FloLight LED500 Light Review - DVXuser.com -- The online community for filmmaking

Kelly Olsen · 03-17-2008, 03:14 PM

FloLight has a 500 led light that is supposed to be equal to a 500 watt hot light.

Only uses 40 watts and hard to break.

There is a review on the Los Angeles Final Cut Pro User Group website. Looks like an interesting light and I'm considering getting one. Anybody here have one yet?

http://www.lafcpug.org/reviews/review_flolight.html

Mike@AF · 03-21-2008, 12:16 AM

I've been looking at this for a few months now back when All Hallows Fest was going on. I didn't buy it then because we ended up not being able to shoot our film, but since I have a few projects coming up I'm probably going to purchase a couple.

Does anyone here have any direct experience with these?

Kelly Olsen · 03-21-2008, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flmmkr

I've been looking at this for a few months now back when All Hallows Fest was going on. I didn't buy it then because we ended up not being able to shoot our film, but since I have a few projects coming up I'm probably going to purchase a couple.

I encourage you to order at least one today and start shooting and post pictures here

Wilson · 03-22-2008, 09:04 AM

It is the future of lighting.

-Wilson

Leo Versola · 03-23-2008, 08:06 AM

I checked with them about a month ago and they said they were out of stock until late Mar/early Apr and would let me know when they've received a new shipment but I haven't heard anything back yet.

Mike@AF · 03-23-2008, 04:58 PM

I sent them an email a few days ago and haven't gotten a response yet. I may just bite the bullet and place the order, but I'd like to get answers to my last few questions first. Maybe they'll respond tomorrow.

Kelly Olsen · 03-25-2008, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flmmkr

I sent them an email a few days ago and haven't gotten a response yet. I may just bite the bullet and place the order, but I'd like to get answers to my last few questions first. Maybe they'll respond tomorrow.

As much as I want you to get one and give us feedback, I'd wouldn't give any company money that has not responded.

In general, companies that pay no attention to their customer service tend to pay no attention to the quality of their products.

I'd be delighted to see that this product is for real and solid, but I'd talk with somebody by phone before making any order.

I was going to get a couple of them but I'm reluctant now. If they prove to be vapor ware, maybe Richard at CoolLights can offer a version. He has been talking about it for a while.

Keep us posted.

Mike@AF · 03-25-2008, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelly Olsen

As much as I want you to get one and give us feedback, I'd wouldn't give any company money that has not responded.

In general, companies that pay no attention to their customer service tend to pay no attention to the quality of their products.

I'd be delighted to see that this product is for real and solid, but I'd talk with somebody by phone before making any order.

I was going to get a couple of them but I'm reluctant now. If they prove to be vapor ware, maybe Richard at CoolLights can offer a version. He has been talking about it for a while.

Keep us posted.

I agree with you 100%. I'm still waiting. 5 days later and still no response. Not encouraging. I first contacted them a few months ago and got responses immediately. Something may be going on with them. I'll email again tonight and try calling in a couple days. I'll let you all know what happens.

Cool Lights · 03-26-2008, 12:57 AM

I am working on V2 of our panel right now--waiting for it to come back from the factory where the prototype is being built. I am always reluctant to give a timeframe however as I have watched how time easily multiplies beyond what you think it can based on circumstances. I like to wait until I have a really good product before I release it and the first panel needed some more work as the dimmer had some issues and the LEDs were not high CRI so the color rendering wasn't great.

One other thing I've been hung up on is the fixture body for it and whether to use our new lightweight plastic type model (with the lollipop) or a more classic metal chassis design with yoke like the Yuyao Lishuai model that Flolights sells:

http://www.lishuai.com.cn/english/En...?ArticleID=570

I think I've mentioned before my reluctance to carry that particular model relates to the fact that I can't control the costs very well when I just buy an off-the-shelf product from a factory like that one so it'd be tough to offer it for much less than Flolights. Plus I don't like that its bank select and has no dimmer--dimmers are not so hard to do on LEDs so it seems to be a big oversight on that product.

I was going for a target introductory price of $199 for such a panel and think that makes more sense. I'm also on an active hunt for a lithium ion or lithium polymer battery pack for it too with recharger and that would be a separate option which would have its own price apart from the panel. We would probably put a nylon strap and carabiner on the battery pack to allow you to hang it from the light stand like the ballast on our CL-MF0150 fresnel does now.
My current prototype I am working on has about 512 LEDs and I am considering two models:

1). 256 3200K LEDs and 256 5600K LEDs in alternating rows each controlled by its own dimmer. This would allow you to use the panel as either a 5600K or 3200K panel without gelling. You could even mix color temperatures with the two dimmers but in practice, for our work I don't think you will do that. This model is mainly just interesting for being either 3200K or 5600K with independent dimmers.

2). An entirely 5600K panel (all 512 LEDs as 5600K which will probably be more in demand these days since a majority seem to prefer daylight lighting now) with dimmer.

On both models I was going to choose a 30 degree angle spot LED to give a more round spot-like beam of hard light. I figure you can add your own diffusion panels to diffuse it if you need it but having it as a more hard beam will allow the throw to be longer. Both models would also either use a 12v wall transformer type of power supply or the optional battery pack as power. 12v in allows a lot of flexibility in how you power it and from what kind of source or battery of your own choosing.

