Curtis I get what you are saying I kept getting where the subject had beautiful features and nice skin but looked mad or should I say angry.So thank you so much.I definitely enjoyed all your tips and always enjoy as I said in past nonsense attitude and can't tell how much your reviews and videos helped.Truly know your craft and excellent when showing me the correct way.Please tell your daughter as well very big help.I am like a sponge soaking it in.What I really need to learn don't be so hard on myself it's been a while and equipment has changed.Always enjoy and have picked up so much Thanks so much you are absolutely amazing Teacher.Thanks again to your Family as well Deb✌👍
You get more soft light with relatively gradual transitions from light to shadow. If you add enough, you'll need to adjust your exposure to prevent blowing out the highlights.
i worked on a small movie set and the two 120ds and lightdomes they had were pretty much always being used, to they point where they wouldnt even bother packing them back in after shooting, they just threw them into the lighttruck after packing in everything else. they survived this without any problems btw
Nice! Mine have held up pretty nicely over time as well. Still happy with them and the light dome. Still my main light for most interview/talking head shots.
I'd love to see a collapsible softlight from Aputure. It's not a bad price but I did get a 150cm Octagon from Jinbei including a honeycomb grid for 100 USD. It does look like a quality product though. Great Review as always Curtis.
I hope they get the fresnel right. That's the only modifier I'd use with this light. This light dome seems ok for interviews or tight shots, though. I prefer the all in one foldable octaboxes. Quicker setup and no rods.
I think we've seen a delay in the fresnel release because they wanted to rework them so that we can mount barn doors on them.The prototype at NAB didn't have that capability.
This is something I am definitely going to consider. I already have some Bowens mount softboxes form my strobe photography kits. Looking forward to the daylight veraion.
I own a 100cm Elinchrom deep octa which is quicker to setup and creates the most beautiful quality of light. It has the best of light quality and setup speed.
Cool sounds nice. How much do those run? I saw at NAB that the new version of this Aputure Light Dome will have the quick setup ribs and a gel holder which looked nice. Price is supposed to be less than $200.
Great video. What light stand is that seen here? Just bought the Aputure 120dii and Dome but need a stand cause the one I bought was not good. Thanks for any suggestions!
That's a c-stand like this: bhpho.to/2EG25Ov It is heavy and will last at least a century. If you're looking for something more portable and slightly less expensive, I've had a set of Manfrotto light stands for over 20 years that are still going strong: bhpho.to/2EEWqIp
Hi, the course covers Adobe Audition CC. The difference between panels and fresnel is how you can modify the light. Panels are nice because they're relatively soft sources of light right out of the box and you can shoot them through scrims or umbrellas to soften them more. But this way of softening light is not as efficient as using a softbox which does not bounce some of the light off of the scrim and behind the light. Technically the COB120t is a hard light and soon, Aputure will release an add-on fresnel lens for it. The nice thing about the 120t is that you can put it into a proper, deep softbox like this, you'll be able to add a focusing fresnel lens which allows you to focus the light beam to a very narrow shaft, and with the included reflector, this is a great flood light with a very wide beam angle. So the 120t is super versatile. I hope that helps!
For studio use, this should be my choice but I can't just get over that big controller hanging and big battery requirement to go mobile. For photos, you should be ok with just one light and soft box but for video use, I say it's better to buy lights like Came-tv boltzen X 2? (it uses sony battery and it's very compact light, $500 for 2)
Definitely go with what works for your style of shooting. I haven't tested the Boltzen yet but I'm guessing it puts out a lot less light and/or with the Sony batteries you'll get a lot less time on battery power. All that said, if that's all you need, that's a more compact kit which is always good.
Curtis, I know this is an old video, you probably won't see this message, but gonna try anyways. I am a long-time fan, love your videos, but got say your facial expression on the lighting samples OMG...Dude relax, LOLz much love!
Hi Jeff, for a very small group in close proximity to one another, definitely. As for setup and tear down, it takes probably 5 minutes for each. Best wishes!
Wondering if there is a way to rig this up with a yellow gel? I purchased this Soft Box with the Aputure 120D and it's just melting any gel that is in direct contact. Any thoughts on how to accomplish this?
Thanks for the video Curtis, I have to say it look a real pain in the but to put together, I'm sure I have seen some collapsable softbox's somewhere. We shoot property videos and time is very short on every shoot for us. Do you have an opinion on this?
We are wanting to buy some LED lights and were looking at Pixapro LED100D @ £300 each, then a saw the Aputure 120t (soon the D) but it's over £500 each. I need 3 lights, so a big saving on the Pixapro lights, although the Aputure lights are 1.5k, .5k more than the Pixapro, I hate making decisions :-)
Nice review. The quality of light out of the light dome is very nice. Looking at the video at around 2:15 (overhead view) ... What is that light behind the talent doing? It looks like you have it pointed at a white card and are then bouncing it back toward the background - perhaps as a way to create a gradient on your background?
Is that what you're using in THIS video? If so, sure looks like you're getting a very even lighting on the backdrop - I would have expected more falloff as the light gets higher up the background since it's farther away from the bounce card.
+Doug Greene yes, also used in this video. The main reason I used a bounce is that I was using an old-school Arri tungsten fresnel without any scrims so this was a way to not only get very even lighting but also reduce its intensity since I was working in a small space.
Aputure coming with a new daylight version of the COB 120t, called COB 120d. Which one do you prefer for most video use, I plan to use it for interview or corporate video. My other LED lights are Yongnuo YN-300ii (bicolor) and YN-600L (daylight). And can you please review it soon. Thank you.
+Victor Sidharta hi Victor, I plan to go with the 120d because most of my other lights are daylight and in my corporate work, I find that most office lighting is daylight color. Also easier to match window light with a daylight colored light.
