Aputure Light Dome II & Light Dome Mini II Soft Boxes
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- čas přidán 23. 01. 2019
- In this episode, we have a look at the Light Dome II and Light Dome Mini II from Aputure. These are soft boxes you can use with their COB line of LED lights for video and photography. But you can also use them with any other manufacturer’s light that uses a standard Bowens mount.
If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses at school.learnlightandsound.com including processing dialogue audio, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F8 and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.
Links to gear used in this video:
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Aputure Light Dome II
Aputure, B&H, Amazon: geni.us/LirLfz
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Aputure Light Dome Mini II
Aputure Direct: bit.ly/2z5BlA8
Amazon: geni.us/0KTy
B&H: bhpho.to/2Aa6PIG
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Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K - I used this to record this episode
B&H: bhpho.to/2JB7W5V
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Panasonic 12-35mm F/2.8 OIS Lens - Used on the Pocket 4K camera
Amazon: geni.us/uMsKam
B&H: bhpho.to/2i6s2gv
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Aputure COB 120d (original) - daylight color
Amazon: geni.us/YrslSq
B&H: bhpho.to/2icq36p
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Aputure COB 120dII - key light, daylight color
Amazon: geni.us/iNVn
B&H: bhpho.to/2T7FtcR
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Aputure COB120t - background light, tungsten color
Amazon: geni.us/lHTcfa
B&H: bhpho.to/2yUWD4z
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Copyright 2019 by Curtis Judd
Music Copyright 2019 by Cary Judd. Used with permission.
Ethics statement: Some of the links above are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links.
Really enjoying the look of this episode, Curtis. I think this combination of grade and lighting is really flattering for you. I also like what you did with the concrete. Very pleasing. 👌
Thanks Gerald!
Absolutely a beautiful look, even two years later. What I find fascinating is the sound quality that comes from a concrete studio with a bare concrete wall.
I was really curious to see a comparison of the softness between the two. You did an awesome job. This is perfect!
Thanks Paul!
Excellent video Curtis. Thank you for this.
👍 Thanks Film Courage!
Thank you Curtis for the great content you produce. I have found many of your videos very helpful and I would say you have improved the quality of my content 😊. Keep up the great work!
Thanks Glen!
I just ordered a Light Dome II after watching this review. Thank you for always bringing such well rounded reviews for us without much knowledge on the subject of lighting!
Thanks Chris, I hope it works well for you!
Hands down the best video about light domes.
Thanks Fernando.
Thank you, Curtis. Very well done and informative as usual. Have a great day!
Thanks Michael.
Always so informative, thank you!
Thanks!
I am amazed by the difference with and without the grid! The light on you did not change at all but the difference in spill was huge. Thanks for another great video.
You bet, thanks Pete!
This is just what I needed to make the decision on which softbox, deffo the larger. Looks so much nicer. Thanks!
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Was just looking at purchasing these!
Glad to hear they are top notch!
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This is how a review and comparison video is done. Thank you very much for the helpful information
Thanks Arturo!
Thanks this is exactly the breakdown I was looking for!
👍 you bet!
Just picked up the Mini ii ! Thanks so much. Love your content. One of the best my man!
Thanks and happy lighting!
Great tutorial on how to install the soft box. It helped a lot - thank you so much!
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Needed this, the mini dome is the perfect fit for in my basement workshop with a low ceiling! Thanks for the comparison Curtis
You're welcome. Happy filming!
Great Job Curtis!
Thanks Film Poets!
Amazing review, you covered every possible question visually.
Thanks, Todd 💡
beautiful! thanks for this :) super high value
Thanks Icelandic Guy!
Thanks for the review Curtis! Very helpful!❤️
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Excellent job (again), and really very helpful. Thank you!
Thanks Mario!
1 is a parabolic softbox and the other is a collapsible beauty dish
That's a good way to look at it.
I'm happy the video industry is finally using photography lighting options (I've been requesting this for quite some time); aka "zepplin" and "beauty dish." I film in a lot of tight spaces, where there is no room for book lighting and flags; these bowens-mount soft boxes are what I use (also, less heat in the hot summer, when the AC is off when recording sound).
