Review: Zhiyun Fiveray M20C Lighting Kit

In the gimbal world, Zhiyun is a well-respected company, and goes head to head with DJI, arguably the market leader.

Over the last year or so however, Zhiyun has also placed its big toe firmly in the pond of lighting. And the latest to cross my desk is the FiverayM20C.

In a form factor not a lot bigger than your every day post-it note, the Fiveray M20C is a portable RGB light designed to sit atop a camera or camcorder, or alternatively be mounted on a tripod, utilising multiple cold shoe mounts and a ¼” threaded screw hole.

Taking a cue perhaps from DJI, the Fiveray M20C takes advantage of magnetic technology, with the included diffusion plate honeycomb grids and barn door attachments mounting to the main body via magnets. You can also use this feature to simply attach the Fiveray M20C to any metal surface such as a wall, table or even a car.

Being a lighting kit, obviously there is heat involved, and Zhiyun has incorporated the Dynavort Cooling System into the unit. This apparently allows for use of much thinner heatsinks, and therefore less bulk and weight.

The colour temperature can be switched between 2500K and 10000K and peak illumination is an impressive 1950Lux. For skin tones,  there is a built in green / magenta control, and of course being RGB based, you have a full spectrum of colour to play with, with dimming, that is quickly and easily switched and controlled by button dials on the unit.

There are also 10 built in lighting effects, a music mode and synchronised speed and temperature adjustments.

The Fiveray M20C is fully Bluetooth Mesh controllable via an Android or iOS app.

Power is via an inbuilt battery and USB-C charging, with an estimated 40 minutes available at full power (20W). Dropping this back to 10W will give you 80 minutes and down to 5W a full 3 hours. The Fiveray M20C can be charged and used at the same time.

Zhiyun suggest this light is the perfect lighting accessory for those that shoot things such as portraits, miniatures or even food.

The Zhiyun Fiveray M20C is available direct from Zhiyun or from dealers such as CR Kennedy and retails from AUD$340.