Real thoughts from a gaffer’s perspective

In a world full of LEDs claiming versatility, the Aputure STORM 700x arrives with something rare: practical power, real color fidelity, and a build that’s actually ready for set life. It’s not just another spec-heavy announcement but a tool that fits a gap many gaffers know all too well.

Let’s get into what makes it worth a serious look.

1. Finally a true 700W point source that travels well

Weight matters. Setup time matters. The STORM 700x delivers 700W of punch in a head that weighs just over 5kg (11.3 lbs). That’s serious output for a light you can throw in a case and move without back strain.

Where it fits:

• When you’d normally break out a Joker or M18 but want LED control.
• A-level work on commercials, docs, or indie features—especially run-and-gun style.

It mounts on baby or junior stands, meaning it slides easily into existing grip packages. That flexibility is huge when you’re not working with a full truck.

2. BLAIR engine = legit color and skin tone control

The STORM 700x uses Aputure’s new BLAIR chipset—that’s Blue, Lime, Amber, Indigo, Red emitters giving you precise white light and deep ±green magenta control.

It’s not marketing fluff. That indigo spike especially helps when you need a daylight feel that matches fluorescents or fills skin in an organic way. This isn’t a panel guessing at warmth nut it’s a white light engine built for people who care about what ends up on the monitor.

Why it matters:

• You can nail color temp and skin tone without gels.
• Cuts time in color matching, especially when mixing with practicals.
• CCT range of 2500K to 10,000K covers anything from fire to blue hour.

3. Weather-rated and built to rig

This one’s an underrated deal-sealer: the entire STORM 700x kit (head, control box, cables) is IP65 weatherproof. That means it’s built to survive rain, dust, wind all without the usual emergency bin bags.

Plus, it uses Aputure’s new ProLock Bowens mount, which locks modifiers like the CF10 Fresnel securely even if you’re rigging sideways or in motion.

Use cases we’re already seeing:

• Car rigs in bad weather
• Outdoor location shoots with zero time for resets
• Remote exterior night scenes where downtime isn’t an option

4. Output that can replace HMI in the right setups

With the CF10 Fresnel, you’re seeing up to 19,000+ lux at 3m, rivaling traditional 1K or 1.2K HMIs—without warm-up time, or power headaches. The beam is sharp, the falloff is predictable, and the dimming is flicker-free from 0.1–100%.

Ideal swap for:

• HMI rentals on shoots where power access is limited
• Compact setups needing true directional output
• Interviews, tabletop, or product where clean shaping is key

5. It’s built for control—on set or solo

Between DMX, CRMX, Sidus Link, and Bluetooth mesh, you can run the 700x from a full board, tablet, or your phone. For solo ops or minimal crew days, this is a gift. It even has HSIC+ and x/y modes for saturated color effects if you need more than just clean white.

That means:

• Your board op can patch into it fast
• Or your Gaffer can tweak levels from the app while you focus on your vision
• Or you, on a two-man crew, can fine-tune without leaving camera

So, is it worth adding to your kit?

If you’re a gaffer, DP, or small team shooting mid-size projects, yes. Especially if you’re upgrading from older LED systems or trying to avoid HMI headaches. The STORM 700x delivers real light shaping, pro-grade colour, and field-ready durability in a way that’s hard to match right now.

It won’t replace every fixture in your van, but it might become the one you reach for first when you need reliability, output, and speed.

Pro Tip: Order the Cine Kit version—it includes the CF10 Fresnel, barn doors, and the skid, which makes mounting to carts or trucks a lot smoother.

📦 Where to get it: Available now for preorder at select dealers in the US and Canada.