Aputure LS1s LED Light Panel Review

Aputure, a designer of quality and affordable video and photography gear announced their new line of Light Storm LED panels at the NAB show back in April. I was so overwhelmed and occupied at other booths while at NAB I never made it over to the Aputure booth, but they were kind enough to send me an evaluation unit of the new Light Store LS1 daylight LED panel.

I have been looking for a good set of LED lights for a long time. Here are the criteria I wanted in an LED lighting instrument:

Enough power to shoot through diffusion like a scrim or soft box to make a large, soft light source to use as a key light. 650 watt tungsten equivalent at least, 1k preferable

Good color rendering, especially for skin tones. Ability to mix with sunlight. This was a major issue with most of the sub-$1000 units available until recently

Preferably a fresnel style light but would consider a panel if the panel at least has barn doors.

Battery power option using Anton Bauer gold mount or Sony V Mount (though it did NOT need to come with batteries)

$1000 USD or less per unit

Quiet! Preferably no fan but if there was a fan, it needs to be very, very quiet

Dimmable, of course

Quality build

It looks like the Aputure Light Storm LS1s meets all of these criteria!

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Gear covered in this episode:

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Aputure Light Storm LS1 Daylight LED Light Panel

Amazon: https://geni.us/tYLV4
B&H Photo: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1172654-REG/aputure_ls1sab_light_storm_ls_1s.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/APLS1SAB/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xAPLS1SAB

Same with mount for Sony V Batteries:

B&H Photo: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1172653-REG/aputure_ls1sv_light_storm_ls_1s.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/LS1SV/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xLS1SV

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Aputure Light Storm LS 1/2 - Smaller version with 1/2 the LEDs. Good as a kicker or backdrop flood light

Amazon: https://geni.us/g62cR5T
B&H Photo: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1172658-REG/aputure_ls1_2ab_light_storm_ls_1_2w.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/APLS12AB/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xAPLS12AB

Same with mount for Sony V Batteries:

B&H Photo: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1172657-REG/aputure_ls1_2v_light_storm_ls_1_2w.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/APLS12V/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xAPLS12V

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Shoot Through Scrim is part of the Westcott 5-in-1 Reflector:

Amazon: https://geni.us/9m9m
B&H Photo: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/501357-REG/Westcott_301_5_in_1_Reflector_Disc.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/WER5140.5/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xWER5140.5

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Tascam DR-60DmkII Audio Field Recorder

Amazon: https://geni.us/ALrzOEd
B&H Photo: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1084690-REG/tascam_dr_60mkii_portable_recorder_for_dslr.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/TADR60DMKII/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xTADR60DMKII

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Audio Technica AT4053b Hypercardioid Microphone (Boomed from above)

Amazon: https://geni.us/QW62wdF
B&H Photo: http://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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Music copyright Curtis Judd 2012

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