SmallRig RF 20C LED Spotlight Unveiled – 20W Focusable with Five-Color Output

by Alexandra ThompsonApril 24^th, 2026

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At NAB 2026, SmallRig unveiled the RF 20C, a second-generation portable spotlight that doubles the output of its predecessor to 20W while adding a 24° to 60° focusable beam, five LED color modes, and CRI Ra ≥97. The pocketable 520g / 18.3oz fixture retails at $67.99 and ships globally from early May 2026.

SmallRig’s RF series of palm-sized spotlights has quietly found its way beyond the wedding and documentary work it was first designed for, turning up on music-video sets, product tables, and as accent or rim light on narrative productions. The new RF 20C sits at the top of that lineup (which also includes the smaller RF 05B and the RF 10C), joining an expanding lighting range that stretches from tiny on-camera LEDs like the Vibe P96 Pro and P108 Pro up to higher-output COB fixtures. We caught up with Manny Moreno at the SmallRig booth at NAB 2026 to see what has actually changed.

What the RF 20C changes

The headline upgrade is output: a constant 20W, versus 10W on the RF 10C. According to the technical specs on the product, the RFC 20C delivers 5,400 lux at 1m (3.3 ft) at 5600K in spotlight configuration, with CRI Ra ≥97 and TLCI ≥99. Alongside the brighter white output, the fixture introduces four additional LED colors beyond daylight: red, purple, orange, and cyan. There is no full RGB engine here, so no custom hue mixing through HSI, but the fixed palette covers a lot of the looks these practical-style fixtures are typically used for, particularly as colored background accents.

Again, according to the specs, the body is aluminum alloy, measuring just 49mm (1.9 in) in diameter and weighing 520g (18.3 oz). That keeps it at a size that will actually fit in a camera bag next to a body and a couple of primes.

A push-pull focusable beam

The optical design is built around a push-pull focusing element on the front of the fixture, which continuously adjusts the beam angle from a 24° spot to a 60° flood. At 24°, the spot end is tight enough to work as a genuine accent or rim light on a subject, which is often where pocket LEDs fall short, since many tend to spill light well beyond the intended area at anything below 45°.

The optical modifier is the more interesting story

Where the RF 20C gets more interesting is what happens when you remove the front optical element. Underneath sits a mounting interface for a new, separately sold optical modifier that SmallRig describes as a 36° mini projection attachment. It behaves like a scaled-down Leko, with four built-in framing shutters for cutting hard edges into the beam, plus a magnetic gobo holder that accepts drop-in patterns (a practical upgrade over the silicone gobo holder on the RF 10C). Because the modifier uses an actual optical focusing unit rather than a push-pull mechanism, Manny told us it can even be used for macro-style lighting on product and tabletop setups.

A 20-gobo filter set is included with the RF 20C, and the optical modifier is cross-compatible with the existing RF 10C, which is a nice touch for anyone already invested in the system. Manny told us the company is also considering custom gobo patterns, though nothing has been confirmed. Pricing and a release date for the optical modifier have not yet been announced.

Battery life, charging, and mounting

The RF 20C uses dual 5,000mAh internal batteries for a claimed runtime of roughly 1.5 hours at full output, with Manny noting that runtime can stretch to over three and a half hours at the lowest settings, and that a full charge from zero should take under an hour. Charging is handled over USB-C with 36W PD pass-through support, meaning the light can run while charging, so you are not forced to swap between operating and recharging on longer shoots.

For rigging, the fixture has two 1/4-20 threads on the sides with NATO locating pins and a third 1/4-20 on the rear. Control at launch is limited to a single central operation knob on the body. Manny confirmed there is no Bluetooth, no app control, and no DMX connectivity in this first iteration, and hinted that future versions could add these, depending on user feedback. Wireless dimming in particular would be a useful addition for units deployed as background accents on larger setups.

Price and availability

The SmallRig RF 20C can be pre-ordered now, and retails for $67.99, with global availability expected around May 5, 2026. It will be offered as a standalone unit and as a kit with the included gobo set, while the Leko-style optical projection modifier will be sold separately when it arrives. More information is on the official SmallRig product page.

Does the jump from the RF 10C, with its focusable beam and five color modes, make this compelling enough to add to your bag? Let us know in the comments below!