Polish filmmaker Mirosław Miśtak reviews the Godox TL Series LED tubes, sharing insights from his extensive experience in cinematography. In this review, he explores the features and performance of the TL30, TL60, and TL120 LED tubes. Learn how these versatile lights fit into his workflow and why they are a valuable addition to any filmmaker’s toolkit.
LED tube lights are increasingly trusted by filmmakers and have become a staple on practically every set. These lights are portable, user-friendly, and come with a range of compelling features we’ll explore later. They offer the flexibility of wireless operation but can also be powered using a cable. Today, we’ll be discussing the TL30, TL60, and TL120 LED tubes. As their names suggest, the difference between them is their length: 30 cm, 60 cm, and 120 cm, respectively.
Out of the three products I got from Godox, the TL30 stands out the most because it has a built-in magnet. We can attach this light to just about anywhere we need, as long as it’s a metal surface. It also features screw threads on both ends for tripod or light stand mounting. The TL30 has a 2900 mAh battery that charges via USB. Once fully charged, the tube can operate at full power for about an hour or so.
The next light is the TL60. It features a 2600 mAh battery, which might seem less than the TL30’s 2900 mAh, but this one operates at 14.8 V, making it a 4S battery. In terms of runtime, it can last around 2 to 2.5 hours. Its design differs slightly from the TL30. Unlike the 30 cm tube, the TL60 and the larger TL120 can only be powered with a power adapter due to their different battery construction. The button layout on the TL60 is also a bit different. It includes a button for Wi-Fi, a button for various color settings like lightning effects or standard kelvin color temperatures, and buttons for adjusting brightness with plus and minus controls.
The longest light I received from Godox for testing is the 120 cm model, and it’s truly a massive light. The lights behind me are set merely to 30% brightness. The TL60 and TL120 are essentially the same, with the only difference being, well, their length. The TL120 features a 5200 mAh battery and has the same button layout as the TL60.
And listen, the great thing about these lights is that they are wireless. We can adjust everything with the remote—power, groups, colors, kelvins, and more. If you prefer not to use the remote, there’s also an app called Godox Light that works surprisingly well for managing the lights. Personally, I usually use the remote, but ideally, I prefer to walk up to the light and use the physical buttons to adjust it. However, I must say, the app does work very well.
Both the TL60 and TL120 have built-in input and output sockets located at the bottom end. These sockets allow you to connect one light to another; for example, if you set the kelvins on one light, it automatically applies the same setting to the others. They also have a power adapter socket, which you can use to keep the lights running continuously.
Godox did a great job by providing very long cables with the power adapter. Many brands often cut costs by supplying shorter cables, forcing you to use extension cords. Although I didn’t measure the exact length of the cables from Godox, they were long enough to reach any outlet I needed. This means you can easily plug the lights into distant sockets without worrying about running out of cable or needing extension cords.
Another thing to note is that there isn’t a screw thread you could use to attach these lights directly to a tripod or light stand. Mounting the TL30 is manageable this way, but the length of the TL60 or TL120 would create a lever effect, which could easily break the socket. However, Godox has designed an alternative solution – the lights have holes for passing steel cables through. I’ve used these cables to attach the lights in various places, and surprisingly, it works very well. You can connect multiple cables together, as they have threads at both ends, ensuring you don’t run out of length. This is a very convenient feature, and Godox also includes a range of brackets and other mounting solutions with these kits.
I received these lights along with some very sturdy cases. They are truly a heavy piece of chunk, even when empty, but they are surely foolproof. It would be hard to break them—they’re perfect for transporting the lights safely. You can throw them around, and the lights remain well-protected. When it comes to the TL60s, you get the whole kit in a smaller, lighter canvas case. Inside you’ll find all the things you need to operate these lights.
The lights have several features that I’ll show using the remote control, as I have them set up and ready behind me. To change the base hue setting, you simply press the respective color button, and the lights will respond accordingly. We can set various effects, such as a loop where the colors change slowly. Pressing the side button on the circular button group speeds up the effect, making the colors change faster. There is also a strobe effect with three speed modes, a disco effect, and a lightning bolt effect. Additionally, there is a broken light bulb effect, which flashes as if it’s short-circuiting. Other effects include TV simulations, candles, bonfires, fireworks, and emergency vehicle lights like police, fire brigade, or ambulance. There’s really a lot to choose from.
Another interesting feature is the sound control option. Every time I speak, the lights blink in response. There’s also an SOS mode. The voice-controlled feature is particularly interesting for music videos, as it makes the lights blink to the rhythm of the music, which can be quite useful. Additionally, we can adjust the kelvin setting. I usually set it to 6300, as I prefer a slightly cooler look in the background. You can also change the saturation and intensity of the colors. Each color can be adjusted separately, so there’s plenty to tinker with here.
At a 10-20% power setting, the LEDs inside start to become visible. I mostly used them at 40-50%, so it didn’t bother me much, but the effect does appear, so you have to take that into account.
When it comes to the TL30s, unfortunately, the battery dies very quickly. It’s a plus that you can plug in a power bank, but if you want to use the light for a longer period, you need to be aware that the battery drains rapidly.
To sum it all up, I was extremely happy using these lights, especially the longest ones—they’re the best and absolutely fantastic. I’m definitely going to stock up on these in the near future because they do an amazing job. So if you don’t have LED tubes yet, you should definitely consider these ones.
Watch the original review in Polish below:
Mirosław Miśtak
A self-taught Polish filmmaker with a passion for cinematography, creating compelling visual stories through commercials, music videos, and wedding films. He shares his expertise and reviews on filmmaking equipment through his YouTube channel, helping others in the industry enhance their craft.