Hi Curtis. Thank you for the great video. You always do such a wonderful job. I was wondering what intensity you usually have the COB120 set at when it’s placed at the 2 meters away from you? I have a GH5 that I’m going to be using with the COB120d and the Aputure Light Dome.
Hi, thanks, it depends on whether you're looking for a high key or low key look. For high key, I usually take it to 100% and adjust aperture accordingly to get the exposure dialed in but if you're looking for a shallower depth of field, you might want to dial it back to maybe 60 - 75 and open up the aperture. Good luck!
Hi Jeremy, I 'm not familiar with a practilite. Definitely give it a try and see what you get! I also tested Ikea light bulbs in shop lamps and was able to achieve some decent results: ua-cam.com/video/R9tRSoMCD9I/v-deo.html
Yes, but my pocketbook made me turn and run. ;-) Just kidding. Though truly, when I looked at them they were priced well beyond what my budget would allow.
I was going to premise my statement with, "They're basically out of everybody's budget..." but didn't want to make any assumptions :) I film weddings and the further I can place my eyesore light stands from the action the happier all parties tend to be. The insane spot & throw abilities of the dedo seem to be what I need, fortunately...and unfortunately.
Yes, I completely understand. I have not shot a lot of wedding videos but agree that lighting is a serious challenge and having a long-throw option would be nice. Perhaps the fresnel add-on for the COB 120 will help. Will be interesting to see once it is available.
Curtis, comparing the COB + fresnel to the Lightstorm LS 1s, which is more powerful? I'm assuming with the fresnel, they are close. I'm looking to see if the COB + fresnel would be a good light to spot on dance floor etc, such as weddings and other events. Love your channel. Thanks!
Jake, They're pretty close once you add the fresnel to the COB. I like that I can use the COB for soft or hard lighting so if I could only choose one, it'd be the COB. You may have already seen it but we covered this topic to some extent in this other episode: ua-cam.com/video/cSyG-RhZrMU/v-deo.html
Hi Curtis! Thank you for your awesome work. I do makeup tutorials and I bought Dedo's PanAura 5 Tungsteen as a key light. The reason why is because a bunch of people told me it makes skin look slightly golden like no other daylight can. Is that true and if so, is it true also for this Aputure you just reviewed?
Hi! Thanks. Wow, the Dedo PanAura is a beautiful light albeit rather expensive and takes quite a lot of space. The Aputure COB 120t and Light Dome (which I used as the key light in the talking head portions of this video) does a nice job for a fraction of the price. I would think it would be a very nice setup for makeup tutorials. Here is my original review of the COZB 120t light which goes with the light dome soft box reviewed in this video: ua-cam.com/video/x2oDyeAc7x0/v-deo.html Best wishes!
Exaaaccctttlllyyyy! At the moment I have it in my living room and I just can't manage to get a good picture. I think I would need two, one on each corner. Also, if the PanAura is too close to the subject, the skin gets a pinky undertone. I guess this happens because it is that intense. I'll use the Panaura for the hair backlight, two Aputure 120ts as the key and one for the background in a combination with the Dedo DLH4. :) By the way, do you do paid online consultations so that I would call you via Skype? :)
I would expect the highest quality in terms of color quality with the Dedo Tungsten (I assume you are using a tungsten bulb and not LED or Fluorescent?) and on my end here, the color looks quite good. The pink background does emphasize the pink undertones in her skin, but the skin tones look quite good overall. I'm not sure that switching to another light will improve the color. More likely I suspect that color grading in post may help you achieve the look you're aiming for. It looks like your color workflow is already quite good. Are you doing the editing and coloring yourself or have you hired that out?
I'm gonna get this too for the 120D unfortunately all the gold mount ones are sold out. I still don't actually own any batteries though but I own two light storms that are gold mount plated. Are the mounting plates on the lights removable so I can just buy a gold mount later on? Do you have avideo on v mount vs gold mount?
Hi Raul, the battery mounts are replaceable so you could swap it out at a later time, though they can be a bit pricey. I don't have a video comparing V-Mount vs Gold Mount but I use Gold Mount batteries and have no regrets investing in the Anton Bauer system. They are expensive but have been amazing.
I have a few Lighstorm LS1s (I got based on Curtis's review). Next on my list in the COB 120d and one of these light domes. But I am curious how much light these things kick out. I have a 5 foot octobox I used for still photography. Would the COB be powerful enough?
I can't speak to how well it will work in a 5 foot octabox but for reference, I shot the talking head shots through this light dome at about 2 meters away at ISO 250, shutter 180 degrees (equivalent of 1/48th of a second) and f/4. I realize that's a very indirect way to answer but hopefully it at least gives a point of reference. In my experience with tungsten lighting, this is about the same as a 1K light through a 36" softbox.
Yes, to me they seem about the same once I put the COB into the light dome or shoot the LS1 through a similarly sized scrim. I use the same ISO, shutter, aperture setting for both when they're on 100%
Curtis Judd Thanks Curtis. Im going to get the 120d lights for sure. Aputure really gives good value and quality for the price. I really enjoy using the LS1s
I dont have this particular light, but my other aputure lights (light storm LS1s) look great at 60p and 120p. No flicker. I would assume these are good. But would be nice for Curtis or Aputure to confirm.
Hey Chris I really respect what your doing on your channel and I try to watch your reviews before purchasing anything. But let me tell you a tail of woe. I bought or my company bought on my recommendation two aputure light storms a 120d and a 300d and within two hours of total run time they both failed. I mean the light doesn't come on. Yeah you might think I did something like take it out of the box and set it on a stand then you would be correct. These lights that are suppose to last 10 years can't make it passed its first two hours ( ok it was more like two and a half hours) then OMG what kind of quality control are they doing over there. Needless to say it happen at the worst possible time with my boss looking on and asking what is going on and why did he get dressed up to get his picture taken if I wasn't going to take his picture today. That is no lie either. HA! To top it all off BH is closed this week for the holiday and I contacted the manufacturer who got back to me but they go on vacation for the next two months. Can you believe that they told me they understand my problem and would deal with it when they get back June 7th. HA! Two lights brand NEW and both stop working what are the odds. Plus after not being able to yell at anybody I found that this isn't uncommon they pushed out production to meet market demand and put out a lot of defective product. Check out amazon one guy went through 3 before he got a good one. Make a note of this please.
