Next on today’s list of announcements from Aputure are the Aputure Electro Storm XT26 and the Aputure Spotlight Max. First up, the Aputure Electro Storm XT26. This is an absolute beast of a light with 2600W of bi-colour output. Aputure says it approaches the output of 4,000W of HMI or a massive 12,000W of tungsten Fresnel lighting, making it one of the most powerful point-source LED lights on the market.
Second is a new Aputure Bowens mount modifier, the Aputure Spotlight Max. It’s designed for use with the Aputure LS600D Pro (buy here), LS 1200D Pro (buy here), the 1600c Pro also announced today, and the new Apture Electro Storm XT26. It provides users with projection control with 19º, 36º, and 50º lens options.
Aputure Electro Storm XT26 bi-colour LED light
Like the Aputure Electro Storm CS15, also announced today, the Aputure Electro Storm XT26 sports a dual accessory mounting system. This means it’s compatible with both Bowens and Aputure A-Mount modifiers. This provides a lot of versatility given the very wide range of Bowens mount modifiers on the market today. The A-Mount features electronic communication between the light and modifier, allowing colour adjustments as well as motor control on applicable modifiers – like the Aputure F14 Fresnel lens also announced today.
The optional motorised yoke mentioned in the Aputure Electro Storm CS15 announcement is also compatible with the Aputure Electro Storm XT26. This allows for remotely controlled pan and tilt positioning over the light to let you re-angle it in hard-to-reach places. Ideal if you’re filming in a studio or stage with fixed lighting positions.
Its bi-colour chipset offers a white balance range of 2,700K up to 6,500K with an SSI (D56) score of 74 and an SSI (Tungsten) score of 81. It’s latest-gen chipset also provides green-magenta correction with +/- .050dUV shift between 3,000K to 6,000K. So, it should be relatively easy to match up to other light sources residing between tungsten and daylight.
You get all of the remote control options you’d expect in both wired and wireless forms. On the wired side, we’ve got 16-bit 5-pin DMX in and out, letting you plug it straight into your existing wired DMX control decks. For wireless, it has LumenRadio TimoTwo CRMX, Art-net & sACN via etherCON, as well as Bluetooth using the Sidus Link app on your smartphone.
Liquid cooling has also been implemented into the Aputure Electro Storm XT26. This allows it to keep the light’s massive 2600W LED module cool to prevent overheating while putting out as much light as possible. In theory, this should mean it’s extremely quiet, too. Quieter than the typical fan cooling you’d need to keep something like this running at a reasonable temperature.
The Aputure Electro Storm XT26 is IP65 rated. This means you can use it outdoors in not-so-great weather. The “6” part of the IP65 rating applies to dust, from which it provides total control with no dust-ingress ability. The “5” side of the rating means it can handle direct jets of water up to 12.5 litres per minute for at least three minutes.
This is an absolute monster of a light. But then, it’s designed for professional filmmakers, lighting technicians and studios looking to update their old hot HDMI and tungsten lights with the latest LED technology. It’s not the sort of thing you’re going to see in a typical small YouTuber setup.
Aputure Electro Storm XT26 Specs
| LED Tech | Bi-color RGB |
| Colour temp | 2,700K to 6,500K (w/green-magenta shift) |
| CRI | 98 |
| TLCI | 98 |
| SSI (D56) | 74 |
| Max power consumption | Unspecified |
| Operating current | Unspecified |
| Operating voltage | 100-240v 50/60Hz |
| Battery power | Dual 48v DC Inputs |
| Control | On-board, 2.4Ghz, Sidus Link, Art-net, sACN, 16-bit 5-pin DMX512, LumenRadio CRMX |
| Bluetooth Wireless range | Unspecified |
| LumenRadio Wireless Range | Unspecified |
| Weatherproofing | IP65 Dust & water resistant |
| Modifier mount | Dual Accessory Mount (A-Mount & Bowens Mount) |
| Dimensions (lamp head w/o yoke) | 45.7 x 35.2 x 28.1cm |
| Weight (lamp head w/0 yoke) | 18kg |
| Dimensions (control box) | 27.3 x 26.2 x 55.0cm |
| Weight (control box) | 20.5kg |
Price and availability
The Aputure Electro Storm XT26 is scheduled to be released in Q4 2023. A price has not yet been announced but will come at a future date.
Aputure Spotlight Max
The Aputure Spotlight Max is a new Bowens mount projector modifier. It’s designed specifically for the Aputure Light Storm 600D Pro and 1200D Pro models, as well as the Electro Storm XT26 above and the Electro Storm CS15, also announced today. But, it should hypothetically be compatible with just about any Bowens mount LED light. With high-output fixtures like those listed, though, Aputure says it provides 60% more output than the previous Aputure Spotlight.
It’s available in three different lens options of 19º, 36º, and 50º. The 19º lens lets you focus all the power to a smaller area while the 50º lens lets you light up a wider scene, providing a lot of options and control. A new design includes a new precision optical design that means you get edge-to-edge light distribution, with minimal fringing, brighter than ever before.
It has an internal 4-leaf shutter system, letting you shape the beam for even more control. An optional dual-layer Spotlight Max Iris takes that control even further, letting you change the shape and size of the projected circle without having to swap out projection lenses. It also includes a rotatable gobo holder and comes with a range of A-size and B-size steel and glass gobos for you to use.
The Spotlight Max is compatible with ETC projection lenses using an optional Spotlight Max ETC Adapter. This allows the user to pair the Spotlight Max up with lenses of all sizes and beam angles. The yoke on the Spotlight Max is also removable to provide maximum mounting options.
Price and Availability
The Aputure Spotlight Max is scheduled to be released in Q4 2023. A price has not yet been announced but will come at a future date.
FIND THIS INTERESTING? SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS!