Something Big Is Here And Some Thoughts About It

Aputure Storm XT52 with the narrow reflector

Some big arrived at my home this week.  I've been looking forward to seeing it all summer.  It's the new Aputure Storm XT52.  I believe this is currently the brightest COB style LED light available but that is just one of its great attributes.  With the Aputure BLAIR LED engine, I now have a "big gun" type light with exceptionally good color quality and the ability to match almost any light source.  It is a gaffer's dream come true.  I expect this will become a workhorse type light light like the 4K par HMI was for many years.  I'm already thinking that I may need another in my inventory at E+G, lighting, electric, & grip:  https://www.electric-plus-grip.com/

 

PS:  With the arrival of the Aputure XT52, I sold my Arri 4K par.  I was a little sad to see it go.  It was a bright, dependable workhorse.  The only HMI is still have is 12K fresnel.  I think its days are number, too!

 

PPS:  Some thoughts about the XT52 after a few jobs:

The light is every bit as impressive as the hype with the output and color quality.

A great feature is the relatively small size of the control box.  (I know many electricians call them "ballast" like it was an HMI but it is not a ballast.)

The wide and medium reflectors are somewhat uneven.  It's not terrible.  Probably not worse than any other COB style light.  It does make me want a fresnel lens.  I had heard (somewhere) that one was in the works for the XT52.

The power cord is too short.  I think it is only around 2 feet long.  For a light so well engineered, this is an odd short-coming.

 

 

PPPS:  How do you transport a light like this?  I'm old school and like heads that can live on shelves, head carts, a rubber maid cart, etc.  I think a shipping case is the wrong way to go because of the large footprint; especially for me working out of a Ford Transit.

I went with a homemade dolly like it was an old school, big-gun, HMI:

The dolly wheels are pneumatic to protect the head from sharp impacts when moving it.

 

Everything fits on here: head, control box, head cable, power cord, and control box clamp.  If it was on a truck, I would have an endless ratchet strap on it.  After a few jobs with the XT52, this systems seems to be working well.

That just leave the comically big reflector case:

I usually, just put it randomly on top of something in the truck.

Here is an example of my loaded truck but this is not a typical pack:

This is my truck loaded for a multi-day, KY Lottery shoot.  The XT52 is in here along with a Honda 7000, distro, a super crankovator, and the comically big reflector case, along with a bunch of other lights.  It all fits!  The big workhorses on this shoot were Aputure 1200Xs with fresnels.  They are in there somewhere.