Aputure Releases the Full Color Light Storm 600c Pro
Aputure’s RGBWW Point-Source LED Ships June 30th
The LS 600c Pro has finally arrived to complete the Light Storm 600 series trio — combining a point-source Bowens Mount fixture with full-color functionality, weather resistance, and professional-level connectivity, making it the most versatile light in the Aputure product line. In addition, its immensely powerful RGBWW LED chipset is capable of 600W of total output, positioning the LS 600c Pro as one of the highest power full-color point-source light fixtures on the market and having the highest wattage RGBWW chipset in any point-source LED for filmmaking.
The LS 600c Pro officially begins shipping today, June 30th, 2022, rounding off the Aputure ecosystem with color control in every major form factor, from soft and hard panel lights to tubes, light mats, and now finally to single-source LEDs. With this pinnacle of Light Storm technology, the filmmakers can produce both hard and soft light by simply switching out modifiers while producing white light with stunning fidelity.
The Journey
When Aputure first designed and built the LS 600d Pro, there were several goals in mind. First, there was a vision of creating one of the most powerful LED fixtures on the market that was finally able to compete with traditional HMI fixtures — while simultaneously delivering a user-friendly form factor, enhanced versatility through a plethora of Bowens Mount modifiers, a durable & weather-resistant construction, and professional-level connectivity. All of those goals culminated in the formation of the daylight member of the LS 600 trio.
The next step was to prove that this level of fixture could be combined with Aputure’s color-blending optical technology in the form of the bi-color LS 600x Pro. Instead of leaving an exposed multi-led array at the front of these high-end fixtures or using a striped COB, Aputure used specially designed optics to mix the chipset into a single source to work in tandem with Aputure’s optical modifiers. The resulting bi-color fixture used its bi-color chipset with an output power of 600W to give filmmakers 70% of the raw intensity of its daylight counterpart, with the added flexibility of an expanded bi-color CCT range (2700K to 6500K).¹
But the end goal of the lineup was always to move beyond a dual-color chipset — adding RGB color tunability with Bowens Mount versatility.
Quality Color Science
Unlike the other lights within the Light Storm family, this fixture incorporates full access to color by utilizing Aputure’s own blend of RGBWW LEDs, a technology that can also be found throughout Aputure products, including the Nova panels, amaran LED Mats and Tubes, and upcoming MT Pro. As a result, this fixture represents some of Aputure’s top-of-the-line white light reproduction and accuracy. In its standard color metrics, the LS 600c Pro produces average CRI and TLCI readings of 95 & 98, respectively.
But going beyond standard color charts, by analyzing the LS 600c Pro’s spectral power distribution (SPD), its true colors shine. One of the benefits of the 600c Pro’s RGBWW chipset design is its ability to reproduce white light more accurately than many other standards, placing it on par with the color quality of the Arri Orbiter. At 5600K, the LS 600c Pro produces an SPD with an SSI (D56) of 74+. At 3200K, the 600c Pro is even more accurate with an SSI (Tungsten) of 85+. Producing a higher SSI (Tungsten) than other comparable units is achieved in part due to the broader red spectrum. Rather than only having a narrow-band red emitter roughly between the 620nm and 630nm range, the LS 600c Pro also utilizes a very warm white emitter that aids in broader spectrum production beyond 630nm.
xy and TM-30 Charts are also available below.
Still Packs a Punch
A common misconception surrounding full-color LED lights is that they have considerably weaker output than their daylight or bi-color counterparts. However, when it comes to the LS 600c Pro, the goal was to create a lightweight unit that still packs a punch. As with the previous LS 600d Pro and LS 600x Pro, the LS 600c Pro’s chipset has a total output power of 600W with a maximum theoretical power draw of up to 720W. Under typical usage, the Aputure’s 600W fixtures have a nominal power draw of approximately 650W-660W in Max Output Modes.
With a baseline daylight (5600K) illuminance of 1,937+ lux at 3 meters with no optical accessories, compared to the LS 600x Pro (1,880 lux) and the LS 600d Pro (2,600 lux) in the same conditions, the LS 600c is capable of approximately 74.5% of the LS 600d Pro’s raw output capacity. This level of intensity ranks the fixture as one of the brightest lights featuring full-color adjustability.
When used with soft light modifiers, like the Light Dome 150, or Lantern 90, this trio of fixtures will maintain this proportional output power, with the LS 600x Pro and 600c Pro equating to about 70% of the LS 600d Pro.
Optical modifiers have the ability to enhance the LS 600c Pro even further. With the included LS 600 Series Hyper Reflector, the LS 600c Pro can emit 5,020+ lux at three meters (5600K). Furthermore, this fixture is compatible with the LS 1200d Pro’s BM1215 Narrow, BM1230 Medium, and BM1245 Wide Hyper Reflectors. Using the narrow reflector with the 600c Pro results in the highest intensity combination, with the unit’s output reaching up to 18,360+ lux at three meters (5600K). Secondly, the medium reflector can produce 6,150+ lux at three meters (5600K). Lastly, the wide reflector can bring the intensity of the LS 600c Pro to 3,480+ lux at three meters (5600K).
