The Godox brand is becoming extremely well known as a high output, low cost, efficient option when choosing an LED panel for photography and videography. In the brand's latest releases, the Godox LD75R LED Panel, Godox LD150R LED Panel and Godox LD150RS LED Light Panel form an almost perfect trifecta of portable lighting solutions for photography and videography. Cinematographers, videographers and photographers can use the LED light panels individually or together to shape or flood a wide area with light with ease.

In this lighting comparison guide, we will discuss some of the differences between Godox's new LD range of LED light panels and put them up against another popular LED - the Aputure P300C NOVA Kit.

Godox LD75R, LD150R & LD150RS LED Panels 

The LD series is another welcome asset for professional, beginner photographers and cinematographers who require continuous lighting. Godox has three RGB lighting panels available in different sizes to cater for smaller or larger productions. Compared to tungsten lighting heads, these LED panels are far better at dissipating heat, which means longer shooting times become a reality. Even the accessories on these three Godox LED panels are lightweight and don't have a large footprint like other softboxes and grids. Have a read below to learn more about each of the new panels.

The entry-level in the range of the LD Series, the Godox LD75R LED Panel, has a hidden talent of fitting into smaller spaces compared to the two larger LD models. Its power output of 75 Watts may be less than the 150 Watts of the other two lights, but this doesn't mean it's not a prime condenser for your studio space. The LED panel is durable, made from a polycarbonate casing and is somewhat manageable when manoeuvring its 74cm x 43cm panel. With only 10cm of thickness, you'll find mounting the barn doors, and a grid to the slimline Godox LD75R LED Panel doesn't add much bulk to the overall light. When in use, the LED lights' brightness, colour temperature, and colour can be altered by navigation through the onboard buttons on the rear of the unit or via the Godox app on a smart device.

Light from each of the LD series of panels can easily be shaped using the built-in four-leaf barn doors and optional honeycomb grid. The system operates so that barn doors house the honeycomb grid. The two connected pieces then form neatly within the spring-loaded orange tabs on each LED panel's front. While you may not need the barn doors on the smaller unit, the barn doors on the Godox LD150R LED Panel may be desirable when in operation. This is due to the panels' wider and more horizontal orientation (approximately 74cm x 43cm).

When comparing the LD models side by side, the main comparison is the size of each panel and power output. Rounding off the lineup, you'll find the Godox LD150RS LED Light Panel. This strong squarish format measures approximately 53cm x 51cm and doubles the output of the smaller Godox LD75R LED Panel. Also featuring a 10cm thickness like the rest of the range, the Godox LD150RS LED Light Panel can be powered the same way, via mains power or a V-lock mount battery. All units feature an ergonomic setup containing a Yoke bar (for rotation) and handles for portability and minor adjustments. Onboard the Godox LD75R LED Panel, Godox LD150R LED Panel and Godox LD150RS LED Light Panel; units have inbuilt fans for excellent heat dissipation when using beyond 50% power (especially at full strength). If you are working in a smaller space where audio could be sensitive, you can turn off the fan in a new silent mode - ensure you only power the light to around 50% of power.

Looking at each of the lights, Godox brand colours are prevalent. There's a three-tone colour scheme that indicates the different areas of functionality. Gray symbolises electronic or manual adjustments, black represents the LED housing, and orange tabs indicate mounted lighting accessories. If you turn your attention to the front of either of the LED panels, you'll find a very streamlined and clean design that also welcomes a diffuser scrim or optional softbox for portraiture or close up work. Each LED panel is heavy (due to their physical size), so we recommend at least a heavy-duty stand or c-stand.

Connectivity on the Godox LD75R LED Panel, Godox LD150R LED Panel and Godox LD150RS LED Light Panel is simple and fast. Each LED panel contains DMX in and out, five-pin XLR (in and out for DMX), a USB for firmware upgrades and connectivity via the Godox smartphone app for precise control on the go. A microphone is also found on each of the Godox LD LED series panels for music that syncs randomly generated light with beats. On the outer housing, you'll also find a safety tether necessary for working safely when mounting lights on booms.

In summary, you should add one of these lights to your kit for their feature-set, size, compatibility, connectivity, excellent value, portability and versatility. Each of the Godox LD series feature over 13 million different colour options, a CRI rating of 96, a TLCI rating of 97 and an impressive LUX rating measured at one meter of 9320 LUX. The continuous lights can be adjusted in dimmable increments of 1 from 0-100%, making them perfect for different studio lighting scenarios. The three Godox LD LED models support 32 groups and 16 channels.

Aputure P300C NOVA Kit

When looking at the Godox LD Series, many cinematographers, photographers and videographers may also compare the Aputure P300C Nova Kit. In comparison, the more expensive RGB WW Aputure P300C Nova Kit has an output power of 300 Watts, double of the Godox LD150R LED Panel and Godox LD150RS LED Light Panel. The bright LED can be used as a key light or for widespread light output. Differences don't stop there. Rather than four presets on the Godox models, Aputure boasts an impressive 45 different presets. Some of the other specifications also range in values:

• 300 Watt RGB WW light (utilises warm white, cool white and RGB LEDs) 
• Up to 1 billion different colours (up to 90% of the entire colour spectrum) 
• CRI rating of 95+ 
• TLCI rating of 95+
• Tungsten SSI score of 85 
• D55 Daylight score of 74
• 9000 LUX at 1m

We recommend the Aputure P300C Nova Kit if you are looking for industrial quality lighting in the area of filmmaking or YouTube. This includes any rental houses looking to stock this product for weekly or monthly rentals for cinematographers, videographers or photographers. If you have used Aputure lights previously, then you'll be accustomed to the various features found in the Aputure P300C Nova Kit. Some of the stand out features are similar to Godox's LD series and extend to include: 

