Litepanels has unveiled its new Gemini 2 × 1 Hard RGBWW LED Panel. Essentially, it has all the same features as the original Gemini 2 × 1 Gemini but with much more output.
Litepanels created a Hard version of the Gemini 1 × 1, so it is no real surprise that they have decided to do the same thing with its larger brother the Gemini 2 × 1. Just like the Gemini 1 × 1 Hard released a year ago, the double-size Gemini 2 × 1 Hard is claimed to produce a highly accurate full-spectrum white light as well as RGB output and a range of creative cinematic effects
Quite a few high output RGBWW lights have come to market over the last few years so it is going to be interesting to see how the Gemini 2 × 1 HARD compares to those fixtures.
The Gemini 2 × 1 HARD will ship with an ultralight diffuser and a domed diffuser. This certainly increases its versatility as you can use the fixture as a hard light or a soft light.
The Litepanels Gemini 2 × 1 was announced way back in September 2017 and it proved to be a popular alternative to an ARRI SkyPanel. I reviewed this light in early 2018 and you can see that review here. Even after almost 5 years, the Gemini 2 × 1 is still a very capable light.
With 1 × 1 and 2 × 1 panels, we have seen the evolution go from daylight battery-powered portability to Bi-Color, to in-built diffusion, to RGBWW, to high output.
Key features
- 23,000 lux at 10ft / 3m (Daylight) with a 20 ° beam angle
- Ultra-light and domed diffusers included for softer light in an instant
- Extended white color temperature range from 2,700-10,000K
- Claimed color accuracy, TLCI 97 / CRI 95
- Full RGBWW color gamut mixing
- Hue, Saturation and Intensity control
- Full plus / minus green color correction
- 0.1 – 100% automatic flicker-free dimming at any frame rate or shutter angle
- Wired or wireless DMX & Bluetooth remote control options
- Multi-voltage 100-240VAC; DC Input 26-33VDC
- 25.3 lbs (11.5kg) including yoke and power supply
Hard Days Night
The Litepanels Gemini 2 × 1 Hard RGBWW LED Panel is claimed to be brighter than any other 2 × 1 panel, delivering up to 23,000 lux @ 10ft / 3m of output from a lightweight, compact fixture. Yes, that is a lot of output, but what you clearly need to know is that is coming from a pretty tight beam angle of 20.
Litepanels also claims that the Gemini 2 × 1 Hard produces an output that is seven times brighter than the Gemini 1 × 1 Hard, creating a large volume of punchy light that can be easily softened with a range of diffusers.
So how is Litepanels getting so much output from the Gemini 2 × 1 Hard? Well, I am glad you asked. Each individual LED is lensed so essentially they can maximize as much light as possible and direct it into a 20 degree beam angle.
How does this compare to some other 2 × 1 RGBWW lights that we have previously reviewed? Well, the only real head-to-head comparison you can make based on beam angle would be to compare it against the Creamsource Vortex8.
| Output at 5600K (1m) | |
| Creamsource Vortex8 | 73,200 lx |
| Litepanels Gemini 2 × 1 | 207,000 lx * |
* Claimed
207,000 lx is a whopping amount of light and this makes the Litepanels Gemini 2 × 1 Hard the brightest RGBWW fixture of its type on the market.
Size & Weight
The Litepanels Gemini 2 × 1 Hard It weighs 25.3 lbs (11.5kg), including yoke and integrated power supply
How does this weight compare to some other high-end 2 × 1 RGBW lights?
| WEIGHT* | |
| Litepanels Gemini 2 × 1 Hard | 11.5 kg (25.3 lb) * |
| Creamsource Vortex8 | 15.6 kg (34.39 lb) * |
| ARRI S60-C Skypanel | 17 kg (37.47 lb) |
| Rotolight Titan X2 | 14.3 kg (31.52 lb) ** |
| Litepanels Gemini 2 × 1 | 10.1 kg (22.26 lb) |
| Luxli Taiko | 8.96 kg (19.75 lb) |
| Velvet EVO 2 | 7.57 kg (16.7 lb) ** |
| Nanlux Dyno 650C | 15.8 kg (34.8 lb) |
* Weight includes power supply and yolk frame.
** With standard yoke
As you can see the weight of the Gemini 2 × 1 Hard is pretty reasonable when you compare it against its closest competition, the Creamsource Vortex8, Rotolight Titan X2, and the ARRI S60-C SkyPanel.
