Six lights, one Peli case — Zhiyun kit build and the honest downsides
Spent a while condensing my whole lighting package into a single Peli case. Six lights total — Zhiyun B500, G300, X200, and three smaller units (X100, X60, M20) for fills and general use.
The size reduction is real, and it only works because the brand makes unusually compact units. The B500 is the main key — roughly Aputure 600-equivalent output, no separate power unit, everything in the head. The X200 runs off two V mounts via a mounting bracket, which is specifically useful on doc sets when you want a bright portable light that isn't tied to mains.
The smaller three are handy for background work, practicals, or just shoving somewhere. The honest technical downsides: the open-fan design is what makes them so small, but it also means they run noticeably hotter than enclosed lights — I now keep heat-resistant gloves in the case — and they're not waterproof at all, so anything outside in bad weather is off the table.
The app control is genuinely useful for solo or small-crew setups, though closing the app disconnects everything and you have to reconnect from scratch each time, which is a minor irritation.
The one that actually caused me a problem: the G300's power cable is permanently attached to the power unit. When mine failed, there was no replacing just the cable — the whole thing needed replacing. Worth knowing before you commit to multiples of that unit.