Aputure Amaran 100D & 200D Review: Budget-Friendly Bowens Mount Lights for Filmmakers
Aputure has been pushing the boundaries of lighting technology for years, but their innovations have come with increasingly premium price tags. As someone who’s been watching from “Lowbudgetville,” I was thrilled when they announced the Amaran series – finally, professional-grade lighting that won’t break the bank.
What is Amaran?
The Amaran line represents Aputure’s answer to budget-conscious filmmakers who’ve been priced out of their latest innovations. While Aputure’s flagship lights have become more sophisticated and expensive, the Amaran series strips away the premium features to deliver core functionality at accessible prices.
Unboxing: What’s Inside
To keep costs down, Aputure skipped the fancy case – which is actually fine by me since I prefer storing equipment in custom-cut hard cases anyway. Here’s what you get with both the 100D and 200D:
Included Components:
- The main light unit
- Reflector bell (Bowens mount compatible)
- Power brick with extra-long cable (about 9.5 feet)
- Wall power cord with locking mechanism
- Branded power cable
- Sticker sheet
The standout feature here is that power cable length. At nearly 10 feet (not including the wall cord), you can finally say goodbye to dangling power bricks. As long as your lights aren’t mounted higher than 9 feet, that brick stays on the floor where it belongs.
Build Quality and Design
The lights strike a smart balance between cost and durability. The mount attachment point is solid machined metal, while the body is high-grade plastic that feels substantial without the premium weight. The control knob is metal, and there’s even an umbrella holder built in – a nice touch for such budget-focused lights.
One thoughtful detail: unlike some other COB lights, these have a protective surface over the LED unit, which should help with longevity.
The rear display is clear and easy to read in dark conditions. You can either click the dial for 20% increments or use the dial for fine-tuned brightness control.
App Control Instead of Remote
Here’s where the budget positioning shows: no physical remote included. Instead, Aputure provides app control, which actually offers some advantages. You can see exact percentage values and even save settings for different lighting setups. The app also unlocks special effects modes like:
- Fireworks
- Paparazzi
- Explosion
- Strobe
- Pulsing
- TV simulation
- Lightning
- Faulty bulb
100D vs 200D: Key Differences
While the units are nearly identical in size, the 200D features a significantly larger COB for more output. The power brick is also larger to match the increased power requirements.
I opted for both models for a specific reason: the 200D produces slightly more fan noise than the 100D. Since 98% of my work doesn’t require sound recording, the 200D will be my workhorse. But for sound-critical situations, having the quieter 100D as backup makes sense.
Fan Noise Comparison
After running both lights for nearly two minutes to let them warm up:
- The 200D’s fan is noticeable when placed close to sensitive microphones
- The 100D runs about 3dB quieter
- Both are reasonably quiet, but placement and microphone sensitivity matter
For most applications, the noise won’t be an issue, but it’s worth considering for sound-critical work.
The Bowens Mount Advantage
The real power of these lights comes from the Bowens mount ecosystem. This opens up access to a vast array of modifiers that were previously limited to photographers but now work perfectly with these concentrated LED sources. Whether you need strip boxes, softboxes, or parabolic umbrellas, the options are endless.
Performance and Color Accuracy
These lights deliver where it counts:
- Excellent color accuracy
- Impressive brightness (almost uncomfortably bright at full power)
- Clean, professional output
- Daylight balanced (5600K)
Both lights are also available in bi-color versions that range from daylight to tungsten, though you sacrifice some brightness for that flexibility.
Creative Possibilities
At these price points, you can afford to think differently about lighting setups. Instead of carefully rationing expensive lights, you could build multi-light setups without breaking the bank. Want to throw some blue gel on one and purple on another? Go for it – these are affordable enough to use liberally.
I demonstrated a simple two-light setup using:
- A deep parabolic softbox umbrella (with internal deflector and baffles)
- A strip box with internal baffle and front diffusion
The results were professional and polished, proving you don’t need expensive flagship lights for quality output.
Final Verdict
The Aputure Amaran 100D and 200D represent exactly what the budget filmmaking community has been waiting for: quality and affordability in one package. They deliver professional results without the premium price tag, making them easy to recommend for anyone building out their lighting kit.
Pros:
- Excellent price-to-performance ratio
- Solid build quality where it matters
- Bowens mount compatibility
- Long power cables eliminate dangling bricks
- App control with useful features
- Accurate color reproduction
Cons:
- No physical remote included
- Some fan noise on the 200D
- Plastic construction (though well-executed)
For filmmakers operating in “Lowbudgetland,” these lights are game-changers. They prove that professional lighting doesn’t have to cost professional prices.
Do I recommend these? Absolutely.
– Affiliate links –
=== Daylight Balanced ===
Amaran 100d – https://amzn.to/3quLl0N
Amaran 200d – https://amzn.to/3rU8EBs
=== Bi-Color LED ===
Amaran 100x – https://amzn.to/3rXUQ96
Amaran 200x – https://amzn.to/3rZS4Ab
=== Gear Used in Video ===
— Main Camera —
Sony Alpha 7S III – https://amzn.to/3bbNurZ
— Overhead Camera —
Sony Alpha a6400 – https://amzn.to/3pu0YUZ
— Lighting —
GVM 80 – https://amzn.to/3avWMA1
28″ Deep Parabolic – https://amzn.to/2NvulsS
Godox Strip softbox – https://amzn.to/3qreR7O
— Backdrop Lights —
Aputure 2 H672W LED Panels – https://amzn.to/37jSaL4
— Backdrop —
Westcott 139 9×20-Feet White – https://amzn.to/37lKDeZ
— Lenses —
Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8 – https://amzn.to/2LV4V7k
Tamron 70-180mm F/2.8 – https://amzn.to/3dlUBkm
Tokina ATXAF120DXC 11-20mm f/2.8 – https://amzn.to/37mB6nF
— Mic —
Deity V-Mic D4 Duo – https://amzn.to/3s5G28B
