NANLITE recently announced its new Bowens Mount Projection Attachment 25°-45°. The NANLITE Bowens Mount Projection Attachment 25°–45° (PJ-BM-25-45) features a 25° to 45° beam angle for control over where light is focused.
The projection attachment features a standard Bowens mount, making it compatible with Bowens-mount fixtures under 800W, including NANLITE’s popular Forza, FC, and FS series LED spotlights, as well as numerous fixtures from other brands.
It is good to see NANLITE make a universal product that can be used on other brands. Quite a lot of lighting companies don’t make Projection Attachments, so having one that you can swap around between various lights makes a lot of sense. The only caveat with using anything that is universal is that it wasn’t designed specifically for that particular light, so the results you may get could vary slightly from fixture to fixture. It also isn’t going to work on every Bowens-S mount light; it depends on the fixture.
Key features
- Zoom range from 25° to 45°
- Weighs only 2.68kg / 5.91lb
- Compatible with Bowens mount fixtures under 800W
- Built-in gobo holder compatible with standard M-size gobos
- 360° rotatable lens barrel
- Yoke-free direct mounting for faster setup
- Precise beam shaping with adjustable shutters
- Convenient gel frame for quick gel insertion
Size & weight
The attachment weighs 2.68 kg / 5.9 lbs, which arguably makes it light enough to be used without an additional yoke or support on the light. With this relatively low weight and compact size, it would make for a good solution for creators and small teams.
As there is no mounting on the Projection Attachment itself, you need to use it with a light that can handle the weight.
As it weighs 2.68 kg / 5.9 lbs, it isn’t going to be suitable to use on some smaller-sized fixtures, as the locking mechanisms won’t be strong enough to handle the weight. I tried it with an Aputure STORM 80c, and its yoke frame locking mechanism wasn’t strong enough to hold it up.
Build Quality
The Bowens Mount Projection Attachment 25°–45° is made from high-thermal-conductivity aluminum alloy to efficiently dissipate heat and ensure stable performance during prolonged, high-output use. The Projection Attachment does get very hot, so you do need to take care when handling it. A carrying bag is also included.
The overall build quality is pretty good, especially considering it weighs under 3kg.
There are two locking mechanisms on the Projection Attachment. One is for turning the main barrel, and the other is for extending or retracting the front of the barrel. These both lock down firmly, and you need to make sure the front is securely tightened if you have the light facing up or down, so it won’t accidentally move.
Above, you can see how far out the front of the barrel extends.
The leaf adjustments are reasonably robust and easy enough to move.
You can turn the front of the barrel to adjust the beam angle.
What can it do?
The Bowens Mount Projection Attachment 25°–45° features a 360° rotatable
lens barrel that enables zooming without removing any gobos or shutters. It also enables users to transition from medium to wide beam angles with a
simple rotation of the zoom ring.
The gobo holder slides into the Projection Attachment pretty easily. It is also easy to remove, as the tab you pull up on sits above the leaf tab. The built-in gobo holder accepts standard M-size patterns
Four M-size gobos are included, with two optional NANLITE gobo sets available. The holder also supports a wide range of third-party M-size gobos readily available on the market.
The included gel frame allows for quick and easy gel insertion. You simply loosen the top retaining part of the gel frame receptor, then put in the gel frame and tighten it back down.
The aperture blade can be magnetically secured to reduce stray light and improve beam edge quality. Additionally, an optional 18-blade iris diaphragm is available, offering control over beam diameter.
The aperture blade magnetically attaches to the front of the lens.
With the aperture blade 
Without the aperture blade
It makes a big difference if you want to have clean edges, as you can see above. The only slight caveat when using the aperture blade is that it does reduce the output.
NANLITE states that the lens design allows for smooth and precise focusing or defocusing. It features an aspherical lens to reduce distortion, optical coatings to enhance light transmission and minimize chromatic dispersion, and a matte inner barrel to control stray light. The projection attachment delivers image clarity and sharp beam edges.
Real World Use
You can use a Projection Attachment for a wide range of different lighting applications.
Its ability to focus or defocus light and create patterns opens up a lot of possibilities.
As I mentioned earlier, if you want cleaner edges, then it is best to use the aperture blade.
By defocusing the light and using the included gobos, you can create various looks.
You can also put precise light onto objects without any spill, which can also be very handy.
You can use the gobos to create patterns or help to break up light.
I also tried the Projection Attachment with non-NANLITE fixtures, and it worked just as well. Above, it is being used with the SmallRig RC 220C.
As I mentioned previously, it won’t work with every Bowens-S mount light. I tried to use it with the Zhiyun MOLUS G200, but because its COB unit sticks out quite a bit, it wouldn’t fit on.
Price & Availability
The NANLITE Bowens Mount Projection Attachment 25°-45° is now shipping for $389 USD.
Conclusion
The NANLITE Bowens Mount Projection Attachment 25°-45° is a fantastic lighting modifier for Bowens-S mount fixtures. It works as advertised, and it will provide good results with most compatible fixtures. At $389 USD it is also affordable.
