The perfect Storm with Aputure
Posted on Nov 5, 2025 by Pro Moviemaker
From saturated colour to flawless whites, this powerful Aputure COB storms to our Editor’s Choice award
Advertisement feature
A hard light that can do it all and do it reliably, this is one Storm worth chasing. The Aputure Storm 1000C isn’t just another bright LED, it’s a hard COB light, pushing the boundaries of colour accuracy, output, reliability and integration. That’s why we’ve singled it out as Editor’s Choice for the hard light class in this year’s Pro Moviemaker Gear of the Year Awards.
Every year, we shine a light on new kit that changes the game for working filmmakers. Among hundreds of products we’ve tried and debated, the Storm 1000C is a powerhouse performer with specs we could only dream of just a few years ago.
It tops Aputure’s expanding line-up of point-source LEDs, introducing the brand-new BLAIR-CG light engine. Unlike more conventional RGBWW systems, this chipset uses seven different emitters – blue, lime, amber, indigo, red, cyan and green – to achieve a colour spectrum wider than most lights on the market. The results are immediately visible on-set. White light feels cleaner and more closely aligned with the nuances of real daylight. That indigo emitter may not sound like much on paper, but in practice it’s a revelation – especially when working with fluorescing materials or when accuracy is paramount.
The numbers back up the story. With a CCT range from 1800 to 20,000K and 100% green-magenta adjustment, the Storm 1000C can deliver anything from the glow of a candlelit dinner to the crisp blue of a clear sky with exacting precision. Over 90% coverage of the Rec. 2020 colour gamut gives colourists and DOPs huge creative flexibility. And at the practical end, there’s enough output to match even the most demanding production requirements – 14,200 lux at 3m (5600K) with the hyper reflector. That’s serious punch from a fixture you can still mount and move around without an army of help.
It’s not just about raw power. What impresses us is how carefully Aputure has thought about real-world workflows. The Storm 1000C offers stepless dimming from 0.1 to 100%, with flicker-free output that remains consistent even at the lowest levels. Accessories attach more securely than ever with a new ProLock Bowens mount. No wobble, drift or last-minute adjustments because a fresnel slipped. For a light that’s built to take modifiers seriously, that makes a world of difference.
Aputure has also made sure that the Storm 1000C will integrate into existing professional set-ups, including Sidus Mesh, Sidus Link Pro, CRMX, DMX, sACN and Art-Net. Whether you’re a solo operator using your phone or part of a full broadcast team working over a console, the light plays nicely with everything. The fan system offers four modes – Smart, High, Medium and Silent – so you can prioritise cooling or quietness depending on the job, and IP65 weather resistance makes it reliable outdoors.
The CF12 Fresnel makes the Storm 1000C even more versatile. Its dual-expanding lens design offers a smooth, even beam from 15 to 45°, with none of the colour fringing that sometimes plagues powerful LEDs. Add in the matching barn doors, scrim holders and the skid base for easy rigging and transport, and it becomes clear this whole system is designed by and for professionals.
That’s why the Storm 1000C stands out. It’s not just chasing numbers or specs but is designed to solve problems on-set. It’s powerful but precise, tough but flexible and replete with thoughtful details that make a working filmmaker’s life easier. That combination of innovation and usability is exactly what our Editor’s Choice award is all about.
For more information, visit aputure.com
This article was first published in the November/December 2025 issue of Pro Moviemaker
