Cheap led light solution for on board camera (5usd)

thanks guys, just ordered one for $15 with shipping from battery junction. i'll give it a try. wonder if it will effect the audio coming into the camera mic...it might actually help be providing a backboard or ear to the mic, but it mike make the sound all seashell effected. we'll see.
 
JasonFox said:
A frost gel. :)

Couldn't resist. Although that is probably exactly what I'll do.
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The quick and inexpensive method for sure. But I would love to hear about an inexpensive LED dimmer though. I think that's one thing we should add to our list of parts in the other thread.
 
I'll probably get one. Man, that guy's an asshole for basically raping customers with that rediculous price. I hope his fist finds its way into a blender and/or badger's mouth.
 
Are they white or blue?
Man, I can't believe that company selling those for $150.00 - capitalism at its best, huh? Can't say I am jealous though...I wouldn't have the heart to put up that much of a markup.
 
DavidChia said:
There are always tons of it. there is a 24led version or 48 led version. I also got one that has no hole but has a magnet backing. I intend to do a L-shap bracket and hook it up on to camera shoe. there is a picture here:

1179148643.jpg


this one has 2 modes of light. inner lights or the whole thing.

I'm glad that you guys are having fun buying this LED light thing. For $5 , you can go wrong.....
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David, where can I get this version?
Thanks,
Alex
 
That one in the pic is only 24 lights and the middle ones would have to go if you were going to cut a hole in it.
Any testing on these lights? What is the temp of them? Do they cast a blue/purple glow?
 
Can't believe someone's asking $ 149

Can't believe someone's asking $ 149

for what looks to be the exact same light.

I poked around google and found there are a number of distributors.

Also found one that has 3 settings: 4 LEDs lit, up to all 48. Didn't notice what the middle number was, but they were just a few bucks more...I think $ 9.99...and their web page said they were waterproof, though I wonder about that. Even so, the price is still low enough to interest me.

Will have to get a couple or 3 of these.

Thanks for the notice.
 
As I understand it, dimming with LEDs is more complex than it would seem as LEDs are current based and require a constant current source. This really means that you need a special power supply to do it right. They call these modules "LED drivers". Before I thought it was just an excuse to overcharge for a power supply but now I realize these things really do have a good function. I'm still in learning mode on all this though. Here's a pretty good article on the subject for anyone that's interested:

http://www.mikesflightdeck.com/led_dimmer.htm

and some others:

http://radiolocation.tripod.com/LEDdimmer/LEDlampDimmer.html

http://www.cpemma.co.uk/dimleds.html
 
As a follow-up, I got a "mic light" (the $5 version, not the $150 version!) And it pretty much does what it says it will, it's surprisingly bright for being $5. Very blue though, you'd need to gel it if you wanted to mix with fluos or HMIs.

I figured it might be good for a little stick-anywhere accent light. I also ordered one of the switchable 20/4/24s, but that hasn't shown up yet.
 
I just got mine, too. Although I haven't had too much time to test it. I think it will work as an eyelight, although getting mine to stay on my mic required attaching my fuzzy.
 
As I understand it, dimming with LEDs is more complex than it would seem
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That's absolutely correct. For the pupose of this device the easiest method would be the way the 9.99 version works. Since there are a number of LED's instead of trying to dim each one individually, dim the entire assembly by switching off a few of the LED's entirely.

An alternate solution to this and to the ones offered in the links (if you really want all the LED's to light) is to switch the current on and off very quickly (several thousand times a second). The more time the current is switched on in a second the brighter the LED will glow. There are integrated circuits that are well suited for creating this kind of switching current (a 555 timer chip is very commonly used).

Provided it works as advertised, however, it would be hard to beat the 9.99 version where someone has already done all the work for you.
 
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Cool Lights said:
Just curious Barry, does it still work as an eyelight when placed on the microphone?
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Well, yeah, if I had an on-camera microphone like that then yes it would, but it's pretty bright; brighter than I would want. I think the 24-light one would be better for that purpose.

But it won't fit on the HVX's stock mic, if that's what you were thinking. The internal hole is too small to go around that mic, and the diameter of the whole light is way too big; you'd have to have a mic on a shock mount in order for there to be room.
 
My current thought on the easiest way to do one of these ring lights is to find a ring about 6" in diameter, get a plastic speedring of the same diameter with the rubber tipped thumbscrews and voila: you've got a ring light that attaches, in a "professional way" to just about anything including a lens of practically any size.
 
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