Portable LED light options

I mentioned last week that I’ve been aiming to build a small kit of portable continuous lighting that I can use for both headshots and video interviews.

Here’s the criteria:

• Quality (durability and sufficient power for my 36-inch softbox)

• Small and portable

• Bi-color (key light)

• RGB (fill/hair lights)

• Bowens mount

• Battery (v-mount or Np-f) & mains options

I’ve bought a Nanlite Forza 60 to test, and it should be sufficiently powerful to be my key light. One potential issue with such a small light is whether the mount can handle the weight of a large softbox, but the Forza 60 has a separate mount adapter, so it’s the mounting plate that is attached to the stand and taking the weight of the softbox  rather than the light itself.

I did also buy a Nanlite pavotube but I’m going to return that in favor of an Amaran P60x LED panel, which I think will give me more options as a fill or hair light with it’s small softbox and grid.

I’ll be using a reflector for fill too, and plan to use a single c-stand for a collapsible backdrop for headshots, assuming that I won’t use a backdrop for interviews.

That’s the plan so far, other than microphones for interviews. Batteries and a good bag for transportation to complete the ‘little’ kit.