Amaran 300C and Amaran Spotlight SE Product Review | Best Lighting Combination Ever!
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- Опубликовано: 24 авг 2024
- I have honestly never been so excited about a light and a lighting modifier before. Using lights to up your production value in videos is a widely known fact. However, what I noticed is that there aren't many videos talking about how a spotlight can change the way you light your sets.
Ever since adding one to my kit, I feel like I was able to take my work to the next level. The differences are subtle, but very impactful. The ability to shape light so precisely is such an amazing thing. More people need to add a spotlight modifier to their kit and the Amaran Spotlight SE is the perfect one for new users as it is so affordable.
Pairing it with the Amaran 300c, another affordable and powerful light, the possibilities are endless.
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Okay as a gaffer/grip, I feel like I really need to say this shouldn’t be used on an aluminum light stand and definitely not without at least one sandbag! Get yourself at least a steel baby stand for it, especially if putting a decent sized softbox, the fresnel, or spotlight mount. It also should be safety wired ideally. There is no excuse for lack of safety on paid sets. You are liable for any injury and it can destroy your business and life not to mention the person you injure.
I get that safety on set is important but one also has to be realistic. Some shoots just don't have the capacity to do everything. That said, I do take precaution to ensure that there are no dangers on set. Have you physically tried this set up yet? It is lighter than a 300D, and I have seen others use that in combination with a softbox, which is even riskier than this set up. I use sandbags to secure it down but I opt for a lightstand because of how much easier it is to move around.
@@BernardLau1991 I own a 300C with the fresnel and barndoors kit for it as one of my lights. While I would say it’s fine on a barely raised good quality light stand (Manfrotto, etc), I judge the safety if I can fly it at a stands max height in a light/moderate breeze and this is pushing the limit at this fixture weight for a 12’ light stand. I would feel the same with a 120D with a decent sized softbox though. I’m definitely approaching this from a professional set perspective though where while weight sucks, a baby riser is one of the lighter stands we will have on set with aluminum light stands rarely considered except for the smallest of lights. I’d suggest going at least the baby combi boom stands as they are beefier than a standard stand light stand with a wider base. You however still shouldn’t fly this light on their smallest pole which if you remember for on set usually is always the first you raise when gripping.
I’m just saying be careful, it can be too easy to fly too big of lights for a given stand when starting out or not having the larger set experience and it can result in destroyed equipment or worse injury long term if not careful.
Thank you for the review! It could be useful even a deep dive in spotlight attachment! It seems to be so versatile and useful!!! Thank you so much!
yes I plan to create a video on how to use this spotlight for your video projects. Using it in a couple of projects now to get real world user experience and will create something soon. Stay tuned!
Thanks Bernard, this looks to be a good size projector (ie portable)and useful when combined with an Amaran 300c. I don't have either but think I will add to my 'consider seriously' kit list.
I'm an amateur hobbyist, new to videography, but broadly understand lighting, design and composition as I have been shooting stills for 40 years. I recently bought an Amaran 200X-s as my first COB light, with an Amaran battery power station for outdoor use. I liked, so just bought another 2 of 200X-s lights. I agree the Sidus ap is what makes them usable when up high. I already owned several soft boxes and other mods (snoots, barn doors, gel holders in Bowen fit from my flash kit). The RGB capability, modest heft (relative to pro lights) make a 300c probably my next light. So yes, I'd like to see how you use your 300c and projection kit so I subscribed.
Thank you! I have been busy with projects but I will try to get to it ASAP. Spoiler alert, I love it!
I hope you make a follow up review. I would like you to actually SHOW me if you can get clean sharp cuts and if it is bright enough to use in normal room lighted scene or is it only useful in dark or dimly lit scenes.
That's a point I will note. Thanks for that. I do have a plan to make a video tutorial on how to use this spotlight and that is something I will cover in that video. But to give a short answer to your question, I have used this light in a room that has it's windows open and I still could see the light. In fact, the slash of light you see in front of the amaran p60c and 60x in this video, I shot in my balcony with the windows open. Granted it was shaded by trees, but I didn't to anything to "control the light" So it definitely works beyond a dark room. To get a more "scientific" answer, you can look at the output of the 300c and determine if that amount light is visible in the kind of conditions you want to film in. 300w is decently powerful but it still cant fight strong sunlight. Hope this answer helps one way or another.
Great review! And yes I would appreciate a further additional video on how to use these in combination. Thanks for sharing! Ed W. Nova Scotia, Canada
Thanks ed, yes I do plan to create a how to video once I have used this on a couple of my projects. Stay tuned for that one ;)
yes please i would like to see another video about how to use in depthe the 300c and the spotlight.. also could be cool to see how the 150c stands up to the 300c
I am in the midst of planning one!
I was waiting for this! I was looking into getting one, this helped heaps!
This spotlight modifier has been so fun to work with. I really love it haha
great reviews, keep posting more.
It's been tough with life but I will try!
My Guy rocking the 90's background slash!!
👋👋👋
I didn't know that the slash was a 90's thing hahaha. I saw it in Curtis Judd's video and I loved it hahaha
@@BernardLau1991 Absolutely.
If you throw a little Opal or some Hampshire Frost on it, you get warm and fuzzy 90's! 🙂
Oldie but a goodie still works.
Did you get the iris for the spotlight SE and does it prevent the spill around the edges of the spot light that you show in this video?
