Comparison Aputure MT Pro vs Aputure MC Pro

— Regular. Classic external flash. Typically installed in the camera's hot shoe. This is a universal type of flash that is suitable for a variety of shooting types, from portraits to shooting objects at long focal lengths.

— Macro. Special flashes are intended for use when photographing objects at a short distance (macro photography). Such flashes are usually made in the form of a ring and are attached to the front part of the lens, which allows for uniform illumination of the object being photographed. Connection occurs through the camera's "hot shoe". It is worth noting that such flashes are not intended for regular shooting due to their low power.

— On-camera light can be described as an analogue of a photo flash, used mainly when shooting video. Hence another popular name for such devices — "video flashes". However, this name is not entirely correct due to the fact that on-camera light does not work in pulses, but in a constant mode. Simply put, it is a specialized spotlight attached to the camera.

The standard brightness of the on-camera light (see "Type"). Usually, most of these models have the ability to adjust the brightness, so the maximum value is given in the specifications.

When shooting at a short distance, devices that are too bright can “overexpose” the scene, degrading the quality of the shooting (and it can be much more difficult to compensate for excessive brightness in post-processing than the lack of light). So when choosing for this indicator, it is worth proceeding from the specific conditions of use.

The angle of illumination provided by the on-camera light source (see "Type").

A large illumination angle, on the one hand, allows you to simultaneously cover a larger area, which is especially important when shooting long shots (at short focal lengths). On the other hand, to achieve sufficient brightness, this requires a large power of light sources, which accordingly affects the price and power consumption of the device. A small coverage angle, in turn, gives a small spot size of the light, but it allows you to achieve good brightness at a relatively low power.

The parameter describes the ability of a light source to render the real colors of objects illuminated by it. The color rendering index (CRI) is expressed as a number from 1 to 100, where the maximum value is the reference color rendering. In constant on-camera light sources, the CRI index is usually in the range of 90 to 100 units. This color rendering is considered to be the most natural and is optimal for professional types of filming.

Possibility to turn the flash head (bulb) to the side.

Shooting with a flash aimed directly at the stage, “head on”, is far from always the best option: in particular, this mode gives sharp unpleasant shadows, and in portrait shooting it leads to the “red-eye” effect. At the same time, by turning the head towards the ceiling, you can get soft diffused light. There are other uses for swivel heads.

The simplest flash models with this feature can usually only be rotated in the vertical plane. More advanced options include rotation and horizontally. Here we note that the larger the angle, the more opportunities for setting the location of the head gives the flash. Vertically, it usually does not exceed 90°, and in the horizontal plane it can reach a full 360°.

The color of the diffuser included with the on-camera light source. The color can be: orange, white, pink or yellow.

A diffuser is a special filter designed to scatter light from individual LEDs, and in some cases, to give it a certain color and change the color temperature.

The ability to power the device from a 230 V network, in other words, a regular household outlet.

This option is used solely as an addition to an autonomous power source — batteries or an accumulator; purely "network" devices are not available today. It expands the connectivity options and can significantly increase the battery life of the flash: if there is an outlet nearby, the device can be powered from it, thus saving battery power. In addition, this connection can also be used to charge the built-in battery, including right at work.

Note that the described advantages are relevant mainly for powerful light sources with high power consumption. At the same time, flashes with a traditional flash format consume relatively little energy, and it is quite possible to get by with replaceable batteries. Therefore, the vast majority of mains powered models are on-camera light sources (see "Type"). In this regard, it is also worth noting that many of these lamps, especially large and powerful ones, can also be used on a tripod as stationary sources of illumination; in such cases, plug-in power is often the perfect option.

Power in watts consumed by the on-camera light during operation. This parameter is often used to evaluate the overall brightness of the glow, but only lamps of the same type (for example, the currently widespread LEDs) can be compared. Also, based on the power consumption, it is easy to calculate the approximate battery life of a constant light source. Thus, when powered by a conventional battery with a capacity of 50 Wh, an on-camera light with a power consumption of 10 W will work for about 5 hours.

Additional items included with your flash or on-camera light.

— 1/4" mount. A special adapter with a standard 1/4" thread. Such mounts ensure compatibility of lighting equipment with universal accessories (for example, tripods), providing greater freedom in setting up the filming process.

— Diffuser. A diffuser, or in other words a softbox, is an accessory that diffuses and softens the light emitted by an on-camera lighting device. Its use allows you to achieve a uniform nature of scene lighting, avoiding harsh shadows, glare and "overexposure". In the video light category, a diffuser can play a visual effect - change the color temperature or the color of the glow. Note that several different colored diffusers are often supplied in the kit.

— Curtains. Adjustable plates in the form of characteristic petals that are attached to the on-camera light source and allow for flexible adjustment of light accents. Curtains are used to change the direction and distribution of the light flow — wide-open plates provide full coverage of the scene, while closed petals narrow the light flow and direct it “in the right direction” (i.e. to a specific part of the scene). Most often, curtains are used to adjust backlighting and background lighting.

— Battery. The presence of a battery in the delivery set of battery-powered lighting equipment. Eliminates th...e need to purchase a battery separately. This item refers to a removable battery (see "Power source"), but may also indicate the absence of a battery in the standard package - in this case, you will need to purchase it additionally.

— Power supply. A device for connecting a lighting device to the mains. This connection can be used for two main purposes — operating the light source from a socket (see "Power supply from the mains") and charging the battery directly in the device itself. Modern models of on-camera lighting can support either one of these functions or both at once — the details should be clarified additionally. It should also be noted that not all devices with the ability to operate from the mains are initially equipped with power supplies — in some cases, such an accessory must be purchased separately.

— Charger. A device for charging the standard battery of a lighting device. Chargers are supplied with models that operate from specialized batteries of a removable design (see "Power source"). And if such a model allows charging the battery directly in the device, and the set includes an adapter for connecting to a socket, it is no longer considered a charger, but a power supply (see above).

— Remote control. As a rule, individual on-camera lights and lightsabers (see "Type") are equipped with a remote control. It allows remote control of the lighting device settings: turning it on and off, adjusting the brightness, changing the color temperature, activating various lighting effects, controlling several light sources combined into a group, etc. The actual set of remote control functions may differ depending on the specific implementation.

— Case/bag. The presence of a bag or case in the standard configuration of the lighting device. Bags are often equipped with handles or a strap for easy carrying, a case is somewhat simpler - it does not have handles and is designed to be carried in a bag for photographic equipment, a backpack, etc. A bag or case covers the device from dust and other contaminants, to some extent protects the contents from damage from impacts and falls.