Thanks for sharing your experience Matthew. I was sorry to hear it was so bad. I shared my experience on my latest video which was a review of the Aputure F7. My brother had an AC adapter fail and had a good experience getting a replacement. So it sounds like the experience is still spotty. I was not aware that all of Aputure goes on vacation for 2 months. In fact I will see some of them next week at NAB where I can ask about that.
I can't wait for a bicolor version of this light to come out. I felt like this light would be more useful than the LS1S panel now. What's your thoughts on COB vs LS1S?
If I didn't already have lights, I'd go with 2 COBs and 1 LS1. Or if I had lots and lots of money, 3 COBs and 1 LS1. With the accessories, the COB promises to be very versatile. Very much looking forward to the Fresnel lens next.
Thanks Aaron. Good for photography I would think, but for video, 250w model light is way less powerful than this unless that's true 250 watts for an LED modeling lamp?
Hi Curtis. How much more powerful would one of these be than an Octadome without a Bowens mount? I've got an old Octodome, but I have to turn my COB 120D away from the diffusion and bounce back to avoid a hot spot. It does an okay job, but I wonder how much more powerful this would be? Unfortunately there's no showroom near me to test it. Thanks
Hi Douglas, I'm not sure how this compares to an Octodome. This does have two diffusion panels so I don't notice any obvious hot spots. I'm afraid I'm not sure how this compares to an Octodome, but I was able to shoot at ISO 250, f4, 1/48th shutter speed on 24fps video when the light dome was approximately 5 feet away from my face. Hopefully that gives you a basis of comparison relative to your Octodome. Good luck!
Thank you so much for your videos. They are insightful on things that we need to know about. I am looking into getting myself some Aputure Light Storm LS and COB 120 LED lights but I am not sure which ones to get. I mainly do video work both corporate and independent films. I am trying to figure out whether to get the daylight versions of the lights (and wait for the COB 120d to come out), or get the tungsten versions of the lights. I know they have the bi-colored LS-1c version, but lose half the lighting power. Would it be easier just to get the daylight versions and use CTO gels whenever I need tungsten lighting? I hope this made sense, and I appreciate any advice.
Hey Matthew, definitely makes sense. As a corporate shooter myself, I opt for the daylight versions since in most office environments, the lighting these days is daylight fluorescent. I also agree that the bi-color versions compromise on light output so I stick with the single color options instead. I contacted Ted at Aputure and he confirmed that the daylight COB should become available "...in less than 2 months, we had to delay to ensure that the color quality was top notch..." I currently shoot with 3 LS1s (they sent me one, I bought 2). They sent me the 120t and I plan to buy 2 120d's once they start shipping. Thanks for the question and I hope that helps!
Thank you Curtis, Your advice and videos are very much appreciated, and have helped me out tremendously. I am now planning on purchasing 2 LS1s, and I will buy 2 120d's once they come out. And if I need a tungsten look on my shoots, I can buy some nice CTO's to get that look. Thank you again for everything!
Hi Ben, for the types of shooting I do (largely interviews and corporate talking head shots), I really like the COB. I'm waiting to buy the 120d (daylight version) which should be released in the next 60 days or so.
Hi, Thank you for the review. May I enquire on the amount of time it takes to set up the Light Dome? I imagine, more than the Elinchrom [Deep] Octa? Also, does setting up the Light Dome necessitate supporting it on a surface? I'd rather that the only part of My equipment that touches the floor of the tarmac is the legs of My tripods and light stands (unavoidable, unfortunately).
Hi Leo, This is the older version of the light dome and yes, I find that I need to rest it on a surface to set it up. The just announced a newer version this week which is quicker to set up and can be done while holding it. It requires snapping each rod into place rather than inserting the end of each rod into the center ring bracket. I'll have a video posted showing the newer version in the next couple of days (shot it at NAB earlier this week).
Curtis Judd Thank you lots, Curtis! Your reply is invaluable: it just saved me from purchasing the older version! I see... that's much the same system that Elinchrom has been using in their standard softboxes (including octas) for years. The very large (and heavy, I assume) LiteMotive -series Octas, surprisingly enough, use the not "snapping" / spring-loaded speedrings for some reason. I'm very curious to see what the Light Dome Mk II has to offer. Do you know whether a grid will be supplied with these?
Thanx a lot for this review. I got an Aputure 120d recently but I´m not sure if I go for the Light Dome 2 or the Light Dome Mini... All the best fro Germany:-)
Thanks Klaus. I will have a review of the new versions of both of these pretty soon. If you'll only be shooting head and shoulder talking head interviews and such, the mini is probably enough and it is significantly smaller. Also good if you'll be working in very tight spaces. But I prefer the versatility and softness of the full size Light Dome as long as there's enough room for it.
Hi Curtis, do you know of the Light Dome II is compatible with the 120D v1? V1 on sale now because v2 makes it redundant I guess, pretty big savings so just seeing if I can get the V1 light and couple it with V2 dome.
