Nanlux Evoke 1200B, 2400B or 5000B? Differences and How to Choose

The short answer

• Evoke 1200B: with a 7.75 kg head and a separate power supply, the lightest and easiest of the three to move. A sensible starting point for mid-sized TV and corporate studios, commercials and location shoots.
• Evoke 2400B: roughly twice the 1200B’s illuminance under the same measuring conditions, ±80 green/magenta adjustment, Art-Net/sACN and IP55. For large studios, stages and setups where the light sits far away.
• Evoke 5000B: lamp head, control unit and power supply in one body, IP66 and a 95° beam angle. For very large sets, night and rain exteriors and sunlight effects over a wide area.

Technical comparison

Illuminance by distance

The fairest way to compare the three is the manufacturer’s measurements at 5,600 K with a 45° reflector. At 5 m the 2400B gives roughly twice the illuminance of the 1200B, and the 5000B roughly 1.7 times that of the 2400B. The 1200B’s measurements go up to 9 m (2,547 lux); the 2400B and 5000B tables cover 10 m and beyond.

The manufacturer also compares output with traditional sources: more than a 1.8K HMI PAR or a 2.5K Fresnel for the 1200B, more than a 4 kW HMI or a 10 kW tungsten for the 2400B, and approaching a 9 kW HMI or a 24 kW tungsten for the 5000B. These are reflector measurements; with a softbox or diffusion the illuminance drops. Our lux and watts guide explains how to read these tables.

Weight, body and rigging

The 1200B’s head weighs 7.75 kg and its yoke 1.84 kg. The 10.5 kg power supply sits separately and connects with the standard 7.5 m DC cable; the manufacturer offers 10 m and 12 m cables as options. A quick-release clamp secures the power supply to a stand or truss, and the 15° offset yoke gives a wider tilt range with a softbox fitted. That weight makes stand or grid mounting straightforward in mid-sized studios.

The 2400B’s head weighs 15 kg and its power supply 11.58 kg. The manufacturer says the magnesium-alloy body makes the head lighter than other lights with the same power output; even so, it needs heavy-duty stands and rigging points planned for the load. Nanlux also offers the YK-E-EVL motorised yoke for the 2400B and 5000B, with 540° pan and 270° tilt, which is useful for aiming a fixture rigged high from the floor.

On the 5000B the lamp head, control unit and power supply share one body: there is no separate power supply and the fixture runs on a single cable. In return the fixture weighs about 41 kg and the yoke about 3 kg. The disc-brake yoke with angle indicator, the balance rails and the spring-mounted skid make positioning and transport easier. For a light in this class, check the load rating of stands and rigging points before installation, and leave rigging to qualified people.

Power and mains

The 1200B and 2400B run on AC 100–240 V mains and on DC 48 V; the 2400B’s technical data lists two DC inputs (26 A × 2) and up to 26 A on the AC side. The 5000B’s official technical data lists AC input only: 100–240 V, 52 A max. Rated power is 5,000 W in 200–240 V regions and 5,200 W in 100–125 V regions.

Do not plan 2,400 W and 5,000 W fixtures around an ordinary socket circuit shared with other equipment. Total studio load, circuit capacity and connection type should be settled with a qualified electrician before installation. On stages that will use several 2400B or 5000B units, this is the first item of the site survey.

Exteriors and weather

All three come with weather-resistant housings, but at different protection levels. The 1200B’s head and power supply are rated IP54, the 2400B’s IP55. According to the manufacturer, the 5000B’s IP66 magnesium-alloy housing is built to keep shooting through harsh weather.

For shooting in the rain, the manufacturer asks that unused ports on the control panel be covered with their waterproof caps. On long outdoor setups, plan cable connections and power distribution with the same care.

According to the manufacturer, the 5000B’s 95° beam angle suits lighting large areas without a modifier, with light quality and shadows that closely mimic sunlight. Natural-light simulation and lighting wide areas are where it stands out. The manufacturer also says its High Speed mode, which switches from PWM to DC, keeps high-frame-rate shots flicker-free.

Control and studio integration

All three have a 5-pin XLR DMX/RDM connection and a built-in LumenRadio CRMX (TimoTwo) module, so they can be connected to a lighting console both by cable and wirelessly. The 2400B and 5000B also support Art-Net/sACN through two LAN ports. In large studios that need many universes and long cable runs, that difference matters.

The 5000B ships with the IP66 WC-EXT wired controller on an 8 m cable, so settings can be changed from the floor when the fixture is rigged high. The 2400B’s head also has a wired-control socket. According to the manufacturer, the WC-LM6P-C1 wired controller works with the 1200B, 2400B and 5000B. For DMX address plans and wireless control, see our DMX lighting control guide.

Accessories and light shaping

All three use Nanlux’s NL mount. For the 1200B, RF-NLM series 26°, 45° and 60° reflectors and Fresnel lens measurements are published. The 2400B and 5000B share the RF-NL-L series reflectors, the NL70 parallel beam reflector (RF-NL-PB) and NL mount softboxes; according to the manufacturer, the 5000B is compatible with most 2400B accessories.

Take care when choosing a Fresnel: according to the manufacturer, the FL-28 Fresnel lens runs at full output on the 1200B and at 50% output on the 2400B. Measurements with the FL-35E motorised Fresnel (15°–46°) are also published for the 2400B. The FL-45E motorised Fresnel developed for the 5000B zooms from 16° to 50° and gives 79,500 lux at 5 m, 5,600 K, at 16°; when the FL-35E or the PJ-NLM-15-30 projection attachment is fitted to the 5000B, the fixture’s output is limited automatically.

Which one for which job?

When is the 1200B enough?

Small and mid-sized studios usually need well-placed, softened light rather than the most powerful fixture. According to the manufacturer’s measurements, the 1200B gives 18,570 lux at 3 m with a 45° reflector; in a studio that output is usually softened with a softbox or diffusion. Unless the light has to sit 10 m or more away, work through a large diffusion frame or balance strong daylight, the 1200B is enough for most jobs.

Several models can also share one project: for example the 1200B for close-in lights and the 2400B for a back or background light from far away. We used Nanlux and Nanlite lights together in Diyanet TV’s main studio in Ankara. For studio projects see our TV and news studio installation page, and for full-colour models our Evoke 600C vs 900C comparison.