18 January 2021 - The firmware update for the 200d lowers the fan RPM speed and runs constantly which is less noisy. At normal working distances, this is better. I'm happy to use this as a key light at 2+ meters.
That fan noise is the only thing stopping me from ordering a 200d. Thanks for the update Chris. In treated to see if and how the firmware update resolved the issue.
Great Overview. Unfortunately, it seems like that buzzing noise on the 200D isn't necessarily a defect. Mine has it, Caleb called it his deal-breaker and Gerald mentioned it too. I've shot a couple videos with it now and it hasn't affected much as long as it's not too close but it's definitely louder and more abrasive than the fan noise on the 120 or 300.
@@AmandaWoolsey That's why we list them up front - if they outweigh the pros for you, then we just saved you some time and expense. From my perspective, the 100d is a very compelling option at $199 USD. I cannot think of a better single-point light at that price.
@@AmandaWoolsey I think there's a bit of a misunderstanding. Those are both notes and cons. The list of things that more expensive lights have which these do not are not really cons, just "items to understand". The hyper-reflector hotspot is an issue with all of the lights I've reviewed in the last year, even much more expensive lights. The buzzing fan on the 200d is a problem if you light up close but not so much an issue if that's not how you'd use it. And the separate AC adapter is something almost every sub $500 light I've used has as well. So the idea with that section is to just make sure everyone understands all of the factors which you will NOT get with these lights, not a case that nobody should buy these lights. Just aiming for balance.
Are you intending to review the x series when they release? I have a feeling the lead times with COVID and high demand will be 4+ months. I’m going to preorder one, just don’t know which one just yet!
@@curtisjudd Good review of these - I've felt these would be great "UA-cam studio" lights, but Aputure already took my money for my studio setup. :) Now, I've been chomping at the bit for the 60d to be released. We got teased with it back in March of 2020. I see all kinds of opportunity for narrative work with a small light that is weatherproof and battery powered.
Sold! Grabbing the 100d! so impressive. It's replacing my dracast1000 s-series I've had for almost 5 years. the domes seem a bit expensive still so ill just use the 4x4 I have. Might have a little spillage but that's okay. Thanks for the great review Curtis!
I greatly appreciate your in-depth reviews. I had a 200 D on loan for about a week. On The one I had - there was no issue with the fan noise that is prevalent in you review as well as Caleb and Gerald’s reviews . Based on my one-week experience I have ordered two of these lights… I hope they don’t have the issue which sound
Thanks Jonathan. I'm pretty sure Gerald, Caleb, and I have pre-production copies so I'm not sure what to expect on the shipping copies. I know that Aputure is keenly aware of what each of us reported in our reviews and I have had email exchanges with Aputure along with audio samples of the fan noise. I have to think they're working hard on this issue but haven't heard the official response yet.
@@curtisjudd - thanks for getting back to me. Having just received the two units I ordered… I’m happy to report that even though you can hear the fans if you listen or have the fixture to close to the mic - The units I received are not objectionable to my taste. In most cases the fixture will be at least 2 m from the microphone which presents no issue at all so far
@@curtisjudd The one I have sounds like yours in the review even after I did the firmware. Always on, but constant buzzing noise, as if something is stuck in the fan... wonder if mine is from that same batch.
The video is so well done, well explained and pleasant to watch. Finally a video where the reviewer takes the right time to explain and you don't have to watch 10 minutes of someone talking almost without any pauses, because nowadays CUT-filled vlogs are trendy! I'm in the process to purchase my first high-quality, while being budget friendly, set of lights. I've been keeping an eye Aputure since a while. My idea is to buy a kit with the following: 60x, 100x, 200x. All bicolour to have maximum flexibility and creativity as well (thinking about split tone light). Usage would be for product videos, potentially VLOG/talking head. I'll try them for photography as well. Not sure if it would be better purchasing 2x 100x and a 60x, or 2x 60x and a single 200x/100x. I'd have a 60x for sure to have some portability if I'll need a light on the go, with powering on battery option. Thanks in advance to anyone that will help me making the decision!
I think it really comes down to how much light you need. The 200x would be the safe bet for a key light, and the others could do nicely for rim/hair/fill, etc.
@@curtisjudd Hi Curtis, thank you very much for your reply and for taking your time reading my comment. Your review was very helpful in heading towards a decision and I agree with you, it depends on how much light I need. For higher frame rates (150-180fps) shots (for product photography) the 200x will probably offer better headroom for stopping motion and also for having a deeper DOF. I'd like to try these Amaran fixtures for photography as well, however I've already studio strobes in case the power wouldn't be enough for my usage. I'll decide this weekend between these two combination: 200x+100x+100x or 200x+100x+60x. Thanks again for your help! You have a new subscriber. I discovered your channel recently and I really appreciated your content and style.
Hello Dear Curtis, many thanks for the video. I am going to shot videos in my apartment which is getting weak light. Do you think that Amaran 100 is enough for full / whole body shooting or 100 is for portrait and 200 is for full / whole body shooting ? Thank you.
Hey Curtis, as always, thank you for your great and genuine reviews. I can't trust anyone when you are here :) are you planning to do a review for Saramonic Blink 500 pro? I want to buy it but not before your approval 😂 Thanks again
Hi Mohammed, I have a Blink 500 pro here but had some problems with it producing a lot of self noise with my Panasonic GH5. So they sent me a new kit and will test it in the next month or two.
Love my 100D and all these different takes from everyone. One thing I didn’t try in my review (in Aruba) is whether I can use the built-in effects without the app. Do you know if that’s possible? As always, good stuff.
Have you shot with it in front of windows on a sunny day? We are in st. Croix and im looking for a light powerful enough to light my face and give me the amazing background/beach.
You might want to go for the 200d for full body. The 100D *might* be enough, but maybe not depending on the rest of your lighting design and the characteristics of your camera (how high you can push the ISO up without introducing an unacceptable amount of noise.)
@@curtisjudd We appreciate the quick reply! We'll be shooting with a Canon EOS R, shooting a lot of chroma key work. We're considering a 200d for the key, and perhaps a 100d for the fill. Do you think the 100d would be usable as a fill light? Thanks again!
I think it depends on how you plan to use it and whether you're trying to overpower existing light like the sun a mid-day. I think it will be plenty indoors. But outdoors in the sun it'd be more of a fill.
@@curtisjudd Yes it's for indoors use only (with some ambient light), I should have mentioned that. Thank you Curtis that's great to hear! I appreciate your help on this. 👍
Great Video!! Can we get an update on the fan noise with the updated firmware? I understand that is has a constant option, but Aputure also mentioned that it is also a quieter sound with a “medium” speed. Is it a significant DB/ buzzing decrease? Thanks.
@@reubenmoreland The firmware update for the 200d lowers the fan RPM speed and runs constantly which is less noisy. At normal working distances, this is better. I'm happy to use this as a key light at 2+ meters.
Every video I saw about the amaran 200d all of them have the same issue the loud/high pitched fan noise... Just wanted to ask you that after you contacted aputure.. did they say it will be sorted in the production models that will go on sale for the consumers ?
Is there any information out there regarding the total light output of these two lights? Unfortunately, using lux seems to be unreliable due to the inconsistencies in spot metering and distance. And now the hyper reflector makes that uncertainty greater. Following Aputure's own specs, the 200D would have you think it outputs more light (65,000 lux @ 1 meter) than the 300D (11,000 lux @ 1 meter). But that defies even the most optimistic expectations. This discrepancy seems due to measuring with the hyper reflector, vs other modifiers (fresnel, fully open, etc). I wish manufacturers would spec their products in total light output in lumens, so as to better compare. I suspect the 200D is somewhere between the 120D II and the 300D II, but where you do find it lands, from using it and/or in measurements? I'm curious if the 200D is the most cost efficient choice (lumens/$) when output is the only concern (for lights with SSI > 70).