We are also obtaining a sample 100w LED and looking at a 160w LED made in the UK but the issue with these single high wattage LEDs is that they are very expensive, require big heat sinks, and are very hard to make a good reflector for them. All these issues mean that the small LED fresnel I've been dreaming of building is still a bit off before we can make it happen at a reasonable price.

Kelly Olsen · 03-26-2008, 02:12 AM

Richard,

Glad to see you chime in! I like option #2. More power of one color temp and if we need 3200K then we gel. I also like the heavy duty plastic better than the metal but I'd buy whatever you chose.

I think you'd sell these like hot cakes at $200 (can you get hot cakes in China?).

Also, I know that they would be reliable inside and out if made by you to your usual high quality standards.

I have the butter and syrup. Just put 'em on the griddle.

03-17-2008, 03:14 PM	#1
Kelly Olsen Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 390	FloLight LED500 Light Review FloLight has a 500 led light that is supposed to be equal to a 500 watt hot light. Only uses 40 watts and hard to break. There is a review on the Los Angeles Final Cut Pro User Group website. Looks like an interesting light and I'm considering getting one. Anybody here have one yet? http://www.lafcpug.org/reviews/review_flolight.html

03-23-2008, 04:58 PM	#6
Mike@AF Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Studio City, CA Posts: 1,269	I sent them an email a few days ago and haven't gotten a response yet. I may just bite the bullet and place the order, but I'd like to get answers to my last few questions first. Maybe they'll respond tomorrow. __________________ Mike @ Ascentia Films

03-26-2008, 12:57 AM	#9
Cool Lights DVXuser Sponsor Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Shenzhen, China Posts: 2,250	I am working on V2 of our panel right now--waiting for it to come back from the factory where the prototype is being built. I am always reluctant to give a timeframe however as I have watched how time easily multiplies beyond what you think it can based on circumstances. I like to wait until I have a really good product before I release it and the first panel needed some more work as the dimmer had some issues and the LEDs were not high CRI so the color rendering wasn't great. One other thing I've been hung up on is the fixture body for it and whether to use our new lightweight plastic type model (with the lollipop) or a more classic metal chassis design with yoke like the Yuyao Lishuai model that Flolights sells: http://www.lishuai.com.cn/english/En...?ArticleID=570 I think I've mentioned before my reluctance to carry that particular model relates to the fact that I can't control the costs very well when I just buy an off-the-shelf product from a factory like that one so it'd be tough to offer it for much less than Flolights. Plus I don't like that its bank select and has no dimmer--dimmers are not so hard to do on LEDs so it seems to be a big oversight on that product. I was going for a target introductory price of $199 for such a panel and think that makes more sense. I'm also on an active hunt for a lithium ion or lithium polymer battery pack for it too with recharger and that would be a separate option which would have its own price apart from the panel. We would probably put a nylon strap and carabiner on the battery pack to allow you to hang it from the light stand like the ballast on our CL-MF0150 fresnel does now. My current prototype I am working on has about 512 LEDs and I am considering two models: 1). 256 3200K LEDs and 256 5600K LEDs in alternating rows each controlled by its own dimmer. This would allow you to use the panel as either a 5600K or 3200K panel without gelling. You could even mix color temperatures with the two dimmers but in practice, for our work I don't think you will do that. This model is mainly just interesting for being either 3200K or 5600K with independent dimmers. 2). An entirely 5600K panel (all 512 LEDs as 5600K which will probably be more in demand these days since a majority seem to prefer daylight lighting now) with dimmer. On both models I was going to choose a 30 degree angle spot LED to give a more round spot-like beam of hard light. I figure you can add your own diffusion panels to diffuse it if you need it but having it as a more hard beam will allow the throw to be longer. Both models would also either use a 12v wall transformer type of power supply or the optional battery pack as power. 12v in allows a lot of flexibility in how you power it and from what kind of source or battery of your own choosing. We are also obtaining a sample 100w LED and looking at a 160w LED made in the UK but the issue with these single high wattage LEDs is that they are very expensive, require big heat sinks, and are very hard to make a good reflector for them. All these issues mean that the small LED fresnel I've been dreaming of building is still a bit off before we can make it happen at a reasonable price. __________________ Richard Andrewski - Cool Lights USA - Site Sponsor Red #114 - Skype "coolvideolights"

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03-21-2008, 12:16 AM	#2
Mike@AF Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Studio City, CA Posts: 1,269	I've been looking at this for a few months now back when All Hallows Fest was going on. I didn't buy it then because we ended up not being able to shoot our film, but since I have a few projects coming up I'm probably going to purchase a couple. Does anyone here have any direct experience with these? __________________ Mike @ Ascentia Films

03-22-2008, 09:04 AM	#4
Wilson Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 138	It is the future of lighting. -Wilson

03-23-2008, 08:06 AM	#5
Leo Versola Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 477	I checked with them about a month ago and they said they were out of stock until late Mar/early Apr and would let me know when they've received a new shipment but I haven't heard anything back yet.

03-26-2008, 02:12 AM	#10
Kelly Olsen Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 390	Richard, Glad to see you chime in! I like option #2. More power of one color temp and if we need 3200K then we gel. I also like the heavy duty plastic better than the metal but I'd buy whatever you chose. I think you'd sell these like hot cakes at $200 (can you get hot cakes in China?). Also, I know that they would be reliable inside and out if made by you to your usual high quality standards. I have the butter and syrup. Just put 'em on the griddle.