Aputure STORM 400x vs 700x vs 1200x: Which STORM Should You Buy?

Last updated 19 September 2026 by the team at Filmgear Canada, an authorized Aputure dealer in Vancouver.

The short answer

All three STORM x lights share the same engine, the same colour quality and the same weather sealing. What you're choosing between is power, weight and how the light gets its electricity. That's it.

• STORM 400x. You work alone or in small crews, you carry your own kit, and some days there's no wall outlet. It's the only one of the three that runs on batteries.
• STORM 700x. You light people in real rooms, you bounce off ceilings, you push through big diffusion. It still goes up on a baby stand.
• STORM 1200x. You're covering a big space, fighting daylight through a window, or putting the light a long way back. It wants its own circuit and a proper stand.

If you can't decide between the 400x and the 1200x, you almost certainly want the 700x.

Watts won't tell you how bright it'll be

Everyone shops these by the number on the side. 400, 700, 1200. It's a reasonable instinct and it'll mislead you, because the reflector you put on the front changes the answer more than the wattage does.

Aputure publishes full photometric tables for all three lights. We pulled them into one place. Everything below is at 5600K, measured 3 metres from the light, straight from Aputure's help centre.

Look at the second row first. With the reflector each light ships with, the 700x and the 1200x land within about 6% of each other at the centre of the beam. That isn't because the 1200x is weak. Aputure puts a wide 45° reflector on the 1200x and a 35° one on the 700x, so the 1200x spreads its light over a much bigger area. You're paying for coverage there, not for a brighter hot spot.

Now the 400x against the 700x. Both come with a reflector Aputure calls 35°. By Aputure's own numbers, the 700x's gets more than three and a half times as much light to 3 metres. Same label, different reflector. If you're comparing the two lights with their stock reflectors on, the gap is much bigger than 400 against 700 watts suggests.

And when you do put the 1200x's tight optics on, it pulls away hard. 96,100 lux at 3 metres through its optional 15° reflector is the number that punches through a window or a 12 by 12 of heavy diffusion.

One small warning about that last figure. We've seen it quoted online at 3.3 feet. Aputure's table has it at 3 metres. At 1 metre it'd be a very different light.

What's the same on all three

This part is short because it's genuinely identical.

• BLAIR light engine, five emitter colours (blue, lime, amber, indigo, red), tunable from 2,500K to 10,000K with full green and magenta shift.
• CRI and TLCI of 95 or better, SSI 87 at both 3200K and 5600K, TM-30 Rf 95.
• Limited colour on top of the white. Aputure says BLAIR reaches more than 70% of Rec.2020 through its Limited HSIC+ and x,y modes. Good for a sodium-vapour amber or a sunset wash. If you need saturated colour all day, that's what Aputure's c models are for.
• IP65 dust and weather sealing on the lamp head, control box and cables.
• ProLock, a locking version of the Bowens mount. Your Bowens softboxes fit. The collar screws down so a heavy modifier or a Fresnel can't sag or twist.
• Control from the Sidus Link apps, wired DMX/RDM and built-in CRMX. The 1200x adds two network ports for sACN and Art-Net.

So if a friend tells you the 1200x has better colour than the 400x, they're wrong. It has more of it.

STORM 400x: the one that runs on batteries

This is the light for people who load their own car. The lamp head weighs 3.95 kg with the yoke and the control box another 3 kg. Aputure's loaded soft case comes to 12.96 kg, which one person can carry up a flight of stairs without planning the route first.

It's also the only STORM x with a battery plate, and this is where people get caught out. You can't run it off one battery. Aputure's manual is explicit: it needs two V-mount or Gold Mount batteries at the same time, 14.4V or 14.8V, and it won't run on one.

How much light you get depends on how hard each battery can push current.

If a battery can't deliver what the setting asks for, the light goes into protection and stops. So before a location day, check the continuous discharge rating on your batteries' spec sheets, not just the watt-hours.

On output, a buyer on B&H asked whether the 400x is as bright as an LS 600d. B&H's answer was no. Aputure's own figures bear that out once reflectors go on: the LS 600d Pro's Hyper Reflector puts 8,500 lux at 3 metres, against 5,090 for the 400x with its stock reflector. What the 400x gives you instead is a smaller, lighter, weather-sealed light with tunable white. One owner there said they bought it over the 700x as a solo shooter who carries their own gear, and that's the right reason to.

Pair it with the CF7 Fresnel if you want a hard, shapeable source. That's where the 23,260 lux in the table comes from.

STORM 700x: the middle that isn't a compromise

The 700x lamp head weighs 5.15 kg, and Aputure rates it for either a baby or a junior stand. That's the whole case for it. It's the most output you can get in this line before you need heavier grip.