I measured with the reflectors on. In future tests I’ll do all the measurements without the reflectors. That will still leave the issue of potentially differing bare bulb beam angles.
Between all the different reviewers that have come out with their review so far, you once again stand clear and far above the rest. Thank you for giving great information, with proper explanations. I would love it if you could update on the fresnel 2x and spotlight mount using the 100d/200d. Aputure says they work. DSLR Video shooter says they don't work well. I trust your judgement on this!
Thanks High Sea Films. I used the 200d with the spotlight mount in the talking head portions of this video - that is the light you see on the concrete wall behind me. I intentionally de-focused the beam while using a Rosco Scattered Light gobo. I didn't spend a lot of time assessing how well it focused since I was intentionally trying to de-focus which I almost always do. I'll look into it further along with the Fresnel 2x.
Curtis, thanks for your review. I am very likely buying the 100D for my UA-cam Studio. I almost was going to drop the full price for the 120D Mark 2, but I don't have all the needs for batteries and all of the extra features. This will do just fine, and in fact if I spend the same amount I can get a hair light as well. And maybe even put some money towards getting some aperture MC RGBs to make the background pop a little bit more.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I had one question how would the diffusion of Light Dome SE compare to Light Dome Mini II. I am little short on space so trying to weight in the options.
The SE is softer and wraps a bit more. The mini is a bit harder in comparison. You have to work with the mini is really quite close for it to be soft enough as a key light, in my opinion.
@@curtisjudd a stupid query, Can I just bounce of the 100D from a white reflector in close proximity to the subject and use it as key light instead of using a soft box ?
The umbrella option is just about as important to me as the screen flipping around on the camera. So incredibly convenient and fast vs soft box for 90% of my work.
I'm looking at the 100D & 200D but trying to decide which one to go for. Using it for product and kitchen photos/videos where I don't have enough lighting in my apartment so background tends to be dark in photos. Since the fan noise issue seems to be fixed with the latest firmware, I'm considering the 200D to get as much light as I can while recording videos. Just stuck on the fence about which one to order. The price difference isn't an issue really, just wondering if it's worth it or needed.
The firmware update didn't really fix the fan noise issue, exactly, just prevents the fan from ramping up and down and it spins at a slightly slower speed, but it is still not as quiet as the bigger COB lights from Aputure. If quiet is important, I'd go 100D.
Hi Curtis. I commented on one of your older videos about the Intellytech light cloth asking if you would still recommend that option for the purpose of providing even/soft lighting to a tabletop where I would be drawing/painting and shooting on an overhead mounted camera. You still liked the option (thanks again for responding). A follow up question: would it be as good or better to use a COB light like this and bounce it off the ceiling instead of the Light Cloth?
Thanks for the video Curtis, are you in a position to test the outputs through softboxes and modifiers? I'm very curious if the output from this series really does outperform Lightstorm or if there are some intricacies within the beam angles and reflectors. I have this doubt as I have some Forza 60s and Forza 300s. The 60s are great with their similar style hyper reflectors but through diffusion they fall off to nothing. I'm hesitant that the Amaran 200d at £300 really does outperform the 300dii? 🤔😄
We've done a few practical tests so far - the talking head portions here were lit with the 100d set to 65% and shot through the Light Dome SE about 1.5 meters away. The 200d was at 10% on the dimmer when shot through the 4x4 chimera cloth for the test show we showed (ISO 400, f/2.8, 23.976 & 180 degree shutter). So they're capable lights. I'll need to measure vs the 300dII bare bulb style.
Thank you for detailed review! Considering fan noise of 200d, do you think 100d with Light Dome II would be good enough as a key light for talking head videos? What about recording video podcast - two people sitting across table (90-100 cm wide)? I'm using Sony ZV-E10 with Sigma 16 f1.4. Eventually I would like to pair 100d with Amaran p60x as fill light.
Yes, the 100d should be enough if you keep the light relatively close (within 2 meters) and are ok with using 800 or 1600 ISO depending on how much existing light you already have.
@@curtisjudd Thank you! I will reconsider 200d then. There were some reports about recent revisions of 200d having new quiet fans. I would like to keep the tight budget but probably it will be better investment in the long run.
Curtis this is such a great review and has given me something to consider. I really love my Aputure and would love to have more of them but the Amaran definitely looks interesting to augment my existing lighting setup. BTW I noticed the location tagged was Park City, are you located in Park City?
Thanks Denver! I don't know if you remember but back in 2015 at NAB you gave a talk at the FCPX session and we met then. I've been a fan for a long time! Yes, we're a few miles out of Park City near Rockport Reservoir.
@@curtisjudd doh I'm such an idiot and now I'm embarrassed. Though I do have to say you have always had a familiarity about you. Well excellent, if you are in Park City, I'm just up in Hunstville we should plan a meetup (masks and all) 🙌🏼
Hi again! Your reviews are always amazing and so informative! With all the lights you try, which one would you recommend for a makeup channel in general? I have 2 Fovitec Soft boxes and a Neewer Ring light. Boxes not bright enough if you are not 50cm close and ring light alone is not bright... please advice me on a brand, type or a model of light? Highly appreciated 🤗
A bit off topic, but I figured you might have an answer. Do you have any recommendations for a good place to start looking for equipment insurance for my film and audio gear. Thank you
Thanks for the video Curtis. Very informative and useful as usual. I want to use Aputure 100D light as hair light in my 3 point lighting setup. Do I need to use barn doors OR Fresnel 2X with 100D for hair light? Or its hyper reflector dome will do the job for hair or rim lighting? Thanks!
Hi Mubashar, I often prefer soft rim lighting so no, the barn doors or fresnel are not necessary. In fact, I often use a small soft box for rim light if there is enough room for it. But otherwise, the included hyper reflector should do the job well.
Hi Curtis! Is the fan on the 200d audible even on low output settings? Since it’s so powerful you were using it at 10 percent as a key light but does the fan kick in even at low output and only get worse as you increase the intensity of the light? Thanks
Whats the technical name for the 4x4 you mentioned. Looking for decent diffusion but don’t know what to go for and the cheap stuff is terrible. Thanks.
That's the Chimera Frame (48x48") and Chimera Fabric. You can find them at B&H. I've added links to the description. You'll also need a c-stand with grip head to mount the frame. Link also in the description.
as always, informative yt vid. thank you for the effort and the sharing. good to see you and yours are well. i am an appreciative subscriber. thumbs up.
Hi Curtis, thanks for the great review! The 100d looks like a winner! My only small apprehension is the phone app remote control, as I prefer the old school physical remote control. It's hard to teach an old dog new tricks, haha!
Would the fan noise from the Amram 200D be noticeable at about 1.5 meters away if the talent audio is recorded with a Lav mic instead of a shotgun / cardioid style mic?
Yes, probably. The firmware update mostly just lowered the RPM of the fan slighting, and prevented it from ramping up and down which is even more distracting than it just running constantly. Unfortunately, with an omni-directional wav, you'll probably pick it up.
I agree with you, that Sidus link app is a major selling point. I really want a portable (Battery operated) light and the 100D lacks in that department but that SIdus link control is swaying my thought process.
@@curtisjudd Curtis, Is the 200D fan noise with the new firmware at the same level than the 100D ? Can you use it with a VideoMic NTG at 3 feet ? Thank you 🙏
@@hellolau The 200D with the firmware update is quieter than it was, but not as quiet as the 100D which is exceptionally quiet. I'd back it off more than 3 feet if possible.
