Nanlite Forza 500 5600K LED Monolight
The Forza series was designed to eliminate the hassle of traveling with large lights. The compact design makes these lights perfect for use in the studio or on location. The light is powered with the included power supply or with batteries (not included), so that you can work independently and flexibly at any location. The brightness is continuously dimmable between 0-100%. The Forza 500 weighs only 2.6kg and is so compact that it fits easily into most suitcases. With the included reflector, the Forza 500 emits an impressive 93350 lux at 1 meter. In Effect Mode, four pre-programmed special effects (flash, storm, TV, light bulb) can be simulated in an easy-to-use menu that is otherwise difficult to recreate. The special effects have many different settings to refine them and achieve the exact effect you want. Using a Bowens mount, the Forza 500 is compatible with a wide range of light modifiers. Of course also with the softbox series from Nanlite. The brightness of a light is important, but without color accuracy a lot of time and money is lost in post processing. The Forza 500 has a CRI of 98 and a TLCI of 95, which means that color reproduction is accurate. To keep the center of gravity low and make operation easily accessible, the control panel, power adapter and battery plate have been combined into a satellite unit that can be easily hung from any lighting stand. The satellite unit also serves as a DMX connection point, allowing the Forza 500 to be quickly added to any DMX controlled environment. Various optional accessories are available for the Forza 500. Among others, various softboxes, Fresnel lens and much more.
The Forza series was designed to eliminate the hassle of traveling with large lights. The compact design makes these lights perfect for use in the studio or on location. The light is powered with the included power supply or with batteries (not included), so that you can work independently and flexibly at any location. The brightness is continuously dimmable between 0-100%. The Forza 500 weighs only 2.6kg and is so compact that it fits easily into most suitcases. With the included reflector, the Forza 500 emits an impressive 93350 lux at 1 meter. In Effect Mode, four pre-programmed special effects (flash, storm, TV, light bulb) can be simulated in an easy-to-use menu that is otherwise difficult to recreate. The special effects have many different settings to refine them and achieve the exact effect you want. Using a Bowens mount, the Forza 500 is compatible with a wide range of light modifiers. Of course also with the softbox series from Nanlite. The brightness of a light is important, but without color accuracy a lot of time and money is lost in post processing. The Forza 500 has a CRI of 98 and a TLCI of 95, which means that color reproduction is accurate. To keep the center of gravity low and make operation easily accessible, the control panel, power adapter and battery plate have been combined into a satellite unit that can be easily hung from any lighting stand. The satellite unit also serves as a DMX connection point, allowing the Forza 500 to be quickly added to any DMX controlled environment. Various optional accessories are available for the Forza 500. Among others, various softboxes, Fresnel lens and much more.
The Forza series was designed to eliminate the hassle of traveling with large lights. The compact design makes these lights perfect for use in the studio or on location. The light is powered with the included power supply or with batteries (not included), so that you can work independently and flexibly at any location. The brightness is continuously dimmable between 0-100%. The Forza 500 weighs only 2.6kg and is so compact that it fits easily into most suitcases. With the included reflector, the Forza 500 emits an impressive 93350 lux at 1 meter. In Effect Mode, four pre-programmed special effects (flash, storm, TV, light bulb) can be simulated in an easy-to-use menu that is otherwise difficult to recreate. The special effects have many different settings to refine them and achieve the exact effect you want. Using a Bowens mount, the Forza 500 is compatible with a wide range of light modifiers. Of course also with the softbox series from Nanlite. The brightness of a light is important, but without color accuracy a lot of time and money is lost in post processing. The Forza 500 has a CRI of 98 and a TLCI of 95, which means that color reproduction is accurate. To keep the center of gravity low and make operation easily accessible, the control panel, power adapter and battery plate have been combined into a satellite unit that can be easily hung from any lighting stand. The satellite unit also serves as a DMX connection point, allowing the Forza 500 to be quickly added to any DMX controlled environment. Various optional accessories are available for the Forza 500. Among others, various softboxes, Fresnel lens and much more.
The Forza series was designed to eliminate the hassle of traveling with large lights. The compact design makes these lights perfect for use in the studio or on location. The light is powered with the included power supply or with batteries (not included), so that you can work independently and flexibly at any location. The brightness is continuously dimmable between 0-100%. The Forza 500 weighs only 2.6kg and is so compact that it fits easily into most suitcases. With the included reflector, the Forza 500 emits an impressive 93350 lux at 1 meter. In Effect Mode, four pre-programmed special effects (flash, storm, TV, light bulb) can be simulated in an easy-to-use menu that is otherwise difficult to recreate. The special effects have many different settings to refine them and achieve the exact effect you want. Using a Bowens mount, the Forza 500 is compatible with a wide range of light modifiers. Of course also with the softbox series from Nanlite. The brightness of a light is important, but without color accuracy a lot of time and money is lost in post processing. The Forza 500 has a CRI of 98 and a TLCI of 95, which means that color reproduction is accurate. To keep the center of gravity low and make operation easily accessible, the control panel, power adapter and battery plate have been combined into a satellite unit that can be easily hung from any lighting stand. The satellite unit also serves as a DMX connection point, allowing the Forza 500 to be quickly added to any DMX controlled environment. Various optional accessories are available for the Forza 500. Among others, various softboxes, Fresnel lens and much more.
in 3 offers
The lowest price for Nanlite Forza 500 5600K LED Monolight right now is $450.00 at Urban Cine, compared across 3 retailers.
