HMC150 on camera light / battery options

Comer 1800 light comes with two D-tap power cord, 0.55m and 1.2m in length. You can use it to connect to external power source such as Anton Bauer battery. In that case, you will be able to turn on and off the light without reaching the light.
 
MadHMC150 said:
These are quite pricy. One of the smallest kits with the dimmer is around $1500?

How about the VidLED with an extension wire on the batteryback/dimmer? This way you can mount the battery and dimmer low on your stand.
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Pricey yes, but I am willing to pay for something that does exactly what I need it to. To have the ability to remotely and wirelessly dim the light from across the room...pretty amazing really! the problem with the Zylight is powering it while on the camera. Until someone comes out with a D-tap battery (SWIT???) for the HMC-150 this will be an issue. A lot of EX-1 guys are using these, but they have the ability to power it with the D-tap. I think this is the way I would go if I could power it on the camera (and do it with little weight increase)
 
Until someone comes out with a D-tap battery (SWIT???) for the HMC-150 this will be an issue. A lot of EX-1 guys are using these, but they have the ability to power it with the D-tap. I think this is the way I would go if I could power it on the camera (and do it with little weight increase)
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I know someone using the EX1 with a SWIT d-tap battery powering up a Comer 1800... really cool to power both the camera and the light with the same battery. I just wonder what kind of life he gets on that (i will ask him!)

You can use it to connect to external power source such as Anton Bauer battery. In that case, you will be able to turn on and off the light without reaching the light.
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I thought of the power-tap/anton bauer battery option but those batteries are expensive (I'm thinking of bricks) kind of good for the weight they provide once on the stand... but i wouldn't have to do that if i can find a few of those extensions that come on the sony light (the one that looks like the Comer)

Any word on those cables Taky? i read you said Comer was working on something similar but with the power tap cable!... an extension for sony batteries would be great (i could put a switch on the cable and control it wireless, and it would make swapping batteries a little easy!
 
Superfreasa66, they told me that adapter is now developing. it will be at least till early next year they will have a prototype or a test unit.

But you can now use the included D-tape cable to power the comer light with AB batteries.
 
I have a SWIT Canon battery adapter too. If you are going to make that cable, can I buy one from you? =)
 
I should make it, and put a remote control "switch" in it (not a dimmer, because the circuit board would have to be a lot more complicated)... put those old electronic skills to work =)

But even a simple extension plate/cord would be very helpful!!!
 
nope... but SWIT has an option to do this with the Sony EX1.
We're talking about and extension cord/plate to mount batteries else where, So you could put the Comer 1800 on a light stand (like i do) and run an extension down and clamp it on the stand so battery replacement could be a lot easier and faster.

Maybe putting a remote control switch at the same time so the light could be operated wirelessly!!!
 
ptalsky said:
Mad,
I picked up one of these a couple of weeks ago - it works great and comes with diffusion, warming and daylight correction gels... Lite Panels products are very well thought of.
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I agree ptalsky, I have used the Litepanels Micro. It's got the brightness along with the gels. Matter of fact, any of the lighted scenes in our Dragon Room video is with the LP Micro.

But I got to say, after seeing the difference of the Micro vs the Comers in Taky's LED light reviews - I don't know. I like the fact that it takes big sony batts and has a much wider flood. But, I still havent purchased anything....

Totally agree with your signature btw, hard to get that through peoples head sometimes...
 
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Here comes my unbiased review on the litepanels micro. I wrote this april this year. Then I switched to the SWIT light. Now I'm using Comers.

http://www.hv20.com/showthread.php?p=208960#post208960

All the LitePanels expensive professional lights are great! This Micro series is really a junk and overprice.

-----------------------------------

After using this LP Micro for a few months, I'm ditching it. I was talking to DanaLove about it in emails so I decide to share the info.

1. The built is very flimsy, very plastic. The dimmer switch is already broken

2. The battery compartment always has a tendency to push the batteries out causing disconnect.

3. I am using high rate AA rechargable batteries. Even so, I can get about 40-50 minutes of usage per charge. Then I found out I have to carry a lot of spare AA batteries (and recharge them the night before) and keep replacing them at the 3 to 4 hours reception. It's very unusable.

4. During the last 5 minutes before the battery is about to die out, the lights start to flicker. It got so bad the flickering will be recorded to video. It makes the footage unusable because of the flickering on the object.