As usual great review! what's the difference in terms of light output between the amaran 100D and the godox sl150 II? Is the Godox actually brighter (much brighter? a little brighter?) these 2 lights are very similarly priced so I'm considering them both. The 200D with the noisy fan isn't an option for me, I'm first and foremost an audio guy haha.
Nice and clear review! If you could choose between the Aputure 120D ii or the amaran 100D, which would you choose? And why? I don’t like it that they didn’t called it Aputure too, but just another type if you know what I mean 😅
It depends. If you're working with your lights professionally and rugged build is critical, I'd go 120dII. If you're shooting in a home studio and don't have to transport them to set or location every working day, the 100d is a great option.
@@curtisjudd Yeah exactly! I just received my 300D ii yesterday, my lightdome is coming next week. I’m pretty stoked to work with them! Thanks for replying Curtis! Have a nice day! 👍🏽
Curtis!! You're making me want to spend more money! lol. I wanted to get another light. Currently I have a Godox UL150, but was wondering if there was a light you would suggest in a similar price range 300-500, that gives some more light. I'm guessing the 200d here outputs more light than the ul150?
Sorry - was just trying to give people in the market for a new light some info. 😀 I haven't worked with the UL-150 so I'm not sure how that compares. But I would guess that the 200d outputs a bit more light. Probably not a huge amount more.
This week I've been considering some new lights, in particular that would work for lighting backgrounds. Looks like these would do the job. I notice, however, that fan noise in the 200 has been mentioned in a couple of reviews, including this one. Thinking I'll stick with the 100s if I decide on the Amaran.
@Max Montesi Probably ok. Just be sure you've got a good sound guy who will honestly tell you if there's a problem based on the lighting design and where the sound guy is booming.
How much brighter are these compared to the HR672w? I currently have four of those lights and they are decent, but not quite bright enough to give me the _high key_ look without boosting my ISO. (Also for some reason 2 of my lights have a green tint and 2 are more blue 🤷♂️) Anyway I've been wanting to upgrade for a while and these, if bright enough, seem insanely priced.
Thanks for the review Curtis! I'm very leaning towards the 200d but I want to wait until reviews for the 100x and 200x bi-colors come out to make a fully formed decision. I hope you do a review on those as well.
Very, very interested to see how the 100X and 200X compare to these models. Obviously it'll be a decrease in light output, but to what extent, and how does the fan noise compare? Will be interesting! Great video Curtis!
Based on fan noise level, between godox ML60 vs Aputure Amaran 100D, Which one is quiet and safe to be used in a close up tutorial video especially I don’t want to put any background music to the video? I hope your answer can help me to choose between aputure 100d, godox ml60, godox sl150w ii, or jinbei ef ii 60. Thank you.
@@curtisjudd in my country, aputure 100d and godox sl150w ii have slightly similar price. Which one should i take? I hope that someday I could also use the light for shooting slow mo product indoor.
Curtis - Excellent and informative review as always. I have watched reviews on these lights from a Gerald and DSLR Video shooter and it seems everyone had issues with the fan on the 200d which is a bit frustrating. I am wondering if Aputure will fix this?
So I'm with a couple of your other commenters about that Fan. It's noisy. Curtis, you're the only one that concludes the fan is just a bad part. Other Tubers don't quite go that far in their review. I hope Aputure fixes this. These are exciting budget products. Great Job Curtis!
I can’t believe the folk at a Apurture don’t watch the reviews and read the comments. My guess is that they are working on the fan, mounting, and geometry as we speak. I bet we’ll see a 200dii within months. Probably the X will have it fixed.
Looks like we are finally seeing some affordable and decent single source LED's. Are there good barn doors that can be fitted with these? Oh. And I'm not 100% sure. But that buzzing sounds more electronic than something like a fan. Reminds me a lot of dimmers for some reason. Does the sound change depending on the light output? If the sound goes away when it hits full power it's probably the dimmer circuit that is buzzing. I'll probably await the next iteration either way. I don't think I'll get the use out of them anyway until the world events calm down.
Yes, Aputure offers some pretty nice barn doors. It only seems to buzz when the fan is running. Dimmer % didn't seem to make a difference except that the fan runs more often when the dimmer is closer to 100%.
The fan noise could probably be fixed by the end user switching it out with something like a Noctua, I've done it a couple times with stage lighting where the fan was bad or too loud. I haven't gotten my hands on one of these lights yet to say for sure but it still is a con if the end user is having to take the light apart to fix it.
Good review (as usual!) but after watching all three of them today I am not sure these lights work for me. Noise / fan issues and build quality is a concern, especially over a period of time. However I can certainly recommend them in a studio setting, or even light (pun intended) use. I would just be afraid if they were dropped you would lose your light. However to be fair I do not have one or seen it in person. I look forward to a longer term review in about 6 months.
2nd review of these I'm watching today. Gerald Undone is next up... DSLR Video Shooter (Caleb) considered the fan noice on the 200d a dealbreaker for him. Sounded a LOT louder in his test.
Apparently both Caleb and Gerald got 2 units each, so that should already lower the chances of individual unit problems. Maybe different people got different batches?
You're not the first reviewer to mention the fan on the 200D, which is sad if that's a real issue, cause that's a lot of great cheap output. Look forward to hearing Aputure's response about it.
Can you suggest a well-built less-expensive light for talking heads - since you're using just 10 percent of the power of these. Thanks for your videos, Curtis.
Just curious how these stacks up against a 300DII? These seem significantly more powerful than a 120DII (It can't just be the reflector right?). Given the price, why would I buy the 120/300 series over these? I understand build quality, and possibly a slightly better SSI etc, but these really don't seem to have many down sides. And can this accept the Fresnel for even more output? (Also, are there any mods it can't work with?
Built quality (and with that probably durability), mobility (power with v mount, comes with bag), more developed ( MII versions), more tested (available for several months and with that several months of actual user experience rather than only short term reviews and expectations), more functions (dimming curves, effects with controller, ), fan noise... There are actually quite a few reasons to get the LS series. In the end the question is if the extra charge is worth it for you. I think the 100D is a no brainer to get, I am not so sure about the 200D yet.
Agreed with Jonas, there are still a good number of reasons to go with the Light Storm series. If you're just shooting UA-cam videos at home, the Amarans are great. If you're making money with your lights and schlepping them to locations on a regular basis, I'd go with the Light Storm models without question.
Hi Marco, No adapters needed - the 100D and 200D have Bowens mounts so all of the Light Domes fit natively. It is only the 60d and 60X which need adapters.
After looking your review I have pre-ordered both 100D and 200D lights and the Light Dome mini II :-) Thanks for great review. I was just wondering if you knew more regarding the Fan noise issue that seems to be actual on the 200D. I am recording music live recordings and it is very important for me that the light is quite. You mentioned a Firmware update?
@@marcorossi2182 Yes, the firmware came out last week. It seems to run the fan constantly at a lower RPM so it makes a bit less noise than when I did this review. If sound is critical, you might look for a light which doesn't have a fan or where you can lock the fan off, usually with the sacrifice of limiting the output power of the light.
They saved some costs certainly but I'm sure they are seeing these as a big way to get a lot of people into their system. SIDUS link. Much of the time people don't need some of the "pro" features built into the LS systems.
Why use parabolic softboxes in the first place? What is the benefit? Why spend effort collimating the light using a deep, parabolic reflector, just to un-collimate and scatter it with the diffusor? And also, for the Aperture lights and softboxes, the light is not even collimated, as the bulb is not sitting exactly in the focal point of the reflector. :) Great video, thank you.
