DIY Light Kit.

[Guest]

Has anyone experimented with these new hand-held sport/camping/hunting lights? The highest rated ones I've seen shoot out a focused spotlight beam as high as 3 million candle power (candelas?). I've been trying to find a candle-power to watts conversion in order to draw a comparison to, say, a standard 100 watt or even 250 watt theatrical light. It seems like they might be useful for a small video shoot. The beam is bright enough to be seen 2 miles away. I'm thinking that's a lot of light. Thanks in advance for any info...

 

[Zoomforce]

Re: DIY Light Kit.

150 watt bulb putts out about 500,000 candle power.. so that light is probally similar to one of those halogen work lights, in which case it probally would work well.... but if its battery powered its not gonna last lonh.

 

[Guest]

Re: DIY Light Kit.

Thanks, Jarred. That's exactly the kind of comparison I was looking for. So, unless the math is more complicated than what I'm thinking, a 3 million candle power light would be the equivalent of a 900 watt bulb. The lights I've looked at are both battery and AC powered which would solve the light dying (or worse, fading) in the middle of a shot. They're also $22 a piece with a super white Halogen bulb (making them daylight balanced). Kinda' like a poor-man's HMI. Now, if only I could find the equivalent of a C-stand for around $50...

 

[Zoomforce]

Re: DIY Light Kit.

yeah, I think they may be exagerating a bit on the output though.. unless the thing is huge. Some manufactures are on crack when they print specs.. like those cheap chinese speakers that claim 900 watts.. lol.

 

[Elvis]

Re: DIY Light Kit.

I've seen a plug in type used as a hair light before and it worked great. No C-stand just some PA out of frame. 8)

 

[Neil Rowe]

Re: DIY Light Kit.

i think they are allowed the output statement on those light because it is a highly focused beam through the use of a parabolic reflector. ive really been looking at getting some of those as well to use as highly portable take anywhere sort of stuff, but the issue is trying to soften them up or spread them out.. they do get hot, so i wouldnt want to melt anything on them.. an acrylic diffuser panel from an old flouresecnt ceiling fixture cut to fit would probably work well. they run off lead acid batteries that are much the same as a car battery and last quite a while , and also come with ac/dc adaptors for recharging, or direct power . so they are pretty versatile as well. basically it is the equivelant of a highly focused car headlight running off a smaller car battery. not bad for the price, conisdering the possibilities... it seems like a worthwhile purchase with such little monetary investment.