Aputure announces the official launch of the STORM XT52, their new flagship in the STORM line of lights. Aputure states it is the industry’s brightest tunable white point source LED. The new STORM XT52 features the BLAIR light engine, the STORM XT52. Aputure also claims that the light is the brightest light in the world to offer color adjustability, with more than 70% of the Rec2020 color space covered.
“We went all-out with the XT52. We set out to make the most powerful point source LED in the business. We knew we wanted to use our amazing BLAIR light engine with its excellent CCT range, Green control and Indigo for matching natural light. But customers have been begging us to unlock the color potential of BLAIR, and the customer is always right. So we added a Limited HSIC+ control along with xy mode so people can take full advantage of the XT52’s capabilities. Now it doesn’t just stand in for daylight, it can be the colorful blast of late afternoon sunset. That’s something no other light of any kind can do at this level. We have accomplished all of this while keeping the size and weight down so a single person can operate it and we fine tunedthe power management so the XT52 can run off popular portable generators.”
Ted Sim, President and Co-Founder of Aputure
Key features
- BLAIR Light Engine Spectrum
- The best quality color spectrum with the greatest range of adjustability.
- 2500-10,000K CCT range
- 100% +/- Green (full ASC MITC range)
- Indigo emitter to replicate the natural fluorescence of real daylight
- x,y coordinate color tuning covering 70% of Rec2020
- CRI/TLCI 96, SSI (P3200): 87, SSI (CIE D5600): 86
- Best-in-Class Output
- The brightest point source LED in the industry, with the lowest dimming.
- (measured using 5600K at 5M)
- 48,000 Lux (35° reflector)
- 29,000 Lux (50° reflector)
- 10,000:1 dimming ratio, down to 0.01% output
The Aputure STORM XT52’s BLAIR (Blue/Lime/Amber/Indigo/Red) light engine delivers the highest quality white light with the greatest CCT range and +/- green adjustability of any high-output LED fixture. The BLAIR chipset’s indigo emitters enhance fluorescing materials like natural daylight and tungsten sources. It’s BLAIR light engine (Blue/Lime/Amber/Indigo/Red) outputs Tunable White light from 2500° to 10,000° CCT and features Full +/- Green tint control. In Limited HSIC+ and xy modes, saturated colors covering more than 70% of the Rec2020 color space can be achieved.
At 5600K and a distance of 5M, when used with the included 35° reflector, the STORM XT52 outputs a claimed 41,900 Lux. Additional reflectors, as well as other modifiers designed specifically for the STORM XT52, are available to provide a wide range of beam control and output levels.
The STORM XT52 can be used at full brightness while powered from an industry-standard 6500-watt portable generator. The Honda 6500W and 7000W generators are popular in many parts of the world. They are often modified to output 220V power. The STORM XT52 with the standard 7.5M head cable running full brightness on 220V draws less power than the maximum continuous output of these portable generators. The head cables can be daisy-chained to extend to 45M, which can raise the power draw to 6000W.
There is a menu function to limit the maximum power draw of the system to a user-selected level so that the STORM XT52 can still power from the generator at slightly less brightness. Should the available power be limited, you can go into the menu to change the STORM XT52’s maximum power consumption, allowing the portable light to be used in any situation in the field or the studio.
Differnt maximum power ratings for 110VC and 220V
Why is this the case? There are two reasons for this. The first is based on the voltage of the electrical system used, commonly 110V or 220V, which the STORM XT52 covers under two voltage ranges, 100-179V and 180-240V. On 110V power, the STORM XT52 is limited to a maximum power draw of 3200W, at which power it is about 10% brighter than the Electro Storm XT26. On 220V power, the STORM XT52 at maximum brightness and using the standard 7.5M head cable will draw 5200W of power.
The second reason is due to a feature of the head cables between the control box and lamp head. The head cables can be daisy-chained from 7.5M up to 45M, but this requires more power to push through all that wiring. In 220V and 45M of head cables, the STORM XT52 can draw up to 6000W. If the available power is not this high (such as when using a 6500W portable generator, for which the maximum continuous power is usually 5500W), there is a menu function to limit the maximum power draw of the system to a user-selected level. Using 110V power, this menu item cannot go above 3200W.
The new third-generation HyperDrive power system is claimed to produce zero flicker at any color above 20% brightness, making the STORM XT52 the ideal choice for high frame rate photography. The STORM XT52 is built for professional use, with an IP65 weather rating and a ruggedized construction with a modular infrastructure for fast service should anything happen.
The STORM XT52 is claimed to have the following photometric scores:
- CRI≥95
- TLCI≥95
- CQS [CIE D5600]≥96
- SSI [P3200]: 87
- SSI [CIE D5600] 87
- TM-30 Rf (average) 95
- TM-30 Rg (average) 100
Output
Aputure states the STORM XT52 is more powerful than a 6K HMI. No other light with anywhere near the brightness of the STORM XT52 has such color capabilities. The evolutionary use of an Indigo emitter to output near UV activates the natural fluorescence in people and objects, replicating what is seen in natural daylight and tungsten light. The Aputure STORM lights are the first in the industry to feature this technology.
When used with a narrow reflector, the STORM XT52 is claimed to be significantly brighter than a similarly focused ARRI M90. When used with medium and wide reflectors, the XT52 outperforms 6K HMIs and is much brighter than an ARRI M40
The Aputure STORM XT52’s claimed output is 48,000 Lux when used with its 35° reflector @5m and 29,000 Lux when used with its 50° reflector.
The lamp head weighs 27.7kg / 61 lbs, so it could be lifted by a single person and used with a standard crank stand.
The control box is 13kg / 28.66 lbs, and includes a mounting clamp to attach it to a light stand.
The included head cable is 7.5m / 24.6′ and can be extended up to 45m / 147.6′ with no loss in output, so that the light can be used on condors and cranes while the control box remains on the ground. This helps users avoid excess power runs, additional weight, and space on the lift, and provides ground-level control for the light.
Accessories
In addition to the 35° reflector included with the STORM XT52, an optional Reflector Kit includes 20°, 25°, and 50° options. At NAB 2025, Aputure will preview two additional modifiers. The CF16 Compact Fresnel features a 20°
-62° adjustable beam utilizing Aputure’s new multi-optic compact physical design first seen in the CF12 fresnel. The CF16 will be available as a manual or motorized zoom, with the motor drive also available as an upgrade. The
STORM Parallel Beam 70 is a hyper-narrow 5° true Cassegrain dual-mirror reflector system for an intense, focused beam of light with attractive shadow quality at twice the brightness of other options.
A new Light Dome and Lantern will also be available for the STORM XT52’s Aputure Mount.
Pricing & Availability
The STORM XT52 will be on display at the Aputure booth (N2969) at the NAB Show in Las Vegas, April 6-9, and in action at the APEX Aputure Experience at Vu Studios from April 6-8.
The STORM XT52 should be shipping in Q2 2025 for $13,957.19 USD / €12.900 MSRP (excluding VAT) and will also become available in a Dual Flight Case Kit for $14,714.55 USD / €13.600 MSRP (excluding VAT).