@@curtisjudd Thank you very much for your reply :) I know the reason to use a softbox, I am just curious why a _pararbolic_ softbox. A softbox diffuses/scatters (makes photons travel in all directions) while a parabolic modifier collimates the light (photons traveling in parallel rays, the opposite of diffused). This guy explains it pretty well: ua-cam.com/video/lM5ME4o79bE/v-deo.html
@@realthoprivate I just watched the video. I noticed that the parabolic pushed more light to the backdrop. The difference was subtle but noticeable. Though admittedly, I don't generally see that as an advantage unless you need to move the parabolic soft box farther away from the talent.
@@curtisjudd So, if using a parabolic, the light will be less diffused? If it is pushing more light it means the light is more focused, thus less diffused/scattered. Seems physically impossible for light to be both more diffused AND more focused at the same time :) Side note: The aputure "parabolic" boxes are not really parabolic, as the bulb is not sitting in the focal point. This is, of course, a requirement if wanting to achieve parabolic light. On proff gear the bulb can always be adjusted a little bit back and forth to exactly hit the location of the focal poin. When exactly in the focal point the light is as focused as from a fresnel lens with an extremely sharp falloff.. :)
18 January 2021 - The firmware update for the 200d lowers the fan RPM speed and runs constantly which is less noisy. At normal working distances, this is better. I'm happy to use this as a key light at 2+ meters.
Thank you for the update : )
Thanks!
Nice to know they can update the firmware. Thanks Curtis!
@@calvinborden43 Thanks Calvin. Are you the Cal I knew in Tucson, AZ?
That fan noise is the only thing stopping me from ordering a 200d. Thanks for the update Chris. In treated to see if and how the firmware update resolved the issue.
Great Overview. Unfortunately, it seems like that buzzing noise on the 200D isn't necessarily a defect. Mine has it, Caleb called it his deal-breaker and Gerald mentioned it too. I've shot a couple videos with it now and it hasn't affected much as long as it's not too close but it's definitely louder and more abrasive than the fan noise on the 120 or 300.
Hey, thanks for coming by! And thanks for the confirmation. 👍
Sadly the cons at 00:14 didn’t really lead me to believe this is an insta buy
@@AmandaWoolsey That's why we list them up front - if they outweigh the pros for you, then we just saved you some time and expense. From my perspective, the 100d is a very compelling option at $199 USD. I cannot think of a better single-point light at that price.
@@curtisjudd it will sell like crazy, just sad to so many negatives. Great video!
@@AmandaWoolsey I think there's a bit of a misunderstanding. Those are both notes and cons. The list of things that more expensive lights have which these do not are not really cons, just "items to understand". The hyper-reflector hotspot is an issue with all of the lights I've reviewed in the last year, even much more expensive lights. The buzzing fan on the 200d is a problem if you light up close but not so much an issue if that's not how you'd use it. And the separate AC adapter is something almost every sub $500 light I've used has as well. So the idea with that section is to just make sure everyone understands all of the factors which you will NOT get with these lights, not a case that nobody should buy these lights. Just aiming for balance.
Caleb and Gerald Undone both also mention the bad fan noise in the 200 model. Great video as usual, Curtis. 💛🙏🏼
Yeah, it’s a concern. I’m wondering if you could mod the fan with a noctua.
Thanks Glen!
DSLR Video Shooter, Gerald Undone and soon a Curtis Judd video. The contrasting styles between them is something I’m looking forward to in this video.
Thanks for coming by to watch my point of view, Jacob.
Are you intending to review the x series when they release? I have a feeling the lead times with COVID and high demand will be 4+ months. I’m going to preorder one, just don’t know which one just yet!
@@jacobdelgado3031 Yes, I hope to. I'd think the 200x would make the most sense for my work.
@@curtisjudd Good review of these - I've felt these would be great "UA-cam studio" lights, but Aputure already took my money for my studio setup. :) Now, I've been chomping at the bit for the 60d to be released. We got teased with it back in March of 2020. I see all kinds of opportunity for narrative work with a small light that is weatherproof and battery powered.
@@VerticalScaleMedia 👍
Finally!! Aputure made a friendly budget for independent filmmaker.
👍
I can't wait to see your point of view about this one, really enjoy your style ...
I already gave it a "like" before seeing it
Thanks Wazari!
Sold! Grabbing the 100d! so impressive. It's replacing my dracast1000 s-series I've had for almost 5 years. the domes seem a bit expensive still so ill just use the 4x4 I have. Might have a little spillage but that's okay. Thanks for the great review Curtis!
You bet. Keep making great music!
I greatly appreciate your in-depth reviews.
I had a 200 D on loan for about a week. On The one I had - there was no issue with the fan noise that is prevalent in you review as well as Caleb and Gerald’s reviews . Based on my one-week experience I have ordered two of these lights… I hope they don’t have the issue which sound
Thanks Jonathan. I'm pretty sure Gerald, Caleb, and I have pre-production copies so I'm not sure what to expect on the shipping copies. I know that Aputure is keenly aware of what each of us reported in our reviews and I have had email exchanges with Aputure along with audio samples of the fan noise. I have to think they're working hard on this issue but haven't heard the official response yet.
@@curtisjudd - thanks for getting back to me. Having just received the two units I ordered… I’m happy to report that even though you can hear the fans if you listen or have the fixture to close to the mic - The units I received are not objectionable to my taste. In most cases the fixture will be at least 2 m from the microphone which presents no issue at all so far
Great to hear!
@@JonathanLawrence_Director Good to know - thanks for the follow-up!
@@curtisjudd The one I have sounds like yours in the review even after I did the firmware. Always on, but constant buzzing noise, as if something is stuck in the fan... wonder if mine is from that same batch.
The video is so well done, well explained and pleasant to watch.
Finally a video where the reviewer takes the right time to explain and you don't have to watch 10 minutes of someone talking almost without any pauses, because nowadays CUT-filled vlogs are trendy!
I'm in the process to purchase my first high-quality, while being budget friendly, set of lights.
I've been keeping an eye Aputure since a while.
My idea is to buy a kit with the following: 60x, 100x, 200x. All bicolour to have maximum flexibility and creativity as well (thinking about split tone light).
Usage would be for product videos, potentially VLOG/talking head. I'll try them for photography as well.
Not sure if it would be better purchasing 2x 100x and a 60x, or 2x 60x and a single 200x/100x.
I'd have a 60x for sure to have some portability if I'll need a light on the go, with powering on battery option.
Thanks in advance to anyone that will help me making the decision!
I think it really comes down to how much light you need. The 200x would be the safe bet for a key light, and the others could do nicely for rim/hair/fill, etc.
@@curtisjudd Hi Curtis, thank you very much for your reply and for taking your time reading my comment.
Your review was very helpful in heading towards a decision and I agree with you, it depends on how much light I need.
For higher frame rates (150-180fps) shots (for product photography) the 200x will probably offer better headroom for stopping motion and also for having a deeper DOF.
I'd like to try these Amaran fixtures for photography as well, however I've already studio strobes in case the power wouldn't be enough for my usage.
I'll decide this weekend between these two combination:
200x+100x+100x or 200x+100x+60x.
Thanks again for your help! You have a new subscriber. I discovered your channel recently and I really appreciated your content and style.
Watched 3 review videos on these and yours was the best by far. Thanks for showing what the light looked like on some subjects!
Thanks Matt!
Hello Dear Curtis, many thanks for the video. I am going to shot videos in my apartment which is getting weak light. Do you think that Amaran 100 is enough for full / whole body shooting or 100 is for portrait and 200 is for full / whole body shooting ? Thank you.
Always excited for Curtis Judd content!
Thanks itsdannyftw!
