Even during the time of the pandemic the team at Aputure is holding strong and are announcing one new product or update every week. After Aputure 300X the bi-colour cob light introduced on April 23rd and the Sidius app update shortly after, Aputure this week announced the 60S and 60X.
Aputure’s Ted Sim introduced two new small fixtures to the Light Storm lineup: the Aputure LS 60d and LS 60x.
The LS 60d is a daylight-only COB LED light, while the LS 60x is a bi-color version. Here are the main features that are common to both lights:
- Made entirely from aircraft-grade aluminium, they are IP54 waterproof (dust and water-resistant).
- All in one 60W LED light, no external ballast needed.
- An accurate colour rendition and light quality with a CRI of 95 and TLCI of 95.
- You can adjust the spot/flood beam angle at the back of the light from 15 to 45°. Also, you can dim the fixtures from 0 to 100%.
- There are three dials at the back of the light (menu/settings/flood-spot) as well as an LCD screen.
- Both lights support the Sidus Link App. Some lighting FX are built-in such as Paparazzi, Fireworks, Lightning, Faulty Bulb, TV, Pulsing, Strobe, Explosion.
- The lights feature a “mini-mount,” and they come with removable barn doors to shape light. But, a mini-mount to Bowens mount adapter is available to attach light modifiers. There is also a new “Spotlight Mini Zoom” projection lens (more on that later).
- The light can turn 360° around the yoke. Talking about the yoke, there is a V-Mount plate built-in on the side of it to attach the AC adapter, a V-Mount battery, or the included Sony NP-F to V-Mount power adapter. You can use one NP-F battery for half power or two for full potential.
- For Gold Mount users, you can’t mount your battery directly to the yoke, but you can power the light via a D-tap cable and attach your battery to your light stand.
- The lights have a fan to cool the LED chip, but it is “ultra-quiet at around 18dB,” according to Aputure.
In terms of output, the LS 60d has a maximum output of 50.000 Lux at 3.28’/1m in full 15° spot according to Aputure. The LS 60x is bi-color (2700 to 6500K ) and can output 30.000 Lux at 3.28’/1m in full 15°. These metrics are impressive compared to the LS 120d II, which “only” outputs 7000 Lux at 1m with the reflector. Otherwise, keep in mind that the LS 60d/60x features a built-in aspherical lens, which is “comparable” to a fresnel-style glass. If you attach a fresnel lens to the Aputure LS 120d II, it can output around 67.000 Lux.
I think that these compact and lightweight new Aputure fixtures are an excellent addition in the Light Storm lineup. Indeed, they are filling filmmakers’ need for small lights and a direct answer to the very popular Nanlite Forza 60 and Dedolight DLED7.
Aputure Spotlight Mini Zoom
The Aputure Spotlight Mini Zoom is explicitly designed for the LS 60d and LS 60x. It features a mini mount, and it can be seen as a mini Aputure Spotlight that we already reviewed here. The Spotlight Mini Zoom has a 15 to 30-degree focusing range and has internal shutter blades for shaping the beam. With this light modifier, you can project a 4.6’/1.20m to 9.2’/2.80m image circle at a distance of 16.4’/4.90m.
