The New Nanlite FC-120C Spotlight: Color On-the-Go
Posted by Sam Mallery on Jan 21st 2025
We're excited to announce the full-color FC-120C RGBW LED Spotlight, which stands out for being incredibly lightweight compared to similar options on the market. Not only does the FC-120C make your life easier by not weighing you down, but it's also ultra-compact, impressively bright, and offers a wide range of control and powering options. Plus, it's cute!
The new FC-120C is a member of the FC-Series, which means it operates continuously on AC with the included power supply, but it also can run V-Mount batteries with the separately available BT-BG-XLR4II Battery Grip. If you prefer USB powerbanks, the FC-120C features a USB-C port that's compatible with PD 3.0 and 2.0 battery powerbanks and chargers of 30W or greater. If you go this route, Nanlite makes the BT-BG-PB Powerbank Battery Grip, which holds these batteries and allows handheld use, stand mounting, or resting on surfaces.
Another perk of being in the FC-Series family is that the FC-120C comes with a latching, hard-foam case for storage or travel that holds all of the included accessories: AC power supply, 45° reflector, and a Bowens-Mount adapter.
FC-120C with the BT-BG-XLR4II Grip and BT-V-14.4V98 V-Mount Battery (both sold separately)
You can think of the FC-120C as being a full-color version of the bi-color FC-120B, as it's the same size, and has all of its features. While they're siblings, the two lights are different in several ways: the CCT range of the FC-120C is wider, the FC-120C features +/- 150 of green-to-magenta adjustment, it has a few more effects, and it's considerably brighter.
Here are the specs @1m 5600K bare bulb:
FC-120C: 7508 lux, 697 fc
FC-120B: 5333 lux, 495 fc
Light as a Feather
The additional components required to add RGB color makes the FC-120C a little bit heavier than the FC-120B. The FC-120C weighs 2.49 lbs (1.13 kg) and the FC-120B weighs 2.2 lbs (0.98 kg). But, when you compare the FC-120C to similarly powered LED spotlights from other makers, it's less than half the weight of some options.
Equipment that weighs less benefits you every time you pack your gear and transport it to a shoot. You will appreciate it every time you pick the light up, mount it to a stand, and raise the stand up high. Should you decide to move that stand over a bit to the left, you will appreciate the lightness again. And when you attach modifiers to shape the light, starting off with a lightweight fixture is a great way to keep the overall weight low.
FC-120C with the SB-FMM-O-60 Softbox and Grid (sold separately)
One of the ways the FC-120C can be so lightweight is that it has the compact FM-Mount for attaching modifiers. The smaller size keeps the weight low. There is an entire ecosystem of modifiers for this mount that are also specifically designed to be lightweight yet durable, such as the FL-11 Fresnel, the PJ-FMM Projection Attachments, the LTFMM60 Lantern Softbox, and more.
Don't forget that a Bowens-Mount adapter is included in the hard-foam carrying case, which means the FC-120C is compatible with a vast number of light modifiers. Plus, the Bowens-Mount adapter also has an umbrella holder, which lets you attach these types of soft-light modifiers.
Easy-to-use buttons, knobs, and a screen are built into the FC-120C, which makes it simple to dial-in the settings to get the look you need, even for complete beginners. If you prefer wireless control, or if you mount the FC-120C up high on a stand and can't reach the onboard controls, it can be controlled with the phone in your pocket and the free NANLINK app through Bluetooth. If you don't want to involve your phone, you can control it through 2.4G with the separately available WS-RC-C2 Remote Control.
For more advanced control, the FC-120C features a locking, metal DMX/RDM port. The separately available CB-DMX-3.5C-1/2 DMX Adapter Cable is required to connect. The USB-C port on the FC-120C is capable of supplying power to wireless DMX receivers (sold separately).
Whether you're just starting out or more advanced, the new FC-120C should appeal to you. Like all Nanlite instruments, it delivers highly accurate light, so your skin tones and colors will look natural in post production. The wide CCT range and 36,000 different colors give you a great number of looks and moods to create with. And the incredibly affordable price is something everyone will appreciate.
Thanks for checking out this post! If you have any more questions about the Nanlite FC-120C, please contact us! We will respond to you as quickly as we can.