Choosing the right equipment is often not easy, especially when you have a ton of choices. So in this article, I will try to help you narrow down some options and recommend some lights that I think are awesome!
In 2025, we saw a lot of new lights from various brands but today we are mainly looking at lights from Aputure/Amaran and Nanlite.
Before we get down to the real question of which one is the best light, we should first figure out what our use scenario is, because there's a "best light" for each scenario. Without further ado, let's get into it!
Content Creators
When I say content creators, I'm talking about people who are usually filming by themselves at home or outside in public. Users in this category often value size, portability and affordability over output and colour accuracy. Here are a few lights I would consider:
1. Amaran Verge / Verge Max
The Amaran Verge / Verge Max is new line released by Amaran back in May of 2025. These two lights are perfect for people who are making content inside their homes or offices. Only 1.1 inches thick for the Verge and 1.4 inches for the Verge Max, these ultra slim lights can be easily set up in small spaces. With the true-to-life soft edge lighting, the Verges produce a very beautiful catch light in the eye, making them my no.1 pick for content creators！
Amaran Verge - CAD $119
Amaran Verge Max Kit - CAD $359
If you have the space and budget for the Max, go for the Max!
2. Amaran Pano 60c / 120c
If you want more versatility from your lights, the new Pano 60c and 120c are worth taking a look at. Also released in 2025, these two panels replaced the older P60x & P60c panels which were loved by many creators. The biggest upgrade in these new panels are the form factor and power delivery methods. While the Pano 120c is about the same size (actually smaller) compared to the older P60 panels but offers double the output at 120W, the Pano 60c is only half of the size of the P60s, making these lights a perfect companion on the go.
Both Pano 60c and 120c offers USB-C power input allowing you to power the lights via a power bank when using them outdoors. They also feature Amaran's new Ace E-Lock system with power contacts enabling you cable free power delivery with Amaran's Peak Portable Battery System.
They also offer a wider range of CCT from 2300K to 10,000K at a better colour accuracy rating of CRI 96 compared to CRI 95 from the P60c panel. You can get the Pano 60c in either single light kits or two-light kits and the Pano 120c only comes in single light kits at the moment.
I'd highly recommend the Pano 60c 2-light kit because it also includes two light stands that packs into the same carrying case.
Amaran Pano 60c - CAD $239
Amaran Pano 60c 2-light kit - CAD $479
Amaran Pano 120c - CAD $429
3. Amaran Ace 25x/25c
If you are someone who is always on the go, or just want a pocket sized light for those situations where you wish you had a little more light, the Ace 25x/25c is the perfect light for you! With up to 32W of output in Boost Mode, the Ace 25x is insanely bright at up to 6320 lux at 0.5m in 5600K. The 25c does lose a bit of intensity due to its RGB nature, but it still comes in at 5900 lux of output at 0.5m in 5600K.
With a runtime of up to 4 hours and 40 minutes in Silent Mode or 70 minutes in Standard Mode, these lights will last during long shoots giving you confidence to keep creating!
Amaran Ace 25x - CAD $95
Aamran Ace 25c - CAD $138
Small Productions
Small productions usually involve less than five people on crew. For example, music videos, interviews, and low budget commercials. With these types of productions, lighting begins to play a bigger role vs. content creating. Light doesn't only need to light up the scene but also convey mood and help tell the story. Your lights need to do all sorts of things depending on the scene so versatility is a key factor when considering which light to invest in.
1. Amaran Ray Series
The hot new release from Amaran, these lights are just hitting the shelves now! The Ray series is kind of a big deal because they are replacing ALL of Amaran's previous COB lights. That means the 100d/x, 200d/x and 150c, 300c lights are all history. You won't ever have to contemplate weather to get Day-Light, Bi-Color or RGB lights ever again. All you have to worry about is how much power you need from your lights!
With 4 different outputs and 2 different form factors, the Ray series can go from ultra-portable setups to full-scale productions. The 60c and 120c are super portable with its pancake design and ability to power wirelessly through Amaran Ace E-Lock. Priced at $269 and $369 respectively for the 60c and 120c, I can see the 120c being a popular choice for many small crews. On the other hand, the 360c and 660c offer great output at relatively low price compared to previous RGB lights at the same output. The 660c is only $989 compared to the Aputure 600c Pro which was retailed at $3300.
Amaran Ray 60c RGB LED Light - CAD $269
Amaran Ray 120c RGB LED Light - CAD $369
Amaran Ray 360c RGB LED Light - CAD $609
Amaran Ray 660c RGB LED Light - CAD $989
2. Nanlite FS-300B
This light from Nanlite has the best output to dollar ratio. Housing a 300W bi-color LED chip, the FS-300B can emit up to 38720 lux of 5600K light at 1m with reflector, making this one the brightest light under $350 CAD. If you want the best bang for your buck in terms of pure brightness, the Nanlite FS-300B is THE light you should consider.
The only draw back with this light is its limited power option being AC only. If you want to use this light via battery for outdoors, you'll need to look at some other options.
Nanlite FS-300B - CAD $336
3. Nanlite FC Series
The FC series is a somewhat new product line Nanlite sandwiched between their FS series and Forza series. First introduced in 2023, Nanlite expanded this product line over the years with the newest addition, FC-120c, released in January 2025. Unlike the FS series lights, these lights can be powered by battery but additional accessories will be needed, which are sold separately.
Another notable feature on the FC series is DMX control. All FC models have locking 3.5mm DMX/RDM ports giving you the ability to control these lights via a control board.
Although the FC series offer lights from 60w Bi-Color all the way up to 500W RGB, I think two lights really stand out due to their insanely good price!
