Aputure COB 120d DAYLIGHT Version

Erik Naso

Erik Naso

Veteran
https://youtu.be/YCBWEdypJvY

I received a demo of the Aputure COB 120d DAYLIGHT version last week. I did some testing and then used it on a shoot. I'll share more as I get all the testing done on it. I'm doing a proper output test with a Sekonic light meter in foot candles at 7 and 10 feet so we get a real idea on what the COB 120d actually produces. I like you have struggled to fully understand the true output of LED lights. It's been really annoying and the only true way is to use a light meter. It will be about a week before the review is posted but I wanted to show you at least a little sample.

The color is pretty good. I don't have a color meter but shot a color chart in several different temperatures with my a7rii and found 5900K to be very clean with no color shifts. Aputure rates the 120d at 6000k.

Screen Shot 2016-11-19 at 2.36.50 PM.jpg
 
QuickHitRecord said:
Looking forward to your review! I have two daylight LS1s and this would be a welcome addition to that set.
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I was hoping the fresnel attachment would be available around the same time the 120d was but for some reason they are still working out the design and it keeps getting pushed back. A fresnel attached to the COB 120 will change the fixtures usefulness a lot. I need a fresnel for shooting products. Nice clean cut light with minimal spill seems like a long lost thing when using LED's. I miss it and need it.
 
According to their Facebook page:

"...we are working on releasing it [fresnel] not long after the light ships."

Earlier in the thread they mention early January as the shipping date for the lights.
 
I was interested in this light when they announced it last summer but it's still not for sale yet.

At this point, the Wasp 100-C is more appealing as it's bi-color and has full RGB control. I really think the next two years are going to be incredible for light technology. Just wish more of it was for sale right now.
 
Thanks for the info on the COB 120d!

Question: As far as punching bright light through a large diffuser to create a big, soft key light, should I use the COB 120d or the Aputure Lightstorm LS1S panel?
 
Jaime Valles said:
Thanks for the info on the COB 120d!

Question: As far as punching bright light through a large diffuser to create a big, soft key light, should I use the COB 120d or the Aputure Lightstorm LS1S panel?
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LS 1s is brighter by a lot.

Aputure Light Storm Ls1s (25˚)
7 feet 383 FC
10 feet 190 FC
 
Jaime Valles said:
Thanks for the info on the COB 120d!

Question: As far as punching bright light through a large diffuser to create a big, soft key light, should I use the COB 120d or the Aputure Lightstorm LS1S panel?
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That's what I can't quite figure out about this light. It's great and very useful as an open face or fresnel tool but if you mainly want a soft source, the LS 1S is smaller, flatter, easier to transport if you fly and it has considerably more output. I would only use the COB 120D as a bare fresnel source. While it's a good deal, it's not mind blowingly low cost for what it is. I am sticking with a pair of the LS 1S for now. The new Alladin and other brand flexible lights to me are also intriguing along with the CAME TV Boltzen lineup. Erik, any indication yet from Aputure when they will begin shipping the Tri 8 lights? I need one for a hair/rim compliment light for my LS 1S!
 
puredrifting said:
That's what I can't quite figure out about this light. It's great and very useful as an open face or fresnel tool but if you mainly want a soft source, the LS 1S is smaller, flatter, easier to transport if you fly and it has considerably more output. I would only use the COB 120D as a bare fresnel source. While it's a good deal, it's not mind blowingly low cost for what it is. I am sticking with a pair of the LS 1S for now. The new Alladin and other brand flexible lights to me are also intriguing along with the CAME TV Boltzen lineup. Erik, any indication yet from Aputure when they will begin shipping the Tri 8 lights? I need one for a hair/rim compliment light for my LS 1S!
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I don't know when the Tri8 will ship but I think a Boltzen would be a better option for back and hair. It's smaller and lighter and a fresnel so controlling flair will be easier than a panel. I'm still waiting for CAME-TV to ship my kit. They said the 35 watt was holding up the shipping, but they're going to go ahead and ship the 55 watt 2 light kit now. Looks like another week for delivery. I have high hopes for these. They seem like a great option for a punchy small fresnel.
 
