NANLITE PavoTube T8-7X Launched – 1 meter LED Tube Light

Lighting News

by Francesco AndreolaMarch 16^th, 2022

The Chinese company NANLITE recently introduced a new family member to their PavoTube LED light series. The new NANLITE PavoTube T8-7X is a 1-meter long LED fixture that comes with 16 individually controllable zones, support for built-in and custom-made effects as well as wired, Bluetooth, and DMX/RDM control. The light is now available for purchase for the impressive price of $95.

A few years ago, the NANLITE PavoTube 15C and 30C were among the first products in this series to reach the shelves. The family then expanded to include the PavoTube II 6C. More recently, three new models joined this series of LED tube lights, including a 240cm version! Make sure to read our review of the PavoTube II X products here.

Thanks to their competitive price, these tube lights have become fairly popular over time and not only off-screen. In fact, they’re often used by content creators and music video shooters as practicals to populate the background of their shots. Now the company is introducing a new model: the NANLITE PavoTube T8-7X. Let’s take a closer look.

NANLITE PavoTube T8-7X: overview

The new NANLITE PavoTube T8-7X is a 1-meter long LED light that can reproduce a range of 36,000 colors. The color temperature of this fixture ranges from 2700 up to 7500K with green/magenta adjustments.

The PavoTube T8-7X inherits the Pixel Control mode from the PavoTube II X models. This enables users to individually control 16 different zones along the tube, resulting in dynamic lighting effects that go beyond simple fades or hue changes. The light comes with 10 built-in pixel effects, but users can create their own via a compatible smartphone app.

The manufacturer claims a CRI rating of 96 and a TLCI score of 97 for this light source. These numbers should provide a pretty accurate color rendition, but as usual, we are curious to see how it actually performs on the field.

Slim and compact design

The compact, elongated shape of the PavoTube T8-7X allows filmmakers to fit the light in pretty much every shooting environment. The fixture only weighs 280g, which makes it effortless and safe to rig.

A 1/4”-20 threaded hole at the bottom offers an easily accessible mounting point. Moreover, the integrated handle can offer a solid grip for light painting effects and handheld operation.

Power and control options

When it comes to powering and controlling the unit, the NANLITE PavoTube T8-7X proves to be an extremely flexible tool. The light has a built-in battery, but it can also draw power from the USB Type-C DC IN port when connected to a power bank or the optional WC-USBC-C1 controller.

The same amount of flexibility is available when controlling the light. Three on-board buttons at the bottom of the unit grant access to all the fundamental controls. But that’s not all. Indeed, the T8-7X seamlessly connects to the NANLINK mobile app (iOS only for now) via Bluetooth and also supports wired control using the optional WC-USBC-C1 unit (which also supplies power).

Finally, for more professional applications, the USB-C port can also serve as a DMX/RDM  control interface using a dedicated splitter cable.

Key features

• 1 meter long
• 280g
• 2700-7500K
• Green/Magenta adjustments
• 96 CRI and 97 TLCI rating
• Pixel Control mode with 16 individually controllable zones
• On-board controls
• Support for wireless and wired control
• DMX/RDM control with optional splitter cable
• Built-in battery and USB Type-C DC IN input

Price and availability

NANLITE products often provide a great set of features at a very competitive price. The PavoTube T8-7X is no exception. Indeed, the fixture comes at the astonishing official retail price of $95. In the box, you will find the LED light, a USB-C cable, and the user manual.

Moreover, the company also offers a kit of four T8-7Xs that comes with a protective carrying case. This option will cost you $389.

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

Do you often include LED tube lights in your lighting setups? What is the brand you trust the most when purchasing this kind of fixture? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.