Hey Curtis, nice review as usual. Quick question, is the mount actually in two parts: speedring + mount itself ? So that I can use the softbox on other lights by switching the mount, namely Paul Buff Einstein flashes ? Thanks
Hmmm disappointing :-/ what is the screw below the mount on this image for then if not to disassemble the mount form the speedring ? Cheers www.aputure.com/cache/upload/images/image/Accessories/lightdome03.jpg
The practical difference between an umbrella and the light dome is their effects on ambient light levels. Umbrellas create nice, soft light but they also throw diffused light everywhere so the ambient light level rises in addition to the light directly aimed at the talent. If that's the look you're going for then you can save yourself some money. But if you want a more contrasty look where you are able to control the spill more carefully, the light dome makes things much easier.
+Killian Bayer yes, you could tape a gel over the opening of the mount inside the dome. Be sure to leave a little room for the LED to breath and make sure you use heat resistant gels.
Hi Ken, in terms of diffusion it would work fine if you can find a way to mount the soft box on a stand. The included ring is a Bowens mount. I don't know whether there are any Bowens to stand adapters out there.
@@curtisjudd thanks, im trying to reduce my gear load. I have 36 softbox but takes a while to setup. So i was thinking about buying a Aputure Light Dome 2 for my Key Light and for flash. Also what softbox do you recommend - I shoot weddings and portraits.
I think the trick is that big soft boxes for small flash guns need a separate holder since the soft box is not attached to the flash gun. Unfortunately, that's not a space I work in much these days so I've lost touch with the products for that. Sorry I couldn't help more and best wishes!
I would add gel inside, right in front of the COB LED so that you don't have to use massive sheets to cover the front of the dome. I've Rosco with good results: bhpho.to/2msgGRe
Curtis Judd: thanks ..YN900 is a led panel but can you suggest anything for the same as i it has harsh light and i need to shoot group photographs at weddings.infact thanks to you showing led panel diffuser but can it solve my purpose as we need to shoot at good distance. Thanks once again.
Using a bounce board of some sort is probably the easiest, least expensive way to diffuse LED panel light. Foamcore or poster board or bead board all work nicely.
Interesting, hadn't seen that one before and cool that it also comes in multiple sizes. I can't speak to the build quality, but should fit the 120. If you do try it, please let us know how it goes.
Curtis I get what you are saying I kept getting where the subject had beautiful features and nice skin but looked mad or should I say angry.So thank you so much.I definitely enjoyed all your tips and always enjoy as I said in past nonsense attitude and can't tell how much your reviews and videos helped.Truly know your craft and excellent when showing me the correct way.Please tell your daughter as well very big help.I am like a sponge soaking it in.What I really need to learn don't be so hard on myself it's been a while and equipment has changed.Always enjoy and have picked up so much Thanks so much you are absolutely amazing Teacher.Thanks again to your Family as well Deb✌👍
Thanks Deb and yes, don't be too hard on yourself, just get out and make something meaningful!
I can't believe the price, we've looked at others for twice the price and more and it does a great job
Yes, pretty impressive.
Nice work Curtis! Just got mine. Its HUGE!
Thanks Caleb. It is huge, indeed! Love the soft light quality and sturdy build.
What happens to the picture when you increasing wattage or power with soft light?
You get more soft light with relatively gradual transitions from light to shadow. If you add enough, you'll need to adjust your exposure to prevent blowing out the highlights.
Curtis Judd Thanks.
i worked on a small movie set and the two 120ds and lightdomes they had were pretty much always being used, to they point where they wouldnt even bother packing them back in after shooting, they just threw them into the lighttruck after packing in everything else.
they survived this without any problems btw
Nice! Mine have held up pretty nicely over time as well. Still happy with them and the light dome. Still my main light for most interview/talking head shots.
The light dome is now available on amazon, you should update the video description box with your affiliate link :-)
Thanks for the reminder!
I will buy one for sure Curtis. Looks like an incredible value for money.
I'd love to see a collapsible softlight from Aputure. It's not a bad price but I did get a 150cm Octagon from Jinbei including a honeycomb grid for 100 USD. It does look like a quality product though. Great Review as always Curtis.
+Iacovos thanks! Which kind of mount does the Jinbei use?
I believe Jinbei always use Bowen mount
Yes, it's a Bowens mount, I'm using it with a Jinbei EF-200 light.
You should probably check out Paul C Buff foldable softbox. Pricer but built to last. You only need to purchase the proper speeding for it.
Interesting, I'll give them a look thanks! :)
I hope they get the fresnel right. That's the only modifier I'd use with this light. This light dome seems ok for interviews or tight shots, though. I prefer the all in one foldable octaboxes. Quicker setup and no rods.
I think we've seen a delay in the fresnel release because they wanted to rework them so that we can mount barn doors on them.The prototype at NAB didn't have that capability.
Thanks for the great reviews. Keep it up.
Thank you, will do!
Nice, I'm really looking forward to trying one of these out and seeing how it compares to the Para or Briese
Thanks Matt! BTW, love the community collabs!
This is something I am definitely going to consider. I already have some Bowens mount softboxes form my strobe photography kits. Looking forward to the daylight veraion.
Yes! I'm told that the daylight model should be here in "less than 2 months" according to Ted at Aputure.
As usual, top quality review. Looking forward to Christmas day...… a little birdie told me there is one coming for under the tree with my name on it!
👍🏻🎄
Thanks for comparing the Umbrella and the Light Dome, I've been waiting for someone to do this comparison :)
You're welcome!
Seems like a good product, bounce the umbrella and would be softer
Thanks Felipe. You're right about bouncing, but alas, it does not come with a shield to keep much of the light from bleeding through.
I own a 100cm Elinchrom deep octa which is quicker to setup and creates the most beautiful quality of light. It has the best of light quality and setup speed.
Cool sounds nice. How much do those run? I saw at NAB that the new version of this Aputure Light Dome will have the quick setup ribs and a gel holder which looked nice. Price is supposed to be less than $200.
Nice review Curtis. By the way, do you know when Aputure will release COB 120 LED day light version (probably 5600k)?
