A key light is one of the first light fixtures many filmmakers will buy, being the one that usually provides the most light coverage on a subject. This means that there are lots of options out there from the cheapest eBay specials right through to high-end fixtures costing thousands. Recent years have seen an explosion in affordable but good quality lights, led by companies like Aputure and their sister company Amaran, aimed at creators.
I've used many light lights over the years and have found that the Amarans strike a good balance between performance, build, and budget, often with some handy extras and I'm sure this is why they have become so popular. The original 60d wasn't a bad light but the second generation 60d S, looks set to improve upon that much-loved light. I've spent quite some time using it in different situations, so does it hold up to that goal?
Amaran 60d S: Specifications
Amaran 60d S: Price
At around $169 / £180 the 60d S is well priced well, and comparative to lights from Godox, Neewer, and Zhiyun – making an excellent purchase for all kinds of users, without breaking the bank.
Amaran 60d S: Design & Handling
Recent Amaran lights have been very well built indeed. No, they aren't metal-bodied like their bigger siblings in Aputure's light storm range, but the plastics are good quality and vital components like power sockets, light stand mounts, and so on tend to be metal and this is true of the 60d S.
It ships in a tough expanded styrene case, which I'm a big fan of. They are light but offer pretty good protection and are better than some of the fabric bags you see elsewhere.
In this case, you get the light, a reflector dish, diffuser, mains power supply, and battery adapter plate, plus a light stand adapter and spigot.
While it's great that the light ships with a reflector and diffuser, these are the weakest parts of this kit. The reflector isn't bad but it does have somewhat of a bright central spot, at any range. The previous version had a more linear falloff.
It's nice to have a bit of diffusion out of the bag but at this size, it really doesn't do that much. That's nitpicking though. If Amaran had included a larger diffuser the cost would have risen substantially.
All in all the build quality is excellent here. It feels rugged while remaining light and while plastic, the Bowens mount should give ample support to all but the heaviest of modifiers.
Amaran 60d S: Power
Versatile power options are something that Amaran is very good at and the 60d S is no different. In the studio you have the mains power supply, with that good long supply cable but what if you are on location, in an extra large space, or simply don't have access to a mains socket? Well, the 60d S has a couple of options. There's that side-mounted v-mount, so you could add a large battery there, using the tap cable to power the light. This is a good option for some, although you will have to purchase the cable separately as it doesn't come in the case.
Personally I like the dual NPF adapter, which is included and does a fine job. Many users will already have a number of NPF batteries lying around as they are so commonly used in accessories of all kinds. This plate is lightweight which is always good when carrying gear for a shoot.
The only downside is really more of a missed opportunity. I would love it if Amaran had made it possible to charge the NPF batteries using this adapter. It's only a small thing but one less item to remember to bring with you.
The 60d S has a set of power options that are excellent and this really is a go-anywhere light.
Amaran 60d S: Performance
All that build quality and thoughtful design lends itself to a small but powerful light, making this one beast of a little fixture. The output from the 60d S is very impressive, with over 7k lumens and one meter, or over 5200 lux if you prefer to measure that way. This is a huge output for a small light that can pretty much go anywhere. It makes for a fantastic key light, although it will need diffusing to get the softness so many people want. The diffuser that comes with it is nice to have but isn't really up to much but then there's that Bowens mount. This is strong enough for most modifiers. I use it regularly with a meter-wide parabolic with zero worries. The mount is plastic though, so if you want to go huge then maybe look at a light stand Bowens mount and let the 60d S hang off the back of that instead.
I've also lit a large room with this, with a lantern modifier, hanging the light from a grip clamped to a ceiling beam, which worked perfectly.
Now, it's important to understand that this is a daylight lamp that works in its favor when it comes to power. Its sibling the 60x S may give bi-color output but that comes at the expense of significantly less output, something to keep in mind if both are on your shortlist. Personally, I find skin tones render best under daylight temperatures, making the 'd' the best option. The fact that you get higher output with the daylight version is a plus.
The newer Amaran light stand adapters are fantastic too. The top half has a mounting hole for an umbrella, for some extra options, and the whole thing is made of metal, so should last years.
Daylight color temperature is so important for lots of people and it's really good to see that Amaran has made sure this is accurate. The TLCI rating (the broadcast measure of color accuracy) is 99+ while the CRI is 96+. Both have excellent results, making for an easier life on a shoot and in post.
Amaran 60d S: control
The Sidus Link app is my preferred method of control for all my Aputure and Amaran lights. Partly as it means I get more attributes to control for some fixtures, partly as it makes it easy to adjust fixtures that might be rigged in hard-to-reach places but also as it means I can set up scenes for recall later. This is so handy for people using a similar setup multiple times.
That said the control system on the light itself is good. There's a button for connecting Bluetooth, while everything else is done from a single clickable rotary knob on the rear (other than the power switch). This sets the intensity by 1% increments while clicking and holding the knob increases intensity through a number of intensity presets.
There are a range of effects built in, something that is common to many lights these days. They are less useful on a single-temperature fixture but still nice to have.
Amaran 60d S: verdict
Amaran has struck a home run with the 60d S. It packs a punch for a small light, with excellent color accuracy, a great build, options for mains or battery power, and a standard Bowens mount, meaning there's a host of modifying options out there. Plus, it can be controlled along with other Amaran/Aputure lights with the Sidus Link app.
