Any way to get the flash to stay on during filming?

S

Snapper123

Well-known member
Hey guys, not sure if it's possible, but (even just suggesting an idea for ML here), is there a way to get the flash to stay on during video mode - as a fixed light? While you can buy a light to slap on top of the camera (think a documentary in a dark tunnel), just taking advantage of the seemingly very bright flash as a constant light source (fixed, not flashing) would be a neat feature. Might be tough to expose for that, though.
 
It's not an LED light as you have on cell phones. If you figured out a way to keep the flash on, it would likely burn itself out in a matter of minutes if not seconds. If you want on on-camera light, research LED camera lights.

Noah
 
The reason the flash is so bright is becuase it uses alot of power in every burst. It needs to recharge in between before it can flash again. The camera does not have enough power to constantly keep it on. Even if it did, you would overheat the lamp in a very short time and drain your battery within seconds.
 
Another case where our expectations are limited by the shortsightedness of DSLR manufacturers. Still/video camcorders like older Canon VIXIAs and Panasonic TMs, have combined flash/continuous lighting LEDs for years (along with audio monitoring while recording and several GBs of built-in storage -- but I'm not bitter ;-)).

This is something that Canon and Panasonic know how to do, but their camcorder guys don't seem to talk to their still guys much.
 
These are _stills_ cameras 1st and foremost, and a piddly little LED is nearly useless for photographic purposes.

If you're serious about photography, you get an external flash.... if you're serious about video, you get an external light.
 
brunerww said:
Another case where our expectations are limited by the shortsightedness of DSLR manufacturers.
Click to expand...

Or, another case where "expectations" are twisted and based on a poor understanding. These are still cameras. Everything about them is optimised for still photography. Even disregarding the fact that the high powered flash on these cameras is a completely different beast to the LED lamps on consumer camcorders, I have never come across a professional camcorder that had a built in light. Because anybody who cares about how their video looks knows when and how to use external lighting.

The same goes for flashes on higher end DSLR models, too. The 5dmkII does not even have a built in flash because the manufacturers know that any photographer worth his salt will use extnenal flash.
 
Kin Lau said:
These are _stills_ cameras 1st and foremost, and a piddly little LED is nearly useless for photographic purposes.

If you're serious about photography, you get an external flash.... if you're serious about video, you get an external light.
Click to expand...

Looks like you beat me to it!
 
I just purchased a Opteka VL-126 on
Amazon ( 47th Street Photo ) for $64.95
and that works very well for videos
shot within 2 -> 3 meters.
 
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