Last Updated 13 hours ago
Overview
The amaran F22c is a nominal 2 × 2 ft flexible RGBWW LED mat with a separate control box. Its square emitting area makes it useful for close soft keys, overhead interiors, interviews and broad coloured reflections. A support bracket, shallow softbox and diffusion turn the mat into a portable large-area source.
This is the full-colour F22c. The F22x is a bi-colour sibling, while the smaller F21c has different power, battery and cooling specifications. Treat the head, controller, adapter, support and modifier as a complete system when comparing transport size or mounting weight.
Key specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Format | Nominal 2 × 2 ft flexible LED mat |
| LED engine | RGBWW |
| Maximum LED output / draw | 200 W / 240 W |
| CCT range | 2500–7500 K |
| Published manual colour metrics | CRI ≥95; TLCI ≥97 |
| White/colour operation | CCT, HSI and effects with green/magenta adjustment as documented |
| Mains arrangement | Appropriate AC adapter feeding the 48 V controller input |
| Battery range | 12–28.8 V in the manual |
| Battery output limitation | 2023 manual: 16.8 V battery at half output; 26 V / 28.8 V at full output with adequate power capability |
| Control | Onboard, Sidus Link and wired DMX through the specified adapter |
| Cooling in 2023 manual | Passive mat; actively cooled controller |
| Operating temperature | −10 to 40°C |
| Support | Correct X bracket / tilting support; bracket generation may vary |
| Modifiers | Compatible F22 softbox/diffusion and grid; dedicated F22 lantern is separate |
Strengths and limitations
Strengths
- A square 2 × 2 ft mat provides a substantial soft emitting area without a heavy rigid head.
- The light mat is passive and can be placed separately from its controller.
- RGBWW adds tint adjustment and full colour.
Limitations
- The complete fixture still needs its bracket, diffusion, controller and cables.
- The F22 controller has a fan; 16.8 V battery operation is limited to half output in the manual.
- Wired DMX needs the specified adapter; CRMX is not built into the controller.
Practical uses
A square source gives a different reflection shape and wrap from a narrow strip. Close to a face, the F22c’s area can produce soft transitions without placing a deep lightbank far into the room. Above a small interior, it can provide a broad direction while keeping the head relatively shallow.
Moving the light farther away reduces its apparent size and available illumination. The flexible construction helps with transport and shallow placements, but it does not eliminate the need for a frame, safe attachment points and room for diffusion. A broad panel is not automatically soft for every distance or a substitute for a much larger overhead source.
| Setup | Working approach |
|---|---|
| Soft interview key | Build the supplied softbox and choose diffusion for the desired softness and output, then add the grid for spill control. |
| Low-profile overhead | Use the correct support bracket, rated rigging and independent retention, keeping controller weight off the mat. |
| Confined location | Use the mat’s shallow profile where a deeper light would enter the frame or restrict movement. |
| Colour interaction | Choose a repeatable colour setting through the camera and allow for lower saturated-colour output. |
Output and colour
The manufacturer manual gives the following average values. The 7,080 lux maximum used in some comparison panels is the 7500 K bare result. At 5600 K the same table lists 6,420 lux bare and 4,610 lux through the half-stop softbox at one metre.
| CCT | Bare at 1 m | Half-stop softbox at 1 m | Half-stop softbox at 3 m |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3200 K | 5,750 lux | 4,030 lux | 534 lux |
| 5600 K | 6,420 lux | 4,610 lux | 603 lux |
| 7500 K | 7,080 lux | 4,980 lux | 661 lux |
Power and batteries
The 2023 F22c manual states that a 16.8 V battery gives half output, while 26 V and 28.8 V batteries can support full output. This model-specific statement matters because the current web page contains a more general battery field that can be read differently. Use the manual and label for the actual controller and firmware when specifying a working kit.
Even at an allowed voltage, a battery must supply the required continuous power through its plate and cable. The fixture’s maximum draw is 240 W, not the 200 W LED-output label. A watt-hour capacity rating describes stored energy; it does not prove the battery can sustain the load.