Yes, Ted at Aputure tells me that it should begin shipping in less than 2 months.
Thanks!
Well done. Like always.
Thanks Levi!
Thank you for the review! This helps out a lot.
+Ejaz Mehedi you're welcome!
It looks great!
Working great so far!
Great video. What light stand is that seen here? Just bought the Aputure 120dii and Dome but need a stand cause the one I bought was not good. Thanks for any suggestions!
That's a c-stand like this: bhpho.to/2EG25Ov It is heavy and will last at least a century. If you're looking for something more portable and slightly less expensive, I've had a set of Manfrotto light stands for over 20 years that are still going strong: bhpho.to/2EEWqIp
i have 2 questions:
1- which software will u be using in your new sound course?
2- what is the defference between using led pannels and led fresnel?
Hi, the course covers Adobe Audition CC. The difference between panels and fresnel is how you can modify the light. Panels are nice because they're relatively soft sources of light right out of the box and you can shoot them through scrims or umbrellas to soften them more. But this way of softening light is not as efficient as using a softbox which does not bounce some of the light off of the scrim and behind the light. Technically the COB120t is a hard light and soon, Aputure will release an add-on fresnel lens for it. The nice thing about the 120t is that you can put it into a proper, deep softbox like this, you'll be able to add a focusing fresnel lens which allows you to focus the light beam to a very narrow shaft, and with the included reflector, this is a great flood light with a very wide beam angle. So the 120t is super versatile. I hope that helps!
Curtis Judd thanks a zillion ☺☺
For studio use, this should be my choice but I can't just get over that big controller hanging and big battery requirement to go mobile. For photos, you should be ok with just one light and soft box but for video use, I say it's better to buy lights like Came-tv boltzen X 2? (it uses sony battery and it's very compact light, $500 for 2)
Definitely go with what works for your style of shooting. I haven't tested the Boltzen yet but I'm guessing it puts out a lot less light and/or with the Sony batteries you'll get a lot less time on battery power. All that said, if that's all you need, that's a more compact kit which is always good.
Aputure lsc20 is coming soon. It's like came-tv boltzen. I hope they release it soon.
Latest news I've heard is "hopefully January"
Curtis, I know this is an old video, you probably won't see this message, but gonna try anyways. I am a long-time fan, love your videos, but got say your facial expression on the lighting samples OMG...Dude relax, LOLz much love!
I’m relaxed now.
How about just placing a 5 in 1 diffuser in front of it? Will that be the same as the umbrella?
Curtis, would you use this for a group shot? Also, how is setup/tear down time? Heard it takes a while. Where'd you get? Thx!
Hi Jeff, for a very small group in close proximity to one another, definitely. As for setup and tear down, it takes probably 5 minutes for each. Best wishes!
just goes to show, you always end up needing a silk frame. This is an awesome tool but man I think its just as much work for other types of diffusion.
Wondering if there is a way to rig this up with a yellow gel? I purchased this Soft Box with the Aputure 120D and it's just melting any gel that is in direct contact. Any thoughts on how to accomplish this?
I would recommend the Cheetah Stand equivalent over the Aputure Light Dome as it is faster to break down.
Thanks. The newer version of the lightdome also sets up much more quickly: ua-cam.com/video/ek-kPnY0nBM/v-deo.html
Thanks for the video Curtis, I have to say it look a real pain in the but to put together, I'm sure I have seen some collapsable softbox's somewhere. We shoot property videos and time is very short on every shoot for us. Do you have an opinion on this?
+Dragonfly Media yes, it does take a bit of time to set up. Which lights are you using?
We are wanting to buy some LED lights and were looking at Pixapro LED100D @ £300 each, then a saw the Aputure 120t (soon the D) but it's over £500 each. I need 3 lights, so a big saving on the Pixapro lights, although the Aputure lights are 1.5k, .5k more than the Pixapro, I hate making decisions :-)
+Dragonfly Media haha! I have heard good things about the Pixapros. Best wishes!
Did you white balance your camera or is this light different from the tungsten model?
+Croo ookie I custom white balanced for the daylight panels which had CTO gel. Not a perfect match which is why the COB 120t looks blue
Nice review. The quality of light out of the light dome is very nice. Looking at the video at around 2:15 (overhead view) ... What is that light behind the talent doing? It looks like you have it pointed at a white card and are then bouncing it back toward the background - perhaps as a way to create a gradient on your background?
+Doug Greene exactly right - it is a bounce card for the backdrop.
Is that what you're using in THIS video? If so, sure looks like you're getting a very even lighting on the backdrop - I would have expected more falloff as the light gets higher up the background since it's farther away from the bounce card.
+Doug Greene yes, also used in this video. The main reason I used a bounce is that I was using an old-school Arri tungsten fresnel without any scrims so this was a way to not only get very even lighting but also reduce its intensity since I was working in a small space.
Aputure coming with a new daylight version of the COB 120t, called COB 120d. Which one do you prefer for most video use, I plan to use it for interview or corporate video. My other LED lights are Yongnuo YN-300ii (bicolor) and YN-600L (daylight). And can you please review it soon. Thank you.
+Victor Sidharta hi Victor, I plan to go with the 120d because most of my other lights are daylight and in my corporate work, I find that most office lighting is daylight color. Also easier to match window light with a daylight colored light.
Another question, if I gel 120d with a CTO will it be the same color as 120t?
Yes. :)
Sold me on this. Hope you’re getting royalties haha
Thanks John. I hope it works as well for you as it has for me. I've got two of them now.
Hi Curtis. Thank you for the great video. You always do such a wonderful job. I was wondering what intensity you usually have the COB120 set at when it’s placed at the 2 meters away from you? I have a GH5 that I’m going to be using with the COB120d and the Aputure Light Dome.
