MINI TESTS
AMARAN 150C £380/$359 aputure.com
The 150c is the first full-colour COB light from Aputure’s more accessible range, Amaran. It is a stunning bit of kit for the price, one that offers a spec that was simply not available at any cost just a handful of years ago. This COB monolight offers a CCT range of 2700-7500K with green/ magenta adjustment, so you can set any flavour of white light that you like. But set it to HSI mode and you have a full-colour RGB option that can also produce 90% of colours in the HDR Rec. 2020 space. It has a super-advanced RGBLAC chipset to provide even more subtle colouring options. But you wouldn’t necessarily expect that from a light costing just £380/$359, including a hyper reflector and fitted carry case. The reality is that most indie filmmakers are happy with the creative effects RGB offers, and to have the full white spectrum available at the touch of a button is a great feature. The fixture uses a full-size Bowens mount and there’s an umbrella mount incorporated into the yoke. The light comes with a COB protective cap and the battery brick has a safety wire, so SPECIFICATIONS Power rating: 15,610 lux at 1m, 5600K with hyper reflector Power consumption: 180W maximum Power supply : 100-240v AC, 48v DC CRI/TLCI: 95+/95+ Colour temperature: 2700- 7500K with G/M adjustment HSI: 360° full colour, 90% of colours in Rec. 2020 SFX: Paparazzi, fireworks, lightning, faulty bulb, TV, pulsing, strobe, explosion, fire Accessory mount: Bowens S Cooling system: Fan Dimming: 0-100% stepless Control: On-board, Sidus Link app via Bluetooth Dimensions (lxhxd): 25.1x24.9x19.3cm/9.9x9.8x7.6in Weight: 2.6g/5.8lb
RED LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT The Amaran 150c offers an affordable entry into full-colour COB lights
you can hang it from a light stand. This plugs into the bottom of the head using an XLR-type socket, so you can plug in 48v battery power if you have it. A 90W battery gives around 40 minutes’ runtime at full power. Controls are simple, with one dial for intensity and another for colour. The power is dimmable in 1% increments, so it offers fine control.
Push each knob in to change menu items, which are refreshingly few. There’s a small button to reset the Bluetooth channel. This lets you pair up a smart device, change settings and set SFX options in the free Sidus Link app. The Amaran also works well alongside Aputure lighting fixtures. The head is fan-cooled, but almost silent, so would work for interviews when audio is essential. As Amaran is a budget brand, you’d expect the light to feel cheap or flimsy, but it doesn’t. It’s a bit bigger than you might expect for a 150W COB LED, but it does have full-colour capability and decent power. The handle to adjust the angle of the head on a stand is large, but this makes it simple to work. The light is easy and quick to use – and very bright as it puts out 15,610 lux at 1m and 5600K with the included hyper reflector. It is powerful enough to illuminate a large double-diffusion softbox, and smaller softboxes or lanterns are ideal if you want soft light. The light output is accurate, too. PRO MOVIEMAKER RATING: 9/10 The most affordable yet powerful full-colour COB LED Pros: Bright and great colours Cons: No battery option included
CASE OPEN A polystyrene fitted case is a simple and super-light way to transport it
“The head is fan-cooled, but almost silent, so would work for interviews when audio is essential”
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