With its stock reflector it roughly matches the 1200x at the centre of the beam at 3 metres, as the table shows. Put the CF10 Fresnel on and spot it down and you're at 56,200 lux. For an interview key through a big frame of diffusion, a ceiling bounce in a boardroom, or a hard backlight in a mid-sized space, it's plenty.

It runs on AC only. Aputure lists a maximum draw of 880 W, which is about 7.3 A at 120 V. A normal household circuit handles that, as long as you're not also running a kettle and a space heater off it.

The 700x Cine Kit is the same light plus a CF10 Fresnel, CF10 barn doors, a safety chain, a soft case for the Fresnel and the 700x skid. If you already know you'll want a Fresnel, get it as a kit and keep everything in one order.

STORM 1200x: when you actually need it

The 1200x is a serious light and it asks for serious support. The head is 9.5 kg with the yoke, the control box is 5.92 kg, and Aputure's rolling case comes to 27.32 kg fully loaded. Owners on B&H describe it as heavier than they expected and say they run it on junior stands. We'd agree with both.

Power is the other thing to plan for. Aputure's product page lists a maximum consumption of 1,550 W. At 120 V that's close to 13 A, most of a standard 15 A circuit. Give it a circuit of its own. The help centre lists 1,450 W, and even the lower number doesn't leave room to share. Owners on B&H report running it off ordinary household and office circuits without tripping a breaker, which matches the arithmetic, as long as nothing else is on that circuit.

What you get for that is the table's last column. The wide 45° reflector in the box lights a big area evenly. The optional 1200x reflector kit adds 15° and 30° reflectors, and the 15° is what takes it to 96,100 lux at 3 metres. The 1200x Cine Kit bundles the CF12 Fresnel if you'd rather shape it.

It also has the most control options of the three, with two network ports for sACN and Art-Net alongside DMX, CRMX and the app. If you're running a house lighting desk, that matters.

Still running an LS 600d Pro?

A lot of the people asking about the 700x already own a Light Storm, usually a 600d Pro, and want to know if it's time.

Aputure's own numbers make the case pretty clearly. The 600d Pro does 8,500 lux at 3 metres with its Hyper Reflector. The 700x does 18,670 lux at 3 metres with the reflector in its box. That's a bit over twice the light, plus tunable white instead of daylight only, plus IP65.

What you'd give up is battery power. The 600d Pro takes V-mount or Gold Mount batteries and a 48V DC input, and it can even charge batteries while it's on AC. The 700x is AC only. If most of your 600d Pro's life is spent on batteries, the honest upgrade is the 400x, not the 700x.

The warts

Every light in this line has a thing owners complain about. Better you hear it now.

The 1200x is loud in Smart fan mode. Aputure rates it at 52 dBA at 1 metre in Smart, against 43 in High and 31 in Low. That's not a typo. Smart lets the fan ramp as hard as it needs to, so if you're recording dialogue, pick a fixed mode and check your output. The control box is quieter at 28.5 dBA.

The 400x and 700x are much quieter, 29 to 36.9 dBA at 1 metre depending on mode. But Silent isn't a free lunch. On the 400x, Aputure's manual says Silent turns the fan off and limits the light to 45 W. That's about a tenth of its output. Fine for a practical or a gentle fill, useless as a key.

IP65 is real, and it isn't a warranty. Aputure's 1200x help centre says moisture damage to the lamp head or control box isn't covered, and gives specific tilt angles for use in heavy rain. Treat IP65 as protection against a surprise shower, not as permission to leave it out all night.

We've also seen one 400x owner on B&H report intermittent fan error codes that cleared after reinstalling the firmware. It's one report, not a pattern, but if it happens to you, that's the first thing to try before you ship anything anywhere.

And the 400x battery rule catches people. Two batteries, every time, and they need to be able to deliver the current.

So which one

If you're still torn, compare the three at our Vancouver showroom. Standing next to them tells you more about the weight than any spec sheet can.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between the Aputure STORM 400x, 700x and 1200x?

Power, weight and how they're powered. All three use the same BLAIR engine, tune from 2,500K to 10,000K with green and magenta shift, rate CRI and TLCI 95 or better with SSI 87, and are IP65 sealed with a ProLock Bowens mount. The 400x weighs 3.95 kg and runs on AC or two batteries. The 700x weighs 5.15 kg and runs on AC. The 1200x weighs 9.5 kg, runs on AC and draws up to 1,550 W.

Is the STORM 700x or the 1200x brighter with the reflector that comes in the box?

At the centre of the beam they're close. Aputure's tables put the 700x at 18,670 lux and the 1200x at 19,800 lux at 3 metres, 5600K. The 1200x ships with a wider 45° reflector, so it covers a much larger area at that brightness. With the optional 15° reflector the 1200x reaches 96,100 lux at 3 metres.

