Aputure Amaran AL-528S Question

Spot works better when shot through silk or diffusion. If you need to get a fixture farther away from the subject it gives you get better throw.
 
What is the advantage of using a spot panel over a Fresnel? Whenever I hear of using a spot panel I think, why not just use a Fresnel which has better beam control and a better punch further away. Seems to me the point of panels is so you can get a soft light.
 
Eric Coughlin said:
What is the advantage of using a spot panel over a Fresnel? Whenever I hear of using a spot panel I think, why not just use a Fresnel which has better beam control and a better punch further away. Seems to me the point of panels is so you can get a soft light.
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Ha! No, no, no.

They don't mean "spot" like a fresnel.

They just mean that the 'spot' version has a narrower and more concentrated light throw than the 'wide' version...
 
I know what they're saying, but I don't understand what it means in relation to a Fresnel's light. A Fresnel generally has a narrower and more concentrated light throw. What's the difference in light quality if the beam angle of your panel is the same as the beam angle of your Fresnel?

I'd gather that since the Fresnel is coming from a smaller light source that it will still be harder even with the same beam angle, but once you punch it through diffusion then it shouldn't be that different, right? I know I used to use an Arri 650 Fresnel as a key light for interviews through diffusion and it worked quite well, very soft; now I use a Lowel Rifa 1k which has more brightness and sets up faster. My point is that if you're going through diffusion most of the time the Fresnel seems like a better choice because at least then you still always have the option of using it as a hard light if you ever want to, along with a much longer throw with a variable beam angle (such as the Arri 650's 14.5 to 52 degree beam angle), which you can't do with a panel light.

So I don't think you answered my question. I don't understand the point of using a tight beam panel light instead of a Fresnel if you're just going to punch both through diffusion in any case. Perhaps it's because the lens of a Fresnel is causing more light loss than the panel light since the panel light isn't losing light through the Fresnel lens?

That's why the remote phosphor lights make so much sense to me; they are soft even before you punch them through diffusion which speeds up setup time if additional diffusion isn't necessary, and if you want a harder light with more punch, just use a Fresnel. Which in the end leaves me wondering, what is the point of tight beam angle LED panels?
 
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Oh, gotcha.

Ok - the reason someone would want these LED panels in a 'spot' version is because the 'wide' version is really wide - like spills everywhere in front of it. Even an Arri Fresnel will be a little less wide at its widest setting.
Now this type of a light is very different from a Fresnel. The quality of the light is a little softer and does not have as much of a 'brighter center' sort of effect that many Fresnels and other tungsten lights tend to generate.
The main reason someone would want an LED panel like this is for these reasons:
1.) They're CHEAP. About $175.
2.) They give off NO HEAT AT ALL.
3.) They are very light weight - you can even have someone hold one during a shoot.
4.) They can run off BATTERIES, thus becoming insanely convenient.

EXAMPLE OF USES:
If you have say, a person in a room for an interview or a scene, and you point the 'wide' LED panel at them - you will cast light onto nearly the entire room. It's pretty evenly spread out. But this makes the light dimmer at any one place - because it is spread out. And if you put a diffusion panel in front of it to soften the shadows - you will block enough of the light that it really isn't strong enough for a key light anymore.

Now, the 'spot' version will light up much less of the surrounding room. It will be noticabely brighter in the center of where you point it, so now you're getting more light on your subject and less on the surroundings. Not 'dark' on the surroundings, but less.
Also, those same 528 LED's are now 'pointing' more to the same place so their power is more concentrated in the center. If you want to put a diffusor in front of it now to soften the shadows it will still have enough brightness in that center portion to be usable as a key light.

It's great to have BOTH.
You can use the "wide' to cast an even light on your setting, and then use a 'spot' to be a keylight.

In many many ways a Fresnel is a better fixture. It is far more versatile. But you don't get any LED cool-running Fresnels that can be run on batteries for $175. No way - more like $2,000.

I hope this makes it a little more clear.

I have all these types of lights, so I've tried to just describe in the simplest terms what I see when I use them.
 
jmlau said:
Hey everyone,

I'm pretty new to the lighting game so please excuse the n00b question.

I'm looking at this LED panel and noticed it comes in two different configurations, 25 and 75 degree beam angle. How to these differ (besides 50 degrees) and what is the benefit/use of each?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1146129-REG/aputure_amaran_al_528s_daylight_led.html

Thanks!
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BTW - get the newer 672-bulb version.
The color is better.
It's 144 bulbs brighter.
It comes with a remote control.
Same exact body.
Only $22 more.

This is a link to the wide one. They also sell the bi-color version. I know a spot version of this exists, but I'm not sure this place sells it.

http://www.lightinthebox.com/aputur...g-for-camcorder-or-dslr-cameras_p1856370.html
 
Eric Coughlin said:
I know what they're saying, but I don't understand what it means in relation to a Fresnel's light. A Fresnel generally has a narrower and more concentrated light throw. What's the difference in light quality if the beam angle of your panel is the same as the beam angle of your Fresnel?

So I don't think you answered my question. I don't understand the point of using a tight beam panel light instead of a Fresnel if you're just going to punch both through diffusion in any case. Perhaps it's because the lens of a Fresnel is causing more light loss than the panel light since the panel light isn't losing light through the Fresnel lens?