The LS 600c Pro, like the 1200d Pro, is also compatible with the F10 Fresnel. This combination results in a 10-inch full-color Fresnel fixture, with spot-flood capability² and exceptional shadow quality when cut by the F10 Barn Doors.
Presenting A New Design for Filmmakers
To maximize its new colorful capabilities, the LS 600c Pro features the Aputure’s most intuitive UI/UX to date. Using only a single button and a detailed color LCD, users can seamlessly surf through light modes, save & access ten user-programmable presets, and activate 15 different built-in lighting effects.
Akin to the Nova series, the LS 600c Pro features color control that includes CCT+G/M, Advanced HSI, xy, RGB, Source Presets, and a library of 300+ Gel Presets.
Adding the RGB elements to the LS 600c Pro’s chipset allows it to track the Planckian curve natively more accurately and grants users the ability to further adjust and green-magenta tint throughout the 2,300K to 10,000K CCT range. Furthermore, taking from the Nova P600c, the fixture incorporates an Advanced HSI mode with white-point adjustability, allowing users to choose the CCT they would like to desaturate toward. The 600c Pro’s xy mode follows the industry’s current CIE 1931 standard, enabling lighting technicians to more accurately pinpoint and match colors between other fixtures. Its RGB mode gives users control over the individual color diodes in the full-color chipset and the ability to create 1 billion parameter permutations. Like the Nova series, the LS 600c Pro’s Source and Gel Preset libraries are there for ease of use, so filmmakers can quickly match an existing fixture or a preferred gel color.
The LS 600c Pro’s Gel Library differs from the Nova P600c in its ability to preview colors as users scroll through the library. Its color LCD provides instant feedback for users as they scroll through different brands and series of gels, making discerning the difference between gels an incredibly intuitive process, like in Sidus Link. The benefit of this instant color feedback also branches over to modes such as Advanced HSI and xy, where knowing the exact position in a Hue Wheel or CIE 1931 chart makes selecting colors a much smoother experience.
And once the desired parameters have been set, they can be saved as a lighting preset and recalled from any mode.
This includes the 15 different lighting FX built into the fixture, including Paparazzi, Club Lights, Fireworks, Candle, Lightning, Fire, Faulty Bulb, Welding, TV, Cop Car, Pulsing, Color Chase, Strobe, Party Lights, and Explosion.
Digging Deeper Into the Menu
The natural user interface extends into the system menu, where users can adjust a multitude of settings such as Output Modes, Frequency Selection, and Control Systems such as DMX or CRMX.
The LS 600c Pro joins the LS 600x Pro, 300x, and Nova P600c with the inclusion of two Output Modes: Max Output & Constant Output. In Max Output mode, the LS 600 Pro optimizes the illuminance for every given CCT value, ensuring that you unlock the full power of the fixture. In Constant Output mode, the unit maintains the same intensity throughout the entire CCT range, resulting in more consistency for in-camera effects and precision shooting scenarios.
Its Frequency Selection function can adjust the PWM frequency by up to +2000Hz to aid in the reduction of in-camera flicker or banding, should it occur.
The RGBWW light also harnesses professional connectivity options, including Bluetooth Mesh for Sidus Link, 16-bit DMX512, LumenRadio CRMX, and Art-net/sACN integration. Sidus Link app control provides users with an easy direct connection control method without needing external transmitters or devices. Simultaneously, as a “Pro” fixture, adding the industry’s most standard and stable control methods and a 16-Bit DMX driver for ultimate precision was imperative.
To control this fixture, users can select between 22 DMX profiles, including 8-bit and 16-bit alternatives:
- (CCT/RGB) 8-bit/16-bit
- (CCT) 8-bit/16-bit
- (CCT/HSI) 8-bit/16-bit
- (RGB) 8-bit/16-bit
- (HSI) 8-bit/16-bit
- (GEL) 8-bit/16-bit
- (xy) 8-bit/16-bit
- (SOURCE) 8-bit/16-bit
- (FX) 8-bit/16-bit
- (WW/RGB) 8-bit/16-bit
- Ultimate Mode 8-bit/16-bit
Harnessing its Power
While being able to pack a punch, the LS 600c Pro is outfitted with various DC power options and AC power. Its power supply has a maximum power draw rating of 720W, with a nominal power draw of between 650W-660W, allowing users to fit up to three units on a standard 120V/20A circuit or two units on a 120V/15A circuit. For a secure AC power connection, each Light Storm fixture is outfitted with a 6-meter long Neutrik powerCON TRUE1 TOP AC power cable, the industry standard for reliability and weather resistance.
