ShotRigs

Aputure · LED Light

Aputure 300d Mark II

The Aputure 300d Mark II remains one of the best daylight LED fixtures for professional video and photo work, combining serious punch-through-window brightness with reliable color accuracy and smart app control.

Overall score4.6/5.0
Verdict
The Aputure 300d Mark II remains one of the best daylight LED fixtures for professional video and photo work, combining serious punch-through-window brightness with reliable color accuracy and smart app control. It's an investment, but the build quality and versatility with Bowens-mount modifiers make it a workhorse for studios, run-and-gun shooters, and rental houses alike.

Specifications

Power Output350W
Color Temperature5500K fixed
CRI/TLCI96+/97+
Weight6.6 lbs (head)
Control Range328 ft (2.4GHz)
Power Output:350WColor Temperature:5500K fixedCRI/TLCI:96+/97+Weight:6.6 lbs (head)Control Range:328 ft (2.4GHz)
  • Bowens mount for interchangeable light shaping tools
  • 2.4GHz wireless control via Aputure Sidus Link app
  • CRI 96+ and TLCI 97+ color accuracy
  • 5500K daylight-balanced LED output
  • Built-in fan cooling with silent mode
  • Includes Aputure Light Dome II softbox
  • Weather-resistant housing for outdoor shoots
  • DMX control support for studio setups

Pros

  • ✓ Extremely bright output for its size, rated at 350W
  • ✓ Rugged, robust build quality that can survive on set
  • ✓ Fantastic app control for dimming and CCT adjustments remotely
  • ✓ Bowens mount opens up huge range of modifiers
  • ✓ Silent operation mode is great for on-camera audio work
  • ✓ Includes solid case and stand adapter in the box

Cons

  • ✕ Ballast and head are heavier and bulkier than mark I
  • ✕ No native RGB or bi-color, fixed at 5500K only
  • ✕ Fan can be audible on max output despite silent mode
  • ✕ Sidus Link app can be finicky pairing multiple lights
  • ✕ Price is steep for solo shooters or beginners

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The Aputure 300d Mark II is a powerful daylight-balanced LED monolight built for filmmakers, photographers, and content creators who need bright, reliable, portable illumination on set or on location. Delivering up to 350 watts of output at a color temperature of 5500K, it produces a punchy, focused beam that rivals traditional HMI fixtures while remaining far more compact and energy efficient. The bowens-mount head accepts a wide range of modifiers, including softboxes, reflectors, and the signature Aputure Fresnel, giving users tremendous creative control over spread, hardness, and shadow quality. Its bare-bulb output rating of over 15,000 lux at three feet makes it one of the most potent single-source LEDs in its class, suitable for overpowering sunlight outdoors or lighting large interior spaces with ease. Control and connectivity are central to the 300d Mark II's design. The included Aputure Wireless Remote (2.4G) allows users to adjust brightness and, in this updated version, dim smoothly through a wider range without color shift, addressing a common complaint from the original 300d. The light also supports Sidus Link app control via Bluetooth, letting operators manage intensity, color temperature effects, and special lighting modes like paparazzi, strobe, TV flicker, and lightning directly from a smartphone. This makes it easy to integrate the fixture into complex multi-light setups or run it remotely when mounted on a stand out of easy reach, such as high above a set for a bounced or diffused key light. Built with a rugged aluminum housing and an efficient fan-cooling system, the 300d Mark II is designed to withstand the rigors of professional production environments, from studio soundstages to demanding outdoor shoots. It can be powered via standard AC or through V-mount batteries for full location flexibility, and it ships with a durable carrying case for transport between jobs. The fixture's flicker-free performance ensures clean results even when shooting at high frame rates for slow motion, a critical feature for cinematographers. Combined with its high CRI and TLCI ratings for accurate color rendition, the Aputure 300d Mark II remains a favored workhorse LED for video production teams, wedding cinematographers, and photo studios seeking a dependable, high-output key light.

Customer reviews

Key light workhorse — Marcus Webb (2024-01-15)
Been using this as my main key light for two years now. The output is insane for the size, and the app control lets me dial exposure from behind camera without touching the head. Worth every penny.
Heavy but powerful — Priya Chandran (2023-11-02)
Great light, punches through diffusion easily and color rendering is excellent. Only gripe is the head and ballast combo adds weight to my kit when I'm traveling light.
Bowens mount is a game changer — Diego Fernandez (2024-03-22)
Switching from the older Aputure mount to Bowens made my life so much easier. I can throw any softbox or grid on this thing. Fan noise is minimal unless you're cranking it to 100%.
Great for interviews and narrative work — Sarah Kim (2023-09-08)
Reliable daylight source, CRI numbers hold up in post. App occasionally drops connection when I'm running three lights at once but otherwise solid performance.
Studio staple — Tom Whitfield (2024-02-10)
We have four of these in our rental inventory and they get booked constantly. Clients love the output-to-size ratio and the included Light Dome softbox is genuinely useful.