Is the Aputure 300d II worth it in 2023?

[@markjching]

I was in New York recently and purchased this light with dome at B&H. Super happy.

[@thegranitegaffer]

Love being in the big apple! Congrats on the purchase!

[@AdamAsdel]

It sure is! I use one for my key light in my office set up 🙌🏻

[@thegranitegaffer]

Love to hear it!! 🙏🙏

[@Greego]

This is a great review and answer the right questions. I completely enjoyed it.

[@mechantgarcon6262]

Very clear and honest review! Thank you! Like to see more!!

[@thegranitegaffer]

Thank you!!! Any particular light you'd be interested in me reviewing?

[@mechantgarcon6262]

​@@thegranitegaffer I would like to understand what is the necessity for lights working on DC power source. The continuous lights working on AC power source is less expensive, less heavier. Despite this why DC powered lights are popular? If you can make a video on this, it will be very helpful! Thank you so much!

[@thegranitegaffer]

Hey everyone, technology progresses quickly and unfortunately just a month after releasing this video I can no longer recommend the Aputure 300d II in 2023 if it stays at its current price point. The release of the Nanlite 300b II can't be ignored. The bi-color Nanlite is more powerful than the mono-color Aputure AND forward compatible with full-color lighting due to the G/M adjustment that Nanlite has incorporated into the chipset. If you need to buy a light today, then the Nanlite 300b II at $1000 is currently the no-brainer option. Pick one up for yourself here: amzn.to/3kbDMhH

[@DavidGriffin]

Also note... Apurture just dropped the 600D to $999 permanently!!!!

[@christopherduran9926]

So would you recommend the Nanlite 300b ii over the Nanlite 300 ii? Thanks so much!

[@EmpireStudiosLLC]

Pup at at 3:31 = instant thumbs up

[@cfl4286]

the forza 300B version 2 is a killer of a light. Priced very competitively, is brighter, is bi color with green magenta shift, same build quality, etc. beats out the 300d ii in basically every way. That said I think you'll still see the 300d ii on sets for years to come.

[@thegranitegaffer]

Agreed on all points!

[@cubul32]

Wait! So the 300B forza is actually 300 watts output?? Aputure's 300 watts Bi are actually 150 watts in practice.

[@justenkey]

love the 300d!! Still so useful and easy to setup for a good punch of light

[@thegranitegaffer]

100%. I'm always finding a place for it on set!

[@flycatchercreations]

New sub from Denver! Excited to follow along with this great content.

[@thegranitegaffer]

Glad to have you here!!! 🙏 🙏

[@Tommy_Beal]

This was super helpful!! Thank you brother!

[@thegranitegaffer]

Glad to hear it! thanks for the comment!

[@TreyDaze]

Stuck between the 300DII and the Amaran 200D. What do you think?

[@thegranitegaffer]

It really depends on budget! If you feel the $950 hurts as much as $300 then definitely go with the aputure 300d II. But if you're still not sure if long term this is the direction you're going then the amaran 200d is a great starting point.

[@TreyDaze]

@@thegranitegaffer My local camera store has the 300DII for €580 and the 200D for €240. Just wondering if there’s a huge difference besides build quality for €300 more.

[@thegranitegaffer]

@@TreyDaze DMX capability via a hardline, the separate ballast/head combo, and the ability to use the 300d with the spotlight as intended with gobos are the reasons I think it's worth the extra money to get the 300d II over the 200d.

[@whoaitsnick3]

I once saw someone drop the 300dii from a grid 18ft high and the light worked fine after😅

[@thegranitegaffer]

That's awesome lol glad everyone was okay also!

[@XIGuyIX]

Mate I have a funny question. Do you think a ls120d II is worth it in 2023? I know it’s discontinued. But, is it still a worthwhile second hand purchase? I see them pop up for 700 USD with a softbox II and c stand.

[@thegranitegaffer]

Not at all for that price. I'd get the new amaran 200x S for $300ish and have more output, better color accuracy, and save money!

[@mrbigg2u]

What is CR mex that it misses? Thank you.....

[@DavidGriffin]

Would this light deliver enough light to balance against the sun in a room with 2 large windows. At about 10ft away from subject and a half stop of diffusion while using the 2x frensel?

[@thegranitegaffer]

I would end up recommending a 600d with the F10 Fresnel just so you have extra output. I've measured the 300d II at 10' to have 11,000 lux output. Adding 1/2 stop diffusion would put that around 8,000 lux. If sunlight is around 100,000 lux, then your key light at 8,000 lux will be about 4ish stops below the output of the sun. You can probably get away with fixing it in post, but this may not be bright enough depending on the skin tones your subject has or the mood you're looking for.

[@DavidGriffin]

@@thegranitegaffer wow... KZbin sucks so bad. T they JUUUUUUUUUUST now sent me a notification for your reply!! I ended up buying a GODOX M600D for $999 and a frensel, barndoors. That works out fine. I just keep the light at 7ft off subject and I get more than enough light at 75% output with a 1/4 stop scrim. I also grabbed a -3 stop 1.2 ND gel roll to help out the windows. It works out fine. I'd say that for my question I would've needed a 1200D and a 12° apurture reflector to achieve the same thing with the ND gel over the windows.

[@hoseaesp6309]

stil good in 2024?

[@thegranitegaffer]

I would probably go with either a 600d (non-pro) for a few extra hundred or an amaran 300c and save some money at this point!

[@directorparisholmes2024]

What is the cri max?

[@mrclarenceboddicker6173]

Yes the 300D Mark II is still very much worth it.

[@thegranitegaffer]

Wholeheartedly agree! Can't believe nobody has built something to the same quality after 3 years!

[@sebastianFZE]

@@thegranitegaffer Do you reckon it's better to wait for the 300D Mark III and the 300X Mark II?

[@thegranitegaffer]

@@sebastianFZE depends on your current needs and how long it's going to be for the new aputure lights to come out.

[@rodrigolev1]

if consistent your channel could be for great help , thansk for the video