Hi, thanks, it depends on whether you're looking for a high key or low key look. For high key, I usually take it to 100% and adjust aperture accordingly to get the exposure dialed in but if you're looking for a shallower depth of field, you might want to dial it back to maybe 60 - 75 and open up the aperture. Good luck!
Thank you Curtis! I really appreciate the info and the fast response.
Love it!
Me too! Thanks!
It was a very good educational video
I can't afford Aputure light. Only have practilite. Will this work?
Hi Jeremy, I 'm not familiar with a practilite. Definitely give it a try and see what you get! I also tested Ikea light bulbs in shop lamps and was able to achieve some decent results: ua-cam.com/video/R9tRSoMCD9I/v-deo.html
Hey Curtis! Have you looked at any dedolights yet? Those who have them seem to swear by them.
Yes, but my pocketbook made me turn and run. ;-)
Just kidding. Though truly, when I looked at them they were priced well beyond what my budget would allow.
I was going to premise my statement with, "They're basically out of everybody's budget..." but didn't want to make any assumptions :) I film weddings and the further I can place my eyesore light stands from the action the happier all parties tend to be. The insane spot & throw abilities of the dedo seem to be what I need, fortunately...and unfortunately.
Yes, I completely understand. I have not shot a lot of wedding videos but agree that lighting is a serious challenge and having a long-throw option would be nice. Perhaps the fresnel add-on for the COB 120 will help. Will be interesting to see once it is available.
Yes, I've been hounding Ted and the guys at Aputure for when I can expect the fresnel. Shouldn't be too long now! Thanks Curtis.
Curtis, comparing the COB + fresnel to the Lightstorm LS 1s, which is more powerful? I'm assuming with the fresnel, they are close. I'm looking to see if the COB + fresnel would be a good light to spot on dance floor etc, such as weddings and other events. Love your channel. Thanks!
Jake, They're pretty close once you add the fresnel to the COB. I like that I can use the COB for soft or hard lighting so if I could only choose one, it'd be the COB. You may have already seen it but we covered this topic to some extent in this other episode: ua-cam.com/video/cSyG-RhZrMU/v-deo.html
Thanks Curtis!
Hi Curtis! Thank you for your awesome work. I do makeup tutorials and I bought Dedo's PanAura 5 Tungsteen as a key light. The reason why is because a bunch of people told me it makes skin look slightly golden like no other daylight can. Is that true and if so, is it true also for this Aputure you just reviewed?
Hi! Thanks. Wow, the Dedo PanAura is a beautiful light albeit rather expensive and takes quite a lot of space. The Aputure COB 120t and Light Dome (which I used as the key light in the talking head portions of this video) does a nice job for a fraction of the price. I would think it would be a very nice setup for makeup tutorials. Here is my original review of the COZB 120t light which goes with the light dome soft box reviewed in this video: ua-cam.com/video/x2oDyeAc7x0/v-deo.html Best wishes!
Exaaaccctttlllyyyy! At the moment I have it in my living room and I just can't manage to get a good picture. I think I would need two, one on each corner. Also, if the PanAura is too close to the subject, the skin gets a pinky undertone. I guess this happens because it is that intense. I'll use the Panaura for the hair backlight, two Aputure 120ts as the key and one for the background in a combination with the Dedo DLH4. :) By the way, do you do paid online consultations so that I would call you via Skype? :)
I would expect the highest quality in terms of color quality with the Dedo Tungsten (I assume you are using a tungsten bulb and not LED or Fluorescent?) and on my end here, the color looks quite good. The pink background does emphasize the pink undertones in her skin, but the skin tones look quite good overall. I'm not sure that switching to another light will improve the color. More likely I suspect that color grading in post may help you achieve the look you're aiming for. It looks like your color workflow is already quite good. Are you doing the editing and coloring yourself or have you hired that out?
Wow, that looks fantastic! Great work! Looks to me like you're on your way!
Thanks Curtis! :) Lovely chatting to you. :)
I'm gonna get this too for the 120D unfortunately all the gold mount ones are sold out. I still don't actually own any batteries though but I own two light storms that are gold mount plated. Are the mounting plates on the lights removable so I can just buy a gold mount later on? Do you have avideo on v mount vs gold mount?
Hi Raul, the battery mounts are replaceable so you could swap it out at a later time, though they can be a bit pricey. I don't have a video comparing V-Mount vs Gold Mount but I use Gold Mount batteries and have no regrets investing in the Anton Bauer system. They are expensive but have been amazing.
I have a few Lighstorm LS1s (I got based on Curtis's review). Next on my list in the COB 120d and one of these light domes. But I am curious how much light these things kick out. I have a 5 foot octobox I used for still photography. Would the COB be powerful enough?
I can't speak to how well it will work in a 5 foot octabox but for reference, I shot the talking head shots through this light dome at about 2 meters away at ISO 250, shutter 180 degrees (equivalent of 1/48th of a second) and f/4. I realize that's a very indirect way to answer but hopefully it at least gives a point of reference. In my experience with tungsten lighting, this is about the same as a 1K light through a 36" softbox.
Curtis Judd
Thanks Curtis. Would you say the output from these lights is about equal to the LS1s?
Yes, to me they seem about the same once I put the COB into the light dome or shoot the LS1 through a similarly sized scrim. I use the same ISO, shutter, aperture setting for both when they're on 100%
Curtis Judd
Thanks Curtis. Im going to get the 120d lights for sure. Aputure really gives good value and quality for the price. I really enjoy using the LS1s
Does the led light flicker? Or is it flicker free at 60p or 120p? Would be nice to know, thanks!
I dont have this particular light, but my other aputure lights (light storm LS1s) look great at 60p and 120p. No flicker. I would assume these are good. But would be nice for Curtis or Aputure to confirm.
