Versatile Video Light: Aputure Light Storm COB 120d LED Light Review

In this episode, we take a look at the Aputure Light Storm COB 120d, an incredibly versatile daylight balanced LED light for video and film. Aputure has a history of finding a very nice balance between affordable pricing and quality products. The COB 120d is a perfect example of that. This is a single LED light with a Bowens S mount. This means that with some additional accessories attached to the mount, the light can be a soft light (with a softbox, scrim, or bounce board), a hard light (with a fresnel and/or barn doors attachment), or a flood light with the included reflector. Color quality is a high priority for me because I don’t have time to invest in a lot of post color correction. Fortunately, the COB 120d delivers on that front as well in our color chart tests compared to tungsten lighting (the best color rendering light source second only to the sun).

If you’d like to learn how to record and post process your sound, be sure to have a look at my sound for video courses at http://school.learnlightandsound.com  My Dialogue Sound Post Processing with Adobe Audition course just launched at the end of August 2016.

Visit us at http://learnlightandsound.com for more updates on how to improve your lighting and sound for video. Also be sure to subscribe to get new episodes every week!

Links:

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Aputure Light Storm COB 120d:

Amazon: https://geni.us/v0nq

B&H Photo: https://bhpho.to/2icq36p

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Aputure Light Storm COB 120d with soft padded case (will be released in early 2017):

Amazon: https://geni.us/Ip6B15

B&H Photo: Coming Soon

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Aputure Light Dome Soft Box for COB 120d Light (soft light for the talking head shot)

Amazon: https://geni.us/vpzcMiT

B&H: https://bhpho.to/2z9bRSw

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Aputure Umbrella (for softening the light on the cheap - good key light for interviews):

B&H Photo: https://bhpho.to/2icHfsu

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Barn Doors (Photo Basics)

Amazon: https://geni.us/9BskCI

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Aputure Light Storm LS1s LED Panel Light (used as a hair light in this episode)

Amazon: https://geni.us/BjS0De

B&H Photo: https://bhpho.to/2yXkXmx

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Other gear used to produce this episode:

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Zoom F4 Audio Field Recorder :

B&H: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1260110-REG/zoom_zf4_f4_multitack_field_recorder.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/ZOF4/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xZOF4

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Tentacle Sync Timecode Generator

Trew Audio: http://www.trewaudio.com/product/tentacle-ts1/

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Audio Technica AT4053b Microphone:

Amazon: https://geni.us/a118caB

B&H: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/642499-REG/Audio_Technica_AT4053B_AT4053b_Hypercardioid_Condenser_Microphone.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/AUAT4053B/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xAUAT4053B

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Panasonic GH4 m4/3 Camera (for talking head shot)

Amazon: https://geni.us/dkURI

B&H: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1028453-REG/panasonic_dmc_gh4kbody_lumix_dmc_gh4_mirrorless_micro.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/PADMCGH4B/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xPADMCGH4B

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Olympus 45mm f/1.8 Lens

Amazon: https://geni.us/REmN

B&H: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/971404-REG/olympus_v311030bu000_m_45mm_f1_8_lens.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/OL4518B/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xOL4518B

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Copyright 2016 by Curtis Judd

Ethics statement: Some of the links above are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links.