Gaffers Salon EP#9 - Aputure Amaran F22C "Mods and Stuff"

A look at Aputure's Amaran F22C flex light; modifications and "Pro" capabilities. The F22C might be one of the best values on the market and a testing ground for future "Pro" Light Storm mat product.
Links:
Brokeh Lighting Zoom call with inventor John Tindall (Password: Jendra)
vimeopro.com/johntindall/jend...
www.brokeh.com
Andrew Lock's Gaffer & Gear review of Amaran F21C/F22C
• Gaffer & Gear 196 - Am...
Take a close look at Andrews DMX testing and TM30 color metrics vs the Lite Gear 2019 Spectrum (Andrew Lock Spectrum review: • Gaffer & Gear 109 - Li... )
Luke Seerveld Meet the Gaffer - First look Amaran F22C
• Meet The Gaffer #258: ...
bluffbounce.com

[@aidenmitchell72]

Perfectly predicted the market with the introduction of the infinimat

[@timdanyo898]

Wow. First time hearing about brokeh. Time to go down the rabbit hole. Thanks!

[@leoquesto9183]

I LOVE this review and the information on Brokeh. Thank you! Thanks also for sharing the frame options.

[@GaffersSalon]

Thanks, appreciated.

[@user-sy7hu7tx8m]

Thank you So Much, Great information and love your videos. Love your Mods.

[@rufaiajala]

Great video! Thank you for sharing 🙏🏾

[@thegoldenmean01]

Great stuff and getting better with each new video. Thanks for sharing these hacks. About to incorporate a custom 2'x4' soft box with two of theses. They are very punchy and the color is indeed solid.

[@GaffersSalon]

thanks man, appreciated. Yeah this is punching way above its class, not perfect, but damn good quality at this price point. As solid color as anything out there.

[@Powersfilms]

Amazing video! I’ve been an early adopter of Brokeh gear and I love it. You do get some funny looks from other crew members on set when you start to hang a Tie-Dye looking rag on a frame. 😂

[@GaffersSalon]

Agreed… I was also early adopter of both N and F series, great stuff. Really want to do an A/B between straight magic and both the n and f series, they are def more effective as you get into the larger sizes… useful for sure on a F22 but when I can I prefer going larger…

[@buddyfx7026]

Just got mine in today, LOVE THEM! So much easier to mount and setup is way faster with much more rigidity.

[@GaffersSalon]

Yeah right - major improvement!

[@lightforce3642]

Yes, I have a few, waiting for a Pro version with built in CRMX

[@christophermorgan2485]

let's hope they do launch a pro version! I'm sure you are sick of hearing me talk about it on set lol

[@GaffersSalon]

LOL...

[@samuelguce]

hung a couple of these from stage rafters on a pole w super clamps and knuckles - wrapped a 1/4 grid 8 by around a couple times - worked a treat but would love a modular system to combine these mats. The updated brackets look great but if you have the old ones, the amaran supplier has to receive them first before sending out your new ones. I don't really have a week or so that I could lose the use of the mat - I suppose they do it that way to ensure each customer only gets one new bracket per f22 mat.

[@GaffersSalon]

well thats a drag.... you would think proof of purchase would be enough....

[@matthewlivingston3168]

Its very interesting, I would like to see a video of the actual results on different peoples skin tones.

[@GaffersSalon]

Yeah I’ve been talking with John about wanting to do a/b between magic cloth and Brokeh… I think it’s more effective as you get into larger sources as the color / arcs and break up comes at increased angles… I usually use LM4 or 4x4 but in tight quarters the f22c works.

[@bro_liv]

Awesome videos, thanks! If you don't mind me asking, where do you get your custom rags to fit in there?

[@GaffersSalon]

Custom from the rag place, the 1/4 1/2 full grid are the LM2 rags, Everything else from TRP… the Brokeh stuff direct from John Tindall

[@bro_liv]

@@GaffersSalon thanks!

[@robertjan404]

I recently bought this light and I love it! Two questions tho, do you have any loud fan issues? And how did you solve it? And where can I find the back you have?

[@GaffersSalon]

I have heard others complain of fan noise but mine have been fine, I can hear it but it’s never been an issue even on small doc interview set up… as to bracket Dan @ Aputure said they are announcing a replacement program very soon.

[@stoney1771]

What V mount battery would you recommend for powering this light. I was thinking about small rig but not sure what voltage.. thank you !

[@GaffersSalon]

I use 26v from nanlite but any decent one will do either 14.4 or 26v these are duel voltage. However with 14v you are limited to 50% output… remember it’s a 200w light and draws even more - if I recall it’s actual max draw is around 240w, so you prob want a battery that’s higher watt hours like in the 250wh range…

[@johnpaulporitz]

I didn't know that Brokeh was available in 2x2 pieces. So you custom ordered this size?

