Battle: Aputure 300 + Spot Light Adapter vs ETC Source Four 750w Leko
In this article we will compare a very popular Aputure 300d LED light with Spot Light Adapter to a stage staple, an ETC Source Fout 750w Leko.
Please note that at PAT Rentals, we carry both lights.
Quick verdict: this one is though one. Source Four is a staple that is very robust but Aputure is a bit more versatile even though it is more fragile and cumbersome.
Aputure 300d is a versatile LED light that is daylight balanced and is similar in output to 400w HMI with Wide Lens. Without its Fresnel adapter it's not particularly bright, but just like 400w HMI, it does get some jobs done. Source Four 750w Leko is a staple of theater productions finding unique uses in the film and photo world. In the past, whenever you wanted spotlight look or desired to casts very controllable shadows on your scene, S4 was your go-to light. This has changed when Aputure released Spot Light Adapter for its 300 and 600 series of LEDs.
Comparing Source Four (on the left) with 36 degrees lens to Aputure 300d (on the right) with 36 degrees lens, we see two evenly lit circles of comparable size and brightness.
Because Source Four has tungsten bulb, it appears warm outside thus to match it to daylight, Full CTB needs to be used drastically reducing its output. If you know that all your lights are daylight balanced and you care for maximum output, Aputure seems like a better (read: brighter) option. However if you will operate in tungsten environment, Source Four might be more desirable.
Source Four, even though heavier, seems more manageable because its form factor is more compact. Handling Aputure with Spotlight Adapter seems like aiming a bazooka and this might cause some problems in confined spaces, not to mention making the whole Aputure unit feel a bit wobbly and less secure.
Of course, in confined space, the heat of 750w Source Four will quickly accumulate forcing one to rethink the choice of this unit. Indeed, this light DOES get hot and its plastic back handle only marginally offset the heat of a powerful bulb.
We tested how sharp gobo patterns present with each light and here Source Four wins with its optics (or rather, the pin-point properties of its bulb). Unlike soft corners of Aputure, the Source Four's pattern is sharp edge to edge. On my own shoots I never ran into the problem where this softens of Aputure edges would cause much consternation but it is something to consider.
Both lights have their uses. On low budget productions, the fact that one can quickly switch from a typical light to a spot light might be very advantageous. Aputure's low heat signature, power consumption (around half of Source Four's) and daylight-balance might present further advantage. That said, if you care about precision of your pattern projection, more user-friendly form factor and longevity (in my opinion, Aputure is not built for abuse of even a small rental house), then Source Four might be your perfect option.
Hopefully you found this comparison useful. You can find both lights for rent at PAT Rentals (www.patrentals.com).