GVM (stands for “Great Video Maker”) announces two new COB LED lights, the PRO-SD1200C (RGB + Bicolor) and the PRO-SD1200B (Bicolor). At the other end of the line, the company offers three new compact lights: Travel Light, Pocket Light, and Camera Light, all based around a 60W COB LED in different form factors. The Camera Light is designed like, well, a camera – boxier than the others. Both the Camera Light and the elongated Travel Light include a built-in battery. The Pocket Light forfeits the battery for a more compact design with greater power flexibility. The LED market has seen the rise of multiple manufacturers in recent years. It wasn’t so long ago that 1200W COB LEDs were a rare sight, and now another company has started to make them, as well as a new line of compact fixtures with rather unique designs. To me, it sometimes seems as if there are no more niches left out there, and manufacturers put tremendous effort into reinventing or competing. For us filmmakers, this practice improves the market by diversifying it, adding new quality, specs, and pricing levels from which we may choose our best fit.GVM at NAB 2024. Source: CineDGVM PRO-SD1200C / BThis duo of heavyweights represents GVM LED lights’s peak output. The massive fixtures feature a unified weather-sealed body with the ballast crammed inside. While this design will save some cable-induced mess, it makes the fixture quite heavy, so a robust stand is a must. The PRO-SD1200 duo includes both the common Bowens mount as well as GVM’s proprietary mount for maximum light-shaping flexibility. A control unit will adjust power and color, and there’s also an app to control each specific light or larger groups on set. The Bicolor GVM PRO-SD1200B will output a slightly brighter beam than its RGB counterpart, but no exact specifications have been published just yet. Both LEDs possess a highly accurate CRI 97 / TLCI 97 according to GVM. GVM COB lights. Source: CineDTravel Light, Pocket Light, and Camera LightGVM announces a series of compact COB lights. All three are based on a 60W unit. There are GRB and Bicolor options marked “C” or “B” respectively. Temperature range is 2700K to 6800K with CRI “as high as CRI 97” according to GVM. The three lights mainly differ in external design and some related features. The Camera Light has a rather boxy design, which unsurprisingly looks like a camera. It includes an internal, rechargeable battery.GVM Camera Light, a light shaped like a camera. Image credit: CineDThe Travel Light also includes a built-in battery but adopts an elongated flashlight design. Mostly made of aluminum, this version provides about two hours of battery power and comes with an aluminum bracket/handle. It’s also weather-resistant. The Pocket Light is the most basic of the three, giving up the internal battery for your choice of power source. All fixtures include an active cooling fan, a simple single-knob control layout, preinstalled lighting presets, and app compatibility. Light modifiersThe Travel Light, Pocket Light, and Camera Light are launched with several light modifiers, including a basic reflector, fresnel, diffuser, barn doors, and a compact softbox. This compact trio uses GVM’s proprietary mount so Bowens mount accessories will not fit, at least until an adapter comes along.COB lights with modifiers. Source: CineDPrice and availabilityThe Bicolor GVM PRO-SD1200B will sell for $3,500 and the RGB-capable GVM PRO-SD1200C will set you back $4,000. This pricing is indicated as a launch promotion at the time of writing. Both lights are available for purchase on GVM’s website. Shipping is due July 31st. The compact Travel Light, GVM PD60B 60W, is priced at $219. The RGB GVM PD60C will cost $289. The Pocket Light, GVM PL60B 60W is priced at $179 with the RGB version costing $199. At this point, we don’t have specific pricing for the Camera Light. All are available for purchase according to GVM. Do you see the use of these designs? Would you prefer the ballast housed inside the fixture or would you go for the more traditional design? Let us know in the comments.
