- Lighting
- February 9, 2023
Introduction to the Aputure 1200d Pro: A High-Quality High Output LED Cob Light
The Aputure Lightstorm 1200d Pro , at the time of writing, is the largest and most powerful LED hard light source that Aputure make. It is their flagship daylight balanced LED light which has earned it a place to be used in film, video production and Photography. With its advanced features and compact design, the Aputure 1200d has become a popular choice among smaller productions, enabling them to explore creative possibilities that were unobtainable before, without large rental budgets. For the larger productions it has opened an avenue for more cost effective and greener shooting, thanks to the low energy consumption of the LED units. Pair that with the flexibility of the light being dimmable from 0.1% to 100%, various lighting effects and DMX control this light was always going to be a popular tool in the arsenal.
Key Features of the Aputure 1200d LED Light
- 83,100+ Lux output at 3m
- Bowens mount making it compatible with various light modifiers
- COB (Chip on Board) lighting technology for bright and even illumination
- High CRI score of >96 and TLCI score OF >98
- A set of 3 hyper reflectors allowing a wide, medium and narrow beam
- IP54 Weather Resistant
- Stepless dimming from 0.1 – 100%
- Ethercon Connector, wireless lumenradio, DMX and Sinus link compatible.
- Multiple power options, including AC and DC power supplies
The Benefits of Hiring the Aputure 1200d for Your Next Project
The Aputure 1200D Pro is the perfect rental light. We think the Aputure 600D is the perfect daily driver, but the 1200 is potentially too big and slight overkill for your regular owner operator to have it sat in their day to day kit. Hiring the light means you can have that powerful HMI style lighting source, whenever you need it, but without the initial cost of owning one. At Prelight we love it when our customers come into our studios and give the kit a test before they take it out. This light really speaks for itself and the output to cost ratio is truly impressive.
Why Use LED Lighting For Shoots
LED lighting offers several advantages over traditional lighting solutions, making it a popular choice for video shoots. Aputure’s LED lights use less energy than traditional lighting units such as tungsten and HMI, making them a more sustainable option. As well as being sustainable they are also easier to use. Whilst we are used to being able to dim smaller LED panels and cob lights, the 1200d now allows us to use the same controls on a light that would replace a traditional HMI. This make them quicker to use on set. No more extra time taken to add ND gel or to scrim the lights, just dim the wirelessly on your phone or tablet, or on the controls on the ballast.
Another advantage to the Aputure 1200D is that they are cool to the touch. The LED cob makes the light a lot safer to use, lowering the risk of people burning themselves when adjusting lights, and allowing a much lower risk of fire. We have all wondered what the burning smell is, and found a polyboard with a nice circular burn mark in it! One other thing I don’t miss about HMI’s is waiting for them to strike and come to temperature. The 1200D has really made the shots where you need large lighting units, a lot easier.
What Competition Does the Aputure 1200d Have?
So we have talked about HMI’s and why the 1200D is a great alternative to use, but what competition does it currently have in the LED market. Apart from the lower output units like the Aputure 600D which can sometimes be used in its place, the only current offering that has a 1200w output is the Nanlux Evoke 12000. The lights are both fantastic units and we are hoping to get one into the studio soon to give it a look over, try it out and maybe write up a bit or a review and comparison to the 1200D. I could delve into all the small differences between lux scores, TLCI rating etc… but I think without testing I would just say that both lighting units are highly capable, and you probably wouldn’t be disappointed in using either of the lights.
Best Use Cases of the Aputure 1200d
The Aputure 1200d can be used in a variety of settings and applications. Although the high light output means it can be used in more scenarios than other lights, I think it is important to remember that this light can be dimmed down to 0.1%. So although you have all that power at your fingertips, you don’t necessarily need to use it.
Although it is a hard point source, the 1200D make a fantastic soft source for a key light. The Bowens mount means it can take various modifiers that help soften the source. My favourite is the Aputure Light Dome 150. This soft box is a massive one and half meters in diameter. The extra power on this unit really helps to fill the large soft box and give a beautiful soft wrapping light. Smaller units would struggle to fill a soft box of this size.
Another fantastic use of the 1200d for soft light is when bouncing from reflectors and frames, or setting up a book light. Bouncing and especially bouncing and diffusing light at the same time, really reduces the output that you get. Again a smaller source light would make this difficult, meaning you may not be able to reach the desired T stop if most of the light fades away.
The Aputure 1200d can be used in a variety of settings and applications. Although the high light output means it can be used in more scenarios than other lights, I think it is important to remember that this light can be dimmed down to 0.1%. So although you have all that power at your fingertips, you don’t necessarily need to use it.
Although it is a hard point source, the 1200D make a fantastic soft source for a key light. The Bowens mount means it can take various modifiers that help soften the source. My favourite is the Aputure Light Dome 150. This soft box is a massive one and half meters in diameter. The extra power on this unit really helps to fill the large soft box and give a beautiful soft wrapping light. Smaller units would struggle to fill a soft box of this size.
Another fantastic use of the 1200d for soft light is when bouncing from reflectors and frames, or setting up a book light. Bouncing and especially bouncing and diffusing light at the same time, really reduces the output that you get. Again a smaller source light would make this difficult, meaning you may not be able to reach the desired T stop if most of the light fades away.
Shooting with windows in frame. This is one of my favourite uses of this light. I love to have windows lurking in the background of my shots. I often use them to create depth, especially in spaces that don’t look nice or have boring white walls. Usually I would do this at an angle and have the windows in the side of the frame. I would never shoot straight on to a window. You get all sorts of problems with reflections of light, and also even when exposed correctly it can just make the talent look like they have been green screened, and badly keyed onto the background. The 1200d means that you can compete with the outside light, and minimise clipping in the windows outside, as you match the overall exposure of the outdoors and the light flooding into the room.
Hard sunlight. This is what this light is more obviously used for and a great way to create depth in a room. Use this light bare with one of the hyper reflectors and smash a huge amount of sunlight into the background of your shot. I actually often find I don’t need to be running the light at 100% for the desired effect, but it is nice to have the option if needed. Another little secret I use to sell the idea of sunlight, is to warm the light up a bit with some gel. I don’t however use CTO, I find that it is too orange and often makes the sunlight not look believable. CTS is my go to, this is a yellower warm light, which to my eye, matches daylight much better. I vary on strength depending on what time of day I want it to look, usually going for quarter strength or half. Remember though, you want this gel to be in a frame further away from the lighting unit so that it doesn’t burn. Clip it to the hyper reflector and the gel will melt. I may do a separate blog post on CTS gel and use cases in the future.
Last but by no means least is photography. As sets get busier and video and photography seem to be sharing setups and working along side each other more and more, flash photography is often making way for continuous light. Due to the low shutter speed we use for video, we can often get away with more available light, or lower light levels but for stills they often need the extra exposure in order to get a higher shutter speed for sharper pictures.
Hire the Aputure 1200D With Prelight Hire's Rental Services
At Prelight Hire, we offer flexible and affordable rental options for the Aputure 1200d LED light panel. Our team of experts will work with you to determine the best lighting solution for your specific needs, and provide support throughout the rental process. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a beginner, we’re here to help you get the most out of the Aputure 1200d.Contact us today to learn more about our rental options and take your projects to the next level!