Hey Curtis, as always, thank you for your great and genuine reviews. I can't trust anyone when you are here :)
are you planning to do a review for Saramonic Blink 500 pro? I want to buy it but not before your approval 😂
Thanks again
Hi Mohammed, I have a Blink 500 pro here but had some problems with it producing a lot of self noise with my Panasonic GH5. So they sent me a new kit and will test it in the next month or two.
@@curtisjudd oh. great that I asked , because my main camera is GH5.. I can't thank you enough and I can't wait to watch the review.. 🙏🙏
Love my 100D and all these different takes from everyone. One thing I didn’t try in my review (in Aruba) is whether I can use the built-in effects without the app. Do you know if that’s possible? As always, good stuff.
Agreed, that 100d is great! I don’t see any way to control the effects without the app.
Have you shot with it in front of windows on a sunny day?
We are in st. Croix and im looking for a light powerful enough to light my face and give me the amazing background/beach.
Fantastic review! Would you recommend using a pair of the 100Ds for a key and fill light for full body? Also, what softboxes would you recommend.
You might want to go for the 200d for full body. The 100D *might* be enough, but maybe not depending on the rest of your lighting design and the characteristics of your camera (how high you can push the ISO up without introducing an unacceptable amount of noise.)
@@curtisjudd We appreciate the quick reply! We'll be shooting with a Canon EOS R, shooting a lot of chroma key work. We're considering a 200d for the key, and perhaps a 100d for the fill. Do you think the 100d would be usable as a fill light? Thanks again!
@@pancakemanor Yes, the 100D should work nicely as a fill. Happy filming!
Hello! 😊Do you think the 100X will be powerful enough as a key light for corporate interview or a talking head video ? Thank you 🙏
I think it depends on how you plan to use it and whether you're trying to overpower existing light like the sun a mid-day. I think it will be plenty indoors. But outdoors in the sun it'd be more of a fill.
@@curtisjudd Yes it's for indoors use only (with some ambient light), I should have mentioned that. Thank you Curtis that's great to hear! I appreciate your help on this. 👍
Great Video!! Can we get an update on the fan noise with the updated firmware? I understand that is has a constant option, but Aputure also mentioned that it is also a quieter sound with a “medium” speed. Is it a significant DB/ buzzing decrease? Thanks.
Will let you know when I get it. Thanks!
@@curtisjudd thank you! Really appreciate it.
@@curtisjudd Hey, just following on my question about the new fan noise from the firmware update for the 200d? thanks .
@@reubenmoreland The firmware update for the 200d lowers the fan RPM speed and runs constantly which is less noisy. At normal working distances, this is better. I'm happy to use this as a key light at 2+ meters.
Every video I saw about the amaran 200d all of them have the same issue the loud/high pitched fan noise... Just wanted to ask you that after you contacted aputure.. did they say it will be sorted in the production models that will go on sale for the consumers ?
No final word yet. They're looking into it.
i want that 200x but the possible fan noise on it and the v-mount option has me thinking twice
I’m looking forward to trying the 200x
Is there any information out there regarding the total light output of these two lights? Unfortunately, using lux seems to be unreliable due to the inconsistencies in spot metering and distance. And now the hyper reflector makes that uncertainty greater. Following Aputure's own specs, the 200D would have you think it outputs more light (65,000 lux @ 1 meter) than the 300D (11,000 lux @ 1 meter). But that defies even the most optimistic expectations. This discrepancy seems due to measuring with the hyper reflector, vs other modifiers (fresnel, fully open, etc). I wish manufacturers would spec their products in total light output in lumens, so as to better compare.
I suspect the 200D is somewhere between the 120D II and the 300D II, but where you do find it lands, from using it and/or in measurements? I'm curious if the 200D is the most cost efficient choice (lumens/$) when output is the only concern (for lights with SSI > 70).
I measured with the reflectors on. In future tests I’ll do all the measurements without the reflectors. That will still leave the issue of potentially differing bare bulb beam angles.
Great review as usual ! I just got myself two godox sl150 mii for 224€ each which was a steal considering the output and the built quality.
Wow, that is a good deal. Happy lighting!
Between all the different reviewers that have come out with their review so far, you once again stand clear and far above the rest. Thank you for giving great information, with proper explanations. I would love it if you could update on the fresnel 2x and spotlight mount using the 100d/200d. Aputure says they work. DSLR Video shooter says they don't work well. I trust your judgement on this!
Thanks High Sea Films. I used the 200d with the spotlight mount in the talking head portions of this video - that is the light you see on the concrete wall behind me. I intentionally de-focused the beam while using a Rosco Scattered Light gobo. I didn't spend a lot of time assessing how well it focused since I was intentionally trying to de-focus which I almost always do. I'll look into it further along with the Fresnel 2x.
@@curtisjudd thanks Curtis! I look forward to hearing more about what you find!
Curtis, thanks for your review. I am very likely buying the 100D for my UA-cam Studio. I almost was going to drop the full price for the 120D Mark 2, but I don't have all the needs for batteries and all of the extra features. This will do just fine, and in fact if I spend the same amount I can get a hair light as well. And maybe even put some money towards getting some aperture MC RGBs to make the background pop a little bit more.
That's the idea. Happy recording!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I had one question how would the diffusion of Light Dome SE compare to Light Dome Mini II. I am little short on space so trying to weight in the options.
The SE is softer and wraps a bit more. The mini is a bit harder in comparison. You have to work with the mini is really quite close for it to be soft enough as a key light, in my opinion.
@@curtisjudd a stupid query, Can I just bounce of the 100D from a white reflector in close proximity to the subject and use it as key light instead of using a soft box ?
You can, yes, though be prepared for a bit more spill.
Cheers for the review Curtis. Excellent and thorough as always.
Thanks David.
The umbrella option is just about as important to me as the screen flipping around on the camera. So incredibly convenient and fast vs soft box for 90% of my work.
👍
Great video Curtis! Thanks for sharing. I think I will be picking up two of the 100d’s for my home studio to stay up permanently.
Thanks Griffin! Yes, perfect for that type of setup.
I'm looking at the 100D & 200D but trying to decide which one to go for. Using it for product and kitchen photos/videos where I don't have enough lighting in my apartment so background tends to be dark in photos. Since the fan noise issue seems to be fixed with the latest firmware, I'm considering the 200D to get as much light as I can while recording videos. Just stuck on the fence about which one to order. The price difference isn't an issue really, just wondering if it's worth it or needed.
The firmware update didn't really fix the fan noise issue, exactly, just prevents the fan from ramping up and down and it spins at a slightly slower speed, but it is still not as quiet as the bigger COB lights from Aputure. If quiet is important, I'd go 100D.
Hi Curtis. I commented on one of your older videos about the Intellytech light cloth asking if you would still recommend that option for the purpose of providing even/soft lighting to a tabletop where I would be drawing/painting and shooting on an overhead mounted camera. You still liked the option (thanks again for responding). A follow up question: would it be as good or better to use a COB light like this and bounce it off the ceiling instead of the Light Cloth?
I like using ceilings if the color of the ceiling paint is neutral. It makes for a larger, softer light source and doesn't get in the way.
Thanks for the video Curtis, are you in a position to test the outputs through softboxes and modifiers? I'm very curious if the output from this series really does outperform Lightstorm or if there are some intricacies within the beam angles and reflectors.
I have this doubt as I have some Forza 60s and Forza 300s. The 60s are great with their similar style hyper reflectors but through diffusion they fall off to nothing.
