Enter the Sun Dragon: Atomos reveals HDR LED strip lights

Atomos ventures out into new territory with 5-color HDR LED production lights in LED strip form that can be controlled from its monitor-recorders.

Atomos’s new Sun Dragon lights are billed as the world’s first 99% sun spectrum-accurate (CRI:99, TCLI:98), 5-color HDR LED production lights in LED strip form. Maintaining 2000 lumens end to end, the 16ft (5m) high density lighting system comes with wired DMX and ethernet and wireless RF, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connectivity for control and configuration.

The density avoids annoying micro shadows – which can require diffusers on regular thin LED light strips – and increases the relative brightness to extremely high levels.

Atoos says it is easy to flex Sun Dragon to any shape, carefully controlling reflections and shadows with a precision that’s simply not possible with traditional fixed-shape lighting. If you still need a panel source, simply coil the Sun Dragon in a spiral, and it behaves like a panel light source. Wider spirals make a wider light throw, and denser spirals form a closer, more intense beam. Each Sun Dragon comes with a spiral carry case, with metal mounting options on the rear, and magnetic removable diffuser covers for more traditional light panel use.

The lights are fully water-resistant, dust proof and waterproof to a depth of one meter. They're also lightweight, weighing just 1kg: a 10x to 20x reduction compared with standard panel lights. 

Sun Dragon comes with an active controller with a large display and wireless/wired DMX remote control. Basic setup (Brightness, Color, Hue, etc.) is available via Atomos AirGlu RF devices. It is also Bluetooth compatible for DMX control from iPad and iPhone apps and can be battery or mains powered.

The lights can also be controlled by Atomos monitor-recorders and the brand-new Ninja Phone, allowing shots to be set up quickly and accurately. 

“Wherever there are cameras, there are lights. We’ve always wanted to make a production and cinema lighting system, but we didn’t just want to replicate what’s out there, and we wanted to have them controlled from our monitor-recorders,” says CEO Jeromy Young. “So, we’ve taken advantage of the very latest technology and our innovation DNA, to create something that’s completely new. We can’t wait to see how creatives use them! These lights are genuinely different, adding an extra dimension to illuminating a shot. There’s never been a production and cinema lighting system with such an extreme combination of affordability, flexibility, and sheer performance.”

Sun Dragon will be available in June 2024 with an expected price of $999.