[@GaffersSalon]

He can make them pretty Much any size… he knows the LM sizes for example… but if you give him specs not hard to make however you might have to wait until the next batch run…

[@MsDurex]

Aputure replaced my x-bone bracket for free.

[@GaffersSalon]

Yeah they’re replacing all of them upon request, to my knowledge - worldwide. There was a bit of a delay as they got that replacement program set up, but def rolling them out.

[@xtremearts4114]

Where did u get the metal back to purchase?

[@GaffersSalon]

Aputure is doing a replacement program… I got these as final prototype of the redesign… I’m not clear how the program works but suggest shooting Aputure an email.

[@Longdancer]

Hi. Is that the new bracket on the f22c? If so, is that a pre-release model? Or is it now on the market? thanks

[@GaffersSalon]

Pre-release for testing spoke to Dan at Aputure they are close to announcing the exchange program

[@Longdancer]

@@GaffersSalon Great stuff. Thanks for the heads up.

[@seanp2k617]

Just wanted to say here that I purchased one two weeks ago and it came with this new bracket, so they’re definitely out there in retail channels now with the updated design 👍 Good job Aputure!

[@Longdancer]

@@seanp2k617 Thanks. Got my bracket replacement and it fantastic! Such a major difference.

[@cubul32]

Is the Amaran worth it over Godox and Intellytech? How's that fan noise doing with the sound ops? When, how did you get that bracket? If I buy one now, should I get it with that newer bracket?

[@GaffersSalon]

All three of these brands are solid. I'm a big fan of the F22C and F21C (I also own 2 each of the Intellytech Mega 8 and 2 of the Godox 600bi) The Godox is IP rated head (ballast NOT IP rated) but is only bicolor so more akin to the Amaran F22x/21x.... Intellytech latest is a 3x3 in the new mega cloth 3.0 available in either bicolor or rgbww. In 2x2 they only have the older LC160rgbww which is not as good now as the newer Amaran 22C. The amaran fan is a touch loud but i've not had any real issues ever, sometimes i throw something over it if i'm in a dead quiet space, or tuck it out of the way etc. None issue for me. I think most of these Amaran are now shipping with new bracket, but they're could be some old stock floating around.... however Aputure will send you new bracket if you should somehow get shipped an old style bracket.

[@cubul32]

@@GaffersSalon they ship that bracket free of charge??

[@GaffersSalon]

@@cubul32 www.aputure.com/amaran-f-series-replacement-bracket/

[@ntchi]

Did someone tried changing the fan inside for something quieter? When you have 2 or 3 in a room forget getting a decent interview setup. They sound like vaccums. I have 3 of those, im thinking about swapping the fans. Or if they could do a firmware update to control the fans at least! An Auto mode or Slow mode.

[@GaffersSalon]

It’s interesting because multiple people have mentioned fan noise to me but I’ve used both of mine many times on small doc interviews in tight quiet quarters and had no issues…

[@danielrheaume904]

I bought two on black Friday. The new bracket was included, so these were current production models.. Fan is pretty darn bad. Had to have one of my control boxes replaced because it was super loud. But even the ones that aren't too bad are still very audible in any kind of normal environment when recording sound. I watched a video of a guy who replaced the 200d fan, so I'm planning on looking into doing this for the f22c, however it may be a physical limitation with the size of the fan that's causing so much noise. Only trying it will tell us for sure. Surprised I haven't seen any other videos of people doing this!

[@ntchi]

@@danielrheaume904 yes Indeed. Haven't tried a fan swap yet. I know noctua does silent fans. But it requires proper voltage and pin layout.

[@Cinegavo]

I see the brokeh used often for food. Is that the n series?

[@GaffersSalon]

Interesting… I have not heard of use with food… I’d imagine it’s more likely they would be N series but can’t say I’ve not heard anyone doing that… will have to ask John Tindall

[@ntchi]

F22c is great for the price, I just wished it hit 1000lux at 3M instead of 730ish...

[@GaffersSalon]

always could use more, but keep in mind this is as bright as a Lite Gear Spectrum 4 at 200W and in fact has better color metrics and better dmx performance then the 2019 spectrum line. Thats pretty impressive for a $900 light.

[@cubul32]

Are you in Canada? where are you located?

[@GaffersSalon]

NYC

[@ted6255]

Where did you get the updated brackets?

[@GaffersSalon]

These were final gen protypes sent to me (and others) for testing/feedback prior to the official announcement of the replacement/upgrade program.

[@ted6255]

@@GaffersSalon Thank you! I'll be watching for these.

[@GaffersSalon]

@@ted6255 they're suppose to do an upgrade program, unclear if its $ or what, but Dan and others from Aputure have mentioned it in the Facebook user group... i think they're working out the details now.

[@samuelguce]

In Australia at least, these are available by contacting the supplier of these mats (Kayell Aus) - only thing is you have to send your bracket back to them before they send out new one,

[@AbstractFilms]

I’d be really interested in hearing more about this brokeh, seems pretty cool