a simple lighting setup
- Thread starter stonebat
- Start date
roei z
Veteran
i'll need a big one
stoneinapond
Veteran
http://www.linkdelight.com/vmchk/E8...for-Camcorder-DV-w/-Hot-Shoe-Flash-Stand.html
Works well. Takes a while to get to you unless you pay expedited shipping (I didn't).
inside a car at night? i don't think so. unless you want to light up the entire interior so brightly that you can't see anything outside through the windows, but then it would look really weird and unnatural.
roei z
Veteran
thanks.
so this is a poor man's Z96?
i'll try to find an equivalent here in Israel..
I think I've owned ALL of the shoe-mount LED lights out there, since I'm a wedding videographer. 
The only one I still use is the Torchled TL50. In fact it's the only one that I ever liked. It also has a built in battery that recharges fast and will last about 3 months at full blast on a single charge (it never drops below the "full" indicator after shooting a wedding reception), it's very compact and built like a tank, and isn't too awkward mounted on top of the GH1 with an eBay $5 hot shoe-to-1/4 thread adapter.
The worst one I've used was the LitePanels Micro. It was by far the most overpriced POS that put out pretty much ZERO light beyond 6 inches, but would burn a hole in your retina from 100 yards away if you looked directly at it. But that's true of most LED lights I guess.
Unless you're shooting weddings or paparazzi or combat zone videos, I'd stay away from camera mounted lights/LED's altogether. If you're on a major budget, you might try CowboyStudio on Amazon. They got a bunch of SUPER cheap CFL lighting setups! I picked one up for like $98, and am pretty impressed considering the price. I'm only a pretend film-maker, so I just bought it for fun stuff, and haven't had time to play with it much. One day I'll post up a video shot with it. It's very portable and only takes a minute to setup. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004C867R6
The only one I still use is the Torchled TL50. In fact it's the only one that I ever liked. It also has a built in battery that recharges fast and will last about 3 months at full blast on a single charge (it never drops below the "full" indicator after shooting a wedding reception), it's very compact and built like a tank, and isn't too awkward mounted on top of the GH1 with an eBay $5 hot shoe-to-1/4 thread adapter.
The worst one I've used was the LitePanels Micro. It was by far the most overpriced POS that put out pretty much ZERO light beyond 6 inches, but would burn a hole in your retina from 100 yards away if you looked directly at it. But that's true of most LED lights I guess.
Unless you're shooting weddings or paparazzi or combat zone videos, I'd stay away from camera mounted lights/LED's altogether. If you're on a major budget, you might try CowboyStudio on Amazon. They got a bunch of SUPER cheap CFL lighting setups! I picked one up for like $98, and am pretty impressed considering the price. I'm only a pretend film-maker, so I just bought it for fun stuff, and haven't had time to play with it much. One day I'll post up a video shot with it. It's very portable and only takes a minute to setup. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004C867R6
i can vouch for the LP Micro POS statement from personal experience! that's $300 sitting on my shelf that i'll never get back. =(
if spending the least amount of money is your goal, then CFLs are the way to go. i've done exactly that for years now. they're bright and very cheap lights, but very cumbersome and time-consuming to setup.
if you want lots of soft light that is easier to setup, go with some cheap flat panels like this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003WR53AA
the next step up in $ is LED, which allows for total portability with battery power and much more compact and lightweight. something like this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004JOGD7W
i now have both the flat panel flo and the 600 LED (as well as a whole kit of CFL heads!). the flo is for more controlled sets or studio-like lighting. but i'm more excited about the LED as it truly simplifies my light kit and frees me to focus on shooting and directing.
the original post was about a 'simple' lighting setup, not necessarily a 'cheap' setup. sometimes simplicity costs a little bit more.
if spending the least amount of money is your goal, then CFLs are the way to go. i've done exactly that for years now. they're bright and very cheap lights, but very cumbersome and time-consuming to setup.
if you want lots of soft light that is easier to setup, go with some cheap flat panels like this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003WR53AA
the next step up in $ is LED, which allows for total portability with battery power and much more compact and lightweight. something like this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004JOGD7W
i now have both the flat panel flo and the 600 LED (as well as a whole kit of CFL heads!). the flo is for more controlled sets or studio-like lighting. but i'm more excited about the LED as it truly simplifies my light kit and frees me to focus on shooting and directing.
the original post was about a 'simple' lighting setup, not necessarily a 'cheap' setup. sometimes simplicity costs a little bit more.
I'm just bored with editing tonight and drinkin' some Bud for St. Patrick's day. If you tried using one on the camera like that, it would probably snap the hot shoe off the GH1 instantly. The Bescor came as a pair with lightstands, and 4500k plastic filters glued to the front, which I pried off with a screwdriver. They were cheap POS lights, but I guess somewhat useful considering the price. Not surprising they are already discontinued.drink another for hitting your 500th post!
No wonder I ain't gettin' any work done this week! Rookie f-ups on my two weddings this past weekend have my productivity grinding down.
Here's the light I actually use at wedding receptions, the TorchLED TL-50...my favorite LED to date. Like most camera mounted LED's I've used, it doesn't put out a huge amount of light, but works well when using the 20mm f1.7 for some natural looking fill. Unlike all those garbage eBay Chinese LED panels, it's actually a pretty good and pro quality piece of kit, and it's compact size is perfect for the tiny GH1. Then again, a photographer I worked with this past weekend had one, and hers had problems with flickering.
stonebat
Veteran
averan, will this battery work on CL-256LED?
yes. that's the one. you should really get the 970 though, max capacity, a little more than 2X more: http://lacoloronline.com/product/?NPF970-NP-F970-Sony-Compatible-Rechargeable-Battery