Aputure unveils STORM 1200x, a workhorse light based around a new BLAIR light engine

Aputure says that the new BLAIR (Blue/Lime/Amber/Indigo/Red) light engine in its STORM 1200x light produces ‘stunning’ full white spectrum light. 

The Aputure STORM 1200x is the first light in Aputure’s new STORM family, which debuts the company’s new BLAIR light engine. It says that the Blue/Lime/Amber/Indigo/Red combination produces outstanding full white spectrum light, with all emitters contributing across a wide CCT range (2500-10,000K), and great fine-tune adjustability of +/- Green, as well as other colors. 

“It delivers a better quality white light to fill out the color spectrum while offering greater adjustability,” explains the company. "The calibrated Indigo enhances fluorescing materials, resulting in a higher quality white light that better matches natural daylight and black body sources such as tungsten quartz.”

The BLAIR light engine also utilizes a highly efficient mix of emitters, balancing their output as needed throughout the CCT range. The result is that the STORM 1200x is a similar brightness at 3200K as it is at 5600K, which the company claims to be an unprecedented performance for this type of light.

The STORM series will also feature the ProLock Locking Bowens Mount, a more secure clamping design for attaching modifiers. Bowens accessories are held rigidly in place and precision optics light fresnels and spotlight projectors are precisely aligned with the light engine.

Bit-depth control is increased for improved low-end dimming. This enables the STORM 1200x to use PWM dimming down to 0.1% without shifts or dropoff. Color accuracy is maintained throughout the brightness range, even at extremely low brightness levels.

Head-to-toe IP65 dust and weather protection means the STORM 1200x can work in extreme environments. Seals on every connector and around components mean that not only the lamp head but also the control box and cabling can be used outside in the rain.

It also offers a full range of connectivity, with CRMX, DMX in and out, sACN and ArtNet over etherCON, and Sidus Mesh Bluetooth – all the standard professional connectivity options of a modern lighting design. 

Finally, the extended size of the STORM 1200x yoke allows the light to fully rotate 360 degrees. This allows the lamp to be quickly pointed straight up, a task that Aputure rather gleefully points out requires competing products to re-patch cables to achieve.

Pricing is $2999 and it's estimated to ship by the end of the month.  

Key features

• 1200W Tunable-White Point Source Fixture
• Advanced White Point Control with Green/Magenta Color Correction (±G
100% Full ASC MITC Range)
• CCT Range of 2,500K-10,000K
• New Breakthrough Proprietary LED Chipset: Blue, Lime, Amber, Indigo, Red
(BLAIR)
• Advanced Diode Color Mixing Allows Fixture to More Effectively Utilize Each
Diode’s Light Output
• 22,500 Lux @3m (5600K) When Using Wide-Angle Reflector
• Ultra-High Color Accuracy: CRI≥95, TLCI≥95, CQS [CIE D5600]≥96, SSI
[P3200]: 87, SSI [CIE D5600]: 87, TM-30 Rf (average) 95, TM-30 Rg (average)
100
• All-New Robust ProLock Locking Bowens Mount Design Allows For More
Secure and Optically Aligned Modifier Accessory Connection
• IP65 Weather Resistance
• Daylight Output Comparable to 1,800W HMI
• Smooth 0.1-100% Stepless Dimming
• Minimum Output: <60 lux @ 1m, 5,600K
• Multiple Control Methods: Sidus Link and Sidus Link Pro App, LumenRadio
CRMX, Art-net & sACN via etherCON, 16-bit 5-Pin DMX512 In & Out
• Dual Output Modes: Max and Constant
• High-Speed Photography, Lead-Follow, and Studio Modes
• 6 Fan Modes: Auto/Smart, High, Medium, Low, Delayed, Silent
• 12 DMX Control Profiles with Multiple DMX Dimming Modes and
Customizable DMX Signal Loss Behaviors
• 4 Dimming Curves: Linear, Exponential, Logarithmic, S-shaped
• 9 Light Effects: Paparazzi, Fireworks, Flickering Bulb, Cannon, Lightning, TV,
Pulse, Flash, Explosion, Flame
• 10 Savable Presets