Aputure is a leading brand in the world of cinema and photography lighting, known for producing high-quality LED fixtures that are both powerful and portable. Whether you are a YouTuber, a professional filmmaker, or a hobbyist photographer, understanding the Aputure ecosystem can help you achieve professional-looking results. This guide provides a clear overview of Aputure’s product lines, essential features, and how to select the right lighting gear for your specific projects.
What Makes Aputure Lighting Different?
Aputure has gained a reputation for creating lights that offer professional-grade color accuracy at a variety of price points. Their lights are designed to be user-friendly, allowing creators to spend less time troubleshooting gear and more time focusing on their creative work.
One of the primary reasons for the brand’s popularity is its commitment to color quality. Most Aputure lights feature high CRI (Color Rendering Index) and TLCI (Television Lighting Consistency Index) ratings, ensuring that skin tones and colors look natural on camera. Additionally, many of their lights use the industry-standard Bowens mount, which makes them compatible with a vast range of light modifiers.
Understanding Aputure’s Product Lines
Aputure categorizes its products into different series to meet the needs of various users. Knowing the difference between these lines is the first step in building your lighting kit.
The Light Storm (LS) Series
The Light Storm series is Aputure’s flagship line designed for professional film sets and high-end video production. These lights are built with durable materials and offer the highest power output in the Aputure catalog.
- Point-Source Lights: These fixtures, like the LS 600d or LS 1200d, act as a single, powerful beam of light that can be shaped with modifiers.
- Weather Resistance: Many lights in this series are designed to withstand dust and light rain, making them suitable for outdoor shoots.
- Advanced Control: They often feature separate control boxes to keep the light head light-weight when mounted high on a stand.
The Amaran Series
The Amaran series is designed for content creators, vloggers, and independent filmmakers who need quality lighting on a budget. While they are often made of lightweight polycarbonate rather than metal, they still provide excellent light quality.
- Compact Design: These lights are smaller and easier to transport, making them ideal for home studios or small rooms.
- Integrated Controls: Most Amaran lights have the controls built directly into the back of the fixture, simplifying the setup process.
- Affordability: This line offers the best value for those just starting their journey in video production.
The Nova Series
The Nova series consists of soft light LED panels. Unlike point-source lights that require a softbox to create gentle shadows, Nova panels produce a wide, soft glow right out of the box.
These are excellent for lighting interviews or creating a soft ambient light in a studio. They feature full RGB capabilities, meaning you can change the light to any color in the spectrum for creative effects.
Accent and MC Series
Aputure also produces small, portable lights known as “accent” lights. The MC series and the B7c bulb are pocket-sized lights used to add splashes of color to a background or to act as practical lights within a scene.
Key Features to Consider
When choosing an Aputure light, there are several technical features you should evaluate to ensure the light fits your workflow.
Color Temperature: Daylight vs. Bi-Color vs. RGB
Daylight-balanced lights (usually marked with a “d”) are fixed at 5600K, which mimics natural sunlight. These are typically more powerful than bi-color versions of the same light.
Bi-color lights (marked with an “x”) allow you to adjust the temperature from warm orange to cool blue. This is helpful when you need to match the existing light in a room. RGB lights offer the most flexibility, allowing for millions of color combinations.
Power Options
Consider where you will be filming most often. Many Aputure lights can be powered by a standard wall outlet, but they also offer battery power options.
Professional models often use V-Mount or Gold Mount batteries, while smaller lights might use Sony NP-F style batteries or internal rechargeable cells. If you plan to shoot on location without access to electricity, battery compatibility is essential.
The Sidus Link App
One of Aputure’s most helpful innovations is the Sidus Link mobile app. Most modern Aputure and Amaran lights feature Sidus Mesh technology, allowing you to control multiple lights from your smartphone or tablet.
Through the app, you can adjust brightness, change colors, and trigger special effects like lightning or flickering fire. This is especially useful if your lights are mounted in hard-to-reach places.
How to Choose the Right Aputure Light
Selecting the right light depends on your environment and the type of content you create. Here are a few common scenarios to help you decide.
For Home YouTubers and Vloggers
If you are filming in a small room or a dedicated home studio, the Amaran 100d or 200d is often the best choice. These provide plenty of brightness for a single-person setup and are compatible with softboxes to create a flattering look.
For Professional Interview Setups
For high-quality interviews, a two-light or three-light setup is standard. You might use an LS 300d II as your main light (key light) and a Nova P300c as a fill light to soften shadows. A small MC light can be used in the background to add depth.
For Travel and On-the-Go Creators
If you travel frequently, look for compact options like the Amaran COB 60d. It is small enough to fit in a camera bag but powerful enough to light a subject effectively. Pair it with a battery handle for maximum portability.
Essential Modifiers for Aputure Lights
A light fixture is only half of the equation. To get the best results, you often need to modify the light to control its shape and softness. Because many Aputure lights use the Bowens mount, you have many options.
- Softboxes: These attach to the front of the light to create soft, flattering illumination. The Aputure Light Dome is a popular choice for this.
- Lanterns: A lantern modifier spreads light in all directions, which is great for lighting an entire room evenly.
- Fresnels: A Fresnel lens focuses the light into a tight, intense beam, useful for highlighting specific objects or creating a dramatic effect.
- Barn Doors: These metal flaps allow you to “cut” the light, preventing it from spilling onto areas where you don’t want it.
Practical Tips for Using Aputure Lights
To get the most out of your investment, follow these simple best practices for lighting your scenes.
First, always start with your “key light,” which is your primary light source. Position it at a 45-degree angle from your subject to create natural-looking shadows and depth. Once your key light is set, you can add fill lights or background lights to complete the look.
Second, use the Sidus Link app to group your lights. This allows you to dim the entire set at once or change the mood of the room with a single tap. It saves time and prevents you from having to walk back and forth to each light stand.
Finally, pay attention to heat. While LEDs run much cooler than traditional tungsten bulbs, high-powered lights can still get warm. Ensure the fans are not blocked and give the lights a few minutes to cool down before packing them into their carrying cases.
Conclusion
Aputure lighting offers a versatile range of solutions that can grow with your skills and needs. By understanding the differences between the Light Storm and Amaran series, and by utilizing tools like the Sidus Link app and Bowens mount modifiers, you can significantly improve the visual quality of your projects. Start with a versatile main light and gradually build your kit as your production requirements evolve.
For more tips on improving your creative workspace, explore our other articles on photography gear, home studio setup, and video editing basics to help you reach your goals.