Which in the end leaves me wondering, what is the point of tight beam angle LED panels?
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LOL. What a puzzle, eh? Why do the starving Africans/whoever, don't eat high quality food, instead of the little bits of useless filler? Really, it's so simple it's amazing anyone has to explain this to you. If you want cool lights - not high temp, not tungsten - which can be operated with batteries, in the LED world, Fresnels are super, super, super expensive. They are pretty much always more expensive than a panel. You are not addressing yourself to a user base that can afford any light at any budget - you are addressing yourself to those who have to stretch to buy any light. Low operating temperature, with the battery option - your only lowish cost option is a panel. Why not a Fresnel?? Sure, where is the money? Let them eat cake type advise - use a Fresnel. Gosh, never occurred to anyone - Fresnel, thanks for the tip/rolleyes/. The Aputure Amaran AL-528 that the OP is asking about is $179. Meanwhile you are babbling about Arri 650 Fresnel which is a hot light and which I cannot operate with a battery either, and which costs a multiple of the Aputure. Just wow. Give me a budget and I too will be a genius who gets a Fresnel. Meanwhile a 25 degree panel will be brighter than a 75 one - and in the LED panel world, brightness is always a struggle, so you try to get as much power as possible. Hence the 25 rather than the 75 - plus, the 25 is more versatile, because if I need a wider cast or softer, I can just use cheap diffusion and I got that covered... meanwhile, with the 75 I'm stuck, as that's all I have and no real way to make it harder or have more power - so the 25 is two-in-one compared to the 75 one trick pony.

Yes, a Fresnel would be great. Here's a nice Arri LED for just a measly sum of $2872. Instead he's buying a $179 panel - what a fool, huh, when for a few bucks more he can have that nice Fresnel. Even a hot, tungsten Arri 650 Fresnel from B&H is $444 - which is still a multiple of the $179 and doesn't actually do what he needs (low temp, plus battery power option).

The real answer to the OP's question is that the 25 gives him more options compared to the 75 for the same money. It is completely beside the point to talk about a Fresnel - if he had that kind of budget, he might want a pony and a unicorn too.
 
My question wasn't directly related to the OP's budget, but was a question I had which was along the same topic as the OP's question. I didn't feel the need to create a new topic on the same subject matter (panel beam angle) simply because I'm talking at a different level of budget.

Not all LED Fresnels are $2000+. There's also various ones from Litepanels and Fiilex that are under $1000. Something like the Practilite 602 LED bi-color Fresnel is $690, which is said to be equivalent to a 600 watt tungsten light and can run off of batteries. Now compare that to, say, the Aputure Light Storm LS 1s panel light with a 25 degree beam angle for the same price, at $695, with a similar brightness. That's a purchase decision I may be having to choose between. Why would I go for the Aputure Light Storm when the Practilite 602 offers more versatility for the same price? The Practilite is also significantly lighter size and weight than a standard panel.
 
I'm always using diffusion with any fixture. Sure Fresnels have a very clean light beam with no multiple shadows but I just don't use hard light. I shoot people 99% of the time and soft is better. The LED Fresnels look great. I saw them at NAB this year and they do offer the versatility. Panels are smaller as far as thin goes so if that is something one needs for tighter spaces than it's a good option.
Eric I think you need try some panels and LED Fresnels out and see what you like. They are all very different. Mostly color but since LED panel fixtures don't have the ability to adjust the beam angle you need to know what you like and buy it. No one size fits all answer unfortunately but the great part is LED lighting is also moving in a more traditional fixture with Fresnel lens and that will make hot lights less hot but the ones I saw at NAB did get very warm.
 
I'm looking at getting one of these lights (wide version). Does anyone know of a soft-box that could be used to contain the spill of light?

cheers
 
Hi DPStewart

thanks for your reply.

Gotta love Amazon This item does not ship to ............., Australia. Please check other sellers who may ship internationally.
 
doubledark said:
Hi DPStewart

thanks for your reply.

Gotta love Amazon This item does not ship to ............., Australia. Please check other sellers who may ship internationally.
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What the hell! Really?

That diffusor for the Aputure lights is sold by a ton of online retailers. I'm pretty sure we can find one that will ship to you.

Stand by....

Here, try these and see if they include Australia in their shipping territory.

http://www.mysahouse.com/detail/p_B...Aputure-528-672-LED-Video-Lights-reviews.html

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/pro...672-LED-Video-Lights/1419033_32322912504.html

http://bestallgoods.com/?i=B00VHCJBC8

https://www.desertcart.ae/products/...diffuser-for-aputure-528-672-led-video-lights

http://www.wantitall.co.za/Photogra...-Aputure-528-672-LED-Video-Lights__B00VHCJBC8
 
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cseeman said:
If you're really looking for cheap LED Fresnel there's the "Honey I shrunk the LED 3 Fresnel light kit" from Litepanels.
Their Caliber 3 light kit lists for $995
http://www.litepanels.com/en-US/Shop/Shop/products/led-light-kits-caliber-3-light-kit
That's less than $333 each but you can't buy them individually.
B&H has them for $895.50 so that's under $300 a light.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1126520-REG/litepanels_909_1001_pole_operated_yoke_for.html
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Cute little lights.

Would be nice of they listed the actual color temp and CRI.
 
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