I've been using the GVM Pro SD300B for a few months now and decided to create this review video to help out anyone who is looking for a 300 watt bicolor cob light! Here is the quick review video explaining the specs, details, and my thoughts on it.
TLDR; I highly recommend this lens which is currently priced at $389 on Amazon (amzn.to/401TjkB) and B&H. Solid starter COB light for anyone looking to get into the photography or videography world or is a content creator looking to elevate their game!
GVM Pro SD300B: amzn.to/401TjkB
Wireless Mic System: amzn.to/3PYKXpf
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GEAR USED FOR THIS VIDEO:
Sony a7S III - amzn.to/2GBRd6T
Sony 24-70mm GM F2.8 - amzn.to/2x4e7L6
Variable ND - amzn.to/2Bd9dPX
Cage for Rig - amzn.to/2T8h2OD
Top Handle for Cage - amzn.to/3j7Adm8
Wireless Mic System - amzn.to/3PYKXpf
MY FAVORITE GEAR:
Main Video Camera - amzn.to/2GBRd6T
Main Photography Camera - amzn.to/2Fw8clt
Main Lens - amzn.to/2x4e7L6
Vlogging Lens - amzn.to/2Gdg7Eh
Travel Gimbal: amzn.to/3xgKYf5
Portable Drone - amzn.to/3xxbj9M
GoPro: amzn.to/2DnKpGA
Variable ND - amzn.to/2Bd9dPX
Battery Grip - amzn.to/2IR5s3S
Mini Tripod - amzn.to/2G8f50z
Microphone - amzn.to/2I1kmmX
Best Camera Bag Ever - amzn.to/3O2fH69
Backup Camera - amzn.to/2FioJss
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SCRIPT
Let's get started with the specs! This GVM Pro SD300B LED Monolight is a 300 watt, bicolor, cob LED light for video production or photography. It outputs 44,500 Lux at 3.3 feet with the reflector, can output between 2700 and 6800 Kelvin, and has a CRI and TLCI of 97 - meaning that the color accuracy of this light is extremely high. It comes with what they call an optical lens which is essentially an LED chip protector that helps with diffusion and color temperature accuracy. This comes screwed onto the front of the led bulb straight out of the box and I wouldn't recommend removing it ever. As far as the build goes, it weighs 4.6 pounds and is created of what they call an "all aviation aluminum alloy." It seems like a very strong build quality and I love the red, black, and white color scheme. I'm also a huge fan of the GVM logo being lit up while it is powered on. On set you'll be able to tell which light is which without having to run up to the light and checking closely. It has double yoke for adjusting the tilt of the light, which I prefer the single one because it takes less time. Regardless, this is not a deal breaker.
Included in the box is the carrying case, the light, protective cover, reflector, power adapter, power cable, and the fixed strap for placing the adapter onto whichever light stand you'll use it on.
This particular light unfortunately does not come with a ballast or control box, so the power cord has to be near the body to receive power & all light settings must be done directly on the body or on the mobile app. This also means that you have to put the AC adapter onto the light stand using the velcro straps that it brought, or just rig it yourself - I prefer the hanging of the ballast or control box. The GVM Pro SD400B, SD500B, and SD650B all include the control box because they are the higher end lights from this series. Although it doesn't have a control box, the mobile app has been great when the light is rigged up high and you need to dial it in. The setup of the app was extremely easy, all you have to do is scan the QR code on the body and follow the prompts. The light has multiple modes including the regular mode with different color temperatures and intensities, the scene mode in which it has 12 different scenes such as a fire, lightning, candle, paparazzi, and TV mode, and it also has a source matching mode which is a preset similar to a cameras white balance settings such as daylight, cloudy, or tungsten. The light has a dimming curve where you can set the change in intensity to either linear, exponential, log, or S curve but for these I just leave mine at linear. It has an option to change the frequency of the light so if you happen to be shooting at a higher shutter speed than normal, you can adjust it to not get banding or flickering in your footage or photos. It also has a built in fan with adjustable speed based on what your filming and how noisy it can be. I haven't had any issues with the fan noise in any of the productions I've used it on but it's good to have the option to adjust it.