The inner diffusion circle spreads the light to cover the entire outer circle. If you remove the inner diffusion, you will see a hot spot in the center, creating an uneven, high amount of light in the center & very little light at the edges.
Thanks for this video, look forward to tmore.
Thanks! Yes, a serious light design can require a lot of space once you start adding bounce boards, silks , flags, etc.
Great audio recording. First class.
Thanks Ga Wa!
High-quality content, you just earned an extra subscriber👍
Thanks 👍
This is amazingly helpful review!
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Amazing content! Thanks Curtis!
Thanks JK4K
Thanks Curtis, Aputure is definitely on my list after trailer hitch, bike rack, 35-100mm lens and another lottery ticket.
Good job keeping a priority list!
Excellent video Curtis. I cant wait till I can get mine. -Will
Thanks Will and I hope it works well for you!
I'm researching what to buy, really useful break down thank you!
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Great review!
Thanks Kristie!
Beautiful and relevant comparison! thank you :)
Thank you Martin!
Great comparison, thanks for that 👍👌😉
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Cool. New Curtis vid. Sleep can wait.
Haha! I hope it was worth the sleep deprivation!
Great review. Very helpful!
Thanks.
Love the surprise appearance from Ted! haha
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Wow, that grid makes a big difference.
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Hi Curtis, thanx for this comparison! Now, I also got the mark 2 versions of both sizes. Finally, they arrived in Germany:-)
👍🏻 Happy shooting!
Wow great value thanks ...Happy New Year....😎
Thanks Mychal and same to you!
I just bought my first video/photography light and wanted to understand the difference between these two soft box options. Looks like the mini II is the perfect starter kit for me. I can alway get a larger one later, if I get a second light, and have the perfect pairing. Thanks for the help!
Happy filming!
I have a smaller room so sounds like I need the Dome Mini II.
I agree. Best wishes!
That gel holder is fantastic.
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Great review Curtis!
Thanks David!
You bet brother! 🎥🎬
I'm getting the Dome mini II 1st because of space and probably add the Dome II once I have a bigger space. From your comparison, I'm more confident now that the mini will get soft enough light for now. Thanks!
You bet! Happy shooting!
Thank you! I wanted to know the difference in softness between the two to see if I could get away with purchasing the mini but there is clearly a difference so I’ll be going for the larger. Great examples thank you.
Thanks Sam
And best wishes!
Curtis Judd Thank you. Also... I was amazed at how much difference the honeycomb grid makes!
Thank you for this comparison video.
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Great! Thanks Curtis
Thanks Carl.
Excellent, exactly what I was looking for. Thank you! Do you have a light stand you’d recommend for the 120D ii (will primarily I use with Light Dome ii)?
I use c-stands when I can. I also have some very, very old Manfrotto aluminum stands which are nice when I have to pack them a long way without a cart. I believe in investing a little more for quality. There are billions of cheap stands that run less than $35 USD that likely won't last as long so I'd steer clear of those. Best wishes!
Curtis Judd found the Kupo 40” with turtle neck bottom! Seems very solid, think I’ll go with that. Thanks for the response Curtis, love your channel - one of my favorites. You’re very talented! Keep it up 😊
Nice, clear review
Thanks Luke!
Really good video! Cheers!
Thanks Dave!
Excellent Review Curtis, the examples of grid vs no-grid were a huge takeaway for me that i haven't seen anywhere else. I'm consindering getting the Godox SL60W but using a Aputure Lightdome Mini ii as i will be breaking it down and setting up a lot.
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great vid!
Thanks
Love your videos... always so well done. I ended up getting a light dome mini as a result of having watched this video.
Hi Imran, thanks. I hope the Light Dome Mini II works well for you. Happy recording!
@@curtisjudd Thanks Curtis! By the way, have you done a video on capture cards/interfaces? Currently using a CamLink 4k with my Nikon D810, but am finding that it sometimes gets sluggish. I'm assuming it might be because it's a USB interface. I'm running an i9 MacBook Pro with 32gb RAM; so my guess is that the computer should be able to handle it. Any thoughts?
