Good news on the sun-fighting-on-location lighting front: the Aputure LS 1200d Pro, the current flagship daylight LED cob (chip on board) fixture from manufacturer Aputure. The output alone suggests we are becoming less dependent on HMI technology. And less dependence on HMI technology means less heat, less power needed, and less expense. The cost-per-lumen ratio for LED has never been lower, and all of this should be great news for filmmakers. But is it? Does the 1200d Pro live up to the “Pro” moniker, or do we file this light under “too good to be true”? Aputure was nice enough to send the 1200d Pro so we could put the fixture through its paces in a review. Let’s dive in. Aputure 1200d Pro – First Impressions The LS 1200d Pro has veered from other Light Storm fixtures in the sense that it doesn’t feel that portable. In fact, it’s big. The 1200d Pro lamp head is hefty, and the ballast is also larger than previous generations. Perhaps the weight isn’t that big a deal for you, but if you often film alone or have a small vehicle for transport, you might want to look to the 600d Pro or bi-color 600x or even the 300d MK II as an alternative. The excellent output of the 1200d Pro is useful (lux numbers are below), but you should ask yourself if the fixture size tradeoff is worth it. It goes without saying you’ll want to use a heavy-duty combo stand at minimum...
Published By: CineD - Thursday, 24 February, 2022