and will be easier to resell I guess.
If you had ti decide between this or the 600 bi color what would you choose? I already own 3 gvm 300watt daylight fixtures and the 3 gvm 1200 d kit. Really looking for somthing bi color but can't decide between this unit or the 600w unit?
You absolutely need a 600 watt light. Especially when using softboxes at larger distances or with a window in the background. I’ve had to use THREE 600 watt lights on set.
@@yaselsax8943 these dual head series of lights by GVM are the only ones on the market that can spit RGB and CCT taking full power of the capacitors since they are separate. That alone is a big deal. If you combine the usual “all LEDs” into the same chip, not only can you fit less LEDs, there will be less power / brightness. The Aputure D is daylight only and X series are bicolor, no RGB, making them a different category to compare to the ST. Lastly, order it, from a reputable source such as BH or Amazon. if you don’t like, simply return it for a refund. No fear there…
@@ArtVideoProductions thanks so much for the quick response, I do music videos of my wife and myself, what do you think about the fan noise with my Neumann u87 microphone
@@yaselsax8943 due to the close proximity required to sing on a mic, even if you have the world’s loudest fan noise on a light you should be ok. But the fan on this light is pretty decent.
No (I actually mentioned that in the video 😂) but it’s because since the RGB diodes are separate from the CCT, it’s not possible to have that feature in there. But this light is pretty neutral between the two.
I just ordered this on sale on Amazon and I'm stoked! What would you recommend for a sturdy, affordable light stand? I'm reading that c-stands are not a great option.
C stands are the most versatile, solid and useful stands you could possibly own. They can be also used beyond just as a lighting stand. To use them as a regular stand, remove the grips and that bar. It reveals the standard baby pin that your used to.and with a baby pin adapter, and for the ultimate in low profile, you can place the light as low as 10” off the ground using just the turtle base, yet, extremely securing your light from wind, bumps etc.
