Aputure STORM 400x

Last Updated 15 hours ago

Overview

The five-colour BLAIR engine prioritizes tunable white light and tint adjustment. Its limited-gamut colour controls are useful for some effects, while BLAIR-CG fixtures offer broader saturated-colour coverage.

Key specifications

Specification	Details
LED output / maximum consumption	400W / 500W
Engine	BLAIR: blue, lime, amber, indigo and red
CCT	2,500–10,000K
Green/magenta	±100% manufacturer range
CRI / TLCI	95+ / 95+
SSI caveat	Tungsten 87; D5600 listed as 85 on product page and 87 in support table
TM-30 averages	Rf 95; Rg 100
Mount	ProLock locking Bowens
Included reflector	35°
AC input	100–240V, 50/60Hz
Weather rating	IP65
Operating temperature	−20°C to +45°C
Head / controller	3.95kg / 3.00kg, manufacturer metric figures
Control	Onboard, Sidus Link / Link Pro, 5-pin DMX/RDM, CRMX

Strengths and limitations

Strengths

• Tunable BLAIR white light, tint control and selectable white standards suit mixed-source interiors.
• A 400W-class head, ProLock Bowens and CF7 option cover several lighting roles.
• CRMX and DMX/RDM fit remote-controlled packages.

Limitations

• Limited HSIC+ and x,y do not provide the full gamut of BLAIR-CG.
• The 500W maximum input and complete controller/modifier package matter more than head wattage alone.
• The documented current port list has no Ethernet socket, despite an older sheet mentioning etherCON.

Practical uses

The narrow Fresnel reading describes concentrated illumination. It does not mean the light suddenly produces several times as much total light. A bright central reading can be the wrong configuration for filling a large diffusion frame, where coverage and uniformity matter.

For a key through diffusion, position the head so that it fills the working area of the frame. For a motivated shaft or distant pool, the Fresnel’s narrower distribution may be more useful. Evaluate the edges and the shadow quality as well as the centre reading; neither wattage nor lux alone describes the resulting image.

The 400x is a practical middle-sized source for an interview, a controlled interior, a close bounce or a shaped background. It offers more placement flexibility than a very large head while retaining the control connections expected in a mixed professional package.

Compare the STORM 700x when throw or diffusion losses demand more headroom, and the LS 600x Pro when evaluating an existing Light Storm package. The right comparison includes beam, CCT, cooling mode, accessory and usable coverage; not only the largest advertised lux number.

Setup	Working approach
Interview key	Use a compatible softbox close enough to give the required apparent size, with the fan mode selected before exposure.
Small window or background push	Choose a reflector or CF7 setting for the required field and check coverage through any diffusion.
Bounce	Widen or position the beam to fill the bounce surface rather than concentrating only its centre.
Mixed-source white match	Match the Blackbody/CIE Daylight reference, CCT and tint before comparing to another fixture.

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Output and colour

At 5,600K, the manufacturer table gives the following figures. The CF7 is an optional optic. Its narrow setting should not be presented as the output of the standard kit.

Distance	Bare	Included 35°	CF7 at 15°	CF7 at 40°
1m	27,100 lux	64,600 lux	236,700 lux	53,900 lux
3m	3,110 lux	5,090 lux	23,260 lux	6,380 lux
5m	1,161 lux	1,769 lux	8,220 lux	2,367 lux

BLAIR builds white light from five emitter colours. Aputure documents limited HSIC+ and x,y modes, alongside the CCT range. The word “limited” matters: available chromaticities are bounded by this engine’s gamut. A colour requested by a console is not proof that it lies inside the fixture’s capabilities.

Its white-light reference can be switched between Blackbody and CIE Daylight. Record that selection when matching fixtures: an identical Kelvin setting with a different white reference can need different tint correction. For saturated greens or cyan-heavy looks, compare a BLAIR-CG source before committing the package.

The support page and product page disagree on the D5600 SSI figure. The product page lists D5600 SSI 85 and the support table lists 87. Confirm the applicable reference when comparing spectral data.

The published metric weights also have inconsistent imperial conversions. The metric figures are 3.95kg for the head and 3.00kg for the controller; approximately 8.71lb and 6.61lb by conversion. Neither figure represents the complete kit with clamp, cables, reflector and case.

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Power and batteries

Maximum electrical consumption is 500W, rather than the 400W LED figure in the name. Use the input rating when planning a location supply and include the controller in the package. Its separate housing needs a supported mounting position and a cable route that does not pull on the lamp.

V-mount and Gold-mount controller options exist. Battery output limits depend on the actual battery system, voltage and discharge capability. Check the 400x manual before promising full AC-equivalent output. Two batteries that physically fit are not automatically two batteries that can supply the required load.

Control, cooling and camera operation

The documented control options are onboard controls, Sidus Link / Link Pro, wired DMX/RDM and CRMX. The current product specification lists 5-pin DMX input and output. A line in an older feature sheet also mentions etherCON; the current port listing does not support treating that as a standard Ethernet-equipped fixture.

Fan mode is part of the lighting setup. A lower-noise mode may change available output or thermal behaviour. Check the scene at the selected mode before the take, especially when the head sits near a boom microphone. IP65 protection also depends on following connection and sealing instructions; it does not extend automatically to a battery, adapter or distribution cable.

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Modifiers, rigging and the working package

ProLock clamps a compatible Bowens accessory to reduce movement at the interface. This is especially useful with optical accessories, where sag or play can shift alignment. It does not make every Bowens item optically suitable, or remove the need to respect the modifier’s supported fixture and heat limits.

The CF7 Fresnel offers focusing control. A compatible softbox or lantern serves a different purpose: increasing the apparent size of the source or distributing it around a space. Use the Aputure compatibility wizard to confirm the exact modifier. Existing F10 or Spotlight accessories should not be assumed equivalent to a recommended STORM combination.

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Alternatives and related fixtures

Fixture	Choose it for
Aputure STORM 700x	More output for longer throws or larger diffusion with the same general tunable-white approach.
Aputure LS 600x Pro	An established bi-colour Light Storm package with different colour engine and control hardware.
Aputure STORM 80c	A much smaller full-colour source when placement and saturated colours take priority over output.

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What people are saying

Gerald Undone: a strongly positive assessment of the white-light system

Gerald Undone’s 400x review is titled “The Best Light I’ve Ever Tested.” Its discussion centres on the BLAIR engine, fluorescence, SSI, tint range and selectable white-light standards, with separate sections on battery current and the positive-lock Bowens mount.

Videos

Gaffer & Gear 313: STORM 400x

A detailed fixture review.

Gerald Undone: STORM 400x

A review focused on the light engine, white standards, battery current and locking mount.

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Rental and used-fixture checks

Inspect the ProLock mechanism, yoke lock, fan vents, head cable and controller connectors. Test CRMX or wired DMX with the selected profile, and confirm the actual fan mode, output mode and white-light standard before comparing units. A CF7 package also needs the correct barn doors and accessory support.

Documentation and specifications

Official product specification · Support and firmware · Manufacturer feature sheet.

Product photograph: Aputure.

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