Nila LEDs compared to HMIs

[David Seow]

So I stumbled with this website:
http://www.nila.tv

They compare their Boxer model to a 800-1200w HMI and their Nila SL to a 2500w HMI. I know these kind of fixtures will never be the same as a real fresnel or par (multiple shadows, etc), but what I'm interested is in the raw output of light.

The benefits:
-lower heat
-lower power consumption (don't need to worry about blowing a 20a circuit)
-longer lasting (no need to be replacing bulbs)
-they seem to be pretty much indestructible...
-dimming from 10-100%

They are kind of expensive... but so are the equivalent HMIs. If they were good enough to be used in Quantum of Solace there must be something good going on... right?

Lets hear some opinions.

[David Seow]

btw, also found these:
http://www.outsight.com.au/products.php

and these guys:
http://www.aadyntech.com/

[starcentral]

They compare their Boxer model to a 800-1200w HMI and their Nila SL to a 2500w HMI. I know these kind of fixtures will never be the same as a real fresnel or par (multiple shadows, etc), but what I'm interested is in the raw output of light.

According to the photometric data the output of their SL model is more equiv to ARRI 1200 HMI not a 2500 HMI, in fact it is slightly even less.

What is the price since you mentioned it?

[David Seow]

According to the photometric data the output of their SL model is more equiv to 1200 HMI not a 2500 HMI, in fact it is slightly even less than a 1200HMI.

What is the price since you mentioned it?

According to a price sheet I was sent by the people at Nila, the SL goes for $7,499 MSRP.

[starcentral]

2 year old prices:

SL is $9000
Boxer is $4000

[David Seow]

2 year old prices:

SL is $9000
Boxer is $4000

Actually they sent me the price list on June, this year. The $7,499 price is for the Nila SL without any accessories. The complete kit with 4 lenses, skylight, and hard gels will run you $9,999 (ouch).

[Mitch Gross]

The Nila lights are extremely efficient and built like tanks. There's no restrike time like on an HMI and output decay is measured in tens of thousands of hours instead of HMIs hundreds of hours. The Nila's output very little heat or UV and draw very low power.

These are array fixtures as opposed to a bulb with a PAR or fresnel lens, but the lumens output it quite high.

[Mitch Gross]

Sorry if it wasn't clear that my company is a reseller for NILA. We also sell HMIs.

Other things that should be taken with a grain of salt:

- Authoritative statements on forums by people who have only just joined/
- Generalized statements as facts that imply specifics without providing evidence that said facts apply.
- Technical comparisons based on spec sheets but not actually physically testing devices side by side.


I've been a member of this forum for more than three years with hundreds of posts. Mike just joined and has four posts as I am typing this. I have thousands of posts on various other forums spanning nearly two decades. I put my contact info in my signature and I hope I'm not being immodest in noting that I believe that I m somewhat known in this community. There are several Mike Morgan's listed on IMDB in camera and lighting departments, but as Mike does not list his location I really have no idea who this person is.

Wanna hear the Quantum of Solace story? DP Roberto Schaefer saw some early prototypes of Nilas at CineGear Expo while he was in prep for the film. Knowing that he had an extensive car chase sequence that opened the film he was impressed with the high output and rugged modular design. He asked if the company could get a rather large quantity of units ready in time for the shoot, which was weeks, maybe a couple of months away (sorry, I can't recall exactly). Schaefer shot some tests and was satified. A chase car and I believe often a motorcycle was used with the Nilas mounted to illuminate Daniel Craig in the car as they drove through the tunnels in the Alps. They were also used elsewhere throughout the production. The production paid for the lights in full.

Different companies measure photometrics in different ways. How much drop off in the beam intensity when measuring brightness and size? X# of footcandles in the center but how many on the sides of the beam? How even is that beam? To really know how two lights compare, one needs to place them side by side and judge for one's self.

LED lights might not last 50,000 hours without fading in intensity or shifting in color. But they will last a hell of a lot longer than HMI bulbs will, by an order of magnitude.

[Patryk_Rebisz]

Mitch, "Quantum of Solace"? Why use such cheesy film as an example? That's like saying have you seen Barney the dancing dinosaur? We helped to light it!

Nothing against the lights as they seem awesome just the choice of film to prove the point.

[starcentral]

Other things that should be taken with a grain of salt:

- Authoritative statements on forums by people who have only just joined....

....I've been a member of this forum for more than three years with hundreds of posts. Mike just joined and has four posts as I am typing this. I have thousands of posts on various other forums spanning nearly two decades.

Frankly who cares how many or few posts anyone on this or any other forum has. None of that makes you or anyone more right/wrong than the next person. In fact, you yourself are trying to be authoritative as you put it by stating you've been posting for decades...

I'm quite tired of people who think they know it all just because they've turned into dinosaurs - likely the same group who resisted digital image acquisition 15 years ago....