I'm hesitant that the Amaran 200d at £300 really does outperform the 300dii? 🤔😄
We've done a few practical tests so far - the talking head portions here were lit with the 100d set to 65% and shot through the Light Dome SE about 1.5 meters away. The 200d was at 10% on the dimmer when shot through the 4x4 chimera cloth for the test show we showed (ISO 400, f/2.8, 23.976 & 180 degree shutter). So they're capable lights. I'll need to measure vs the 300dII bare bulb style.
Thank you for detailed review! Considering fan noise of 200d, do you think 100d with Light Dome II would be good enough as a key light for talking head videos? What about recording video podcast - two people sitting across table (90-100 cm wide)? I'm using Sony ZV-E10 with Sigma 16 f1.4. Eventually I would like to pair 100d with Amaran p60x as fill light.
Yes, the 100d should be enough if you keep the light relatively close (within 2 meters) and are ok with using 800 or 1600 ISO depending on how much existing light you already have.
@@curtisjudd Thank you! I will reconsider 200d then. There were some reports about recent revisions of 200d having new quiet fans. I would like to keep the tight budget but probably it will be better investment in the long run.
Curtis this is such a great review and has given me something to consider. I really love my Aputure and would love to have more of them but the Amaran definitely looks interesting to augment my existing lighting setup. BTW I noticed the location tagged was Park City, are you located in Park City?
Thanks Denver! I don't know if you remember but back in 2015 at NAB you gave a talk at the FCPX session and we met then. I've been a fan for a long time! Yes, we're a few miles out of Park City near Rockport Reservoir.
@@curtisjudd doh I'm such an idiot and now I'm embarrassed. Though I do have to say you have always had a familiarity about you. Well excellent, if you are in Park City, I'm just up in Hunstville we should plan a meetup (masks and all) 🙌🏼
@@colorgradingcentral No worries, friend - that was a long time ago! You're just around the corner and should definitely meet up (masks and all)! 👍
@@curtisjudd awesome man! I'm for real so I'll poke you on instant message to set something up.
Hi again! Your reviews are always amazing and so informative! With all the lights you try, which one would you recommend for a makeup channel in general? I have 2 Fovitec Soft boxes and a Neewer Ring light. Boxes not bright enough if you are not 50cm close and ring light alone is not bright... please advice me on a brand, type or a model of light? Highly appreciated 🤗
Hi Valeria, The Amaran 100D is definitely worth a look. Surprisingly bright and there are lots of soft boxes with Bowens mount to fit it.
@@curtisjudd Thanks a lot!
Good luck ordering one of these. It is STILL not in stock anywhere I look (B&H, Adorama, Aputure website, etc.).
Yes, hopefully soon.
A bit off topic, but I figured you might have an answer. Do you have any recommendations for a good place to start looking for equipment insurance for my film and audio gear. Thank you
I use the same company that offers my home and auto insurance.
Thanks for the video Curtis. Very informative and useful as usual. I want to use Aputure 100D light as hair light in my 3 point lighting setup. Do I need to use barn doors OR Fresnel 2X with 100D for hair light? Or its hyper reflector dome will do the job for hair or rim lighting? Thanks!
Hi Mubashar, I often prefer soft rim lighting so no, the barn doors or fresnel are not necessary. In fact, I often use a small soft box for rim light if there is enough room for it. But otherwise, the included hyper reflector should do the job well.
@@curtisjudd Thanks a lot. Your advice will help me make a quick purchase decision. Much appreciated.
Hi Curtis! Is the fan on the 200d audible even on low output settings? Since it’s so powerful you were using it at 10 percent as a key light but does the fan kick in even at low output and only get worse as you increase the intensity of the light? Thanks
Yes, always on. They may have made changes to later production runs, but this was one of the earliest copies.
@@curtisjudd thank you Curtis! Always such a wealth of knowledge much appreciated
Hi Curtis!
Congratulations for the review, great as always! Do you know anything about the new Godox model, the SL 200II? Thank you!
Hi Marc, thanks. I have reviewed the SL150II but not the SL200II. The 150II is quite good.
Whats the technical name for the 4x4 you mentioned. Looking for decent diffusion but don’t know what to go for and the cheap stuff is terrible. Thanks.
That's the Chimera Frame (48x48") and Chimera Fabric. You can find them at B&H. I've added links to the description. You'll also need a c-stand with grip head to mount the frame. Link also in the description.
@@curtisjudd appreciate the reply buddy, thank you for that and for the top content you provide the community :) All the best for 2021!
Happy New Year Curtis. Great quality review as always.
Thanks and happy new year to you, Danny!
as always, informative yt vid. thank you for the effort and the sharing. good to see you and yours are well. i am an appreciative subscriber. thumbs up.
Thanks for coming by!
Hi Curtis, thanks for the great review! The 100d looks like a winner! My only small apprehension is the phone app remote control, as I prefer the old school physical remote control. It's hard to teach an old dog new tricks, haha!
Understood.
Would the fan noise from the Amram 200D be noticeable at about 1.5 meters away if the talent audio is recorded with a Lav mic instead of a shotgun / cardioid style mic?
Yes, probably. The firmware update mostly just lowered the RPM of the fan slighting, and prevented it from ramping up and down which is even more distracting than it just running constantly. Unfortunately, with an omni-directional wav, you'll probably pick it up.
Did you try mixing the light from these with the more expensive offerings to see if, for example, if they'd go well with the 120d, 300d, etc?
Yes, seemed decent with the 120dII which is a few hundred kelvin different.
I agree with you, that Sidus link app is a major selling point. I really want a portable (Battery operated) light and the 100D lacks in that department but that SIdus link control is swaying my thought process.
Maybe one of the Amaran lights would be good for you?
@@curtisjudd I'm torn between the Amaran 60D and the 100D. 60D has portability, 100D has power. Which would you pick if faced with a choice like this?
@@rinusworldzm The 100D is also plenty portable. I'd choose the 100D for its greater versatility.
@@curtisjudd Really? Could it be battery operated? I haven't seen any video suggesting that.
@@rinusworldzm Yes, with the aputure power station: ua-cam.com/video/JZJesv4z0-8/v-deo.html
I bought a 100d and 100x after watching this! Love the 100d - I’m just hoping the 100x doesn’t have that fan noise issue 😥
I don't think it will and the firmware update for the 200D reduced the noise so I think you'll be good.
@@curtisjudd Curtis, Is the 200D fan noise with the new firmware at the same level than the 100D ? Can you use it with a VideoMic NTG at 3 feet ? Thank you 🙏
@@hellolau The 200D with the firmware update is quieter than it was, but not as quiet as the 100D which is exceptionally quiet. I'd back it off more than 3 feet if possible.
As usual great review! what's the difference in terms of light output between the amaran 100D and the godox sl150 II? Is the Godox actually brighter (much brighter? a little brighter?) these 2 lights are very similarly priced so I'm considering them both. The 200D with the noisy fan isn't an option for me, I'm first and foremost an audio guy haha.
Yes, the SL150 II is a little bit brighter.
Nice and clear review! If you could choose between the Aputure 120D ii or the amaran 100D, which would you choose? And why? I don’t like it that they didn’t called it Aputure too, but just another type if you know what I mean 😅
It depends. If you're working with your lights professionally and rugged build is critical, I'd go 120dII. If you're shooting in a home studio and don't have to transport them to set or location every working day, the 100d is a great option.
@@curtisjudd Yeah exactly! I just received my 300D ii yesterday, my lightdome is coming next week. I’m pretty stoked to work with them! Thanks for replying Curtis! Have a nice day! 👍🏽
Curtis!! You're making me want to spend more money! lol. I wanted to get another light. Currently I have a Godox UL150, but was wondering if there was a light you would suggest in a similar price range 300-500, that gives some more light. I'm guessing the 200d here outputs more light than the ul150?
