Happy New Year! Or 新年快乐 as we say in the Middle Kingdom!

This is the first of a two-part New Year Series. 2011 was very eventful so we’re going to take a look back at our product releases, milestones, travels, etc.

Blog traffic steadily grew from 10,000 visitors/month at the beginning of the year to 21,000 by the end of the year. We averaged 517 hits per day, and had a steady growth rate through the year!

Milestones

• January - Produced our 2nd video
• February - Celebrated Chinese New Year in style
• March - Released MagicRig and Trigmaster Plus 2.4G
• April - Had a blast at the Beijing Trade Show
• May –  Released Trigmaster 2.4G
• June – Interviewed Trey Ratcliff of Stuck in Customs
• July - Rocked Interphoto in Shanghai
• August - Amaran LED Video Light Released
• September - Launched our first poll (vote!)
• October - Shot the Iraqi football team in China
• November – Launched our Google+ Page
• December - Released Amaran 198A & 198C and Gigtube Wireless II

Most Popular Blog Posts

Apparently people like camera comparisons…

1. Olympus XZ-1 vs Canon S95 - 58,000 views
2. Canon 60D vs Nikon D7000 – 52,000 views
3. Canon 600D vs Nikon D5100 – 48,000 views
4. Camera & Lens Shopping in Hong Kong – 32,000 views (steadily moving up…)
5. Canon G12 vs Nikon P7000 – 30,000 views

Hope you all had as great a year as we did.

Happy 2012!

Shenzhen, December 20th, 2011 - Aputure Photo Tech Co. is pleased to announce our latest device, the Gigtube Wireless II. The new version follows on the heels of the original Gigtube, and adds many new features to the list.

Gigtube Wireless II is a live-view wireless display and remote with infinite photographic possibilities. New features include video recording, longer range, multiple camera shutter control, and multiple shooting modes. What’s more, in includes a built-in camera and playback for DSLRs without live-view.

When you need an LCD and remote but can’t be positioned right behind the camera, Gigtube Wireless II is the perfect solution.

Main Features

• Live-view wireless display and remote
• Camera built-in to support cameras without live-view
• Video start & stop control
• Monitor 4 cameras at once
• 2.4G digital signal transfer technology
• Built-in memory & playback
• Working distance up to 100 meters
• 3.5″ 320x240px TFT LCD
• Easy mounting screen hood
• Strong resistance to interference

Stay tuned for more info, videos, and tutorials on this hot new product!

Shenzhen, 10th of December, 2011

Aputure Photo Tech Co. is pleased to announce our next batch of LED video lights: Amaran 198A and Amaran 198C.

Amaran 198A features beam angle adjustment, to enable shooting both wide angles and telephoto effectively. Amaran 198C features color temperature adjustment, for use shooting under tricky lighting conditions, indoors and outdoors. Whatever the shooting environment, these two LEDs can adapt to give you the lighting you need.

They use the latest LED technology, giving you great color and warm, soft lighting to enhance your subject matter. They are nearly heat free, for a cool and comfortable shooting experience. They are small and light for maximum portability. Brightness can be adjusted to your liking, and output is 100% flicker free – ideal for video. Get the same professional lighting quality as seen on TV and Hollywood. Finally, their eco-friendly nature saves power and lasts longer. With a wide range of features and ease of operation, Aputure Amaran LED Video Lights are the best tool for your video and camera lighting needs.

Main Features

Las Vegas © Jason Mrachina

Aputure will be at CES this year in Las Vegas. Feel free to stop by our booth, meet the team, and try out our products. We’re located in Hall D at booth #72443. Here’s a map showing exactly where we’ll be. Click on the image below for more information. See you in Vegas…

If you’ve joined Google Plus since their launch or read any news about it, then you know it’s a hot new player in the social networking game. Initially they did not allow business pages, but recently, they opened up the gates to businesses of all kind.

We joined today – check out our page here, click the big +1, and add us to your circles!

If you want to join Google Plus but aren’t quite sure where to start, check out this article from Danny Sullivan for some pointers.

See you on Google Plus!

Amaran 198A Review by Lighting Rumours

“Is the Aputure Amaran, as the manufacturer claims, the perfect LED lighting solution? Not quite. The tilt bracket could be better, and a 1/4″ screw socket or light stand mount would be welcomed. On the other hand, the lamps are very bright, adjustable, easy to use and most of all affordable. Not perfect, but pretty damn good.”

Video Review by DioxCorp

Camera 2U Review

“We know…the name Amaran sounds like “Warning” to Malaysians and perhaps rightly so…because you’d be amazed by how this gadget can be a solution for your lighting issues. Built with high quality imported light and IC technology, this gadget can be used on your HDSLR or video camera. When it is set on full power, it can brightly light up the room.”

Stay tuned for more reviews!

The Twitter Bird Follows Aputure. Do You?

We’re on Twitter! This isn’t exactly news, but we thought we’d let you know anyways.

Twitter is one of the most popular websites in the world, and we’ve finally gotten around to organizing ourselves there. Flickr and Facebook are more important to us currently, but Twitter has a role too. One cool thing about Twitter are the lists you can create to follow different people.

Check out our lists:

• Photographers – from famous to pros to hobbyists
• Companies – different photography related companies
• Social Media – never hurts to have good social media skills

What are you waiting for? Add us on Twitter! Chances are, if you’ve added us, we’ve added you!

Aputure Amaran LED Video Light

Now that our new Amaran LED Video Light is on the market and in the hands of customers, we’d like to explain the Matrix Lighting technology that makes it so special.

Amaran uses two different types of bulbs: one at a narrow 25 degree angle, and one at at wider 60 degree angle. This ensures that you can pull off shots and videos of both wide angle and zoomed-in telephoto scenes.

Furthermore, light levels at both ends of the zoom spectrum tested (28mm and 200mm) are roughly the same, so when you’re zooming in during video while shooting in manual mode, you’ll get the same exposure.

Watch our new video explaining everything…

Here’s a few photos (frame grabs from the video) below for further clarification.

Dual Bulb Angles

Effective At Wide Angles

Effective At Telephoto

Lighting Essentials Review

 From the review:

“In the shoots I found them to be 100% reliable. NO missed flashes, no problems with interference and all the working distance that I need for my work. They worked flawlessly when triggering the camera during a still life shoot, and every one of my different speedlights worked with them as well.”

New Gear: Aputure Triggers and Gamilight Modifiers – Gear that WORKS © Don Giannatti

Lighting Rumours Review

From the review:

“On a final note, what does the Aputure Trigmaster 2.4G system offer that PocketWizard Plus IIs don’t?

• Low price
• More channels
• Size
• Hotshoes on receivers and transceivers
• Inexpensive receivers available
• Autofocus support for remote cameras
• Can wake up sleeping flashes” 

Aputure Trigmaster 2.4G Review © Lighting Rumours

Tristan Jud | RAW Review

From the review:

“On the other hand the Trigmaster comes as a pack with a trigger and receiver. Which could be a great starting point for someone who needs a complete set to get going with. That is the major difference between the two devices. I also want to mention that both the Trigmaster and Trigmaster Plus can actually work together.”

Aputure Trigmaster Family Review © Tristan Jud | RAW