Pavotube T8-7X New Pixel Tubes from Nanlite

Nanlite's new PavoTube T8-7X is a very affordable 1m LED pixel tube. We wanted to take a closer look at this product given its relatively low cost and wide range of features.

LED tubes have become increasingly popular over the past few years, and the market is now saturated with options, both in quality and features. Most available options tend to be quite expensive, but the PavoTube T8-7X bucks that trend, retailing for under $100.

In this review, I will be looking at the PavoTube T8-7X RGBWW LED Pixel Tube 4-Light Kit , which retails for $389.

Design and concept

Tube lamps are not a new concept. Fluorescent lamps have been around for a very long time, and in recent years, quite a few RGB lamp options have appeared on the market.

The problem with tube lamps is that careful consideration must be given to how they are mounted and powered.

The PavoTube T8-7X has been designed to be an all-in-one device, so you can operate it with a built-in battery that can provide power when shooting on location. This all-in-one design makes it relatively quick to set up and use.

Another issue with tubular lights is transportation and storage. Due to their length, they can be inconvenient to transport. For PavoTube T8-7X RGBWW LED Pixel Tube 4-Light Kit Nanlite provides a pretty decent case. It has fairly good padding and is reinforced. You could potentially check it as luggage on the plane.

It's worth noting that the Nanlite PavoTube T8-7X is a T8-size tube, which is smaller than the T12-size tubes from Astera, Digital Sputnik and Qusar Science or the Pavotube II X.

Weight PavoTube T8-7X

The first thing that struck me was how lightweight the PavoTube T8-7X tubes are. The weight of the handset is only 280 g. This is mainly due to the fact that the body is made of plastic.

Build quality

The build quality is excellent, what you would expect from a $95 light. The body of the tubes is made of plastic, apparently Nanlite had to cut a few corners to keep the cost down. These lamps do not use a metal housing like the more expensive PavoTube II 15/30/60X models.

Everything is made of plastic, even the end parts of the body and the handle. Everything is done to minimize the weight, because many creative ideas are implemented simply by hand, without the use of racks or fasteners.

The light control system is made in the form of three small recessed buttons. Due to their small size, they can be easily felt even in the dark.

It is difficult to judge how durable these lights are and how they will withstand long-term and intensive use in a large production or rental environment. You must be clear that since they are made of plastic, they will not be as durable as tubes with a steel or aluminum body. The good news is that if you break one of them, it won't be the end of the world because you can buy another one at an affordable price.

I'm not a big fan of branding on the body of the light, and I'm glad Nanlite didn't use permanent branding on the tubes. The last thing a user wants is to see branding on the front of a light fixture, especially since tube bulbs are often used as replacements for practical fixtures. There are a few small stickers on the back of the tube, but these can be easily removed if desired.

Controls and menu system

The light has several basic built-in controls at the bottom. Here you can turn the lamp on/off, adjust the brightness according to presets 0-20-40-60-80-100%, and also switch CCT - HUE - FX - Pixel modes. When you press the CCT/HUE button and the light is in CCT mode, you can switch different basic preset light temperatures.

The controls are very simple and the lamp is very convenient to use. With such a light source there is no need to read the user manual.

Remote control

The best control method is via built-in Bluetooth using the NANLINK mobile app. The application allows you to configure and save effects, change modes, adjust intensity, CCT, configure pixel effects, group fixtures and manage scenes.

Connecting to the application is quite simple. You simply turn on the fixture, open the app, and then add the light. The app will scan to see which lights are on, and then you'll select the ones you want to add.

When you first connect the light, it takes about 30 seconds to set it up and ready for use. The lights will automatically appear the next time you use them.

Nanlink also offers an optional Li-Ion Control Bank for the PavoBulb and PavoTube. It provides advanced control and battery power for select PavoTube LED Pixel Tubes and PavoBulb LED Bulbs. The built-in USB Type-C cable connects to the corresponding USB Type-C port on the LED lamp. The body features four control buttons and an LCD display for making settings changes, allowing you to change advanced settings such as green to magenta without having to use the NANLINK mobile app.

The control box is also equipped with a built-in 3.7V 4400mAh lithium-ion battery, which can operate the lamp at 100% power.

You can also control the lights via DMX using a set of cables. This is a USB-C to splitter cable.

You should know that you must use the NANLITE app to control the lamps if you want to change modes other than CCT or HSI.

There is a regular CCT mode where you can adjust the color temperature in Kelvin ranging from 2700K to 7500K. You also have +/- G/M adjustment, which is very impressive for an affordable light.

HSI mode allows you to adjust hue, saturation and light intensity. In this mode you can create many different colors and looks.

Effects mode, as the name suggests, allows you to create effects such as Hue Loop, CCT Loop, INT Loop, CCT Flash, HUE Flash, CCT Pulse, Hue Pulse, Storm Auto, Storm Manual, Police Car, TV, Paparazzi, Candle/ Fire, Disco, Bad Bulb, Fireworks, Explosion and Welding.

Pixel effect mode is a mode that allows you to create multiple color patterns at the same time. It is possible to install Hue Loop, CCT Loop, INT Loop, Multi-Color Fade, Process, Scroll, Fire, Rainbow and Driving effects.

The Pixel FX mode is a nice addition, but depending on what you're shooting, you may never use it. For people shooting music videos, etc., this mode will certainly be in demand.