Aputure has announced the next generation of its Nova panel light. The Aputure Nova II 2×1 uses the company’s BLAIR-CG light engine to deliver rich colors and a powerful output.
BLAIR-CG light engine
Aputure’s BLAIR-CG light engine uses Blue, Lime, Amber, Indigo, Red, Cyan and Green light emitters to create high-quality tunable white light. The Nova II 2×1 panel light also includes Deep Red sources to balance the fluorescing Indigo LED emitters. Aputure says that this produces improved skin tones and color range. As a result, the expanded BLAIR-CG light engine covers more than 90% of the Rec.2020 color space, controllable in x,y and HSIC+ modes.
Color accuracy
The Aputure Nova II 2×1 panel light delivers white light with a very wide CCT range from 1,800K all the way to 20,000K. You also get full 100% ASC (American Society of Cinematographers) MITC +/- Green adjustment. The Nova II 2×1 panel has a CRI and TLCI of greater than 95, so you can be confident that the colors in your scene will reproduce accurately.
The light has a tungsten SSI of 90 and a daylight (D65) SSI of 86.
Optical design
The Aputure Nova II 2×1 panel light features a unique three-part “focus-then-blend” optical design. First, focusing TIR (total internal reflection) lenses are located over the LED emitter clusters. These clusters are also small and packed at a high density on the panel for increased output. Plus, these lensed emitter clusters are arranged in a complex neutralizing pattern. This delivers a direct 35° beam of even light with no visible color fringing on subjects, and which remains bright even when diffused.
Photometrics
The Aputure Nova II 2×1 panel light delivers an immense 1000W of power. Set to 3200K, it delivers 194400 lux at 3.3 feet (1 meter) and 27,750 lux at 9.8 feet (3 meters). At 6500K, the Nova II 2×1 panel is even brighter, delivering 197300 lux at 3.3 feet (1 meter) and 28380 lux at 9.8 feet (3 meters). These figures are for the bare bulb output, however, and using the included flat diffusion panel lowers the output to 5,130 lux at 9.8 feet (3 meters) when set to 5600K.
Controls
The Aputure Nova II 2×1 panel light has on-board controls and a display panel for easy operation. It is also compatible with Sidus Link, Sidus Link Pro, DMX, CRMX and Art-Net/sACN. The Nova II 2×1 panel offers smooth 0.1-100% stepless dimming with four dimming curves: Linear, Exponential, Logarithmic and S-shaped. The light features 15 built-in light effects as well, and you can save up to 10 presets.
Build
The Aputure Nova II 2×1 panel light is large, measuring 27.2 inches (69.1 cm) wide by 15.3 inches (38.8 cm) high by 5.4 inches (13.6 cm) deep. It’s also heavy at 35.83 pounds (16.25kg) for the lamp head alone without the yoke. The Nova II 2×1 panel features active cooling but keeps fan noise below 40dB even in high-speed mode. Also, the light offers IP65 weather protection so you can keep shooting when conditions turn bad.
What we think
Aputure’s new Aputure Nova II 2×1 panel light delivers a powerful output. The company also continues to improve the already impressive BLAIR-CG light engine for the highest quality of light. You can dial in precise colors to match products, create backdrops and output perfect greenscreen or bluescreen keys to match your camera’s sensor.
In addition, the light is compatible with all the control methods you need on a professional set. With such a rich feature set, the Aputure Nova II 2×1 panel light isn’t cheap, but well worth the investment. If you need a powerful, color-accurate panel, it should be high up on your shortlist.
Pricing and availability
The Aputure Nova II 2×1 panel light retails at $3,690 and is available now. It comes with the lamp head, a yoke with a junior pin, a flat diffuser, an AC cable and a rolling case. You can also get a range of optional accessories, including soft boxes, a fabric control grid and barn doors.
