Aputure’s 2022 Holiday Gift Guide for Filmmakers

Find the Perfect Gifts for All Filmmakers and Lighting Experts

Brandon Le

Published in

Aputure

10 min readDec 1, 2022

It’s the end of the year and time to prepare your professional filmmaking kit for 2023!

We know that high-quality, professional lighting and audio tools are non-negotiables for crafting the perfect films and videos, which is why we curated a selection of our favorite products for the filmmaker in your life (even if that filmmaker is you) just in time for this holiday season — from point-source lights, LED panels, mini lights, to microphones, this list will set any filmmaker up for success.

If you’re looking for a guide to kitting out your favorite content creator or someone looking to get started in the world of video, check out our other Holiday Gift Guides!

The Filmmaker Kit

LS 600x Pro

The LS 600x Pro’s 600W bi-color light engine allows users to tune the color temperature between 2700K to 6500K to match your scene. It lays the foundation of our Filmmaker Gear Guide because of its versatility in color temperature as well as its universal Bowens Mount, which opens up to a wide variety of accessories, including ones on this list like the F10 Fresnel and Light Dome 150.

Designed for professionals, the LS 600x Pro’s weather-resistant design renders it capable of withstanding rain and other inclement weather conditions. It also features an intuitive control interface with Sidus Link App Control, LumenRadio CRMX, and Art-net/sACN control.

Universal Bowens Mount for Simple Light Shaping
5,610+ lux @ 3m w/ LS 600 Series Hyper-Reflector @ 5600K
2700K~6500K Variable CCT, CRI ≥96, TLCI ≥96, SSI (D56): 74, SSI (Tungsten): 85
Weather-resistant Construction Protects it in Tough Environments
Multi-Voltage Battery Plates can Charge 14.4V / 26V Cinema Batteries
Dual Junior/Baby Pin (28mm/16mm) for Easy Mounting
9 Lighting FX: Paparazzi, Fireworks, Lightning, Faulty Bulb, TV, Pulsing, Strobe, Explosion, & Fire

Shop the LS 600x Pro now for $1,599 (originally $1,990).

F10 Fresnel & F10 Barn Doors

The F10 Fresnel and F10 Barn Doors pair excellently with the LS 600x Pro to both magnify and shape its hard light output. When combined, you can achieve an ultra-high-output versatile fixture for when you need tons of light.

The Aputure F10 Fresnel is the first Bowens Mount Fresnel on the market made to match the size of traditional 10-inch Fresnel lights like a tungsten 5K. With its dual-lens optical design and variable 15°-45° beam angle, the F10 Fresnel is the key to optimizing the LS 600x Pro’s intensity.

Add on the large 8-leaf F10 Barn Doors to shape the light from the F10 Fresnel’s large aperture, and create even sharper shadows in your scene.

LS 600x Pro with F10 Fresnel: up to 18,510+ lux @ 3m @ 5600K
15°-45° Spot-Flood Variable Beam Angle
10" (250mm) Glass Fresnel Lens
Dual Lens Optical System for Maximum Light Output
Ergonomic Helicoid Focusing Mechanism
8-Leaf Adjustable Barn Doors: Large leaves with additional helper flags aid in precisely shaping light.
Compatible with the Aputure Bowens Mount LED lights, such as the LS 600x Pro, LS 600d Pro, LS 600d, LS 600c Pro, LS 1200d Pro

Shop the F10 Fresnel now for $193 (originally $219).

Shop the F10 Barndoors now for $122 (originally $139).

Light Dome 150

The Light Dome 150 launched alongside the LS 600x Pro because its massive aperture turns the bi-color behemoth into a tunable LED that blankets any scene in soft lighting.

As a 150cm (59in) Bowens Mount Quick-Setup Circular Softbox, the Light Dome 150 transforms hard point-source lights into a soft source with perfectly circular reflections in only a minute. For even greater control, it also includes two diffusion strengths and a 45° grid to fine-tune the quality of the soft light.

150cm (4.9ft) Bowens Mount Circular Softbox
Quick-Setup Build for Efficient Workflows
2 Types of Front Diffusion (1.5 Stop & 2.5 Stop)
45° Fabric Light Control Grid

Shop the Light Dome 150 for $237 (originally $269).