Power Draw
The Gemini 2 × 1 Hard draws 500W, which is 175W more than the original Gemini 2 × 1. You can’t have your cake and eat it too. If you want more output then the light needs to draw more power.
Unlike the original Gemini 2 × 1, you can’t run this fixture from 14V batteries. You will need to use 26V batteries or a 26-33V DC source to run this light remotely.
500W does make it a lot more power-hungry than some other high-end 2 × 1 RGBW fixtures:
| POWER DRAW | |
| Litepanels Gemini 2 × 1 Hard | 500W |
| Creamsource Vortex8 | 650W |
| ARRI S60-C Skypanel | 450W |
| Rotolight Titan X2 | 420W |
| Litepanels Gemini 2 × 1 | 325W |
| Luxli Taiko | 250W |
| Velvet EVO 2 | 200W |
| Nanlux Dyno 650C | 650W |
Beam Angle
The Litepanels Gemini 2 × 1 Hard has a very narrow beam angle of just 20 °, however, you can use the included diffusion panels to change that to 100.
Below you can see what the standard beam angle is of other competing lights:
| Beam Angle | |
| Litepanels Gemini 2 × 1 Dard | 20 degrees |
| Creamsource Vortex8 | 20 degrees |
| Rotolight Titan X2 | 68 degrees to 150 degrees |
| ARRI SkyPanel S60-C | 115 degrees |
| Litepanels Gemini 2 × 1 | 93 degrees |
| Razyr MC MAX 400 | 120 degrees |
| Lupo Superpanel 60 Full Color | 115 degrees |
| Luxli Taiko 2 × 1 RGBAW | 76 degrees |
| Velvet EVO 2 | 115 degrees |
| Nanlux Dyno 650C | 160 degrees |
As you can see, the Litepanels Gemini 2 × 1 Hard, just likeCreamsource Vortex8 has a much narrower beam angle than any of the other 2 × 1 style RGBWW lights that are on the market, but just like a lot of fixtures you can change that with various lighting modifiers.
20-degrees does sound a little wrong for a 2 × 1, but by having a narrow beam angle with so much output, you can throw a powerful beam of light a long way. Yes, you can’t adjust it as easily as a Fresnel, but you need to clearly remember that this 20-degree beam spread is coming from a much larger source than a Fresnel.
Color Accuracy
The Litepanels Gemini 2 × 1 Hard has good photometric data from the information that was supplied, but I will wait until I do my own testing to comment on color accuracy.
Other Features
In addition to its onboard controls, the Gemini 2 × 1 Hard offers a range of wired and wireless control options for easy integration, including integrated DMX, CRMX, and RDM. Like other Gemini fixtures, Gemini 2 × 1 Hard is claimed to deliver consistently accurate, flicker-free performance at any frame rate, shutter angle, or intensity with ultra-smooth dimming from 100 percent to .1 percent.
Price & Availability
The Gemini 2 × 1 Hard is available to buy now priced from 6,300 USD. This makes it one of the most expensive 2 × 1 RGBWW panels on the market.
Below you can see how the price compares to the competition.
| Price | |
| Litepanels Gemini 2 × 1 Hard | 6,300 USD |
| Creamsource Vortex8 | 5,499 USD |
| Rotolight Titan X2 | 4,999 USD |
| ARRI SkyPanel S60-C | 6,820 USD |
| Litepanels Gemini 2 × 1 | 4,184.75 USD |
| Lupo Superpanel Soft Full Color 60 | 2,548 USD |
| Rayzr MC MAX 400 | $ 1,799 USD |
| Luxli Taiko 2 × 1 RGBAW | 1,699 USD |
| LEDGO LG-G260 | 2,565 USD |
| Kino Flo Celeb 450Q DMX | 4,815.25 USD |
| Kino Flo FreeStyle 21 | $ 1,678.75 USD |
| Kino Flo Diva-lite 20 DMX | $ 2,188.75 USD |
| Velvet EVO 2 | 3,877.40 USD |
| Nanlux Dyno 650C | 3,770 USD |
At $ 6,300 USD it is only slightly cheaper than an ARRI S60-C Skypanel, but way more expensive than a Creamsource Vortex8, Rotolight Titan X2, or Velvet EVO 2.
Specifications
Accessories