Nanlite FC-120C - CAD $320
Nanlite FC-500B - CAD $570
4. Nanlite PavoTube II 15c & 30c
Tube lights are becoming more and more popular on film sets. They can hide in your scene to add some atmosphere or light up your subject in tight spaces. Having a tube light in your kit can be a life saver when the situation calls. There are a number of choices on the market right now, I think the Nanlite PavoTube II 15c & 30c tubes are still holding strong due to its great value. With a newer generation of PavoTube II 15XR & 30XR out, you can pick up an older 15c or 30c tube for a lot less money. If you don't need the pixel effect and DMX/CRMX connectivity, there is no need to spend more than double the amount to get the new XR tubes.
Nanlite PavoTube II 15c - CAD $214.49
Nanlite PavoTube II 30c - CAD $293.99
4. Amaran T4C & T2C Light Tubes
If you already adopted the Aputure Sidus Link system and don't want to jump between apps to control all your lights, the Amaran T4c and T2c tubes are great alternatives to the Nanlite PavoTubes. Aside from Sidus Link, the Amaran tubes do a few more things better than the PavoTubes in my opinion. First being interchangeable batteries. Instead of an internal battery, the T4c and T2c tubes use a separate battery handle that can be swapped at ease. So you won't need to worry about running out of battery as long as you have spare batteries at hand. Another pro to the Amaran tubes is it's much easier to rig than the PavoTubes. You have multiple 1/4"-20 threads on the back of the light as well as on the bottom of the battery handle, making rigging much easier compared to the PavoTubes where you have to use the tube clip to mount the light.
These tubes do go on sale quite often, and when they do, they usually come with some free accessories like a 45 degree grid. That's the best time to pick them up!
Amaran T4c RGBWW Tube Light (4ft) - CAD $439
Amaran T2c RGBWW Tube Light (2ft) - CAD $269
Full Production
This is where things get real and fun. You now have a dedicated team for lighting and more access to bigger more expensive lights. Light quality and overall workflow is now a top priority when choosing which lights to work with. This area used to be dominated by big tungstens and HMIs, now we are seeing more and more productions adopt LED light over traditional lights.
1. Aputure STORM series
Aputure has been killing the game in the past couple of years with waves of new product launches. One of them being the new STORM series. Back in August 2023, Aputure acquired another LED light maker, Prolycht. When everyone else was making RGBWW lights, Prolycht was doing something else. They were using RGBACL, Red, Green, Blue, Amber, Cyan, and Lime, a wide gamut to render more accurate skin tone, deeper saturation and better white light compared to RGBWW lights. Aputure built on top of that technology and came out with their BLAIR (Blue/Lime/Amber/Indigo/Red) light engine for their bi-color lights and BlAIR-CG (Cyan and Green added) for their RGB lights.
The STORM series now consists of six lights: 80c, 400x, 700x, 1000c, 1200x and xt52. Giving users a wide range of choices for any lighting scenario. These lights can range from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands so I will focus on the lights that is worth buying for individuals.
The STORM 80c is a popular choice for many due to its compact size and decent output even though it is the smallest light in the family. The 3-light kit is worth the investment for small and large productions.
Aputure STORM 80c 3-light kit - CAD $2945
The STORM 400x is currently the most popular light in the family. It's still pretty compact compared to other lights at similar output. The new light engine is emitting a ton of light, it is even brighter than the old 600x pro when used with reflector. And because of the new light engine, this light is technically a full-color light but without the Cyan and Green emitter Aputure views this light as an advanced bi-color fixture. Meaning you can still get usable RGB light out of this fixture but just not at the full spectrum, giving this light more versatility.
Aputure STORM 400x - CAD $1529
The STORM 700x is the newest addition to the family. As of today, it hasn't hit the shelves yet but when they do, they will be selling out fast! People already seen how good the 400x is and can't wait to try the 700x. Unlike other things, newer doesn't always mean more expensive. The 700x is actually cheaper than the old 600x pro at only $2420 compared to $2800. You'll get 100w more output on a much better light engine emitting tons of more light for almost $400 cheaper? Yea I'd take that deal. You can even get the Cine Kit with fresnel, barndoors and skid for $3050.
Aputure STORM 700x - CAD $2420
Aputure STORM 700x Cine Kit - CAD $3050
The STORM 1200x is the biggest light you should buy. At 1200w output, this light can potentially replace a 1.8K HMI. Dimming from 0.1% to 100%, this light gives you precise control over how much light you need. Although this light is extremely expensive at $4027, it's still worth the investment for anyone who is using it on the regular.
Aputure STORM 1200x - CAD $4027
2. Aputure INFINIMAT
The Infinimats are another one of Aputure's recent releases. Something never been done before by Aputure. The Infinimat produces bright soft light with precise control ideal for interviews and smaller spaces. These come in various sizes: 1x2', 1x4', 2x4', 4x4', 8x8' and 20x20' and they are not cheap. So in my opinion, there is only one size that is worth spending your hard earned money on, the 2x4'.
The Infinimat is not a must have in your kit but it is a nice addition if you have the room and budget for it.
Aputure INFINIMAT 2x4' - CAD $2990
3. Amaran F21 | F22 Series
The Amaran F21 F22 light mats are a great cheaper alternative to the Infinimats. Even though they only come in 2x1' and 2x2' sizes but for a lot of situations they are more than enough. Other than sizes, they also come in two flavors, bi-color and full-color, with F22c (2x2', full-color) being the most popular choice. These lights are extremely light making them the no.1 choice for top lighting.
Amaran F22C - CAD $1179
These are a few lights I would recommend buying in 2026. There are still a ton of lights out there I haven't mentioned. So let me know, which one do you think is the best LED video light in 206?