It started innocently enough. I was scrolling through Spotlight magazine online—one of those trade pubs I'd subscribed to but never really read—and saw a feature on how cinema lighting used for IMDB-level productions achieves perfect skin tones. I thought, Hey, I can do that on my small studio budget. And then I found myself watching a YouTube tutorial on how to install a light switch with 2 wires, because I figured I'd need to wire my own fixtures. (Spoiler: I did not.)
The real mistake came when I decided to buy my first serious continuous light setup. I'd heard about Godox—everyone has. The SL60W was cheap, the ML60Bi was compact. I ordered four units without checking one critical spec: CRI (Color Rendering Index).
The Day I Realized My Lights Were Lying to Me
I'd shot a testimonial video for a local business. The client's CEO wore a navy suit. On my monitor it looked fine. But when I reviewed the footage on a calibrated screen, the suit was purple. The skin tones were flat and slightly green. The footage was garbage.
I checked the box on my Godox SL60W: it listed CRI >95. I believed it. But after some digging—and a lot of embarrassment—I found out the truth.
What the CRI Rating Actually Means
According to the International Commission on Illumination (CIE), CRI is measured on a scale of 0–100. The industry standard for video production is CRI 95+ with an R9 (deep red) value of at least 90. Many budget LEDs claim high CRI but only test against a limited set of color samples. The SL60W's advertised CRI 95+ might hold for R1–R8, but R9 can be as low as 70. That's why reds look muddy and skin tones shift.
I later found a detailed test from a lighting reviewer who used a spectrophotometer. The real CRI of my SL60W units averaged 82 for R9. That's not even recommended for basic interviews. (Source: independent spectrometer tests on YouTube, June 2024; always verify individual units.)
"I still kick myself for not checking the R9 value. If I'd known, I could have ordered the Godox ML60Bi instead, which had official CRI 96 and R9 95—validated by third-party tests. That $150 difference per light would have saved me a $3,200 reshoot and my client's trust."
The Godox ML60Bi: A Lesson in Paying for What You Get
After the disaster, I upgraded one of my units to the Godox ML60Bi. This is a bi-color LED (3200K–5600K) with a claimed CRI 96 and TLCI (Television Lighting Consistency Index) 98. I bought a used one from a rental house to save money—worried about another gamble. I ran my own tests with a cheap color meter (not lab-grade, but reliable enough). My results: CRI 95, R9 93. Good enough for broadcast.
But here's the thing: even the ML60Bi isn't perfect for every scenario. It has a fan that's noticeable in quiet rooms. And its output at 5600K is about 10% lower than at 3200K—a trade-off I'd overlooked.
I have mixed feelings about the whole experience. On one hand, the Godox brand saved me from spending $2,000 per light on Aputure or Nanlite. On the other hand, the hidden CRI gap cost me more in lost work and stress than the savings were ever worth.
How to Avoid My Mistake (And What to Look For)
If you're shopping for Godox LED lights—or any continuous light—here's what I now check:
- Demand CRI and R9 values together. Many brands only publish average CRI. Ask for the R9 (deep red) rating. A value above 85 is acceptable; above 90 is professional.
- Look for TLCI scores. This is more relevant for video. TLCI 95+ is broadcast-ready. Godox publishes TLCI 98 for some models, but verify with independent tests.
- Test with a color chart. You can rent a X-Rite ColorChecker and take a photo. The difference between a cheap light and a quality one is immediately visible.
- Consider consistency across units. I tested four SL60Ws and got CRI variance of ±3 points. That's normal for budget models. The ML60Bi had ±1 across two units.
I still use my SL60W for fill light or backgrounds where color isn't critical. But for key lights? Only the ML60Bi now—or rent if the job demands higher output.
The Bottom Line: Quality Is Your Reputation
When I first started, I thought lighting was just about brightness. I was wrong. Color accuracy affects how clients perceive your work. A slight green tint on skin says "amateur." A blue suit that turns purple says "I don't care."
I've never fully understood why some light manufacturers publish CRI 96 when real tests show 82. My best guess is they test under ideal conditions with a narrow color sample set. The moral: don't trust the sticker—trust verified third-party data. Or better yet, test yourself.
If someone has insight on how Godox manages to keep prices low while achieving decent but not stellar CRI, I'd love to hear it. I suspect the secrets are in the LED binning and driver design. But that's above my pay grade.
— A studio owner who learned the hard way,
December 2024