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Aputure Spotlight Mount
Lighting · Equipment

Aputure Spotlight Mount

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Aputure accessory with 6-inch reflector and focusable lens that converts 120d/300d/600d LEDs into spotlights with gobo projection and continuous focus control.

Technical Details

The system consists of a 6-inch reflector, a focusable lens, and a gobo slot for 86mm B-size gobos. The internal optics utilize a two-stage condenser lens, ensuring uniform illumination without hotspots. Three versions are available: for 120d (28,000 Lux/1m), 300d (75,000 Lux/1m), and 600d (150,000 Lux/1m). The focus range can be continuously adjusted between spot and flood positions, with the sharpness of the gobo projection being adapted accordingly.

History & Development

Aputure introduced the Spotlight Mount in 2018 in response to the growing demand for LED-based spot solutions. The Chinese company recognized that traditional tungsten spots needed to be replaced by LED alternatives without compromising light quality. Compatibility with the 600d followed in 2020, and the revised version 2.0, with improved thermodynamics and a faster focus mechanism, was released in 2021.

Practical Use in Film

The Spotlight Mount is suitable for hard key lights, gobo projections, and background separation. In "The Mandalorian" (2019), the DoPs used the 300d with Spotlight Mount for precise facial modeling in front of LED volumes. A typical workflow involves: mounting the unit on a C-stand, inserting a gobo, adjusting the focus for desired sharpness, and controlling the dimmer via the Sidus Link app. Advantages include no heat generation like with tungsten spots and precise dimming without color temperature shifts. Disadvantages include limited light output compared to HMIs of the same size.

Comparison & Alternatives

It directly competes with the Prolycht Orion 300 FS and the Godox SA-17. Unlike pure Fresnel spots, the Aputure mount offers gobo functionality. Classic Dedolight systems achieve sharper shadows but are less powerful. A modern alternative is the Aputure Nova P300c, a panel-based solution with similar light output but without spot characteristics. For budget productions, it replaces 650W tungsten spots, while for high-end productions, it complements HMI systems for special effects.

From the crafts

Perspectives

Cinematographer

Ich schätze die präzise Schattenführung und die Möglichkeit, Gobos ohne Farbverschiebung zu dimmen – das war mit Tungsten immer problematisch. Die gleichmäßige Ausleuchtung macht Hautmodellierung vorhersagbar, und die App-Steuerung spart mir Laufwege während der Einrichtung. Für intimate Close-ups bei 5600K Tageslicht ist die Farbkonsistenz unschlagbar.

Director

Das Gobo-System eröffnet mir spontane Möglichkeiten für Fensterschatten oder Jalousie-Effekte, ohne komplexe Rigging-Vorbereitungen. Die stufenlose Fokussierung zwischen scharfen und weichen Schatten hilft mir, die Stimmung einer Szene subtil anzupassen – von noir-harten Kontrasten bis zu romantisch-weichen Übergängen. Die sofortige Verfügbarkeit ohne Aufwärmzeit beschleunigt meine kreativen Entscheidungen am Set.

Producer

Der Mount kostet 650€ und amortisiert sich schnell durch gesparte Stromkosten und wegfallende Gel-Ersatzbeschaffung bei Tungsten-Hitze. Ein 300d-Kit mit Spotlight ersetzt drei verschiedene Tungsten-Spots im Verleih, reduziert Transportvolumen und eliminiert Brandschutz-Auflagen. Die LED-Haltbarkeit von 50.000 Stunden versus 200 Stunden bei Tungsten-Lampen senkt Betriebskosten erheblich.

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