Aputure MC Pro Review: The Perfect Pocket Light
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- Опубліковано 11 лип 2024
- In this video I review the Aputure MC Pro, which may be the best overall RGB pocket light ever created.
One of my favorite features is the completely revamped magnetic modifier system, which includes a flat diffusion panel, domed diffuser, and 30 degree honeycomb grid.
The Aputure MC Pro is an upgrade over the original MC in every single way, except one. It has better build quality, higher brightness, an expanded color temperature range, green/magenta tint control, and much more.
The only thing that was removed was Qi wireless charging, but instead, Aputure has added contact pins for wirelessly charging up to 8 MC Pro lights simultaneously within the 8-light production kit charging case.
The 8-light production kit is one of my favorite products of all time, and is a dream for cinematographers and gaffers who need to take their lights on location.
Leave a comment and let me know if you think any other pocket light compares to the total packge of the Aputure MC Pro!
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== LINKS ==
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Use the code "P7ROCR4D" for 10% off single MC Pro units with the links below when buying from Amazon US.
Aputure MC Pro (Single Light) - geni.us/aputuremcpro
Aputure MC Pro 8-Light Production Kit - geni.us/aputuremcprokit
Color accuracy and brightness measurements: newlayer.com/gear/lights/comp...
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== TABLE OF CONTENTS ==
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0:00 - Intro
0:27 - Build Quality & Controls
1:41 - Green/Magenta Tint Control
1:54 - Focusing Lenses
2:29 - Magnetic Modifier System
3:23 - Brightness & Color Accuracy
5:20 - Wireless Charging
5:35 - 8-Light Production Kit
6:26 - Pricing/Is it Worth it?
7:07 - Final Thoughts
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== CONNECT ==
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TikTok: / nwlyr
Instagram: / newlayercom - Наука та технологія
What do you think? Is there another pocket light that can compete with the Aputure MC Pro as a total package?
New Zhiyun 100 W tube light is also great, but in a bigger form factor.
@@__-yp5bx I did a full video on those lights too! I love the F100 :)
@@NewLayer I saw that review. Love it.
How i wish i can afford this. Great review
Thank you! It really is a dream to have something like this, insanely awesome product in my opinion.
More than twice the cost of the original! Wow!
Congrats on the 100K subs!
Thanks!
And yes, definitely a big change in cost. That makes me think they are going to keep the original MC around, perhaps that one will even go down in price.
The original was much more of an “everybody” product, and I think the MC Pro is very clearly made for pros, so the price increase is understandable.
I see it as a new product in addition to the old one, rather than a replacement for the old one.
@@NewLayer Your logic makes sense.
Thank you so much. This is very usefull video for me.
I appreciate it from Japan.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks.
I was just about to ask your opinion on this light and you beat me to the punch by 10 months. Well played, sir... I'm looking for a few pocket lights on table top tripods for doing jewelry photography. Technically, I only "NEED" bicolour lights, but the added versatility of an RGB light is soooo tempting....
I LOVE the MC Pro, and I can’t imagine anyone never liking it. Highly recommended 👍
Thank you sir! That's good enough for me.
That was an excellent review. Sold.
Glad it was helpful, thanks for the support 👍
Superb review. As always.
Thanks for watching and commenting, much appreciated!
@@NewLayer you're welcome...I know that the reviews you create will be the most useful ones I will see on the products.
Great review man. You truly deserve more views it feels like a steal to watch you. Would love to see examples of how the 8 lights can be used at the same time ever? (ive seen bradys video). But i feel like a squared light dont fit in the scene compared to a tube. And its to small to spill lights like a point light with a dome. The 8 pack seems like a "fun" thing to have on bigger sets but no / little purpose for us independent filmmakers day to day.. I dont know, maybe its just me?
Thanks for the comment and support!
I don't necessarily disagree with you either. This light, especially the kit, is definitely geared towards working professionals on real sets. Personally, I very, very rarely use more than 3 pocket lights in a single shot, and usually it's just 1 or maybe 2.
The original MC has the 4-light kit, which I think is still a great choice for smaller creators who do a lot of solo content creation, but still want a little extra flexibility for special projects requiring a bit more: geni.us/aputuremc4lightkit
I can also see a multi-light bracket coming out that holds multiple MC Pros, and I think if you stuck 4-8 of them on a metal plate, they would actually do pretty well shooting through a 2'x2' or 4'x4' diffusion material.
As always, it's all about the best tool for the job, and the MC Pro won't necessarily be the best fit for everyone.
@@NewLayer Thanks for taking the time to type such a detailed respons, really. But thats a good idea! Like have 4xmc pros on a rack it would actually look good in the scene + alot of purpose. A panel with mcs :D Then you can have 2x4 panels and it would make sense.
I agree, its not for everyone but its a really good gadget to have to add a bit of detail. Also its ease of use with the kit is a huge sellingpoint for many - me included (:!
Exciting and great to have the option! So cant really complain
Just arrived to day, cannot wait to have it charged!
Awesome! I hope you like them as much as I do! Let me know your thoughts after you play with it :)
Just got my hands on one and love it but does it ever display 100% when charging? Mine always shows 99% and I thought it was faulty until I saw your vid with all of them showing 99%
I have been using "Lume Cube Panel Go" and it is great EXCEPT for the on/off button that takes quite some time to react, need to keep pressing for about 5 seconds. Is the on/off button on this Aputure MC Pro quick (like just "tap")?
This is one of the things I love about it! You do press and hold to turn it on, but it's the fastest press and hold style buttons I've used. Less than a second for sure.
"Or attach 20 different modifiers nonsensically simultaneously" 🤣
I mean, maybe there's a reason to use 8 flat diffusers + a grid + a domed diffuser that I'm unaware of? 😅
I know you did a recent video on the DMG DASH, but which would YOU say you would use more?
Personally I use the MC Pro because 1. Almost all my other lights in my home studio are Aputure/Amaran and 2. I mostly shoot in a highly controlled indoor environment, so the build quality of the DASH is overkill, and they are geared more towards heavy duty on-set use.
In my opinion, the price savings on the MC Pro is well worth it unless you are working on-set every day and throw your lights around without a care. Hope that helps!
@@NewLayer awesome thank you. Yea I might pick up 2 aputure lights for only 100 more lol
@@philliptamez Any deal on Aputure lights is a good deal!
glad they made it water resistant. i got the original mc version gently splashed one day and the bastard stopped working entirely. i'm sure a few drops of rain would have rendering it useless as well. who else has encountered this problem with old ones?
Dang that's a bummer! These are definitely much more robust and weather resistant.
I wonder do it they have a four-pack of this light for less than $1,000 cuz I would like some but I don't think I need eight of them
I have seen a ton of requests for it, so I would imagine they might just release a 4-light kit sometime in the near future.
Are there any rgb pocket lights with external/easily replaceble batteries? Preferably with some kind of DMX/CRMX input, but that's probably too much to ask
The MC Pro will swell eventually and become unusable and unsafe to use even though it will probably be able to be powered with USB
It could also just be one with a USB/DC port without a battery at all
Off the top of my head would be:
The Lupo Kickasspanel: geni.us/lupokickasspanel
The Lupo Smartpanel: geni.us/luposmartpaneldc
The Viola from Luxli: geni.us/luxliviola2light
All of those are pretty large in order to be able to hold an NP-F battery though.
The Lupo lights are great, just on the bigger side. I did a short video on them a while back: instagram.com/reel/CqGf_NhDH3I/
@@NewLayerThank you! I'll have to look into them
Is the Godox C5R comparable and a better value compared to this light?
The C5R is half the price, and it shows. I much prefer the MC Pro, but that's if budget doesn't matter. It's better in every way.
Does this light work off wall power or usb power?
It can be run indefinitely via USB-C, yes! So power banks, v-mount batteries that have a USB port, a USB-C wall adapter, etc.
is it brighter than godox m1? thank for video
Unfortunately I've never been able to test the M1, so I can't say. That light is 13W, so although it doesn't have focusing lenses, I would estimate they are nearly identical in brightness, or within 1/3 stop of each other.
