Why so many Gaffers use Astera LED Lights

Astera manufactures lighting that requires no cables. The tubes, bulbs, and event lights are powered by a built-in battery and can be controlled remotely via the free Astera App or via wired and wireless DMX (CRMX). This saves setup time and eliminates cables cluttering the scene. The fixtures are also IP65-rated, making them resistant to rain and dust. Astera is widely used in films, commercials, music videos, studios, and at events. The biggest advantage is that everything works seamlessly together. Astera fixtures use RGBMA color technology: red, green, and blue, supplemented with mint and amber. As a result, an LED tube, a Fresnel lamp, and a spot light all produce the same white and the same colors, even when used together. You can also control them all from a single app as one integrated system. When it comes to LEDs, we pay particular attention to color accuracy, flicker-free operation, and effective cooling. Astera excels in these areas, which is why the brand is part of our product lineup.

De Astera family at a glance

Astera Titan Tube:
The Titan Tube (1035 mm) is the workhorse on many sets. You can control it in segments, which allows you to create effects such as police lights, fire, or a passing car. On a film set, you’ll see it used as soft key or fill light, as backlighting, or simply in the shot.
Astera Helios Tube:
The Helios Tube (550 mm) is the Titan Tube’s smaller sibling: shorter and lighter, with the same colors and the same controls. It fits where a Titan is too big, such as in a car, behind a couch, in a bookcase, or in a narrow hallway. Many customers combine the two.
Astera Hyperion Tube
The Hyperion Tube is the largest tube in the series. It uses the same coloring technique and control system as the Titan and Helios, and is ideal when you need a larger light surface or more output.
Astera AX1 PIXEL Tube:
The AX1 PIXEL Tube is an RGBW LED tube with a single white chip, designed for use on set and at events. This tube is also battery-powered and can be controlled via wireless DMX or the Astera App.
Astera LunaBulb, NYX Bulb and SolaBulb:
The LunaBulb is a battery-powered LED bulb that looks like a regular light bulb. You can screw it into an existing fixture or hang it on its own. It works well in practice: the table lamp shown here provides exactly the color and brightness you want, without needing a cord connected to a dimmer. With the NYX Bulb and the SolaBulb, Astera offers even more fixtures in the same line.
Astera QuikSpot, QuikBeam and QuikPunch:
The Quik series consists of compact battery-powered spotlights for directional lighting. The tubes and bulbs cast a wide, soft beam; with the Quik series, you can create accents, such as a streak of light on a face, an object in a display case, or a detail in the background. They are small enough to be hidden out of sight.
Astera HydraPanel:
The HydraPanel is a compact LED panel from Astera, featuring the same color technology and wireless control as the rest of the system.
Astera PlutoFresnel and LeoFresnel:
With the PlutoFresnel and LeoFresnel, Astera also offers Fresnel fixtures in its lineup, providing focused light with an adjustable beam within the same system.
Astera event lights:
For events and stages, Astera offers products such as the AX3 LightDrop, AX9 PowerBar, AX10 SpotMax, and PB15 PixelBrick. These fixtures are also battery-powered and can be controlled wirelessly. For the exact specifications for each model, please visit the product page or contact us.

Grip and lightshapers for Astera

Astera offers a wide range of mounting solutions for hanging, clamping, or mounting the tubes on a tripod. In addition, Astera has partnered with DoPchoice to develop SnapBags and SnapGrids for the various fixtures, which allow you to soften the light or make it more directional.

Which Astera light is best for your work?

Start by asking what the light needs to do. Usually, the choice follows naturally from there. Soft light over a larger area: Titan Tube or Hyperion Tube. Soft light in a small space or hidden in the set: Helios Tube. A lamp that’s part of the shot itself: LunaBulb, NYX Bulb, or SolaBulb. A focused accent or to highlight an object: QuikSpot, QuikBeam, or QuikPunch. Focused light with an adjustable beam: PlutoFresnel or LeoFresnel. Effects and moving light: Titan, Helios, or AX1 PIXEL Tube, since you control them segment by segment. Also, think ahead. Because everything in Astera is interconnected, you can start small and expand later without your colors becoming inconsistent.

How to Choose the right Astera Light Fixture?

• Gaffers and larger productions:
A set of Titan Tubes as a base, supplemented with Helios Tubes and a few LunaBulbs for practical lighting.
• Freelance cameraoperators and videomakers:
A few Helios Tubes can be set up quickly and fit into a small bag. Handy for interviews and on-location work.
• Photographers:
Tubes as edge lighting or as a creative lighting element in the frame, with Quik-spots for accents.
• Studio’s and broadcast:
Fixed setups that you control centrally via wired or wireless DMX (CRMX).
• Events and music videos:
The AX Series and PixelBrick for color and effects, even outdoors thanks to IP65.
• Museums and presentations:
QuikSpot and QuikBeam for illuminating objects without visible wiring.

When Astera isn't the best choice

Astera is flexible, but the tubes and bulbs provide less output than a large light fixture. If you need to work outdoors against the sun or fill a large space, you won’t get very far with tubes alone. In that case, choose a larger light fixture as your main light - for example, one from Aputure - and use Astera to fill in the gaps. Also keep in mind that the battery drains faster at full power. If you’re shooting long days at high power, schedule charging breaks or work while the battery is charging. We’d rather tell you this now than have you find out on set.

Buy Astera from BBP Light

BBP Light has been active in the professional continuous lighting market since 1992, and Astera is one of the brands we are proud to carry. We know how the fixtures perform in real-world applications and would be happy to advise you on the combination that best suits your work.

See it first, then choose

The best way to experience Astera is to see it in person. In our showroom at Abberdaan 194-196 in Amsterdam, the fixtures are on display, and you can operate them yourself, side by side with each other and with other brands. Our staff will be happy to show you all the possibilities. We’re open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. View the Astera selection below. Not sure which combination suits your needs, or looking for something you don’t see listed? Give us a call at 020-690-9898 or email us at info@bbplight.com, and we’ll figure it out together.

Frequently asked questions about Astera LED Lighting

Can I use the Titan Tube and the Helios Tube together?

Yes, many customers do that. They offer the same colors, so they match perfectly with each other; you can control them from a single app or via wireless DMX (CRMX) as a single system.

Can I use Astera fixtures outdoors?

Yes. The Astera lights are IP65-rated and therefore resistant to rain and dust, which makes them very reliable for outdoor shoots.

Do I always need a phone or app to control Astera?

For full control and effects, it’s easiest to use the free Astera App or DMX - wired or wireless (CRMX) - via, for example, Blackout, Luminair, Sidus Link Pro etc. If you’d like to know what control options a specific model has on the fixture itself, feel free to ask us..

Can I combine Astera with lights from other brands?

That works perfectly well. A frequently used setup is a more powerful fixture as the main light, supplemented by Astera tubes or LunaBulbs as fill lights and practical lights. Ask us about the options.