For mains power, use the correct adapter feeding the documented 48 V controller arrangement. Keep the adapter, controller and battery connections supported and accessible. Never attach an arbitrary supply to a port merely because its connector fits or another amaran mat accepts it.
Control, cooling and camera operation
The manufacturer manual lists natural heat dissipation for the mat and active cooling for the controller. Some web specification fields describe natural cooling more broadly, so do not promise that the complete F22c system is fanless. Listen to the actual control box at the intended brightness and room temperature.
Place the controller where its ventilation remains clear and its sound is least intrusive, using only the approved cable arrangement. Do not wrap it in fabric to quiet the fan. If a scene requires very low noise, test the actual package before choosing its location above or beside a microphone.
The RGBWW engine supports conventional white-light work as well as saturated accents and effects. Use the appropriate colour mode, check the actual camera and save settings needed for continuity. A high white-light CRI/TLCI figure does not establish the spectral response or equal brightness of every colour cue.
Local controls and Sidus Link provide simple operation. Wired DMX requires the specified USB-C to DMX input/output accessory, and profile selection determines the parameters and channel footprint. The listed original fixture does not have a built-in CRMX receiver; an app connection should not be described as native wireless DMX.
Modifiers, rigging and the working package
Choose the diffusion strength for the source’s appearance and the available exposure. A shallow softbox makes the face of the mat more uniform; a grid reduces spill. The measured half-stop configuration above is a useful repeatable reference, while another fabric or a different spacing can change both output and reflections.
The dedicated F22 lantern creates a larger surrounding diffuser with a skirt. Its manufacturer chart lists 2,827 lux at one metre and 5600 K for the F22c. That reading belongs to the lantern configuration and should not be replaced by the much higher bare-mat figure. Check the lantern’s additional size and loading before rigging.
Alternatives and related fixtures
| Fixture | Choose it for |
|---|---|
| amaran F21c | A smaller rectangular RGBWW mat with a passively cooled controller. |
| amaran F22x | Bi-colour white light in the larger mat format. |
| LiteGear LiteMat | A different supported panel and power system for a professional soft-light package. |
What people are saying
Erik Naso: keep controller noise in the package decision
Naso’s hands-on review found the F22 controller fans high-pitched and too noticeable near sensitive microphones. He found the F22x slightly louder than the F22c and would move the controller away from sound-critical positions.
Graham Sheldon: useful mounting and travel format
In his field review of all four models, Sheldon found the mounting system held up over several shoots. He liked the compact kit but considered the supplied grid relatively flimsy and gave the controller extra protection during travel.
Videos
CineD: F21 and F22 flex-light review
A review covering both sizes and the colour and bi-colour versions.
Gaffer & Gear 196: F21c and F22c
A comparison of the two RGBWW mats.
Rental and used-fixture checks
Check the corner fittings, X bracket, tilt support, mat cable and controller mount. The current page shows a revised spring-loaded X bracket, so identify the hardware supplied with a used kit. Keep controller and adapter weight off the flexible mat, relieve cable strain and provide appropriate independent retention above people.
Pack the mat using the manufacturer’s prescribed method and avoid sharp creases or crushing the emitting surface. Inspect for broken traces, discoloured sections, weak corner retention and damaged connectors. Test several white settings, RGB colours, low-end dimming, the fan and remote control before judging a used unit’s value.
The F22x is an alternative when only tunable white is needed. A rigid Nova P300c offers a different housing and control arrangement, while a smaller F21c is easier to fit into narrow spaces. Compare the complete supported source and its modifier, not only the wattage printed in a headline.
Identify the exact mat, controller, bracket generation and battery-mount version. Inspect emitting sections, corner retention, cable locks and strain relief. Test the intended battery voltage, low-level dimming and remote-control path with the correct DMX profile. Pack the mat without sharp creases and secure the controller independently.
Documentation and specifications
Official F22c page, model-specific manual and photometrics and F22 lantern data.
Product photograph: amaran.
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