Aputure COB 120t First Look. Tungsten 1.5K watt equivalent one source LED fixture

Erik Naso

Erik Naso

Veteran
This light puts out a lot of light! It just came in so I decided to do a quick unboxing and first look video.

https://youtu.be/fvrBUo7rifc

I'm not used to the Bowen S mount fixtures so I don't have modifiers for it. Aputure is coming out with barn doors and a focusable fresnel. Not clear on timing. The first release is the tungsten models followed by daylight. All update the thread when I get more use from it. I do wish it was a daylight model since I have a shoot this week that's all daylight. Might gel it and use it anyway. It's not like it doesn't have the output.

Aputure cob 120t_erik light full_cropped.jpg

Aputure cob 120t_Erik face w LED_cropped.jpg
 
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I'm really excited about this light! Just got myself two Amaran 672S and was thinking of getting the LightStorm LS1, but this one seems much more useful for my needs...
 
Very exciting, and I'm really crossing my fingers that they deliver on all the specs - LED fresnels have been coming along, but the cost has been pretty high, and this one looks like it will be affordable. The only thing that has been a bit of a cautionary note on LED fresnels has been the whole brightness equivalence - I frequently see claims like "equivalent to 1K tungsten" and so on, and really it's never quite that when you measure them, with the light falling off real fast, just no punch. So when I read "tungsten equivalent" I get nervous. I hope the 1.5K is not an exaggeration as so often with LEDs... usually people say stuff like "looks bright" when they stare at it, but that's not the measure of throw - I hope someone can do some real-life measurements and report back. If we can get reasonably priced LEDs that are 1K and 2K genuine equivalents, then the time of LEDs is here.
 
I have the same concerns. To equate to 1500W of tungsten, an LED would almost invariably have to consume over 300W, and the device depicted here doesn't look as if it can do that with reasonable noise levels, given the size of heatsink that would be required.

Looking into it, I find mention that the device consumes only 135W. This may be a useful light, but the idea that the LED efficiency benefit is more than 10:1 is dubious in the extreme.
 
Phil Rhodes said:
I have the same concerns. To equate to 1500W of tungsten, an LED would almost invariably have to consume over 300W, and the device depicted here doesn't look as if it can do that with reasonable noise levels, given the size of heatsink that would be required.

Looking into it, I find mention that the device consumes only 135W. This may be a useful light, but the idea that the LED efficiency benefit is more than 10:1 is dubious in the extreme.
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The output is about the same as a Kino Flow Select 30, with a similar rapid fall-off, so yeah, more like a 1000watt equivalent in tungsten.
 
Yeah certainly seems like a questionable equivalency especially considering according to their photometrics it is about half as bright as an arri openface 750w at full flood. Which makes sense given the closest fixture design is probably an openface and one expects about a 3-4x increase in luminous efficiency for LED over tungsten and 135W*4=540W. Of course that assumes the beam angle is essentially equivalent, which can be a big if. In some cases there is some truth to added LED efficiency due to more efficient lens/reflector designs, but this COB with a reflector doesn't seem to take advantage of that so it's just another one of those cases of LED manufacturers being sketchy. Best case they misunderstand how to measure output and are comparing their LED fixture with a tungsten fresnel or softbox even though it is an openface, worst case they are just knowingly lying. Sadly, LED marketing is unfortunately like a lot of markets where if one competitor lies they all have to start lying to appear competitive...
 
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The output ratings from Aputure are as follows. These ratings don't seem right. Actually very low. Need to test myself.

At 2 meters or 6.5 feet
57 foot candles
610 LUX

I'll try to measure them today and see how that rating stacks up. I don't have a 1K open face fixturing unfortunately to compare it to. I did go side by side with a KinoFlo Diva and it was substantially brighter. About the same with a 3/4 silk in front of it.
 
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Someone on the eoshd forums got one and confirmed that it's definitely brighter than the LS1
 
DBP said:
Someone on the eoshd forums got one and confirmed that it's definitely brighter than the LS1
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Make sense and the beam is very broad compared to the LS 1s 25°. The beam on the COB is 120°

Just found out that the daylight version will ship in August. The fresnel attachment is getting delayed because Aputure wants to change a few things to make it more versatile.

I got a Bowen-s mount speedring for it today. It's tight to get it to lock but will. I think it will break in. The yolk holds the Chimera very well. Locks down nice and tight I did a Facebook Live today showing it.

Check it HERE
https://www.facebook.com/ErikNaso.DP/videos/1019413844772348/

I forgot my meter. Dang it!
 
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I want two of these in bi-color to pair w/my SoftPanels 1x2 that should be arriving in the next month.

Would make a pretty versatile battery-powered field kit.
 
Erik:

Noise levels please? Can you use it to "shoot an interview in a small room quiet?" or do the fans make audible noise for most of our interview situations? Daylight of this would be superb for my needs, my Coollights are getting a bit long in the tooth although they still work fine.
 
puredrifting said:
Erik:

Noise levels please? Can you use it to "shoot an interview in a small room quiet?" or do the fans make audible noise for most of our interview situations? Daylight of this would be superb for my needs, my Coollights are getting a bit long in the tooth although they still work fine.
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I can't hear the fan at all. I have to put my ear an inch away to hear it. Should Not be an issue at all for interviews. My Chimera box fits very nice too with a Bowen-s mount speedring. I want the daylight version STAT! :-D
 
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