The all-time low was $450.00 on 8 Sept 2026. That's the lowest price we've ever tracked — a great time to buy.
Prices last updated 8 Sept 2026.
Last updated at 08/09/2026 19:18:31
Nanlite Forza 500 COB LED Light (Daylight) (EX HIRE)
Nanlite Forza 500w 5600k Daylight-balanced Cob Led Light + Fl-20g
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Nanlite Forza 500 Monolight 5600K LED Light
Delivery $9.95
originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
This light give off beautiful, soft daylight. It is very powerful but can be turned down low. I find it best pointed at the ceiling.
originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
Overall really happy about this purchase, as a frequent renter of 300d and 600d kits this has lived up to the quality of light I expect on set thus far and has nearly the output of a 600d. Slightly warmer temp than a 600d, which does have a slightly cooler look to my eye. Personal preference on which you prefer. My only issue is the LCD screen on the ballast has a few dead lines (permanently on full vertical lines across the screen). They don't impact performance and there isn't anything they inhibit me reading, but, its annoying. Nanlite has a good warranty that I can send it all in for exchange (I've spoken with them about this) but you have to send the entire unit and not just the ballast for replacement. Still would recommend as you can buy 2 for the price of 1 ... MoreOverall really happy about this purchase, as a frequent renter of 300d and 600d kits this has lived up to the quality of light I expect on set thus far and has nearly the output of a 600d. Slightly warmer temp than a 600d, which does have a slightly cooler look to my eye. Personal preference on which you prefer. My only issue is the LCD screen on the ballast has a few dead lines (permanently on full vertical lines across the screen). They don't impact performance and there isn't anything they inhibit me reading, but, its annoying. Nanlite has a good warranty that I can send it all in for exchange (I've spoken with them about this) but you have to send the entire unit and not just the ballast for replacement. Still would recommend as you can buy 2 for the price of 1 600d setup.
originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
I do both photography and videography. This is an amazing tool but not perfect. Plenty of power and quite simple to use and transport. If you use it for photography, note that this light has an output that is somewhat 3/4 to 1/2 less stops of light than equivalent 500ws strobes. I was a bit surprised by the amount of heat it produces at full power but not a deal breaker at all. Make sure you use it with approved accessories (diffusers, etc...) to avoid causing any material to melt. Also the fan is quite loud on 60% and more power. Not a deal breaker, but know that you'll hear the fan run if you use it for interview type shoot. Overall, this is a great piece, color accuracy is key and for that reason I use it for both photography and videography. I am 200% happy with it.
| Fixture Type | Monolight |
| Colour Temperature | Daylight |
| Kit Style | Light Unit Only |
| Specific Color Temperature | 5600K |
| Chassis Color | Black |
Nanlite Forza 500 COB LED Light (Daylight) (EX HIRE)
Nanlite Forza 500w 5600k Daylight-balanced Cob Led Light + Fl-20g
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Nanlite Forza 500 Monolight 5600K LED Light
Delivery $9.95
This light give off beautiful, soft daylight. It is very powerful but can be turned down low. I find it best pointed at the ceiling.
Overall really happy about this purchase, as a frequent renter of 300d and 600d kits this has lived up to the quality of light I expect on set thus far and has nearly the output of a 600d. Slightly warmer temp than a 600d, which does have a slightly cooler look to my eye. Personal preference on which you prefer. My only issue is the LCD screen on the ballast has a few dead lines (permanently on full vertical lines across the screen). They don't impact performance and there isn't anything they inhibit me reading, but, its annoying. Nanlite has a good warranty that I can send it all in for exchange (I've spoken with them about this) but you have to send the entire unit and not just the ballast for replacement. Still would recommend as you can buy 2 for the price of 1 ... MoreOverall really happy about this purchase, as a frequent renter of 300d and 600d kits this has lived up to the quality of light I expect on set thus far and has nearly the output of a 600d. Slightly warmer temp than a 600d, which does have a slightly cooler look to my eye. Personal preference on which you prefer. My only issue is the LCD screen on the ballast has a few dead lines (permanently on full vertical lines across the screen). They don't impact performance and there isn't anything they inhibit me reading, but, its annoying. Nanlite has a good warranty that I can send it all in for exchange (I've spoken with them about this) but you have to send the entire unit and not just the ballast for replacement. Still would recommend as you can buy 2 for the price of 1 600d setup.
I do both photography and videography. This is an amazing tool but not perfect. Plenty of power and quite simple to use and transport. If you use it for photography, note that this light has an output that is somewhat 3/4 to 1/2 less stops of light than equivalent 500ws strobes. I was a bit surprised by the amount of heat it produces at full power but not a deal breaker at all. Make sure you use it with approved accessories (diffusers, etc...) to avoid causing any material to melt. Also the fan is quite loud on 60% and more power. Not a deal breaker, but know that you'll hear the fan run if you use it for interview type shoot. Overall, this is a great piece, color accuracy is key and for that reason I use it for both photography and videography. I am 200% happy with it.
I purchased 6 of these lights for my G&E trucks here in NYC.They have tremendous output but they feel a bit plasticky and I'm worried I and my team will break them on set.They come with good cases for travel and most of the accessories from my Aputure lights work with these lights. My Leko (spotlight) Aputure adapters do not unfortunately work with the Forza lights.They run on V-Mount batteries which is convenient and the fan is pretty quiet- I shoot interviews and they are quiet enough to have them running full blast without interfering with the sound levels.All in all, I'm happy with the purchases. I love shopping at B&H as they are the best photo/video/audio shop in [email protected], NY
I love this light! It's really high output helps to balance bright sun and backlit scenes. I picked up the accessory 9.3 inch 10-45 degree "glass" Fresnel lens with metal barn doors (This is a great tool for many of my shooting scenarios). I also purchased the head extensions which save me allot of trouble on tall light light-stands. The one feature that I like most is that the 500 Forza can run on two 26V V-Mount batteries and allow for the full 500W output! Which is awesome for out door situations where a/c power is not available, and the "Active fan is indeed pretty quiet! All in all, I'm extremely satisfied with my choice. Others suggested that I should choose the Aputure LS 600D over the Forza 500... I am very satisfied going with the 500 Forza!
Not only is the light ultra punchy for such a small fixture, but the control box is well designed. If you're always going to run this off mains there's enough space in the included case to leave the ballast attached to the control box which makes setup a breeze. Can't recommend this enough for anyone looking to get a bright COB light.
Really love this light. Using it for Photography/Video and it has been great so far. Head fan is a little loud but you can turn it off with reduced brightness. I also bought the longer head cable so I could move power supply farther away as that has a fan also. What I don't like is the round Lock-Off Knob on the light. Over all really happy. Will be buying another.
Almost everyone I know owns the Aputure series of lights, but I never felt motivated to purchase them for two reasons: price, and color temperature. I like a lot of the usability items, such as the compact integrated ballast, app connectivity, and the stand mount, but it wasn’t enough for me to commit to purchasing. Coming from traditional HMIs I never felt like the Aputures were a true daylight unit either (they measure 5200K).Saw the Forzas on my first set back from the lockdowns and was very impressed. Looked like an Alexa Mini on a stand. The Gaffer and Gear reviews are ultimately what made me pull the trigger - Most of the usability items from the Aputures are there in some form, the 300W unit is brighter than the 300d Mk2, and there was even a 500W variant ... MoreAlmost everyone I know owns the Aputure series of lights, but I never felt motivated to purchase them for two reasons: price, and color temperature. I like a lot of the usability items, such as the compact integrated ballast, app connectivity, and the stand mount, but it wasn’t enough for me to commit to purchasing. Coming from traditional HMIs I never felt like the Aputures were a true daylight unit either (they measure 5200K).Saw the Forzas on my first set back from the lockdowns and was very impressed. Looked like an Alexa Mini on a stand. The Gaffer and Gear reviews are ultimately what made me pull the trigger - Most of the usability items from the Aputures are there in some form, the 300W unit is brighter than the 300d Mk2, and there was even a 500W variant available. The intensity is a winner in my book, and will go far to replace most of my HMI rental needs, with the obvious other benefits of being an LED unit (power draw, bulb life, size and weight). They are true daylight units that come in almost exactly at 5600K, too. These units save me time and money and ups my kit fee.Everyone talks about Bowen’s mount compatibility but Nanlite’s own accessories don’t get enough attention. The FL-20G Fresnel is incredible. The china balls and parabolic softboxes come in a huge variety of sizes too. I bought the Light Dome Mk2 because the of the super nice gel holder, but am excited to purchase some of the other pieces available. There’s a rumor of a leko-style spotlight coming very soon, and the Nanlite app is set to be updated next year.Overall, if you’re missing hard light in your shoots because budget prohibits larger units, take a good look at these Forza units. They’re definitely not for everybody or every shoot, but they’ve already saved me a number of times.
Really a fantastic light with a lot of firepower. Wish I would have bought sooner. Planning to round out a kit of Forzas. Nice build quality, fan has not been an issue with audio recording
The light comes nicely packed with the traveling case being sturdy and well built.A few negatives you should look out for are :The ballast has an odd placement for the batteries so it isn't the most convenient to quickly switch then in and out.The piece used to hang the light will not wrap around all light stands or c-stands because it won't be able to close.Pros that are very nice:The light doesn't weight too much.The fan does not get super loud to the point where sound will tell you to do something about it.very easy to learn the controls.I recommend this light if you want a light that is powerful and on the cheaper side. 4.5 happy faces out of 5 happy faces.
| Fixture Type | Monolight |
| Colour Temperature | Daylight |
| Kit Style | Light Unit Only |
| Specific Color Temperature | 5600K |
| Chassis Color | Black |