Aputure Light Storm Lineup: What Replaced the 120d and Where Barn Doors Go

Today's Light Storm lineup consists of the LS 60, 300, 600, and 1200 point-source lights, plus the newer STORM series. The older 120d and 120d II are gone from the list. For solo interview shooters, we think the LS 300d II or LS 60x remains the most practical choice. Barn doors go on a Fresnel, not on the bare reflector.

The Light Storm Line in 2026, Model by Model

The current Light Storm collection offers many options where the 'd' suffix means daylight, the 'x' means tunable white, and the 'c' indicates a full color point source for your sets. You find the LS 60d or 60x for focusing work, while the LS 300d II and 300x provide more power for larger shoots. For bigger jobs, the 600d Pro, 600x Pro, 600c Pro II and 1200d Pro are still on the list. The 120d and 120d II are no longer on that list.

From Aputure's Light Storm and STORM pages, September 2026.

Aputure introduced the STORM line to include compact tools like the 80c alongside heavy hitters such as the 400x, 700x, 1000c, and the 1200x for professional needs. You can grab a STORM Cine Kit that bundles a Fresnel, barn doors, and a skid, so you don't buy them separately.

Barn Doors Go on the Fresnel

You cannot just clip barn doors onto a bare reflector because the light spreads out too much for a clean cut, so you must use a Fresnel to focus the beam first. The Aputure Fresnel 2X works with the 300 series and the STORM 400x because it features a 7-inch front ring that fits the standard Aputure Barn Doors. If you use the larger 600 or 1200 series lights, you need the F10 Fresnel and its specific F10 Barn Doors. For the newer STORM line, you should grab the CF7 kit for the 400x, the CF10 kit for the 700x, or the CF12 for the 1000c and 1200x.

Using a lens changes how much light hits your subject because it concentrates the energy into a tighter beam instead of throwing it across the whole room. According to the Fresnel 2X page, the 120d II jumps from 23,000 lux with a reflector to 67,000 lux once you add the glass. The 300d sees a similar boost, going from 30,000 lux to 78,000 lux in the same setup. This means you get much more raw power when you need to shape the light with those doors.

The Fresnel 2X lets you adjust the beam angle between 12 and 40 degrees by rotating the barrel, which gives you great control over where the light falls. This flexibility is vital when you need to light a specific area without letting any light spill into the background of your shot. Without the lens, the barn doors won't do their job since the beam is just too wide. One odd thing: the same page says the Fresnel makes the 120d II almost 10 times brighter, but Aputure's own table shows 23,000 to 67,000 lux, which is about 2.9 times. Go by the table.

What We Learned Owning the 120D and 300D

When we first reviewed the 120D in 2017, we found that comparing it to a 1k tungsten light is misleading because that name only refers to power draw while brands vary in actual output. The 120D has a wide 120-degree beam which makes the center lux read low next to a spotted tungsten lamp. That still holds: compare lights at the same distance and with the same modifier.

The 300D arrived in 2018 and could run for over an hour at full brightness on two 190Wh V-mount batteries, which covered most of our interviews. It was the first light we could use outdoors as our main light without a generator, though the fan is loud enough that we placed it far from the subject and the mics, and we recommend the longer head extension cable. The 120D couldn't beat our LS1S panel outdoors, but the 300D did, so we bought a Light Dome for it.

If you are looking at the LS 300d II now, you should know that it replaced the original 300D in the Light Storm collection. Our run-time and fan notes are for the first 300D, not the II. Back then, before Aputure's own barn doors shipped, we used a Westcott Bowens-mount barn door and gel kit on the 300D, and it worked well with little spill from the sides.

Which One Fits a One-Person Kit

If you are traveling or need a small light for indoor interviews, the LS 60x is a very solid pick because it offers bi-color control. Amazon lists it at 30,000 lux at one meter, while B&H lists 33,480 lux at one meter with the beam at its tightest 15 degrees, so check the beam angle before you compare. This small light has nine built-in effects and great color accuracy, so it works well for solo creators who need to keep their gear light and mobile.

When you need a main light that can handle outdoors, the LS 300d II is the pick, because it runs on V-mount batteries and works with the Sidus Link app. At 300W it has five times the rated power of the 60x, and its first version was the light that let us skip the generator. If you are on a tight budget, the Amaran 300c is a decent RGB option that doesn't cost as much.

For large crews with plenty of power and grip, the 600 and 1200 series are the right choice, while the STORM 80c provides a compact color option for others.

Frequently Asked Questions

What replaced the Aputure 120d II?

Aputure doesn't list the 120d II on its current page, so the LS 60 and 300 series now sit on either side of where it was. These models offer different power and portability levels depending on your setup.

Do Aputure barn doors fit the Light Storm?

Barn doors attach to the Fresnel modifier rather than the bare reflector, using the 7-inch ring on the Fresnel 2X for the 300 series. You need the F10 doors for the larger 600 and 1200 models.

How bright is the 120d II with the Fresnel 2X?

Aputure's table gives the 120d II 23,000 lux with the reflector, but that number jumps to 67,000 lux when you add the Fresnel 2X modifier. This boost happens because the Fresnel focuses light into a tighter beam.

Is the 300d loud?

Our 2018 300D had a fairly loud fan, so we recommend keeping the light far from your mics during the actual recording session. Using a longer head cable helps manage this noise issue effectively.

What is the difference between Light Storm and STORM?

STORM is Aputure's newer line. It uses ProLock Bowens mounts (Mini ProLock on the 80c), and its Cine Kits bundle a Fresnel, barn doors and a skid base.