I have not experienced any flicker at 60p with the COB 120t (I haven't had occasion to shoot at 120p)
Hey Chris I really respect what your doing on your channel and I try to watch your reviews before purchasing anything. But let me tell you a tail of woe. I bought or my company bought on my recommendation two aputure light storms a 120d and a 300d and within two hours of total run time they both failed. I mean the light doesn't come on. Yeah you might think I did something like take it out of the box and set it on a stand then you would be correct. These lights that are suppose to last 10 years can't make it passed its first two hours ( ok it was more like two and a half hours) then OMG what kind of quality control are they doing over there. Needless to say it happen at the worst possible time with my boss looking on and asking what is going on and why did he get dressed up to get his picture taken if I wasn't going to take his picture today. That is no lie either. HA! To top it all off BH is closed this week for the holiday and I contacted the manufacturer who got back to me but they go on vacation for the next two months. Can you believe that they told me they understand my problem and would deal with it when they get back June 7th. HA! Two lights brand NEW and both stop working what are the odds. Plus after not being able to yell at anybody I found that this isn't uncommon they pushed out production to meet market demand and put out a lot of defective product. Check out amazon one guy went through 3 before he got a good one. Make a note of this please.
Thanks for sharing your experience Matthew. I was sorry to hear it was so bad. I shared my experience on my latest video which was a review of the Aputure F7. My brother had an AC adapter fail and had a good experience getting a replacement. So it sounds like the experience is still spotty. I was not aware that all of Aputure goes on vacation for 2 months. In fact I will see some of them next week at NAB where I can ask about that.
i need this combo
It's a good combo!
I can't wait for a bicolor version of this light to come out. I felt like this light would be more useful than the LS1S panel now. What's your thoughts on COB vs LS1S?
If I didn't already have lights, I'd go with 2 COBs and 1 LS1. Or if I had lots and lots of money, 3 COBs and 1 LS1. With the accessories, the COB promises to be very versatile. Very much looking forward to the Fresnel lens next.
What would you be using the LS1 for?
Mostly as a rim or kicker. It works well for that with the Kamerar D:Fuse softbox.
better to just get a Godox 600 or Flashpoint Xplor 600 and use those with a dome. You get 600w of flash and about 125-250w of continuous model light
Thanks Aaron. Good for photography I would think, but for video, 250w model light is way less powerful than this unless that's true 250 watts for an LED modeling lamp?
Just shot a wedding video at night. Without modeling lamp on, I had to use ISO 6400-8000 for video. With Lamp, ISO 320-400
Wow, that's quite a modeling lamp! I'm impressed.
Hi Curtis. How much more powerful would one of these be than an Octadome without a Bowens mount? I've got an old Octodome, but I have to turn my COB 120D away from the diffusion and bounce back to avoid a hot spot. It does an okay job, but I wonder how much more powerful this would be? Unfortunately there's no showroom near me to test it. Thanks
Hi Douglas, I'm not sure how this compares to an Octodome. This does have two diffusion panels so I don't notice any obvious hot spots. I'm afraid I'm not sure how this compares to an Octodome, but I was able to shoot at ISO 250, f4, 1/48th shutter speed on 24fps video when the light dome was approximately 5 feet away from my face. Hopefully that gives you a basis of comparison relative to your Octodome. Good luck!
Thanks for the figures. I will give it a test!
Another very well presented video. Thanks Curtis!
Cheers,
Greg
PS. First! :-P
+Greg Allen thanks Greg and congrats on being first!
Thank you so much for your videos. They are insightful on things that we need to know about.
I am looking into getting myself some Aputure Light Storm LS and COB 120 LED lights but I am not sure which ones to get. I mainly do video work both corporate and independent films. I am trying to figure out whether to get the daylight versions of the lights (and wait for the COB 120d to come out), or get the tungsten versions of the lights. I know they have the bi-colored LS-1c version, but lose half the lighting power. Would it be easier just to get the daylight versions and use CTO gels whenever I need tungsten lighting?
I hope this made sense, and I appreciate any advice.
Hey Matthew, definitely makes sense. As a corporate shooter myself, I opt for the daylight versions since in most office environments, the lighting these days is daylight fluorescent. I also agree that the bi-color versions compromise on light output so I stick with the single color options instead. I contacted Ted at Aputure and he confirmed that the daylight COB should become available "...in less than 2 months, we had to delay to ensure that the color quality was top notch..."
I currently shoot with 3 LS1s (they sent me one, I bought 2). They sent me the 120t and I plan to buy 2 120d's once they start shipping. Thanks for the question and I hope that helps!
Thank you Curtis,
Your advice and videos are very much appreciated, and have helped me out tremendously. I am now planning on purchasing 2 LS1s, and I will buy 2 120d's once they come out. And if I need a tungsten look on my shoots, I can buy some nice CTO's to get that look.
Thank you again for everything!
You bet and good luck!
Thanks for making this video! What are your thoughts on the Aputure LS-1 LED panel vs. the COB 120t?
Hi Ben, for the types of shooting I do (largely interviews and corporate talking head shots), I really like the COB. I'm waiting to buy the 120d (daylight version) which should be released in the next 60 days or so.
Thanks!
Hi,
Thank you for the review.
May I enquire on the amount of time it takes to set up the Light Dome? I imagine, more than the Elinchrom [Deep] Octa?
Also, does setting up the Light Dome necessitate supporting it on a surface? I'd rather that the only part of My equipment that touches the floor of the tarmac is the legs of My tripods and light stands (unavoidable, unfortunately).
Hi Leo, This is the older version of the light dome and yes, I find that I need to rest it on a surface to set it up. The just announced a newer version this week which is quicker to set up and can be done while holding it. It requires snapping each rod into place rather than inserting the end of each rod into the center ring bracket. I'll have a video posted showing the newer version in the next couple of days (shot it at NAB earlier this week).
Curtis Judd Thank you lots, Curtis! Your reply is invaluable: it just saved me from purchasing the older version!
I see... that's much the same system that Elinchrom has been using in their standard softboxes (including octas) for years. The very large (and heavy, I assume) LiteMotive -series Octas, surprisingly enough, use the not "snapping" / spring-loaded speedrings for some reason.
I'm very curious to see what the Light Dome Mk II has to offer. Do you know whether a grid will be supplied with these?
Yes, the grid is included.
Thanx a lot for this review. I got an Aputure 120d recently but I´m not sure if I go for the Light Dome 2 or the Light Dome Mini...
All the best fro Germany:-)
Thanks Klaus. I will have a review of the new versions of both of these pretty soon. If you'll only be shooting head and shoulder talking head interviews and such, the mini is probably enough and it is significantly smaller. Also good if you'll be working in very tight spaces. But I prefer the versatility and softness of the full size Light Dome as long as there's enough room for it.
Thank your for your answer. I´m looking forward to this review. The Light Dome vs. Light Dome Mini ist a kind of size vs. size thing:-)
Hi Curtis, do you know of the Light Dome II is compatible with the 120D v1? V1 on sale now because v2 makes it redundant I guess, pretty big savings so just seeing if I can get the V1 light and couple it with V2 dome.
Curtis? Would this work for Practilite 602?
Hi Jeremy, no, unfortunately it does not look like the Practilite 602 has a Bowens mount.
Hey Curtis, nice review as usual. Quick question, is the mount actually in two parts: speedring + mount itself ? So that I can use the softbox on other lights by switching the mount, namely Paul Buff Einstein flashes ? Thanks
Hi ronfya, the included speeding has the mounting holes all in one unit.
Hmmm disappointing :-/ what is the screw below the mount on this image for then if not to disassemble the mount form the speedring ? Cheers www.aputure.com/cache/upload/images/image/Accessories/lightdome03.jpg
Hmm, let me take another look at my copy when I get back tonight.
The screw ties down the rotating collar to lock it and prevent it from rotating.
Curtis Judd ok fair enough. too bad though. ok thank you so much Curtis !!
Would you say that it's worth the shorter time on set to go with the umbrella? Really looking at that light dome but geez $100 difference!
The practical difference between an umbrella and the light dome is their effects on ambient light levels. Umbrellas create nice, soft light but they also throw diffused light everywhere so the ambient light level rises in addition to the light directly aimed at the talent. If that's the look you're going for then you can save yourself some money. But if you want a more contrasty look where you are able to control the spill more carefully, the light dome makes things much easier.
Thank you very much! That was extremely helpful! Just new to this channel and I enjoy it very much!
Thanks! 👍
thanks for the video. will it work with the LS-mini20?
+Jacobo Castro Cristo unfortunately no. This is too big for the mini20.
Hey Curtis, do you think there's anyway to mount a gel inside of the light dome?
+Killian Bayer yes, you could tape a gel over the opening of the mount inside the dome. Be sure to leave a little room for the LED to breath and make sure you use heat resistant gels.
Can you use the Aputure Dome light 2 with a speedlight?
Hi Ken, in terms of diffusion it would work fine if you can find a way to mount the soft box on a stand. The included ring is a Bowens mount. I don't know whether there are any Bowens to stand adapters out there.
@@curtisjudd thanks, im trying to reduce my gear load. I have 36 softbox but takes a while to setup. So i was thinking about buying a Aputure Light Dome 2 for my Key Light and for flash. Also what softbox do you recommend - I shoot weddings and portraits.
I think the trick is that big soft boxes for small flash guns need a separate holder since the soft box is not attached to the flash gun. Unfortunately, that's not a space I work in much these days so I've lost touch with the products for that. Sorry I couldn't help more and best wishes!
Hey Curtis, is there an Option of Grid for the Lightdome?
On the new mini version there is but I haven't seen one for this one yet.
Is there a grid coming?
+Vautksch I haven't heard one way or the other but will ask next time I talk with them. The hook tape/Velcro looks like it could accommodate a grid.
Cool, let me know if you find out. :)
Will do!
Is it possible to add gels to this light?
Absolutely, yes. This runs way cooler than any tungsten light so gels are no problem at all.
Curtis Judd nice with the dome on where and how do you add them? Which brand would you recommend?
I would add gel inside, right in front of the COB LED so that you don't have to use massive sheets to cover the front of the dome. I've Rosco with good results: bhpho.to/2msgGRe
how much light does this put out... 750? 1k?..
The 120d puts out about the equivalent of a 750K tungsten light.
How about using it with yongnuo 900 pro led light ??
+ABHINAV SINGH hi! If the Yongnuo has a circular Bowen’s mount it will work but I think the 900 is an LED panel?
Curtis Judd: thanks ..YN900 is a led panel but can you suggest anything for the same as i it has harsh light and i need to shoot group photographs at weddings.infact thanks to you showing led panel diffuser but can it solve my purpose as we need to shoot at good distance.
Thanks once again.
Using a bounce board of some sort is probably the easiest, least expensive way to diffuse LED panel light. Foamcore or poster board or bead board all work nicely.
Curtis Judd:thank you so much. Yes that will help.
Is there a Grid for this?
I haven't seen one yet.
i brought one for it....fits perfectly
Awesome, where?
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111946156167......hope this helps Curtis!!!
Wow and very affordable, thanks!
This or selens?
What is selens?
Curtis Judd its actually a brand ,like aputure haha
Oh, I hadn't heard of it until you mentioned it. Will have to look it up!
What do you think of Selens 36" Softbox which goes for $69 on Amazon? a.co/5wtAzXd
Interesting, hadn't seen that one before and cool that it also comes in multiple sizes. I can't speak to the build quality, but should fit the 120. If you do try it, please let us know how it goes.