The Lupo Superpanel Full Color 30 is the Italian lighting manufacturers first foray into RGBW. I have reviewed Lupo’s Superpanel and Superpanel Dual Color Soft 1×1 panels on the site before and found both lights to be not only very bright but also extremely colour accurate.
The Superpanel Full Color 30 build on the same platform as the original Superpanels, and according to Lupo, not only have they now made it RGBW but also more powerful than the Dual Color Soft. Lupo told me that they have been working hard on the Superpanel Full Color 30 so that it has the same high CRI scores and accurate Kelvin colour rendition of the original Superpanel.
The new RGBW fixture goes from 2700 K to 10000 K and has CCT, HSI, RGB, and green/magenta control. Lupo has also included special effects modes such as police and party etc. which I assume will be very similar to what can be found in the ARRI SkyPanel and Litepanels Gemini.
Unlike previous Lupo LED panel lights, the Superpanel Full Color 30 also features full DMX control and it will offer different dimming curves for broadcast and entertainment customers. This is a nice touch and makes the Full Color 30 suitable for both field and studio use.
Most RGBW panels on the market today are extremely heavy and power hungry, but just like all other Superpanels, the Full Color 30 can be powered with 14.8 V batteries. This is huge news as RGBW lights from most other manufacturers usually require 24V or even 48V. Being able to power this light from a standard V-lock or Anton Bauer Gold Mount battery means it will be perfect for field use.
The other big problem with RGBW lights is that they are normally very heavy. The ARRI SkyPanel S30/S60-C and Litepanels Gemini both tip the scales at more than 7kg. The Lupo Full Color 30 is expected to weigh only slightly more than the Superpanel Dual Color Soft (3.4kg). To dispel the heat generated from RGBW LED bulbs, the Superpanel incorporates the same type of fan that is found in the companies other Superpanels.
Despite being aimed as an alternative to the ARRI S30-C Skypanel, the Superpanel Full Color 30 is going to priced at $1,598 USD in the US, and the price for the rest of the world will be about 1300 Euros. If we compare that to the ARRI S30-C SkyPanel ($4,113 USD) the Lupo is a whopping $2,515 USD cheaper. Just how it will compare to the ARRI S30-C SkyPanel head-to-head remains to be seen.
If the Superpanel Full Color 30 has even more output than the original Superpanel and can be run off a standard camera battery it may well become a very popular option for travelling shooters who need (or perhaps want) a portable RGBW solution.
What do you think about the Lupo Superpanel Full Color 30? Let us know in the comments section below.
