Aputure has added two new point source LED lights to its STORM family of lighting for filmmakers. The Aputure 80W STORM 80c and Aputure 1000W STORM 1000c both use Apture’s BLAIR-CG light engine.
BLAIR-CG light engine
Aputure says that its BLAIR-CG light engine delivers a tunable white light that accurately mimics natural light. The company also claims that it offers a color spectrum greater than any other professional LED fixture currently available. To achieve this, the BLAIR-CG light engine uses a combination of Blue, Lime, Amber, Indigo, Red, Cyan, and Green light sources. In addition, the STORM 1000c has a CRI and TLCI of 97. The STORM 80c is even better, with a CRI of 97 and a TLCI of 99.
Tunable color
The BLAIR-CG light engine can reach 90% of Rec2020 color space. This achieves saturated colors in shades otherwise unobtainable, such as accurate yellow. In addition, the calibrated indigo emitter enhances fluorescing materials. This gives you white light that better matches natural daylight and tungsten. The BLAIR-CG light engine also offers color control functions such as HSIC+, xy coordinates, and a gel equivalency mode. As a result, it can match gelled incandescent lights, target hues, and heavily saturated objects and dyes.
Point-source lights
The STORM 80C and 1000C are powerful point-source COB (Chip On Board) lights. They deliver an extended white light adjustment of 1,800K-20,000K CCT with 100% +/- green control.  This is the full ASC MITC (American Society of Cinematographers Motion Imaging Technology Council) range of adjustment. At around 10 feet (3 meters), the STORM 1000C also has an output of 70000 lux using the 15° Hyper Reflector when set to 5600K. Even the bare COB delivers 6300 lux at this setting and distance. In addition, the STORM 80C gives you 1924 lux with its hyper reflector and 721 lux with the bare COB. Again, these measurements are at 10 feet when set to 5600K.
Other features
All STORM lights feature IP65 weather protection which means they are dust-tight and watertight. You can control the STORM 80C via Sidus Mesh, CRMX, and DMX. The STORM 1000C has the same control options and also adds Art-Net and sACN connectivity. In addition, you can power the STORM 80C off the included AC power supply, an 11-19v battery, or a 100w USB-C power bank.
Accessories
The STORM 1000c features the ProLock Locking Bowens Mount. This mount has a secure clamping design which holds Bowens accessories rigidly in place. It also ensures that your accessories are precisely aligned with the light engine. You can get a range of compatible accessories including the CF 12 Fresnel with a 12-inch lens and 8-leaf CF12 Barn Doors. In addition, the STORM 80c uses a mini version of the ProLock and comes with a reflector and a small ball diffuser. The accessories for the smaller light include the CF4 Fresnel, 8-leaf CF4 Barn Doors, the Light Dome 40, and Lantern 30. There’s even a STORM 80c Bowens Mount Adapter so you can use standard Bowens mount modifiers as well.
What we think
Aputure has a deserved reputation for innovation and delivering great value lights for filmmakers. However, with the STORM range, the company is now targeting high-level professional use. These new lights are designed to withstand the rough treatment of a film set. With the unique BLAIR-CG light engine, they also deliver the highest quality of light outside of natural daylight and traditional tungsten fixtures. It will be interesting to see whether Aputure can break into the big-budget film-making world with the STORM lights. Hopefully, the new color-accurate technology will filter down to the company’s more affordable lighting ranges as well.
Pricing and availability
The Aputure STORM 80c, STORM 1000c and their accessories are available to order today. You can get the STORM 80C for $599, while the CF4 Fresnel is $109, and the CF4 Barn Doors are $45. In addition, the STORM 1000c is $3,990, with the CF12 Fresnel and CF12 Barn Doors costing $799 and $159, respectively.