Sorry - was just trying to give people in the market for a new light some info. 😀 I haven't worked with the UL-150 so I'm not sure how that compares. But I would guess that the 200d outputs a bit more light. Probably not a huge amount more.
Great video as usual. Thx for the concise review
Thanks 8lec Roe!
I'd love to get hold of one but the waiting list here in the UK is so long I'm having to look at alternatives.
Yes, seems like just about everything is on backorder.
As Always great review Curtis . Love these new budget lights
Thanks! They're pretty impressive for the price.
Thanks for the review. Pity I just bought my Godox. Trust all is well!
Thanks Melvyn. All well here and I hope the same for you!
Yes, all's good!
This week I've been considering some new lights, in particular that would work for lighting backgrounds. Looks like these would do the job. I notice, however, that fan noise in the 200 has been mentioned in a couple of reviews, including this one.
Thinking I'll stick with the 100s if I decide on the Amaran.
👍
@Max Montesi Probably ok. Just be sure you've got a good sound guy who will honestly tell you if there's a problem based on the lighting design and where the sound guy is booming.
How much brighter are these compared to the HR672w? I currently have four of those lights and they are decent, but not quite bright enough to give me the _high key_ look without boosting my ISO. (Also for some reason 2 of my lights have a green tint and 2 are more blue 🤷♂️)
Anyway I've been wanting to upgrade for a while and these, if bright enough, seem insanely priced.
Hi Copy Imitation, I don't have an HR672w on hand for comparison, but I'm betting even the 100d puts out a fair bit more light.
@@curtisjudd yeah I think the specs are saying the 100d is about double the lux output of the 672w
Any word on when they will actually be released? They don't seem to be available anywhere.
I haven't heard any updates. I suspect there are some supply backlogs.
Great review! Do you know anything about X (bicolor versions)? Are you planning to review it?
Hi Paweł, I hope to try the bi-color versions as well. They're not available yet.
"Plenty of photons" 2:38 should either be your new catch phrase, or the name of your next band.
Haha, agree, as Curtis rocks it all the time :-)
Oh, yes, maybe a good band name! 🙃
Good video Curtis. I'll be buying a 100D.
Thanks Mark. Happy lighting!
Thanks for the review Curtis! I'm very leaning towards the 200d but I want to wait until reviews for the 100x and 200x bi-colors come out to make a fully formed decision. I hope you do a review on those as well.
I hope so, too!
Thank you Curtis.
You're welcome!
Great video Curtis! I was wondering which filters you use on your lens to get that nice halation?
Hi, In this one I used Schneider Radiant Soft.
@@curtisjudd Thank you! Mind telling what strength?
3
Very, very interested to see how the 100X and 200X compare to these models. Obviously it'll be a decrease in light output, but to what extent, and how does the fan noise compare? Will be interesting! Great video Curtis!
Thanks Jack - same thing I'm wondering as I really like to work with tungsten colored light when I can.
Do they flicker when you're shooting at 100/120 fps?
No.
Based on fan noise level, between godox ML60 vs Aputure Amaran 100D, Which one is quiet and safe to be used in a close up tutorial video especially I don’t want to put any background music to the video? I hope your answer can help me to choose between aputure 100d, godox ml60, godox sl150w ii, or jinbei ef ii 60. Thank you.
I'd go with the 100D.
@@curtisjudd in my country, aputure 100d and godox sl150w ii have slightly similar price. Which one should i take? I hope that someday I could also use the light for shooting slow mo product indoor.
@@somenbi264 You'll get more light with the sl150w, so if you don't need the SidusLink capabilities, then go for the Godox?
Curtis - Excellent and informative review as always. I have watched reviews on these lights from a Gerald and DSLR Video shooter and it seems everyone had issues with the fan on the 200d which is a bit frustrating. I am wondering if Aputure will fix this?
I hope so! They've been pretty responsive in the past so I'd expect them to address it here.
What's the consensus when using other aputure modifiers such as the 2x fresnel or the spotlight mount?
The spot of light on the back wall was made with the spotlight mount and 200d. I haven't had a chance to use the 2x fresnel yet.
So I'm with a couple of your other commenters about that Fan. It's noisy. Curtis, you're the only one that concludes the fan is just a bad part. Other Tubers don't quite go that far in their review. I hope Aputure fixes this. These are exciting budget products. Great Job Curtis!
Thanks Rudy!
I can’t believe the folk at a Apurture don’t watch the reviews and read the comments. My guess is that they are working on the fan, mounting, and geometry as we speak. I bet we’ll see a 200dii within months. Probably the X will have it fixed.
@@MikeClayton And remember that these were pre-production copies. They may even fix the shipping 200d.
@@curtisjudd Absolutely.
About the 200D: how equivalent do you see compared to tungsten light in terms of wattage ? Maybe equivalent to 1K or like
1.5 K (if there was any) ??
I don't know. If I had to guess, it puts out a little less than an old 1K tungsten light I have.
@@curtisjudd thanks
Can the 200D handle the weight of the Light Dome II?
It looks like it. Not sure how well that yoke will hold up over time but initially, yes.
How well will these lights work with the Aputure fresnel lens attachment?
Just tested on the 200d and it works as well as it does on the 120d and 300d.
@@curtisjudd Thanks. That's what I was hoping. I think I'll be getting one.
Also looks like a competitor for the budget friendly Godox VL150-200-300? How would you say these new lights compare?
Great video, thank you.
The VL series are a bit more expensive as Godox’s premium line, I believe.
Should i say this is a lower cheaper version of the aputure lightstorm counterparts ?.
Yes, exactly.
Looks like we are finally seeing some affordable and decent single source LED's.
Are there good barn doors that can be fitted with these?
Oh. And I'm not 100% sure. But that buzzing sounds more electronic than something like a fan. Reminds me a lot of dimmers for some reason. Does the sound change depending on the light output? If the sound goes away when it hits full power it's probably the dimmer circuit that is buzzing.
I'll probably await the next iteration either way. I don't think I'll get the use out of them anyway until the world events calm down.
Yes, Aputure offers some pretty nice barn doors. It only seems to buzz when the fan is running. Dimmer % didn't seem to make a difference except that the fan runs more often when the dimmer is closer to 100%.
@@curtisjudd
Well, I'll shelve that theory then. Seems like it's a fan issue according to those symptoms :)
Hi, great review, but how about NANLITE FS series? It would be the most similar ligth I think.
Thanks Peter. I haven’t used the Nanlite series so I can’t speak to those. Hopefully I can try them soon.
I think I literally caught the last 10 seconds of the premiere. Lol Great outro!
-Will
Hahaha! Good thing there's a play again button. 👍
With the translucent brolly, is that used as a reflector or diffusor?
Disffusor but you could also mounted of a reflector or opaque back umbrella.
The fan noise could probably be fixed by the end user switching it out with something like a Noctua, I've done it a couple times with stage lighting where the fan was bad or too loud. I haven't gotten my hands on one of these lights yet to say for sure but it still is a con if the end user is having to take the light apart to fix it.
Yeah, I'm not a "fan" of having to swap out parts to make it quieter. I'm pretty sure Aputure will do something about this.
Which bag do you recommend for 200d?
I don't have a bag for it. I wonder if Aputure sells the bags designed for the 120d individually - that'd be a good choice.
I’m very curious about how it compared the 300d mk ii in out put. Another reviewer earlier said that a 200d was brighter than a 300d Mark ii 🤓
It is
I’ll take a look.
@@curtisjudd Thanks Curtis! Love your content 👍
@@Leo_Dewa Thanks for replying, Can you reference a link or post comparing the output between the 200D and the 300D mk ii to view? Thanks man!