@@imramugh Hi Imran, I usually look to EposVox for details on capture cards. I have a Camlink 4K which has worked nicely for me on my Mac Pro. I don't stream from my laptop because I've heard a lot of people complain about performance issues, fans kicking into high gear, and generally performance issues. I would think that an i9 could handle an HD stream without an issue. Or are you streaming 4K?
@@curtisjudd Yep, it's just an HD stream since the Nikon D810 (though full-frame) does not support 4K. By the way, forgot to mention that I also got a Shure SM7B after seeing your review. Thought you should know.
@@imramugh Oh, that's a good one. Is it working well for you?
this was great! thank you:)
Thanks!
great review
Thanks.
Good job .. briefly and covering up everything
Thanks Omar.
amazin episode, thx a lot!
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This is amazing! What light are you using for that lovely ray on the background?
That’s the Aputure 120 with barn doors: czcams.com/video/wBFMZb56td8/video.html
Hey it’s Ted! From Indy Mogul! Btw great review
Ted in the house! Thanks!
I'm loving the new V2 soft boxes as well. Only been using them in the studio, but gonna putting them to work in some tough environments on a week long shoot in Texas next month. The rapid setup is going to make my Gaffer very happy. Will you be at NAB again this year Curtis?
Hi Bart, good to hear from you. Yes, definitely planning to be there and hope to see you there!
@@curtisjudd Let's keep in touch and make sure we get together when in Vegas!
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Yes, there is a difference in softness but considering the form factor the Mini is doing a good job, even when directly compared.
My studio is small so I went for the Mini. Thanks!
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Thank you Curtis. I can always count on you for good reviews & tips.
Just received the LD Mini II, installing it onto the LS 120d II. Both just arrived, both are my first lights; have never seen pro lights in person, & neither come with setup instructions. Figured out the light, puzzled by the Mini II. What goes on first? Do the diffuser & baffle affix to the inner part of the hook & loop or to the outer? Figured that out by watching your video & pausing. Again, thank you!
Thanks BugBob. Happy lighting!
well done my lovekoli...too good
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Awesome video! Will the light dome ii work fine with the small 60x light or do you think the mini is a better option ?
The 60x is a little small. It'll fit, but it won't put out much light.
Hi Curtis! This video alone made me subscribe to your channel. Very informative and great comparisons . Thank you for. taking the time to make this great video. I'm currently starting my own CZcams Channel and wasn't sure white dome to get. I just received the Mini II and will most likely buy the Dome Ii for commercial use . My home/office space is small and Ill be using the mini Ii for my lighting (for now) Cheers.
Thanks and best wishes, Yanni!
Nice review, also the gel holder puts the gel at a fair distance from the light source, which means the gel won't fry as fast!
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Great review! It seems like more and more manufacturers are going to this kind of setup where the rods are permanently attached. I agree that the reduced setup time is a great advantage for a slight trade-off on storage/carrying size. I think the ‘mini’ would be great for fashion or times when you want a more dramatic look in your portrait. I definitely used that type of look in my fashion work.
I’m in the market for some new soft boxes and was thinking of going all Profoto. I currently use Photoflex and it’s been good. But the design isn’t as professional caliber as I would like. There’s something magical about Profoto soft boxes too. I can tell in my images when I’ve used them. Colors just look better. But manually inserting rods into them is such a time consuming hassle.
We’ll see...
Thanks for the thoughts, Ricardo. And best wishes on your new soft boxes, whichever you end up choosing!
Yes!
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From the first two seconds of this video I can tell this dude knows his lighting.
Thanks, Daniel.
Great accent light on the background wall.Looks like something from a CW show.
Thanks TJ.
Thanks. It help me a loot.
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very helpful
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nice review
Thanks.
Great video Curtis. Any idea whether these soft boxes work well with the Godox SL-60W CRI 95+ LED Video Light with Bowens Mount? Im assuming they would.
Yes, I've hear others say they use these with the Godox lights. Good luck!
Love your videos! Thanks for doing them. I've been researching these Aputure options as well as other brands. The gel holder seems to be a big selling point on these versus less expensive options. Would you recommend these over more inexpensive options? Also, I haven't been able to find any videos comparing parabolic dome diffusion version regular softboxes. I'm sure the exist but I'm wondering if these are truly better, and therefore worth buying parabolic diffusion versus regular diffusion models. Thanks for any info!