I found a solution around it. It's hard to put into words but basically, the spills only occur when you try to angle the flags. if you push it straight in, there won't be a spill. And yes, that means your thin slash of light can only be a vertical line. However, I have a work around. I put the light on a knuckle and rotate the entire light according to how I want the line to be. Hope this helps
@@BernardLau1991 I bought the spotlight se kit and the iris. I find I can make either a horizontal or vertical line of light with the cutters and iris. But I will need to use your suggestion for other angles for a line of light. So do you mount a knuckle on a light stand and then do you put a pin in the circular part of the knucle on which you mount the yoke of the light so you can rotate it?
so if you are getting this light for the RGB modes, then your best bet would be to get the 150c because the output on the colors are the same across the board
I do like the extra power of the 300c overall
Hello, You've put it on the Amaran 60X but not shown how it performs, I plan on getting it for this light so I was curious how it performs ? The last aputure projector had really big issues outside of Lightstorm lights so I would like to see it tested, thank you
It performed very similarly to the 300c, except the lower light output and lack of RGB. The other thing to note is that I find that it feels more sturdy on the 300c. With how the 60x is attached to the lightstand, and how much smaller the light is, I won't move it around attached. But other than that, it seems to function well.
The Dedolight DP2 Projection attachment is capable of making wafer thin cuts withe the shutters and it rotates. The Godox SA-P projection attachment has exactly the same capabilities. However neither of them have Bowens mounts but have mounts rather like the Aputure LS60. These two projectors work with specialist focussing lights - in the Godox case the S30, S60 and S60Bi. Getting a projector to work well with a Bicolour light is quite hard and, until recently, was almost impossible with an RGB light. recently Dedo launched the DLED7N-C NEO RDBACL light which seems to be able to do that but it's expensive.
It looks to me like Aputure has done as good a job as they could given that are working with a RGB COB light and working to a budget.
As I own many aputure lights, it made sense to stick to their eco system as they are always creating stuff that are cross compatible. Sidus link is a great reason. So although other competitors have decent options, I gravitate towards aputure haha. And honestly, this set up is so light and cheap it is tough to beat!
@@BernardLau1991 Yes. What you have is a perfectly good configuration. I'm hoping Andrew Lock will review this combination I would expect there to be a degree of fringing but Aputure generally do a good job with projectors.
I wasn't suggesting you buy Dado or the Godox S60, they are rather specialist devices. Sidus link is a very strong reason for sticking with Aputure, especially and the Amaran lights don't generally support DMX.
I would love a follow up video
I will work on one once I find the time! :)
Can we able to mount this on nanlite
I am not too sure. I believe nanlite has their own spotlight mount. That would be better I am sure. More compatible.
awesome video man one thing i will differ in opinion is the phone app. The app Sidus link is slow, slow to detect lights and it does lag. Compared to the Practilite app the practilite destroys it for user friendly and simple. I wish it was similar to it Still i love the amaran and apeture lights
Yeah, actually, someone pointed that out to me too. I only tried the nanlite and the falcon eyes app before, and those were really bad in comparison, so I always felt that the Sidus link was decent. But it is annoying that I always have to reconnect after my phone goes into lock mode. I guess it does need to improve.
I subscribe because you look like a good dude. End of the story.
That is very kind of you. Thanks for the support!
Does the light output drops when you mount the projection lens on? The godox cuts alot of light on their unit.
Hmm. That is a good question. I do not have a light meter to test it scientifically. Might have to write in to check
What would be the best spotlight for the 300c And what would be the cheapest spotlight for the 300c?
you're looking at it now hahaha
@@BernardLau1991fair enough. Is yours the 19 or 36?
@@1panomotion847 mine is the 36. I think the 19 will be too narrow for a lot of spaces.
On the site they offer to buy a Spotlight SE Iris . It is necessary?
I think it would be really good to have if you had the money. But so far, I haven't found myself in situations where I will need it so I am putting the purchase on hold.
The 36° is ok for you? Or do you think will be better 19? For portraits what would you recommend?
36 is perfect for me. In smaller rooms I think 19 will be too narrow. If 36 is too wide, you can always use the iris modifier or move the light closer. it will be more versatile for sure. I think people who need the 19 are people who know for sure they will need it.
@@BernardLau1991 thanks!
Hi Bernard, great video! How would you compare the 300C to the 200x s. Is it worth the upgrade?
Hey thanks for your kind words. :) I haven't used the 200x myself, but when deciding between the two, the 300c has more output plus the option to do the magenta and green shift which is very important to me and RGB is a huge bonus. With it not being much more expensive, it was a no brainer choice for me.
@@BernardLau1991 That's very true. In which practical use cases would you use the magenta en green?
@@user-gg1yt8oc6h potentially when the light loses it's color accuracy over time or when I am on location and the house lights have a M/G shift to them.
I'm definitely looking to get one in the next day or so ( really when I figure out this question) but what degree is best for small spaces, the 19 or 36? I've had a hard time finding anything on that but based on what I've found I've gotten mixed answers. I don't need a super huge beam, but I also don't want a super small beam lol pls help :D
Small spaces 100% the 36degree. Because for the 19, you need a very large space to have a decent sized circle on the wall. with the 36, if it is too big, you can always cut it down with the iris accessory. Same can't be said for the 19degree. You can't enlarge it when you think it is too small. Hope this helps!
That's exactly what I was thinking and you confirmed it! Thank you so much@@BernardLau1991