@@autonomous9031 watch gerald undone videos, in term of lux tho
Good review (as usual!) but after watching all three of them today I am not sure these lights work for me. Noise / fan issues and build quality is a concern, especially over a period of time. However I can certainly recommend them in a studio setting, or even light (pun intended) use. I would just be afraid if they were dropped you would lose your light. However to be fair I do not have one or seen it in person. I look forward to a longer term review in about 6 months.
I'm feeling pretty good about the build quality for in-studio use and small on location shoots, you'll just need to find a good way to transport them.
Hi, could you make a review of the new comica vm20 microphone ? 😃
Thanks for the request, unfortunately I've got a long queue of other items to review at the moment. Sorry about that.
@@curtisjudd Okay , no problem 🙂
Thanks. Another great video.
Thanks Steve.
2nd review of these I'm watching today. Gerald Undone is next up...
DSLR Video Shooter (Caleb) considered the fan noice on the 200d a dealbreaker for him. Sounded a LOT louder in his test.
These are pre-production copies at this point. There may be some variation from unit to unit, especially in pre-production.
Apparently both Caleb and Gerald got 2 units each, so that should already lower the chances of individual unit problems. Maybe different people got different batches?
@@xWood4000 I think they each had one 200d and all three of us experienced more fan noise from the 200d unit vs our respective 100d units.
@@curtisjudd Huh, okay. Definitely weird, Aputure is so well known for quiet COBs
Is Better this Amaran 100D or neewer fs150b
Depends on whether you need RGB colors. Only the 150c has that.
You're not the first reviewer to mention the fan on the 200D, which is sad if that's a real issue, cause that's a lot of great cheap output. Look forward to hearing Aputure's response about it.
I see that as well. Aputure is aware of the issue and I'm sure they're working on solutions.
Have you tried the 200d with spotlight attached? does it work like it should with a 120d or 300d?
Yes, in fact the spot of light on the back wall was the spotlight mount on the 200d. Seems good.
@@curtisjudd awesome. this is what i plan to use it for. thanks.
@@curtisjudd is the 200d brighter than the 120mk2 with spotlight attachment and if so how many stops or is it close to a 300d mk2?
@@ROBGFILMS Hi Rob, I'm not sure - I'd have to check that again next time I've got them both out and in use.
Can you suggest a well-built less-expensive light for talking heads - since you're using just 10 percent of the power of these. Thanks for your videos, Curtis.
Godox ML60 but it is just on the edge of enough light as a key for talking head.
Just FYI, the ML60 is $249, so same price as the Amaran100D. I guess it's Neewer, here we come.:)
@@AnandaGarden Neewer it is! Good luck!
Just curious how these stacks up against a 300DII? These seem significantly more powerful than a 120DII (It can't just be the reflector right?).
Given the price, why would I buy the 120/300 series over these? I understand build quality, and possibly a slightly better SSI etc, but these really don't seem to have many down sides.
And can this accept the Fresnel for even more output? (Also, are there any mods it can't work with?
Built quality (and with that probably durability), mobility (power with v mount, comes with bag), more developed ( MII versions), more tested (available for several months and with that several months of actual user experience rather than only short term reviews and expectations), more functions (dimming curves, effects with controller, ), fan noise... There are actually quite a few reasons to get the LS series. In the end the question is if the extra charge is worth it for you. I think the 100D is a no brainer to get, I am not so sure about the 200D yet.
Agreed with Jonas, there are still a good number of reasons to go with the Light Storm series. If you're just shooting UA-cam videos at home, the Amarans are great. If you're making money with your lights and schlepping them to locations on a regular basis, I'd go with the Light Storm models without question.
Any info on battery for this lights?
Battery power for these lights will be tough. The input requires 48V. Not a lot of affordable options for that.
Do you think that Pixel 120W C100 is a better choice ?
Never tried it so I'm not sure.
@@curtisjudd thanks 🙏🏻
great video
Thanks.
Is it brighter than the Godox fv150 ?
Not sure, I don't have an fv150 on hand. The 200d probably is, but that is just a guess.
Would the 200d be enough to light my face in front of 2 large windows on a bright sunny day?
If you’re in front of two windows on a bright sunny day, your face would already be lit, wouldn’t it? The 200d is plenty for head an shoulder shots.
@@curtisjudd im sorry i meant 2 windows behind me.
@@iloveshinyobjects Oh, sorry about that. Yes, it should be able to produce enough light in that scenario.
@@curtisjudd thank you so much curtis
Every 200D review I’ve seen they’ve mentioned the buzzing of the fan so I’m a little worried it’s just how it is :/
Me too.
Yeah. I can’t pull the trigger on even considering the 200d with that gawd awful noise. I’ll be like the russian writer on Seinfeld “THAT NOISE!!”
@@DavidKfilmmaker Stand by for updates. Knowing Aputure, they're taking this seriously and are working on solutions.
Are Amaran 100D and 200D adapters compatible with Light Dome Mini 2?
Hi Marco, No adapters needed - the 100D and 200D have Bowens mounts so all of the Light Domes fit natively. It is only the 60d and 60X which need adapters.
@@curtisjudd Thanks :-)
After looking your review I have pre-ordered both 100D and 200D lights and the Light Dome mini II :-) Thanks for great review.
I was just wondering if you knew more regarding the Fan noise issue that seems to be actual on the 200D. I am recording music live recordings and it is very important for me that the light is quite. You mentioned a Firmware update?
@@marcorossi2182 Yes, the firmware came out last week. It seems to run the fan constantly at a lower RPM so it makes a bit less noise than when I did this review. If sound is critical, you might look for a light which doesn't have a fan or where you can lock the fan off, usually with the sacrifice of limiting the output power of the light.
@@curtisjudd did you record the noise produced by 100D and 200D respectively?
They saved some costs certainly but I'm sure they are seeing these as a big way to get a lot of people into their system. SIDUS link. Much of the time people don't need some of the "pro" features built into the LS systems.
Yes, makes sense.
Well just need a carrying case now
Agreed.
Thank you!
You’re welcome!
Why use parabolic softboxes in the first place? What is the benefit? Why spend effort collimating the light using a deep, parabolic reflector, just to un-collimate and scatter it with the diffusor? And also, for the Aperture lights and softboxes, the light is not even collimated, as the bulb is not sitting exactly in the focal point of the reflector. :)
Great video, thank you.
Because hard light on faces for interviews looks bad unless it is a film noir interview.
@@curtisjudd Thank you very much for your reply :) I know the reason to use a softbox, I am just curious why a _pararbolic_ softbox. A softbox diffuses/scatters (makes photons travel in all directions) while a parabolic modifier collimates the light (photons traveling in parallel rays, the opposite of diffused).
This guy explains it pretty well: ua-cam.com/video/lM5ME4o79bE/v-deo.html
@@realthoprivate I see, you're asking specifically why parabolic vs. traditional soft boxes? Looks like your guy has the answer. 😀
@@realthoprivate I just watched the video. I noticed that the parabolic pushed more light to the backdrop. The difference was subtle but noticeable. Though admittedly, I don't generally see that as an advantage unless you need to move the parabolic soft box farther away from the talent.
@@curtisjudd So, if using a parabolic, the light will be less diffused? If it is pushing more light it means the light is more focused, thus less diffused/scattered. Seems physically impossible for light to be both more diffused AND more focused at the same time :)
Side note: The aputure "parabolic" boxes are not really parabolic, as the bulb is not sitting in the focal point. This is, of course, a requirement if wanting to achieve parabolic light. On proff gear the bulb can always be adjusted a little bit back and forth to exactly hit the location of the focal poin. When exactly in the focal point the light is as focused as from a fresnel lens with an extremely sharp falloff.. :)