Hi Glenn, I have used some less expensive options and most of them aren't very nicely made. But if you're very, very careful with them and leave them set up all the time, they can do the job. The front size of the soft box seems to make more of a difference than how deep they are in my experience.
@@curtisjudd Thanks for the info!
Hello Curtis. I enjoy your thorough and deep dive in the cases that you present on your channel. I am a Canon Speedlite user, and I use the 600EX-RT, with a guide number of 60. Do you think that this can be used with good result together with the Aputure Light Dome II?
Hi Jan, I'm out of practice on guide numbers so I'm not sure what that means in terms of light output. But my sense is that the full size light dome is probably a little too big for a speedlite. The mini might work ok.
Hey, Curtis, according to Aputure's compatibility sheet, Light Dome II isn't compatible with the last generation of amaran's fixtures (not even in «not optimized for use with» list). Surprisingly enought, 150c and 300c are compatible. Can you tell if there are any issues with 100 and 200 series when it comes to using them with that softbox? Will they hold it's weight firmly? Thanks in advance!
It seemed to work fine here, but I think they say that because the 200 and 100 are plastic and it can stress the yoke. I’m careful and use the light dome II on the 200 without problems (yet).
Great video and explanations. A must watch for people interested in those two softboxes.
I was wondering: what stands do you use to hold those lights + softboxes?
Mostly c-stands at this point. They’re a lot sturdier than folding travel stands. But when I have to keep the mobile kit lighter, I use some 20 year old Manfrotto light stands 😀
@@curtisjudd Thank you for the reply.
I wasn't sure whether normal light stands would suffice (I have a bunch of Amazon Basic ones). But yes, C-stands are probably a safer bet.
Hi Curtis, I see that you are able to take the gel holder off. I was wondering if I can use it with different bowens mount softbox?
No, it is made specifically for the Light Dome II soft boxes.
Great video, thanks for the review! Can I ask what you did to the Aputure COB120t in order to shape the 'slash' light effect in the background? Almost looks like something you'd get from a Leko adapter but if you can do that with just the COB light, I'd like to know! Thanks;)
I just used the barn door accessory: czcams.com/video/wBFMZb56td8/video.html
I literally JUST got the original light dome before V2 came out and my 2 major complaints were with how the spokes attach and there being no grid.
Me thinks it's time to email Aputure..
👍 the V2 really addresses the major downsides of the original.
Hi Curtis, what’s the advantage of having two diffusion screens in the light dome II if your using the 120Dii that has a dimmable output? Is it because it softens the light quality?
Yes, exactly, don’t confuse light output (quantity) with hard vs soft (quality, transition from light to shadow).
i wonder are you able to put the gel holder on other softboxes?
I don't think so. The connector looks to be made specifically for these softboxes.
Thanks for the great review! Any problem with the gels burning from proximity to the COB?
Hi David, none yet. Proper gels are made to withstand the heat of tungsten bulbs so as long as you use these instead of consumer cellophane, no problems.
Ive had original lee Gels burn, one of the clamps i attached it with fell of and the gel got too close, i think everything beyond 3-5 cm from the Chip is fine
Love this! Which light stand or c stand did you use?
I used the impact c-stands with turtle base from B&H.
Hi, really enjoyed your review. I have a question. What difference of softbox depth can show in lighting?
I haven't noticed very much difference with different depths. The thing which seems to make the biggest difference is the size of the front diffusion panel and how close you position that to the thing you're lighting. Closer and larger = softer.
I just picked up the light dome mini 2. Do you normally use the reflector which vallcros inside the light? Do you find it casts any shadow? Or do you find there's a hot spot without it?
There’s a hot spot without it.
@@curtisjudd Thank you for taking the time to reply, really appreciate it!
Thanks for the video. I don't have a huge amount of room in my office/studio which I use to record my YT videos, so the mini I hope will be ideal.
Place it as close as possible for softest lighting.
@@curtisjudd Thanks for the advice. I've just purchased one for my Godox 150
Hello Great video.
Which do you think is better Light some mini II or the Small Rig RA -D55?
Thanks. I haven't used the Small Rig, so not sure on that.
