Review: SmallRig RF 20C Portable Zoom Light

I have previously reviewed the excellent SmallRig RF 10C and RF 05B portable zoom lights, and now it is the turn of their big brother, the RF 20C. 

Disclaimer

SmallRig sent me a RF 20C for an honest and impartial review. Product links are affiliate links. 

SmallRig RF 20C Product Page

Like it's siblings, the SmallRig RF 20C is a (large) flashlight shaped zoom light designed for photography and videography. Unlike the bi-colour RF 05B, and 4 LED white, red, blue, and orange RF 10C, the RF 20C has 5 LEDs in red, white, purple, orange, and cyan.

The package includes:

RF 20C Portable Focusable LED Video Light × 1

• Gobos × 20

• Silicone Gobo Holder × 1

• Storage Pouch × 1

• User Manual × 1

• Charging Cable × 1

Whilst the RF 20C includes a gobo holder and PVC gobos as per the RF 10C. A companion 36 degree snoot/gobo projector - SP Air Spotlight (sold seperately) which can handle metallic gobos is also coming soon.

The RF 20C's PVC gobos are identical to the RF10C's gobos. I would love to see a wider range of gobos be available as optional accessories.

• Product Dimensions: 49 × 200mm

• Net Weight: 520.0 ± 20.0g

• Material(s): Aluminum Alloy, ABS

• Power: 20W

• Number of LEDs: 5 Red / 5600K Daylight (±400K) / Purple / Orange / Cyan

• Beam Angle Range: 24°–60°

• Color Rendering: CRI Ra ≥ 97, TLCI ≥ 99 (at 5600K)

• Battery: 7.2V / 5000mAh / 36Wh

• Runtime: ~1.5h (full power), supports pass through charging

• Input: 20V / 1.8A (Max 36W)

• Charging Time: ~1h 40min

The SmallRig RF 20C is of high quality metallic construction. It has a push pull zoom mechanism with Plano-Convex lens with a claimed zoom range of 24 to 60 degrees. The light has a similar rotary/push button to the RF 10C, and a 1/4"-20 tripod thread on the side, and tail of the light. This tripod thread is much better positioned than on the RF 10C. There is an internal fan to manage the high power and brightness, and hence there are ventilation ports on the side of the light. Charging is via USB-C and includes pass through charging for studio work.

User Interface

The SmallRig RF 20C has an easy to use interface, There is a rotary/press switch on the side which is used for all functions (aside from zoom). Rotating the button turns the light on in the last used setting. Once on, rotating the button increases or decreases the brightness in 10% steps. Clicking the button cycles through the 5 LEDs. A 2 second press of the button turns the light off. The light has last mode memory, so turns in in the previously used colour.

Light painting photographers may prefer a single click on and off, or momentary on/off for more fine control, however the user interface is primarily designed for use as a portable static light.

The SmallRig RF20C has 5 LEDs - Red, 5600K Daylight White, Purple, Orange, and Cyan. These are arranged in an X pattern, and placed in a Plano-Convex Lens with a zoom angle of 24 to 60 degrees. As with the RF 10C, the colour LEDs appear to around 90% saturated.

CCT, colour rendering index (CRI), and tint (DUV) were tested with an Opple Light Meter Pro 3, at maximum 20W output, with the centre of the beam aimed at the light meter.

• Daylight White 5600K flood - CCT 5452K, CRI 100 Ra, Tint -0.0024 DUV.

• Daylight White 5600K zoomed - CCT 6040K, CRI 100 Ra, Tint -0.0033 DUV.

The Colour Rendering Index (CRI) is excellent at 100 Ra. The CCT is warmer at flood, and cooler at zoom. The tint is fairly neutral, with a very slight magenta tint.

For brightness, I tested both illuminance and lumens. Illuminance is the preferred photometric for comparing lights for photography and videography, as it measures the brightness of an illuminated object at a specified distance. I have compared the SmallRig RF 20C's illuminance brightness to the SmallRig RF 10C and RF 05B:

• SmallRig RF 20C 5600K zoomed - 6688 lux/1m

• SmallRig RF 20C 5600K flood - 1552 lux/1m

• SmallRig RF 10C 5600K zoomed - 464 lux/1m.

• SmallRig RF 10C 5600K flood - 250 lux/1m.

• SmallRig RF 05B 5600K zoomed - 1468 lux/1m.

• SmallRig RF 05B 5600K flood - 240 lux/1m.

• SmallRig RF 05B 5600K BOOST zoomed - 2104 lux/1m.

• SmallRig RF 05B 5600K BOOST flood - 336 lux/1m.

The SmallRig RF 20C is considerably brighter than both the RF 10C and RF 05B. At the same zoom angle, the RF 20C was approximately x5 brighter than the RF 10C. This means that the RF 20C is useable in more ambient environments than the RF 10C which requires a very dark location. Unlike many flashlights, lights such as the RF 20C designed for photography can sustain brightness throughout the runtime. The forced cooling was relatively quiet. 

Zoom range comparison at zoom and flood - RF 10C left of each photo, RF 20C right of each photo

The RF 20C uses the same silicone holder with PVC gobo system as the RF 10C. As with the RF 10C, rotating the gobos to align with the LEDs can produce sharper projections with less corner artifact. The gobo projections at the flood/wide end of the zoom range are decent. As there is no focusing, gobo projections will have increased blurriness with distance, and I would advise using gobo projections within 2.5m source to object distance. At the zoom/narrow end of the zoom range, the light alone is not useable for gobo projection, with the gobo projections appearing blurred/unfocussed. The companion SP Air Spotlight can will allow for narrower gobo projections, with focusing ability. The RF 10C remains the better of SmallRig's RF series for gobo projection across the entire zoom range. I'll update this review when I test the SP Air Spotlight.

Examples of gobos and colour options (click to enlarge).

Conclusion

Positives:

• Very bright - x5 brighter than the RF 10C.

• Useful colour options.

• Fairly neutral (slight magenta) tint for 5600K Daylight.

• Easy to use.

• Good build quality.

• USB-C charging.

• Tripod mounting threads.

• Compatible with the SP Air spotlight.

Negatives:

• Gobo projections are only useable at flood/wide end of the zoom range (unless you use the SP Air spotlight).

• Narrower flood angle than the RF 10C.

The SmallRig RF 20C is impressively bright compared to all other portable photography zoom lights I've tested by quite a large margin. However, the RF 10C is better at projecting the PVC gobos across the entire zoom range. The companion SP Air spotlight will allow for narrower angle gobo projections with the RF 20C.

SmallRig RF 20C Product Page