Comer CM-LBPS1800, CoolLights CL-LED256, Yongnuo YN-160 Who wins?

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seveniverson

Member
I'm looking into getting a few Hair lights, I would rather get 2 or 3 of the same powerful light, but there's no way to tell online. Has anybody worked with any of these before? Budget is not an issue, I would like to get the most powerful and most 'controllable' light possible.
PS: I already got 1 LEDzilla. I would also be curious to know how the LEDzilla copmares to those 3, but I needed more of an insight on those as it compares to each other. Especially the Comer and the CL

Thanks Guys!
 
My opinion ? Get a few Comers, put the built in spot filter on and do the controlling with the barndoors. Great powerful unit for hairlights, especially with the warming filter on. Oh, by the way, it is also neutral in native led tint, and shells out more lumen output than all the others. Hairlight has to be powerful for the WOW effect and don't forget the distance from talent to light. Low output units just don't cut it. Them 256 mega led units are too floody for hairlights and cannot be made spotty for that application. The zilla unit ? Depending on light to talent distance, perhaps will do, but check out the lux/lumen output for that one. You never know when you really would need extra punch, and the Comer delivers.
 
Thanks Norman. As it is, this morning I have been on the phone with a few manufacturers, some surprisingly honest, and what you said is very true... I have now narrowed my list from those 3 down to one, the Comer you recommend, I would be just a little greedy and try to see what you think of the Comer as it compares to the LEDzilla from Dedo.

PS: CoolLight is an excellent company, Richard and his team excellent folks. I am getting all my other LED needs satisfied there, I just need some 'Almost-Fresnels' to compliment the pack.
 
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It's the sheer light output of the Comer that I would go for in that particular application of a hairlight. There is nothing special that the zilla does that the Comer cannot do. The Comer with the spot panel on is a bright light, just what you need for backlighting. The zilla, I would consider for short distance interview, tabletop, close outdoor evening fill or product photography for use as directing a variable beam angle with utmost precision. They both are excellent for what they were designed to do. It's like using a brick instead of a hammer, they both can drive in a nail but one really does it better than the other.
 
I'll chime in.

I have 3 of the CL LED256 units. When someone says you can't get them to spot, I say some creativity hasn't been applied. Since LEDs have almost no heat, I use plastic grids ordered from here, (order a little over sized single piece and cut to fit multiples needed for the lights in each grid spread, a band saw makes quick work): http://www.honeycombgrids.com/diy-grid-material

Order the square inch size, I forget what I ordered, but in the ballpark of a 4"x12" each for the 15* and 20* grid material, maybe $20 total with shipping included. Just press fit the grid inside the LED barndoor. I made each one just a tiny bit large because you can compress the grid ever so slightly to fit. Doesn't get any easier. The plastic grids are quite durable and slightly malleable to help fit, no concern of them tearing or breaking.

Honestly (as a photographer by trade) I find the gridded LEDs to be just wonderful for all manner of lighting my subjects for video and they work just as well for still photography of products, food and and interiors.
 
Good one. I love that and shouldn't have the multiple shadow issues too. Would love to get some honeycomb options for our LEDs and have that on my list, but good metal ones are so hard to find and I really thought metal was the way to go for durability. But fitting them in the barndoors like that should protect them pretty well.
 
Norman99 said:
...for use as directing a variable beam angle with utmost precision.
Click to expand...
Bingo, that's what I was getting at, Im guessing the Commer is just as powerful if not more than the LEDzilla, but I was wondering about the ability of the Comer to do 'micro surgery' like the zilla.

Norman99 said:
...It's like using a brick instead of a hammer, they both can drive in a nail but one really does it better than the other.
Click to expand...
Probably the best analogy I have heard this year... :)
 
PhotoNashville, that's really clever. I would love to see what the result looks like once channelled through the honey comb 'filters' you have sample before/after shots? or Stills from videos?
Richard, we're all always waiting for comes out of your shop :)

Overall I am looking for an ultra portable kit, that's all. Im convinced I will be able to complete my projects, including short films entirely on LEDs. the biggest challenge is to find a controllable Fresnel-like led light.. and Im having faithfulness issues between the wife and the girlfriend (Comer1800 and LEDzilla) Wish I could get a full side by side review. lol
 
seveniverson - I'll try to get some examples up, but it won't be quick. Posting is easy. Doing tests, snaps, and putting them up for viewing is more time than I have at the moment. But I think it would be worthwhile for others as well to see.

A fresnel LED is the ideal. Litepanels has them but they are expensive. Give Cool Lights some time and we'll see it soon, maybe within a year's time. The demand I'm sure is there.

Do you have these lights, Comer1800 and LEDzilla? Or just trying to decide what you want? The Comer is a cam mounted light, just doesn't look to be as useful as the CL LED series, 256 or 600.
 
