Control your Lighting setup by using an IPhone? Kickstarter project!

K

KMA_WWC

Well-known member
So, I just accidentally found this really interesting new Kickstarter project that I think many of us cinematographers and filmmakers would love to use. Basically it's a light bulbs that you can use by using your IPhone. It's not made for a filmmaking use but I see a lot of potential and creative use. If you want to know a lot more about the project check this link out http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/limemouse/lifx-the-light-bulb-reinvented?ref=search
I would like to know what do you think? Would you use it for cinematography or filmmaking use? and How would you use it?

P.S. Just to make sure, it's not my Kickstarter project.
 
I saw this on my facebook feed the other day, it's a really interesting idea. I have one of these cheap light kits that I use all the time. It'd be pretty slick to load 5 of those bulbs into it and be able to control the color temp at the touch of a button. But at $70 per bulb, I'll pass.

Plus, they're wifi controlled, which means you have to be in a wifi network to use them. What happens when wifi goes down or you're out of range?
 
Well, I do agree that they are quite expensive (honestly with cheap light kit, it would be probably 100 dollars per light station with wifi control over the iphone, its not as much as other kits) and they require wifi and I agree that it's not for everyone and for every use. For me personally its just another creative way to use my lighting skills and see, what I can get from it and would it make my workflow easier. I ordered 10 of them and will use with cheap lit kits. Also it happens that I always have wifi on the set, I use mifi and iPhone hotspot as back up.
 
That's the thing, 10 bulbs = $700. I can put together a professional light kit with colored gels for that price. I can definitely see some really cool creative possibilities though, they would definitely be cool to have.


If these come down to say, $10 per bulb, I'll pick up a few. :thumbsup:
 
I've been controlling my lighting from an app for ages? Not the same thing though, but I use a lighting controller that has an iphone app as a riggers remote. Theatres have used these, and rock concert type systems for a long time now. Now we have apps on your phone, as many systems use network protocols for connecting to dimmers now, it's pretty easy to use apps. You can get a simple system running for very low amounts now - a cheap Chinese made 6 ch dimmer pack, software and a dongle for the computer to get stuff out to the lights can be bought for less than £250 - and run DMX lights too. It's not quite that simple in reality, but this isn't really a new idea?

My local supermarket had a pile of LED lamps complete with colour control remote controls for £10 - so you can adjust the brightness and colour of the lamp. I doubt it has much real use and is a bit of a gimmick - but if you want to operate real lighting, then you can do it simply already.
 
I've set up systems similar to this before, I just couldn't afford to do it too effectively or on a large scale. As with above, connecting dimmers and switches to a network system is common, and getting a network system to recognize remote commands isn't too difficult. I haven't worked with variable color temperature before, but I would imagine it works similar to a dimmer. The difference in setups is that the interface takes place at the switch rather than the lamp, which is more efficient and cost effective. When your lamp burns out you can just get a new one instead of having to save up for it, though it would have to be hardwired into the building.

I do really like their app and the potential there, but I would only use it if the system were adapted for a system based on working further up the chain. I'd also question the feature of 'reducing your environmental impact', since manufacturing chips and testing wifi connectivity on lights has a pretty big energy cost in itself. Not to say this isn't a good idea, it's a great one, it just needs to keep the consumer in mind a little more in order to reach the larger markets.
 
This is awesome. Not sure how practical it is for cinematography. I'm thinking it would be best for mood lighting on dates. The lights could slowly dim over about an hour, then slowwwly shift toward red. :)
 
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