Nova P300c & Nova P300c Softbox

With the LS 600x Pro providing the foundation for the lighting kit, the Nova P300c is another great addition as a high-output colored light panel.

The Nova P300c’s 300W RGBWW LED engine strikes a balance between intense output, and precision color quality, capable of producing 9,000+lux at 1 meter (5600K) with an ultra-wide CCT range of 2,000K-10,000K. The P300c comes loaded with all the color modes you need to bring life to your film or music video, such as RGB, HSI, xy, and Gels, all of which can be controlled via the Sidus Link App or DMX, to synchronize your workflow.

Soften your light even further with the Nova P300c Softbox which includes a Fabric Light Control Grid to refine the beam angle and slides directly into the Nova P300c’s accessory slot for a seamless, secure attachment.

RGBWW Full Color Control: HSI, RGB, xy, & 300+ Gel Presets
9,000+ lux @ 1m @ 5600K
2,000K~10,000K Variable CCT with G/M Shift
CRI ≥95, TLCI ≥95, SSI (D56): 74, SSI (Tungsten): 85
15 Built-in Lighting FX: Cop Car, Lightning, Paparazzi, Candle, Fire, etc.
Sidus Link App & 5-Pin DMX512 In & Out Control
Includes Hard Shell Rolling Case (Kit version only)
70x50cm Rectangular Softbox for LED Panels (approx. 27.5x20in.)
Includes ¼ Grid Diffusion Sheet & Light Control Grid

Shop the Nova P300c now for $1,499 (originally $1,699).

Shop the Nova P300c Kit (with case) now for $1,699 (originally $1,899).

Shop the Nova P300c Softbox now for $131 (originally $149).

MC 12-Light Production Kit

While the Nova P300c provides the large splashes of color the MC shines as an ultra-versatile mini LED with similar color capabilities, and with a 12-Light kit designed with lighting technicians and filmmakers in mind.

In its tiny, portable form factor, the MC features HSI color control and a CCT range of 3200K-6500K, providing a pop of color or fill light wherever you need it. Its magnets and internal battery allow it to be hidden in a variety of locations, and you can control it from anywhere with the Sidus Link Bluetooth mesh app. The 12-Light Kit expands your possibilities with enough lights to take on larger scenes, and wireless charging pads that seamlessly charge your MCs with a single AC or D-Tap cable.

3200K-6500K Variable CCT & HSI Control
9 Built-in Lighting FX: Fire, Pulsing, TV, etc.
Up to 120 Minutes @ Max Brightness (2,600mAh Battery)
Built-in Neodymium Magnets
Sidus Link Bluetooth App Control
Charging Case Features 12 Wireless Charging Pads & 3 USB 5V/2A Ports

Shop the MC 12-Light Production Kit now for $1,275 (originally $1,499).

Shop the MC now for $79 (originally $90).

Deity S-Mic 2S

The S-Mic 2S is a professional short shotgun XLR microphone that will work in any filmmaker or sound pro’s kit. Designed specifically for indoor use and sit-down interviews, users will easily hear the difference directional audio and high quality materials can make.

Less than 6in Length
Lightweight and Mobile
Weather Resistant Design
Supercardioid Pickup Pattern

Shop the Deity S-Mic 2S for $255 (originally $319).

Deity TC-1

Bring professionalism to your next set with the TC-1 Timecode Generator. This universal clock system and integrated app make synchronizing audio and video as quick and easy as possible. Attach a box to each camera and audio device and your editor will love you forever.

Locking 3.5mm Timecode Port
Bluetooth 5.0: Max Range 250FT
2.4G Radio; Max Range 30FT
Only 1 Frame Drift Every 72 Hours
USB-C Charging; 2 Hours to Fully Charge, Up to 28 Hours Battery Life

Shop the TC-1 Timecode Box now for $159 (originally $199).

Shop the TC-1 Timecode Box 3pc–Kit for $439 (originally $549).

Honorable Mentions for Expanding Your Options

amaran F22x or F22c

The amaran F22x and F22c are 2'x2' bi-color and full-color LED mats, respectively, and are amazing lightweight additions to a filmmaking kit that pack a punch with 200W of output and come with everything you need to create an ultra-thin soft light with Sidus Link app control.

200W Output 2’x2’ Bi-color (F22x) or RGBWW (F22c) Flexible LED Mat
F22x: 6,960+ lux @ 1 meter (5600K) | F22c: 6,420+ lux @ 1 meter (5600K)
Tunable CCT from 2,500K to 7,500K
HSI, 46 Gels, & Green-Magenta Color Control (F22c only)
Sidus Link Bluetooth App Control
Multiple DC Power Solutions: 14.4V/26/28.8V/48V (3-Pin XLR)
Includes Softbox, 2 Diffusions, Grid, & Mounting Bracket

Shop the amaran F22x now for $615 (originally $699).

Shop the amaran F22c for $790 (originally $899).

Accent B7c 8-Light Kit

The MC 12-Light Kit is a super versatile tool because it can be placed almost anywhere. But for long-term use and to mimic true practicals — that’s where the Accent B7c shines.

The Accent B7c is an RGBWW color-mixing LED light bulb that features the same LED technology as the Nova P300c, boasting a 2,000K-10,000K color temperature range, and professional level color reproduction. The B7c is equivalent to a 50W household tungsten light bulb, with the added functionality of reproducing any color you can imagine with excellent skin tone reproduction. On top of that, the Accent B7c is the first color-mixing smart bulb to feature a built-in battery, making it truly stand out from the crowd. And with Sidus Link Bluetooth App compatibility, users can easily control multiple B7c bulbs from a smartphone or iPad, unlocking the B7c’s fine-tunable color and programmable FX capabilities.

The B7c is also available in an 8-Light Charging Kit which simultaneously stores and protects up to eight bulbs so you will have more than enough lights to fill up your scene. Featuring spring-loaded socket covers and a push-pull design, the B7c 8-Light Charging Kit is designed for maximum efficiency.

Hard Shell Charging Case can charge up to 8 Accent B7c Bulbs at once
7W RGBWW LED Smart Bulb
Standard E26/E27 Light Bulb Socket
Built-in Lithium-polymer Battery (70+ min. @ Max Output)
2,000K to 10,000K Variable CCT & HSI Color Control
Sidus Link Bluetooth App & On-board INT & CCT Controls

Shop the Accent B7c 8-Light Kit now for $679 (originally $799).

Shop the Accent B7c for $49 (originally $70).

LS 600d / LS 600d Pro

If you need more output than the LS 600x Pro, and don’t need its bi-color flexibility, the LS 600d or 600d Pro are brilliantly bright fixtures. The LS 600d lights paired with an F10 Fresnel can even compete with some 1.2K HMIs.

If weather resistance, LumenRadio CRMX, Art-net, and battery charging functionality are important to you, the LS 600d Pro is the ideal professional powerhouse to add to a filmmaker’s toolkit. If all you need is the intense output, and are willing to forego some of the exciting “Pro” capabilities, then the LS 600d has all the features you need, like Sidus Link and DMX control.

Universal Bowens Mount for Simple Light Shaping
29,300+ lux @ 3m with the F10 Fresnel
Comparable to a 1200W HMI or Joker 800
Weather-resistant Construction Protects it in Tough Environments (Pro version only)
Multi-Voltage Battery Plates can Charge 14.4V / 26V Cinema Batteries (Charging only available in Pro version)
Dual Junior/Baby Pin (28mm/16mm) for Easy Mounting
8 Built-in Lighting FX: Paparazzi, Fireworks, Lightning, Faulty Bulb, TV, Pulsing, Strobe, & Explosion

Shop the LS 600d now for $1,240 (originally $1,390).

Shop the LS 600d Pro for $1,499 (originally $1,890).

— —

If you want to explore more deals, check out all the Holiday Sale promotions on the Aputure Online Store.

All discounted pricing in this list reflects the pricing from the Holiday Sale. Prices outside of the Holiday Sale and participating regions may vary.

— Happy Holidays from the Aputure Team!