PhotoN, Thanks a bunch, beggers ain't chosers, I'll wait till you free up, thanks for this labour of love. LitePanel has a fresnel? Are you toalking about the SOLA ENG? I have seen and handled this light, it's quite impressive, I dunno though if it's better than the LEDzilla or Comer.
No, I unfortunately do not own the LEDzilla or the Comer1800, I'm considering purchasing 2 or 3 LED FRresnels, and that's the thing. So pricey that I have to get the most for my money. if i go LitePanel SOLA, it's 1, if i go LEDzilla, may squeeze 2, if the Comer, definitely 2...

CoolLights?? HECK yeah, I wish they'd come up with a SOLA killer, I would be so all over it.. as of now im a fan of the 600s and the 1200s.. so :) biggest thing on those fresnels htough will be laser sharp precision with the barn doors, like the dedos..
 
Why can't the Comer be used as a hairlight ? I mean use the spot panel and adjust the beam with the barndoors. If you are worried about multiple shadows, just put a sheet of kleenex or a scrim over the leds. Trust me, the Comer is still more powerful even with a diffuser in place. Multiple shadows ?? Aren't the shadow(s) going to be cast somewhere to the sides or BEHIND the cameraman ? Backlighting..Hmmm.
 
Norman, thanks... I think I might have not expressed myself well - (it happens a lot). What I'm referring to was not the shadows positioning; you will always have those... I am actually talking about how controllable the light is from the Comer. watch this video to see what I saw and was impressed with by the zilla: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e3hd5tn8ms
That speaks of it's true manageability, but not of it's power. In contrast I have seen some unspeakable power from the Comer with the spot panel folded up on the lens. Get me now?
Is the Comer as manageable as the Zilla or is the zilla as far throwing as the comer, i think this is what would lead me to a healthy purchase
 
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As far as far throwing, that depends on the physics of light theory. The zilla does indeed use a patented process of 2 internally mounted lenses to bend/focus/shape the beam from a spot to a wider spot and everything inbetween. As the beam is narrowed and being at the SAME distance from say a white wall, the beam gets brighter and brighter because the lenses focus the light in a smaller surface area and hence the brightness gain factor increases. It's like having a flashlight aimed at a white wall from 10 feet away and as you move in closer to the wall, the spot gets smaller BUT it also gets brighter. Zilla, however managed this by not shortening the distance but by using the lenses instead to narrow the beam. Clever. Litepanel Sola ENG achieves same effect by using a Fresnel instead of lenses.Now Comer on the other hand does NOT vary the beam continously but has a one trick pony in that it uses a predetermined focal length lens on EACH of it's 10 leds to get only ONE spot setting and that's it. But a really bright spot setting. Now you can always move in closer with the Comer like you do with a flashlight in order to 1: get a narrower spot and 2: get a brighter light. The thing I would like to see is a comparison at the SAME distance from a white surface of the Comer in spot mode and the zilla on it's spottest mode , both without ang gels/filters, and see which is the brighter one. This will only tell the brightness aspect but the zilla will win over the convenience of having not to "move in closer" to vary the beam angle. The priority question is either most bright or most convenient. I am not pushing for the Comer, I just wish the zilla can output 1800 lux at wide setting, Now that would be a good thing.
 
Norm... Ok, say no more. Having explained those things, I can see why you would wanna see that side by side test between those 2. So, inclosing, I would ask you then... between the Zilla and the Sola, which is the better 'fresnel' I'm guestimating the barn doors are no good on the Sola? It does use only one LED yes?
And finally, Now Im even more interested in the RELEVANCE of the barn doors on the Comer (Which I'm now leaning more towards :P)
 
The ideal method to evaluate the led units is really an actual test shoot with a model in a studio setting and having the different units on hand. Thing is, that most stores that carry them don't have a really good way or set-up to see the actual differences in them. You cannot judge by the lighting conditions in a dayight lit store with light mixed by flourescents and such. If the store allows a return/exchange policy, then an actual tryout in controlled conditions is great. If you have narrowed it down to only a few units and the store agrees to refund the one(s) you do not want, then you will know for sure. Lighting is very subjective, as one light looks good on specs but once evaluated does not perform as anticipated. The sola I believe has a single led as the zilla. The sola is a fresnel design, the zilla is a 2 lens design using aspherics (non-spherical elements).I see no reason why barn doors won't work on the sola, it's a way to control the lateral spill so that one standing to the side of the light will not get the annoying spill in the eyes. Also to consider is at what light to subject distance will most of the shootings be done. If it is like 5 to 10 feet, then the zilla would be an excellent choice . Something like from 10 to 20 feet, then the Comer or the sola would do the trick. Oh, and let's not forget that the sola minimum voltage to operate is 10 volts I believe. Cameras being excellent today with low light level capabilitiy, perhaps the zilla is ideal for your purposes, and after trying them all out, only you and not the specs will decide and make the right choice.
 
Norman, very enlightening indeed... I will have to find a way to run all 3 ligths to my satisfaction I think... At least before my mind comes to rest...
 
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