Does the mini 2 come with gel holder ? Sorry if I missed it
Yes, it is a little crowded with it in there, but mine did come with the gel holder.
Great review, really helpful. Beginner question - as for the two different front diffusion panels, what are the situations that suit them best? I see they are 1.5 and 2.5 stops, but I just wondered if there are guidelines more so than “when you need more light.” Thanks!
The biggest difference is that you'll generally get a more even light on the thicker material so you'll avoid center hot-spots.
@@curtisjudd Just saw this now. Thanks again.
May I ask at 05:29, is this far side key or not, I found it hard to remember because how can you tell side is the "far side?
Yes, far side key is when the light is on the opposite side of the talent to the camera.
As always, thanks for your review. Did Ted Sims deliver the Light Domes in person?
I have been using the original Light Dome Mini and it has worked very well, but those metal rods are a hassle! I have a Light Dome ii arriving on Tuesday and look forward to MUCH faster set up and softer light wrap. The Mini will be useful for smaller locations, but I do prefer the softer wrap with the large Light Dome.
The gel holder is a great addition, and I was concerned about light loss. I presume it is not too invasive on the larger Light Dome, but I may be more inclined to not use it on the Mini.
I've read about early Light Dome diffusion getting ripped, so the fault may not be entirely due to the PA's rough handling of it. Regarding PA abusing gear, I have seen it my gear get trashed many times. One PA put some serious bends in my Light Dome Mini metal rods. Broken case zippers, ripped diffusion, missing parts and more are making me picky about the PAs I hire.
BTW, the first Light Dome ii I saw had a broken arm hinge. I don't know how durable these are, but I would be gentle with them as that probably won't be easy to repair.
Thanks for the insights, Dave. I hope the new domes work well for you!
Hi Curtis, great video as always. I bought the mini 2 to go with my Godox SL60W and it looks like the reflector helps with softening the light but there is a massive impact on the light output. I am now at 100% and I can barely light a talking head properly with the reflector on. Did you encounter this issue? thanks
Soft boxes cut the light output substantially - 1 to 2 stops - so this is not unexpected. You might try increasing ISO or removing the inner bounce to see if that will work for your situation.
Hi Curtis, great video. Thanks for this informative and helpful video. I am looking at buying Mini II as I can use it in a tight space (approx 6x4 sum) with a natural light coming from one side and 3 plain white wall. Do you think Mini II and F7 can be useful in addition to natural light? Thanks in advance :)
Thanks May. Yes, good combination for a small room like this.
@@curtisjudd Great! Appreciate your advice. Thanks Curtis! I'm a newbie to lighting and thought these could be a nice option to experiment. :)
Do you think Mini would be enough for fitness videos? since we often travel so it'd be easier to carry around.
It is harder, but yes, if keeping things small for travel is at the top of the list, it is way better than no soft box.
@@curtisjudd Gotcha Thanks for the response.
Curtis, thanks for very detailed and thorough review. Your reviews always help so much in making purchase decisions. I have a question: I am using Dome II with C120D II as my key light. I need to decide on the fill light. Will Dome Mini II work well with 100D as fill light? Or should I buy Dome II as fill light as well. I need them for talking head type videos. Thanks 😊
Hi Mubashar, the 100D and mini II should work nicely as a fill. Often I just use a bounce board instead of a soft box for fill.
@@curtisjudd Thanks a lot. Really appreciate your guidance.
Great review.
Other than cost savings, is there anything this has that my Chimera or Profoto Octabanks don't already cover? Those seem much easier to set up. I almost never gel my lights.
Those are the advantages here: Quick setup, lower price, gel holder, included multiple diffusion panels, grid.
@@curtisjuddI didn't take into account the included grid. The Chimera grid alone costs as much as this entire setup. Thanks.
Hey Job Curtis, do you know what type of gels can go well with the Dome 2?
Anything from Lee or Rosco should be good. I've used several from both.
What gels are safe to use with these lights? Ones that won't melt after a long time of exposure to the LED.
Hi DTChunky, any production gels from Rosco or Lee should work fine as this light is significantly cooler than tungsten lights. Those are all made to withstand the head of tungsten lighting.