Erik Naso said:
LS 1s is brighter by a lot.
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Wow that's kind of disappointing that an open face light with a reflector is less bright than a panel. Especially for the projected cost. It seems like it has taken them a long time to actually get this on the market. Was there legal action or a change in LED suppliers?
 
These assessments are a bit misleading if they don't take into account the beam angle. The LS1s panel is 25 degree. The COB 120d is 120 degree...when left unmodified. That doesn't mean the LS1s is brighter, it means it's more focused into a tighter pattern.

I don't own the COB, so I'm not in a position to test this, but a comparison between the LS1s and the COB120 needs to use a fresnel or other modifier to achieve 25 degree angle before saying that the LS1s is far brighter. It may indeed be the case that the LS1s is still brighter, but I'd love to see such a comparison.

The cob is much more readily modified, so if it can achieve similar lux once focused to 25 degrees, then that makes it very compelling.
 
ozmorphasis said:
These assessments are a bit misleading if they don't take into account the beam angle. The LS1s panel is 25 degree. The COB 120d is 120 degree...when left unmodified. .... but a comparison between the LS1s and the COB120 needs to use a fresnel or other modifier to achieve 25 degree angle before saying that the LS1s is far brighter. It may indeed be the case that the LS1s is still brighter, but I'd love to see such a comparison.
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Yup!

Erik updated his blog post after he got the fresnel attachment for the 120d. The new number at 10 feet was 158 fc at 42 degrees, vs 58 fc at the open face 120 degrees. That's a boost of about 1.28 fc per degree of focus. Extrapolate that math linearly down to a 25 degree focus on the fresnel and it equates to about 180 fc (estimated). The LS-1S at 25 degrees beam angle was measured at 190 fc at 10 feet. So my quick & dirty envelope math says that the 120d at 25 degree spot is almost as bright at the LS-1S at its 25 degrees. I'm no engineer, so I make no claims as to accuracy. Just spitballin'.

I don't have the units here to test & verify these guesses, but it seems plausible. We'd have to get Erik (or whomever else owns both units) to confirm.
 
Erik Naso said:
LS 1s is brighter by a lot.

Aputure Light Storm Ls1s (25˚)
7 feet 383 FC
10 feet 190 FC
Click to expand...

Wait so they created a single source less powerful than a panel... I was looking forward to this light as a stronger source that you can shape, i know you can shape it better than LS1 but shame if its raw output is less good. Once you diffuse it down it would struggle in daylight lit rooms as the LS1 is already not bright enough for quite a few circumstances.
What would you say it is the equivilent too from the arri tungsten range? 650w? or only 300w?
 
Just received the Cob120D today and did some comparisons to the LS1. Also got the fresnel in, feels kind of cheap, don't expect a smooth zoom from spot to wide on it.

If you put the fresnel on the 120d and set it to 25 degrees, you do get basically the same output of the LS1 1S. The spread of the LS1 1S is actually a little bit wider than the 25 degree setting of the fresnel, so I would say there's more light being output overall from the LS1.

Now here's the interesting stuff. The totally don't color match at all. The LS1 1S is green, which I've always noticed but it's never been a problem because it matches their other panels.

The 120d is more blue, and I dont' think I'd do a situation where I use one light like the LS1 as a key and a 120d as a fill. The color is way too different.

Another interesting thing, that Aputure fresnel has outlets for air, and boy does it let light leak all over the place especially as you go more spot. Having black wrap on standby will be a must with this light, kind of disappointing.

Lastly, be aware that the batteries you used for a COB120T or LS1 may not work for this light. I've got a 10.7 mAh Maxoak 158 Wh batteries and the light turn off immediately when at 100%, and won't stay on very long when over 90%.
 
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