Can the STORM 400x run on one V-mount battery?

No. Aputure's manual says the 400x needs two V-mount or Gold Mount batteries at the same time, at 14.4V or 14.8V. Each battery must deliver at least 10 A continuous for 50% output, and 20 A for full output.

Can the STORM 700x or 1200x run on batteries?

Aputure's specifications list AC power only for both, 100 to 240 V. Neither has a battery plate. If you need battery power, the 400x is the STORM x that takes batteries.

Can I plug a STORM 1200x into a regular wall outlet?

Yes, but give it the circuit to itself. Aputure lists a maximum draw of 1,550 W on the product page, which is close to 13 A at 120 V, most of a standard 15 A household circuit.

How loud are the STORM fans?

Aputure's figures at 1 metre: the 400x runs 29 to 36 dBA and the 700x 31.8 to 36.9 dBA depending on fan mode. The 1200x runs 31 dBA in Low, 43 in High and up to 52 dBA in Smart. Silent turns the fan off, and on the 400x it also limits output to 45 W.

Will my existing Bowens softboxes fit a STORM light?

Yes. ProLock is a locking Bowens mount, so Bowens modifiers fit and the collar clamps them in place. Check the modifier's own wattage rating. Aputure's Spotlight Mount II 36° Lens Kit, for example, is rated for ProLock and Bowens lights up to 800 W, which covers the 400x and 700x but not the 1200x.

Which Fresnel goes with which STORM?

The CF7 is made for the 400x, the CF10 for the 700x and the CF12 for the 1200x and 1000c. Aputure designs each one around its light, so buy the one that matches.

What stand do I need for a STORM light?

The 400x mounts on a baby pin or a junior receiver. Aputure rates the 700x for either a baby or a junior stand. The 1200x head weighs 9.5 kg with the yoke, and owners generally put it on a junior stand.

Are STORM lights waterproof?

They're IP65 rated against dust and water, including the control box and cables. Aputure's 1200x help centre also says moisture damage to the lamp head or control box isn't covered by warranty and recommends specific tilt angles in heavy rain.

Do STORM x lights do colour?

Limited colour. They're tunable white fixtures first, but Aputure says the BLAIR engine reaches more than 70% of Rec.2020 using its Limited HSIC+ and x,y modes. For fully saturated colour, Aputure's STORM c models are the ones to look at.

What comes in the STORM 700x Cine Kit that isn't in the light alone?

The Cine Kit adds a CF10 Fresnel, CF10 barn doors, a safety chain, a soft case for the Fresnel and the STORM 700x skid to everything that comes with the 700x on its own.

Is the STORM 700x a good replacement for an LS 600d Pro?

For AC work, yes. Aputure's figures give the 700x 18,670 lux at 3 metres with its stock reflector against 8,500 lux for the 600d Pro with its Hyper Reflector, plus tunable white and IP65. The 600d Pro runs on batteries and the 700x doesn't, so battery-first users should look at the 400x.

Buying a STORM light in Canada

We're an authorized Aputure dealer with a showroom at 945 East Cordova in Vancouver, and we ship Canada-wide. In-stock orders placed before 2 PM Vancouver time go out the same day. Everything carries the manufacturer's warranty, and we handle the warranty process with Aputure for you.

• Aputure STORM 400x (V-Mount)
• Aputure STORM 700x and the STORM 700x Cine Kit
• Aputure STORM 1200x with Wide Reflector and the STORM 1200x Cine Kit
• Fresnels: CF7 for the 400x, CF10 for the 700x

Want the deeper dive on one light? Our STORM 1200x buying guide and STORM 400x buying guide go into each one in more detail, and Aputure lighting by use case covers the rest of the range. Buying several lights for a production company or a studio? Email info@filmgearcanada.com for a quote.

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Sources. Photometrics from Aputure's help centre technical specification pages for the STORM 400x, STORM 700x and STORM 1200x (1200x figures from its Normal mode table), read 19 September 2026. Weights, maximum power consumption, fan noise, beam angles, box contents and control specifications from Aputure's STORM 400x, STORM 700x, STORM 700x Cine Kit and STORM 1200x product pages, read 19 September 2026. Where the help centre lists a different maximum draw (850 W for the 700x, 1,450 W for the 1200x), we've used the product page figure. Battery requirements and Silent fan mode behaviour from the STORM 400x user manual V1.0. LS 600d Pro figures from Aputure's LS 600d Pro product page. Owner comments from B&H Photo customer reviews and questions for the STORM 400x and STORM 1200x, read 19 September 2026. Current draw at 120 V is our own arithmetic from Aputure's wattage figures.