Lighting manufacturer Aputure has released a Spotlight Mini Zoom lens accessory designed specifically for small 60x and 60d LED COB lights. How does it compare to the larger Aputure Spotlight and how versatile are the 60d and 60x categories with this light? Let's find out.
In some ways, the Aputure Spotlight Mini Zoom might be the tool I didn't know I needed. But the later life-size Aputure Spotlight Mount specifically for the 120D MK II, 300x and 300D MK II line has served me well over the past year in a variety of shots, and the variable zoom nature of the 60x and 60d means I already had a light on which to focus for a group Variety of circumstances.
light aputure mini zoom
It's also worth noting that the Spotlight Mini Zoom (SMZ for short) is $499 and comes at a good price tag of $419 more than the $419 for the LS 60x lighting device it was designed for; Which means it may not fit into everyone's budget. It also matches the cost of the larger Aputure Spotlight Mount even though this mount is not variable and only includes one fixed pitch lens and no light for its $499 price tag.
To me, the build quality, capabilities, and accessories included in the Spotlight Mini Zoom justify the cost alone, but it may not be the case for everyone.
First impression
The Spotlight Mini Zoom (60d/60x compatible) makes very tough light cuts and zooms in to 15-30°, in a way that fresnel-style light can't. The new Mini Zoom was used in several different shots within a month of testing and I learned several things right away:
• This accessory called Spotlight makes the already excellent 60d and 60x work like the industry's favorite Dedo lighting system at a lower total cost versus LED Dedo. Given the size of the Aputure Apache classes combined with the Mini Zoom, the entire installation is a bit larger versus the Dedo, but you can still get light-accurate cuts with a minimal overall footprint.
• Sometimes you see a little light leakage when you plug in the spotlight. This is something to be aware of, but it hasn't caused a problem in any of the projects I've been shooting because the leak is often out of frame. None of the black wrap can't be fixed.
The Mini Spotlight Zoom does not fit into 60d or 60x using a Bowens mount and instead slides into position.
• The unit can still swivel in place when installed on the Mini Spotlight and I actually prefer the Bowens lock over the large spotlights attachment. In fact the connection was a bit more secure when the light was installed upside down, but I personally haven't had any issues with the light falling out or even I was about to lose connection with my Mini Spotlight.
Tools
The Spotlight Mini Zoom ships in a stylish case that you'll be familiar with if you've used any of the recent generations of Aputure products. One of my favorite parts of the Aputure ecosystem is also here in the form of a set of free accessories like 15 M-Size Gobos, Gobo Holder, and Iris (not included in the larger Spotlight set).
I don't care if the kit costs a few extra bucks if it includes many tools I'll need on a daily basis.
You can get the most popular gobos patterns included in the set, such as window blinds, various organic tree limbs, and leaf shapes, along with a few Avante Garde geometric shapes that can come in handy. But I don't see myself using it with these extensions very often. Keep in mind that the larger Aputure Spotlight uses B-Size Gobos, so they are not compatible with each other.
The result
When I started throwing 60x/d spins on groups I was worried you wouldn't have enough output to compete with uncontrollable ambient lighting or even to compete with 300d and above level fixtures. I was surprised to learn that I haven't had this problem yet - mainly because of how I use these lights.
You can certainly make a matching 3-light kit out of these built-in fixtures, but you can't compete with windows and they won't help you outside. They perform surprisingly well when there's a hair light, in product photography, or to highlight a small point of interest in the corner of the frame. For this use - they have become a constant sight on my sets.
The Spotlight Mini Zoom is another great accessory from Aputure and I have always found myself taking it into the field more and more often. Accessories are a notorious weak point for other manufacturers who focus more on their key formulations and less on the ecosystem around them, and it's good to see Aputure continue to prioritize this part of their product lineup at prices that don't seem too pretentious for what you want.
If you're already a fan of the 60d/x, this Mini Spotlight Zoom opens up a world of other use cases, but if you find yourself using a line of 120d MK II and 300d fixtures more, perhaps the larger Spotlight accessory is better suited to your workflow.
Post a Comment