Its 720W max power draw also places it in a sweet spot for multiple DC power standards. The control box features two multi-voltage battery plates that support 14.4V, 26V, and 28.8V cinema batteries (V-Mount or Gold Mount). With conventional 14.4V/15A high-output batteries, users can operate the LS 600c Pro at half power, so they can still use the light in tricky situations. And with high-load, high-voltage 26V/18A or 28.8V/15A batteries that are finally beginning to come to market, filmmakers can unlock the LS 600c Pro’s full potential.
The LS 600c Pro also features a capability unique to Aputure Light Storm fixtures by utilizing these same battery plates to deliver power in reverse, allowing users to charge their 14.4V & 26V cinema batteries when plugged into AC power.
As a high-load unit, the LS 600c Pro also utilizes a 3-Pin XLR DC input as its tertiary power option. This 48V/15A DC power input is compatible with high-output power stations and block batteries, like Gen Energy G-PB48 M2 or HCL-1600 from Block Battery.
Paired with these power options, filmmakers can always be ready in fast-paced shooting environments.
What Makes it “Pro”?
In the case of the LS 600c Pro and its daylight and bi-color counterparts, the “Pro” suffix was not added lightly. To take these a step up above units like the LS 300d II and standard LS 600d, professional-level Light Storm fixtures needed these three upgrades: 1) LumenRadio CRMX, 2) Art-net & sACN via Ethernet, 3) Weather-resistance, 4) Battery Charging Functionality.
With the increasing amount of data management and DMX control taking place on professional-level film & TV sets, having a set of robust connectivity options has become of paramount importance for any easy-to-integrate filmmaking tool. The TimoTwo platform is LumenRadio’s current highest-end CRMX chipset, and as the industry standard, it is the chipset of choice for all Aputure products that feature CRMX. Furthermore, having the CRMX module built-in to the light fixture simplifies the workflows of set lighting technicians and DMX console technicians exponentially, as it is not only guaranteed to come and work with the fixture but it also protected from the elements if the fixture is water-resistant, unlike many external wireless DMX dongles.
And while LumenRadio CRMX has its conveniences, when handling large data management loads, a hardline ethernet connection provides more security and stability for Art-Net and sACN-based control systems. All four current Light Storm “Pro” lights feature ethernet connectivity, with the LS 600c Pro and LS 1200d Pro going a step further in durability by utilizing a Neutrik etherCON port.
On top of its lightweight and durable magnesium-alloy construction, the LS “Pro” series lights are weather-resistant, making them more than capable of tolerating inclement weather during exterior film shoots. As a result, Aputure users have confidently ventured with weather-resistant Light Storm fixtures into the snowy terrain of Norway and Korea to the torrential storms of the United States’ Florida and Midwest regions. And each time, fixtures like the LS 600c Pro live to fight another day.
Integrating V-Mount and Gold Mount battery charging capabilities into the Light Storm fixtures took inspiration from the prosumer amaran product line, particularly fixtures like the amaran P60c and HR672. These fixtures featured the ability to both operate with and charge Sony NP-F batteries, allowing users to always have their lights at the ready. Gaffers continue to mention their pleasant surprise when they find themselves using the fixtures to charge their 14.4V and 26V cinema batteries in a pinch — especially for multi-day shoots when the camera team also needs a hand.
These little touches and the resulting durability and ecosystem are what, to Aputure designers and users, earn these fixtures, especially the LS 600c Pro, their “Pro” names.
Conclusion
The LS 600c Pro is the latest flagship tool in the Light Storm product line and, in many ways, represents the pinnacle of many of Aputure’s existing technological efforts. Aputure strives to pave the way for filmmakers and creators who want to add a visual flair to their images, with the adjustability and customization that allows for a unique touch when operating.
It’s adaptable, powerful, and multi-faceted with its inclusion of Advanced HSI, CCT+G/M, xy, RGB, and an intuitive Gel Preset interface in a fixture that can produce both hard and soft light with a simple change of a modifier. While there is no “one true perfect light,” the LS 600c Pro brings us one step closer.
But one thing will always remain true — Aputure will continue to advance its technology and innovate LED film lighting to create tools that best suit its users and work in tandem with its ever-growing ecosystem of lights.
Pricing and Availability
Below are the prices in USD. Please refer to your authorized regional Aputure dealer for prices in other currencies.
The LS 600c Pro is available for purchase through Aputure’s online store and your local dealer. Visit here to learn more about the new fixture.
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¹ The 70% calculation is derived by dividing the illuminance of the LS 600x Pro at 5600K (1,880 lux @ 3m) by the illuminance of the LS 600d Pro (2,600 lux @ 3m). Both fixtures are measured without reflectors to calculate raw output power.
² The LS 600c Pro with the F10 Fresnel has an estimated beam angle range of 25° to 70°
