Aputure Priority
Posted on Dec 10, 2024 by Pro Moviemaker
The INFINIBAR takes the award for lighting innovation in the Pro Moviemaker Gear of the Year Awards
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Dynamic lighting brand Aputure is known for delivering cutting-edge and innovative products, with its INFINIBARS being a prime example. They take all the advantages of tube lights – like portability and inexpensive ways to add practical lights to a set – and then get rid of a major disadvantage: their round shape that makes them tricky to rig up. That’s why, in the lighting innovation category of the Pro Moviemaker Gear of the Year Awards, the winner is the Aputure INFINIBAR range.
The INFINIBARS are thin, linear lights featuring 48 individual pixels in the PB6 model (96 in the PB12 and 24 in the PB3), offering multiple colour modes, all while staying true to the accurate CRI 96 and TLCI 98. Available in various lengths, the innovative design creates a unique, sharper look with consistent light distribution across the entire fixture.
A unique mounting system means several INFINIBARS can combine to create complex shapes. Each bar has its own lithium-ion battery that can operate at 100% brightness for 100 minutes. It can also be powered by mains. Using special joining plates that include electrical power-through connectors, only one light needs to be plugged into the mains, powering all other connected lights from
a single lead.
A range of ten different connectors are available, so you can assemble the lights into many different shapes – like triangles, stars and wheels. The other mounting option is a precision rear clamp with a baby pin-style shaft. This can slide along a recess along the back of the light to just the right position, then be clamped down, ready for use on a stand or other grip.
Alternatively, the rear of the light has two powerful magnets at either end, so the light can be fastened to any metal object. The INFINIBAR PB6 (2ft/60cm) also has a durable aluminium housing.
The unit’s proprietary RGBWW chipset produces white light from 2000-10,000K with full green/magenta adjustment. It also features advanced hue, saturation and intensity controls for accurate colours. The control panel is located on the back.
To adjust and sync the lights, you can use the free Sidus Link app, Lumenradio CRMX or through wired DMX with an optional USB-C-to-DMX adapter. The controls give access to the nine built-in lighting effects: fireworks II, fire II, paparazzi II, faulty bulb II, TV III, pulsing III, cop car III, lightning III and party II.
The app or control panel is where you can also set the pixel effects, which include colour fade, colour cycle, 1-pixel, 2-pixel or 3-pixel chase, rainbow and pixel fire. The speeds and colours of these can be adjusted to create vivid displays.
It’s also simple to set auto-off times for the screensaver and how overheating protection will work – either reducing the brightness or shutting off the light.
The range recently expanded to two four-light kits plus a series of power and mounting accessories such as light control grids, as well as a 330W power adapter with four-way splitters. Also new is a collapsible, folding tripod stand that allows INFINIBARS to stand vertically without any rig or support frame, a tilting mount and a 24V, V-Mount battery power solution that outputs up to 200W of DC power.
The INFINIBARS are both innovative and highly capable. From practical effects to flashy LED arrays – or even as a key light or a fill light – this is a smart buy for any creative filmmaker.
This feature was first published in the November/December 2024 issue of Pro Moviemaker.
