NANLITE FC-300B and FC-500B Bi-Color LED Spotlights Announced

Lighting News

by Jeff LochSeptember 7^th, 2023

NANLITE has just announced two new bi-color LED spotlights: the FC-300B and FC-500B. As their name doesn’t suggest, these 350W and 520W fixtures, respectively, can go from 2700K to 6500K. Also, they have a standard Bowens mount to attach lighting modifiers, can be controlled wired/wirelessly, and have 12 built-in effects. So, let’s take a closer look at all the features of these new NANLITE LED lights!

After the recent launch of the NANLITE PavoTube II XR last week, NANLITE is already back with two entry-level LED lights: the FC-300B and FC-500B. While the market is slowly transitioning to high-power LED lights, and low/moderate power RGB/RGBW spotlights like the amaran 150C/300C that we reviewed, it’s interesting to see that NANLITE continues to release “bi-color only” LED lights. However, bi-color fixtures make a lot of sense if you don’t want to spend the extra money for color features you might not use.

NANLITE FC-300B and FC-500B features

The NANLITE FC-300B and FC-500B are the first LED lights inside the company’s new FC lineup, different from the Forza and FS series.

At the front of the lights, you’ll find an industry-standard Bowens mount to attach lighting modifiers you might already have. There is also an umbrella hole in case you want to travel lighter.

According to NANLITE, the FC-300B has a maximum output of 37.340lx at one meter/3ft with the included 45° reflector at 5600K. The FC-500B has a maximum light output of 65.640lx at 1m/3ft with the same setup. The FC-500B can be dimmed in 0.1% increments.

The FC-300B and FC-500B are bi-color fixtures and can go from 2,700K to 6,500K. According to NANLITE, the color rendition is “excellent with both CRI/TLCI averages 96 and 98, TM-30 Rf average 95, TM-30 Rg average 101/100.”

Control and powering options

Both fixtures come with an external power supply that connects to the fixture via a locking PowerCon connector. You can’t power the lights directly via V-Mount or Gold-Mount batteries without using a third-party 48V power adaptor. Please note that the FC-300B and FC-500B are not entirely silent as they have built-in fans with four control modes: Smart, Full, Low speed, and off.

At the back of the FC-300B and FC-500B, you’ll find a 2″ screen, a USB port for future firmware updates, two buttons to access the Menu/Modes, and two knobs to adjust your settings and navigate inside the menu. Both fixtures have 12 built-in special effects, including CCT Loop, INT Loop, Flash, Pulse, Storm, TV, Paparazzi, Candle/Fire, Bad Bulb, Firework, Explosion, and Welding.

In terms of controls, the FC-300B and FC-500B have built-in 2.4G and Bluetooth modules, which are compatible with the Nanlink APP control. Next to the power input, there is also a wired DMX/RDM connector.

Pricing and availability

The NANLITE FC-300B is available now for $479, and the FC-500B is $699. The lights come in a foam case with a 45° reflector, the power supply, and power cables.

For more information, please visit NANLITE’s website here.

What do you think about these new NANLITE bi-color LED lights? Would you consider upgrading your NANLITE FS-series lights to the new FC-series? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below!