Shedding light on the new Astra IP

Broadcast Pro

3 days ago

Lighting camera operator Ed Lister puts the latest Astra IP through its paces in the desert, the rain and everything in between. With a new design, weather sealing and a slew of upgrades, is it still the Swiss Army knife of lighting, or something else entirely?
Throughout the years I've tried and tested all the various models of the Astra in some of the most challenging conditions going. News reporting in flash floods, wildfires, torrential storms, you name it. They've always taken a real beating as I travelled around the world throwing them into all kinds of scenarios. But the new release from Litepanels, the Astra IP, feels like a completely different animal.
In my line of work, I travel frequently. Lighting gear gets packed into bags and inevitably takes a few knocks along the way. Previous models such as the 6X have always been incredible workhorses for me, but I've still had to repair them a few times over the years. The new IP models, however, feel so much more robust that I honestly don't expect that to be an issue anymore.
First impressions
Straight out of the box, the Astra IP instantly feels rock solid – harder, more rugged, heavier and with less plastic than ever before. Nothing seems flimsy or to have any weak points. The new model is also a completely different design and shape, which was really surprising. Looks-wise, it is now like something out of a sci-fi movie, super-cool with angles everywhere. On the back, there is now an LED screen. We can properly monitor numerical readouts of light levels and Kelvin. This is a game changer!
The dials are larger and slightly recessed into the body, a great improvement for both storage and durability. They're far less likely to be damaged in transit than before. Another change I am absolutely thrilled about and relieved to see is that the battery plate is now integrated directly onto the unit, rather than hooked onto thin plastic brackets mounted underneath as previously. The mount itself has been converted to metal too. Litepanels has clearly been listening to end-user feedback!
I was pleased to see that the mains power port has also been moved and is now in a far less awkward position. It used to be in the middle of the bracket, making it fiddly to get the cable in and out. It is now simply positioned on the side of the unit. Everything just feels like it has been designed with the end user in mind, which is extremely refreshing.
One of the first things I heard about before the release was that the Astra IP range is now weather-sealed, with a significantly improved IP rating of 65, up from the previous 20. To be honest, I have always been amazed at how well they perform and hold up. They have been out on location in the heavy rain, snow and intense Dubai summers many times and have never struggled. This upgrade only adds to their durability, making them even more reliable in tough conditions.
Powered up
The backlit screen is such a lovely addition for those late night or early starts, eliminating the need to shine a torch on the dials. It immediately gives the light a more premium feel, especially with the Litepanels logo nicely greeting you when powering on.
The dials work as expected when turned quickly, adjusting either power or CCT in the usual way. But when turned slowly they now also provide tactile, single-stop increments that allow precise micro-adjustments. The power dial enables fine-tuned changes in 0.1% increments, while the CCT dial adjusts in steps of 10 Kelvin. Pressing the dial offers a quick jump, either a 10% increase in power or a 200 Kelvin change, which is a thoughtful and convenient feature. The centre dial also includes white balance presets (2700K, 3200K, 5600K, etc) that can be accessed quickly.
Having all this information clearly visible on the display is a significant upgrade. It adds precision and ease of use that simply wasn't possible with the two basic knobs of the previous version. You can rotate the display if you're mounting your fixture differently, dim the backlight, turn the fan off, use Bluetooth and much more. Things are really aimed at helping you out on the shoot.
The menu itself has many features to explore: my favourite is the system monitor, which is brilliant. It shows you exactly what is going on in real time in the engine room in terms of input/power out, daylight temp/ tungsten temp, and LED temp.
Output
The previous Astra 6x had a beam angle of 45 degrees with an output of 1500 lux @ 3m/10ft, with an IP rating of 20. For the IP range, Litepanels has created a narrower beam angle of 30 degrees, increasing the output but in a smaller circle.
The 1×1 IP offers an output of 3000 lux @ 3m/10ft, which is seriously impressive; the IP 1/2 offers 1500 lux @ 3m/10ft (the same as the 6x, but in a light half the size). Having a lamp so strong yet so portable really gives you creative freedom, making this extremely versatile and a great bit of kit for travel.
Having this extra output power in both lights is a welcome bonus, especially in the Middle East. It's incredibly useful in situations when we need to compete with the sun. To complement this, underneath the lamp it states 'suitable for operation not exceeding 45°C'. This is ideal for summer shoots here, where you're lit and set up on location for long periods of time and concerns about gear overheating in the sun start to creep in.
Last month, I took the 1×1 way out into the desert in Dubai for a heat test to see how it got on. I had it powered up outside on top of a tall dune for well over an hour, and temperatures reached above 53°C. There were no issues with any electronics at all; it passed the test with flying colours, though I couldn't touch the metal parts of the fixture as they had become so hot. Not having to worry about this being an issue really offers peace of mind!
Another feature that makes these lights particularly well-suited for this region is their weather-sealing, which offers much better resistance to the sand and dust we battle with daily. I can't see any visible openings on the surface of the light, nor can I even spot the fan unit. This is excellent for keeping all the destructive things out, especially during desert shoots, filming in environments with high humidity levels or when those sudden unpredictable sandstorms roll in. Many other lights from competing manufacturers allow dust and grit to get inside far too easily, which becomes a real hassle to clean or repair. That's what makes these fixtures feel truly suited for any environment, something I genuinely appreciate.
Astra has been a staple in the broadcast world in the US and Europe for many years now. I've always loved how it has been my complete Swiss Army knife of portable lighting. It can be thrown up quickly just as a panel light for ENG work, but add the DOP choice snap bag soft boxes onto the front and it instantly transforms into a serious beauty light perfect for commercial and high-end shoots, offering beautiful and flattering skin tones with one of the best CRI values out there. It never ceases to amaze me.
People very often ask me for lighting recommendations, and my answer is always a set of Astras for this exact reason!
All these new features and improvements are extremely impressive, but what's the catch? The only thing I can really say is that one of the first things I noticed was a jump in the weight. It is noticeably heavier than the previous models. The IP 1×1 comes in at 4.4kg and the IP 1/2 at 3.1kg. Not a deal breaker by any means, but something to think about. That said, the light's durability now feels significantly improved, built for a longer life out in the field ready to withstand every single knock that comes its way. I'm genuinely excited about this new release and the next chapter with the Astra IP range, and I'm curious and optimistic to see where it will take me. Here's to the future of portable location lighting.
Ed Lister is an award-winning lighting camera operator from the UK based in Dubai.