• Quick-release locking mechanism 
• Study handles to control the light position with 360-degree swivel) 
• Sturdy yoke bar (which can be rigged to anything) 
• Made from high-quality aluminium 
• Cooling vents with internal active cooling (no chance of overheating) 
• External control pack and cabling 
• Mounting bracket on the back for control pack 
• Access to a preset library of over 300 colour gels 
• Cables: 0.6 m XLR cable. 3m cable available, 6m Neutrik power cable  
• Softboxes and grid available (sold separately) 

Key Similarities and Differences 

Similarities

Looking into the similarities between the Godox LD series and Aputure P300C Nova Kit, there are quite a few. For instance, Lee and Rosco gel options (Green / Magenta colour shift) are compatible if you want creative control. AC Power is consistent and USB for both external powering devices and for firmware upgrades. Across modes, you’ll find similarities with RGB, CCT, R-gel, L-gel, FX and HSI modes. Also, when programming, light presets are available across all models, saving you from diving into individual settings.

Differences

The Aputure P300C Nova Kit and Godox LD75R LED Panel, Godox LD150R LED Panel, and Godox LD150RS LED Light Panel feature many different specifications and features. Determining the best light for your needs will come down to the power output, budget, and specific features required. While the Aputure P300C Nova Kit is larger than the flagship Godox LD150R LED Panel, you will be gaining the advantage of Sidus Link App controls, a larger colour temperature range 2000K - 10,000K (compared with 2500K - 8500K) and a beam angle that doubles in degree range to 120 degrees from 60 degrees. While we did mention larger, it’s worth noting the weight of each light. The Aputure P300C Nova Kit is 10.3kgs, whereas the Godox LD150R LED Panel weighs only 5.1kgs, meaning it may only require a smaller C Stand for support.

Being a smaller light, the Godox LD150R LED Panel is still a worthy contender in your lighting setup. Wireless app control is present using the Godox Light App or optional RGB remote control (RCR9). Power output differs from 150W to 360W on Aputure’s model, but you still gain an impressive 2500K to 8500K range. Turning the attention to the accessories, the Aputure P300C Nova Kit has an optional hard-shell rolling case with interior foam protection, handles, telescopic handle, six locking tabs which are good for working across multiple locations without damaging the light. The Godox LD range comes in a case with shoulder straps, carry handle, accessory compartments and luggage window for easy and comfortable transportation. 

Below is a visual specification guide showing the similarities and differences between the four models.

Spec Table 

	LD75R	LD150R	LD150RS	P300C
Beam Angle	60°	60°	60°	120°
Colour Temperature	2500K to 8500K	2500K to 8500K	2500K to 8500K	2000K to 10,000K
CRI/TLCI	96/97	96/97	96/97	95/95
Colour Modes	Full RGB Tuning	Full RGB Tuning	Full RGB Tuning	Full RGB Tuning
Cooling System	Fan	Fan	Fan	Fan
Dimming	Yes, 0%-100%	Yes, 0%-100%	Yes, 0%-100%	Yes, 0%-100%
Yoke Bracket	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Fixture Mount	⅝” Receiver	⅝” Receiver	⅝” Receiver	⅝” Receiver
Wireless	Godox APP	Godox APP	Godox APP	Sidus Link
Photometrics	Max. 9320 LUX at 1M	Max. 17500 LUX at 1m	Max. 18500 LUX at 1m	Max. 9000 LUX at 1m
Number of LEDS	Not Specified	Not Specified	Not Specified	1690
Output Power	75W	150W	150W	360W
FX Modes	Yes , 14	Yes , 14	Yes , 14	Yes, 15
Operating Temperature	-10 ~ 40°	-10 ~ 40°	-10 ~ 40°	-10 ~ 40°
Dimensions	441.0 x 410.0 x 107.5 mm	748 x 430 x 107.5mm	542 x 513 x 107.5mm	561 x 457 x 166mm
Weight	3.5kg	6.3kg	5.1kg	10.3kg

 

Final Thoughts - Which one is right for you? 

Godox has become a well-known brand thanks to the innovation shown in its products. With the release of the LD series, photographers, filmmakers, and cinematographers can utilise lights with a smaller footprint at a fraction of the price. Considering this, we recommend either of the LD range for beginners who don’t have may not have the commercial budget for an Aputure light. Customers will gain a quality RGB lighting setup that packs a punch, either as a floodlight or controlled lighting, when purchasing. With less weight than the Aputure P300C Nova Kit, users will be able to take their lighting setup to more locations with greater ease.

When determining which model to get in the LD Series range, you have to consider the power output. For instance, the Godox LD75R LED Panel and the feature 75W, whereas if you want a stronger light, opt for the Godox LD150RS LED Light Panel or Godox LD150R LED Panel which gains an additional 75W to 150W.

On the other hand, if budget isn’t an issue and you require more than double the power output of the flagship Godox LD series, then the Aputure P300C Nova Kit is the choice for you. We highly recommend this kit for professional videographers, film and TV productions, professional music videos and video agencies that need powerful lighting with an increased CCT range to suit more lighting conditions.

Conclusion

In summary, not all lights are created equal. When choosing a lighting setup, you have to determine what lighting setup will suit your needs based on your budget and requirements. For professional creatives, the Aputure P300C Nova Kit makes a lot of sense, whereas for those just beginning to dabble in lighting, but require a good light for production use, then one of the Godox LD series of lights will be ideal. To learn more about each light we offer, consider giving us a call or chatting to us via our Live Chat. We are here to assist you and will be able to give you the advice you need when it comes to compatibility, operation and after-sales service.