Aputure has officially announced its STORM CS32, which was first shown back at NAB in April. Aputure claims that it is the brightest fully tunable color fixture in its point source line of LED lights.
The STORM CS32 features Aputure’s BLAIR-CG light engine, and it has an output that is claimed to rival a 4K HMI. It is also said to produce excellent saturated colors across the visible light spectrum, and exceptional tunable white light, all while maintaining a small size and weight for single-person operation.
Key features
- For Studio & Film/TV Production
- Output: 106,000 Lux at 9.8′ w/ Reflector
- 1800-20,000K CCT; BLAIR-CG Light Engine
- Plus/Minus Green Adj.
- Indigo & Extended Red Emitters
- SSI (P3200) 93 | SSI (CIE D5600) 91
- Compact Design & Various Fan Modes
- IP65 Weather Resistance & Aputure Mount
- Adapts to the Available Power
- Includes Reflector, Control Box & More
The light draws a maximum power consumption of 3200W, and it has a 2600W maximum power output. It provides a 78° native beam angle and 30° with the included reflector. It also works with the optional 20°, 25°, 35°, and 50° XT52 reflectors.
Users can daisy-chain the maximum head cable length up to 148′.
The STORM CS32 Tunable Color LED has a claimed output of 106,000 lux at 9.8′ / 3.3m (with a medium reflector and 5600K) or a bare 15,000 lux at the same distance and color temperature. It features Aputure’s BLAIR-CG light engine, which enables highly saturated colors across the visible spectrum and exceptional tunable white light. The IP65 weather-resistant STORM CS32 is key for large-scale productions, filmmakers, and rental houses, while maintaining a compact 15.1 x 14.6 x 14.1″ form factor for operation by a single person. The control box also remains compact at 14.8 x 13.6 x 6.3″. Offering reliable and adaptable performance, the STORM CS32 is a bright, tunable color light that can be powered from a household circuit.
“Our goal was the impossible light. Can we make a fixture with no compromises in light output and light quality yet still remain lightweight? With each new product our engineers push to cram in as much performance as possible while continuing to reduce size and slash weight. We made the light work under any available power. You can plug it into a household 120v socket and the STORM CS32 will automatically switch itself to the maximum that circuit can deliver. Switch cables for a higher powered circuit to deliver another 25% of light output that’s equivalent in brightness to a 4K HMI. The STORM CS32 features the latest iteration of our BLAIR-CG light engine, with Indigo and Extended Red emitters to cover a huge range of rich colors and more natural white light with proper skin tones. All that performance yet a person can carry the lamp head in one hand and the control box and cables in the other. High Output, Full Spectrum, Small Size. A triple treat.”
Mitch Gross, Director of Marketing for Aputure
Small Size & Low Weight
The CS32 can be carried with the lamp head in one hand and the control box + cables in the other.
- CS32 Lamp Head: 17kg / 37.48 lbs (size = 36 x 39.7 x 33.1cm)
- CS32 Control Box: 10.8kg / 23.81 lbs (size = 34.5 x 16 x 37.6cm)
Other Features
Users can set the CCT from 1800 to 20,000K. The STORM CS32 also offers green adjustment and HSIC+ and x/y coordinate color tuning for coverage of over 90% of the colors within the Rec. 2020 color space. It has claimed ratings of SSI (P3200) 93, SSI (CIE D5600) 91, CRI 97, TLCI 98, TM-30 Rf 96, and TM-30 Rg 100. It provides green adjustment by +/-G at 100% to conform to the full ASC MITC standard.
The light offers 0.1-100% stepless dimming with four dimming curves: linear, exponential, logarithmic, and S-shaped, along with multiple built-in lighting effects. The fixture’s compact cube-like head allows multiple lights to be rigged together to create powerful arrays in limited spaces, while a dust- and weather-resistant IP65 rating makes it suitable for high-end set work under any circumstance.
It features advanced control methods, including onboard, Sidus Link, Sidus Link Pro, DMX, CRMX, Art-Net/sACN, with 16-bit 5-pin DMX512 in/out ports and two locking Ethernet ports. Sidus NFC enables rapid patching and configuration even when unplugged. Both wireless Bluetooth and CRMX wireless range are up to 328′. In addition, the included control box’s display allows the user to select what capacity circuit the fixture is plugged into: 110V/15A (1700W) or 110V/20A (2200W).
The STORM CS32 can run on a 110V or 220V household outlet. In 220V settings, the STORM CS32 can run at full power from a common 15A household circuit. For 110V territories, Aputure includes a bare lead cable for wiring to professional power systems, as well as an additional power cable with a household Edison connector. The included control box recognizes the cable and automatically reduces the maximum power draw of the light to protect the circuit from overload.
Various fan modes include max, high, medium, low, and silent. The STORM CS32 is claimed to provide flicker-free output for high-speed work (at any camera frame rate with the light set at 5% brightness output or higher).
In terms of optional accessories, the STORM CS32 works with the separately available CF16 Fresnel and skid, and it is also compatible with the optional Parallel Beam 70, STORM XT52 reflectors, and select softboxes.
Pricing & Availability
The Aputure STORM CS32 Tunable Color LED Monolight is now available to pre-order for $6,990 USD.
You can also get a version in a flight case that costs $7,590 USD.