@@NewLayer thank you
I would like to see who is using 8 MC for recording... that's what I think
Brady Bessette is your man. Here's one video off the top of my head where he uses a bunch of MCs: ua-cam.com/video/8CCHh12x75M/v-deo.html
@@NewLayer He does great things, yes, but in my opinion it does not justify the price or I don't see normal people using it in a daily basis
@@IzanSoria I think you're 100% right and that the MC Pro is very clearly geared towards professionals, where the original MC was more accessible to everyone, including solo creators.
If I had to guess, both products will remain in the lineup, and the original might even drop in price. Either that, or the MC will go away, and there will be an even cheaper Amaran version for the creator side of things.
is it bright enough to use as a key light in a pinch? on a Zoom call, for example
In that scenario, yes for sure. Especially if you’re just using a phone camera. You probably wouldn’t even want it at full brightness.
If there was a white wall right behind the camera where you were doing the call, I would probably even point it at that wall to bounce it back and make it bigger and softer. And it would still work.
@@NewLayer great to hear it has enough output to be diffused like that. thanks!
@@theronblog It's definitely not going to get you ISO 100 at f/8 or anything, but it's much better than the original!
Biggest drawback is no fast charging. 90 mins charge time means only 4 of the 8 lights are available at any one time from the production kit after the first two hours of filming.
True, although I would say that a 90 minute recharge time at 2A is pretty darn fast. Something like the DMG Dash supports 3A charging, but the battery is also bigger, so takes more than 2.5 hours. What's the fastest charging pocket light you know of, just curious?
You get 2 hours at 100% brightness, but I also typically see them most used between 10-50%, so you'll get 4+ hours at those levels, so you can usually use all of them for the first half of the day, recharge over lunch or something, and they last for the second half of the day.
You are still 100% right though, if you NEED to use 8 lights on a shoot, I would never only ever bring 8 lights, haha.
it should have that pixel stuff like the tube lights for that price
I don't necessarily disagree, but I find that in a panel this small, pixel effects really aren't really useful. I'm sure some would disagree with me, but the only noticeable thing with pixel effects is that you can get multi-colored reflections on some surfaces with a single light. At the same time, having all those reflections come from what is essentially the same sport doesn't look good since each pixel effectively becomes a single square inch light source, which is super tiny.
Might just be me, but I'd never grab a pocket light over a tube for pixel effects, but I can understand where you're coming from.
@@NewLayer but the pixels are so awesome lol
@@A1Bokeh Haha. I have 2 pocket lights with pixel effects, the DMG Dash, which is double the cost of the Aputure MC Pro, and the Soonwell MC8, which is 1/4 the cost, but non-customizable.
@@NewLayer dang never even heard of that! def pricey
Aputure should offer such pocket light at the 200 USD level with a replaceable battery mechanism.
I think they don't do that because to make it with a replaceable battery and maintain the weather rating would increase the cost and complicate the internal design, because they'd have less flexibility with where to put the battery.
Best pocket light ever…except for the DMG Dash…
I've heard good things about those lights, although I've never been able to test them firsthand.
That one is $100 more per light (or $200 more per light if you want DMX),.and from the looks of it, doesn't have some stuff the MC Pro does like: magnets, IP65 rating, as high of brightness, and wireless charging/charging case.
I'd love to get my hands on one to see if the extra cost is justified, because anyone who has ever used one has told me they loved it. What do you like about them most?
@@NewLayer it’s way better built, a lot easier to use, and most importantly, it has amazing full spectrum RGBACL colour. Also, you need to get the Dot accessory which turns it into an amazing eyelight. It’s become the DOP pocket light/eyelight industry standard pretty much now. The only reason you’d get the CRMX version is if you work with Gaffers a lot really.
@@sittingnow Hard to believe something could be way better built than the MC Pro, but if it's fully metal, I can see how that might be attractive. Or that it could be way easier to use, but I'll reserve judgment until I can try it in person.
I've tested RGBACL lights before, and in theory they are great, but most I've tested haven't been t as color accurate as a normal RGBWW lights, so I'd love to test that one specifically to find out!
Either way, the more options the better, and it's obviously gotta be nice considering the cost and type of people who use it.
there is alot of noise in your background which is very distracting!