Litepanel vs Kino vs Socanland

[bryanlitt]

I searched all over for a comparison and couldn't find one, so we ordered all three and put them together. I've gone through just about every LED panel out there and none of them are remotely close to a clean 5600K. If you're using all the same brand of LED, you can compensate in camera – but forget about mixing them without gelling.

The LitePanels have no color spike but their color temp comes in at about 4500K. Accessories are overpriced.
The Kinos are a perfect daylight but a P.I.A. to lug around and set up for smaller shoots. IMO, Kinos have always been a tad overpriced.
The Socanlands have a crazy amount of light output but a huge magenta spike. Whether the fader will last is also questionable because it flickers when adjusted. They cost as much as the Litepanels but you get more stuff (battery mount, barn doors, diffuser & case).
The Genaray panels B&H sells have such a huge magenta spike that they're pretty much unusable. They're a rebranded generic make.
Kino Celebs... I won't even mention those because they're so crazy expensive. Not enough output but good color.

From left to right: Litepanel daylight bifocus @100%, 2' Kino daylight, Socanland 100W daylight @ 50%.

Curious to know if that is the older Socanland or the Socanland NOVA? Thanks

 

[PegLeg Media]

You may also consider the forthcoming Aputure Lightstorm Series:

I agree these are probably the best. Best CRI, brighter than any LED close to its size, cheaper than most and with barn doors.

 

[cameraguy1212]

Socanland Nova-CTD has great color, output and build quality. The Nova-CD not as good

Socanland Nova-CTD has great color, output and build quality. The Nova-CD not as good

Curious to know if that is the older Socanland or the Socanland NOVA? Thanks

Bryan, good point bringing the older model date up...

The model that DanStone is referring to is the older single color Nova-CD. Intellytech very plainly writes on their site at the very top of the Nova-100CD listing "*If your looking for the best color temperature available, we recommend our bi-color Nova Models instead which use a more updated LED!" I've used all of the models written here, the Astra, Dracast 1000plus, and both of Intellytech's Socanland models, the older Nova-100CD and the newer bi-color Nova-CTD. Yes, the older Nova-CD had the magenta spike (which was easy to gel out). The newer Nova-CTD does NOT have any magenta spike whatsoever. Just by looking at the LED's side by side you can tell they Nova-CTD has a much newer generation of LED's compared to the old Nova-100CD.

The Intellytech Socanland Nova-CTD has fantastic color temperature. I've known those guys for years and they are great to work with. They stand behind their products. It's by far has the best color temp out of the Dracast, Astra, or any other light I've used. The Dracast is WEAK and I really was unhappy with the poor color on them. (many people have said the same thing). They might mix well with Kino's but Kino's have poor color temp. The Astra is just a pain to work with and the fans do pick up on some models. The ease of use on the Intellytech Socanland Nova-CTD, color, output and build quality puts the other lights in a lower league.

Long story short, don't buy the older Nova-100CD (which Intellytech basically tells you to do on their site anyway) and pay the extra $150 for the bi-color Nova-CTD. There is no output loss on their bi-color model so it's really a no brainer. The Nova-CTD is by far the best high output model available.

 

[Bern Caughey]

cameraguy1212,

You've got a total of six posts on DVXuser & they all promote Socanland's LEDs.

Curious.