LIGHTING SPECIAL
ALL-INCLUSIVE The Aputure LED comes with everything needed, including head, reflector dish, clamps, cables, padded bag, remote and ballast/control unit
Save presets, trigger additional lighting FX and install updates: all from your smart device. The whole kit is light enough to assemble on a medium-sized stand, and simple to use. Flickering isn’t an issue, and the light is powerful enough for most applications. We set it up inside a studio for some product shots – and to film a motorcycle feature story in a workshop. The Aputure was the main light, mixed with a couple of 600W HMIs. It performed silently and flawlessly. For the asking price, it’s easy to see why the Light Storm C300d Mark II is quite so popular. This is a sensational product, that’s both versatile and potent enough for the whole spectrum of functions. aputure.com
Simple controls and a nicely sized LCD panel make for a user-friendly control box. With this, you can alter intensity or access the menus. These include built-in lighting SFX such as paparazzi, spark, lightning, faulty bulb, TV, pulse, flash and explosion. A trigger button activates lighting FX instantly. These effects are OK, but not as good as from full-colour RGB fixtures. The unit can be controlled with an included wireless remote. This lets you set on/off and dimming functions from distances up to 100m/328ft – as long as there’s a decent line of sight. Aputure also has the Bluetooth Sidus Link app, which is free to download, allowing adjustment of all functions from up to 400m/1312ft away by linking multiple lights.
The control box has a concealed antenna but, more importantly, a fanless heat sink for completely silent operation. That’s a big deal if you’re recording audio close to the light. A fan is there if you need it. The head has an all-aluminium build to make it rugged, while a new yoke allows for 360° rotation. It employs the handbrake locking mechanism from the popular 120d Mark II, so you can mount the light in any position and it doesn’t slip. A hyper-efficient 55° reflector puts out a slightly tighter beam than the old version, and the new inner shape and coating boosts output. For even more power, Aputure sells the optional Fresnel 2X, which is claimed to increase output up to 80,000 lux. That’s roughly as bright as a 575W HMI.
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