5. The LP Micro isn't very bright. It casts a circular spot light with a 5600 K color temperature. So after adding the color correction gel and the diffusion gel, it is not bright at all. It is comparable to the Canon VL-3 light with the 3-watt output.

I notice they have a Micro Plus at NAB. It has more lights and use 6 AA batteries. I didn't even bother to ask how much it is, but I am certainly not interested. I finally bought another SWIT light (not under the brand of Varizoom)

It works so much better, more solid, professional than the LP Micro. There is the NAB special from B&H selling at $299 with a canon battery holder. However, it will be the Canon BP-900 series batteries. Since I'm using XH-A1 as well, I have lots of those batteries to use. They work so much better, last longer than the LP Micro.
 
So looks like I have made my long awaited decision.

Looks like I will be getting my Comer 900 in a few days. :2vrolijk_08:



Thanks Taky and LAcolorshop - Great customer service and I'm sure shipping will be quick!

I will have some video up soon...
 
MadHMC150 said:
So looks like I have made my long awaited decision.
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i think you're making the right decision!

while i'm able to get very long run times on my LP Micro with Li batts, it is not bright enough and too spot-focused to be useful to me. i actually avoid using it at all costs!

when i get the money saved up to deal with this, i'll certainly go with the Comer.
 
I bought some sony type batteries from the evil-bay... the highest mA i could find, and got the comer 1800 running up to 3 hours at full blast per battery. The light is really great on a light stand.
I still use the Varizoom/SWIT S-2010 on top of the camera... i put a gel on it (not the one that comes with it) and it mixes great with the comer.

If i had to buy the light kit all over again, i wouldn't buy the SWIT i would get the Comer 1800. I like the size and power of the 900 for on-camera use, but i really use the dimmer alot, and the 900 only has a switch!


I compared some of the LP micros, and it really is a joke... even when you put it side by side with the varizoom/swit the LP is just an expensive flashlight in my opinion...
love the Comers!!!
 
For a year, I love my SWIT. It was the best on-camera LED light I can find and have tried within my budget. LP Micro just won't make the cut. I once bought 3 SWIT lights and used them at weddings. Luckily, I am able to return 2 and sold the last one. also sold the LP micro too. hehe. There is a lot of big LitePanel fans out there. =)

Last saturday, I used a Comer 900 on my main XH-A1 cam during the day. I was also skeptical about not having the dimmer switch. Then I taped a piece of thick paper on the top diffuser. With the 2 brightness levels, it works surprisingly well when I have to interview people. None of the interviewees has to squint or complain about the brightness. The footage looks great too. And if I need more lighting, I just flip the diffuser up. It's really flexible. I will try to post some footage later with those interviews with my DIY diffuser.

One of the good things for the comer is the 4500K color temp. So even without any gel, the light can still be used indoor.

Then at night in the reception, I switched to Comer 1800 (using 3 of them on 2 cameras). It actually makes people skin tone looks nice with the 4500k color temp.
 
Then at night in the reception, I switched to Comer 1800 (using 3 of them on 2 cameras). It actually makes people skin tone looks nice with the 4500k color temp.
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I feel the 1800 might be a little too much for on-camera use (then again there's a dimmer)

You say people skin tones look good and you're on the canon side, imagine if you had a panny =) j/k
 
I don't quite get your joke.. what do you mean? hehe

I also use F770 batterires. It still last quite a long time and reduces the overall weight.

I used to mount a VL-10 and SWIT light with a flash bracket. Both of them carrying the canon BP-970G biggest batteries. So now with just one 1800 and F970 batteries, it's not bad :)
 
When can we expect to see the extension cable again? I might try to whip one up also. I am planning on trying the comer 900 on a 12' light stand... A very successful videographer said he NEVER uses on-cam lights at a reception. I hate having to try and find a plug and running cables for my 600 watt...

I also will try your defusing techniques taky, I have a LumiQuest Mini Softbox that I love with my current sony light that should look amazing on the comer.

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Comer is making an adapter. But it would be at least early next year to see the prototype.

On-camera light is not the best solution. But for event shooting, it's an option. I would never say I never use on-camera light. To be a smart videographer, you should be able to be flexible to use any available lighting. If I have to shoot in dim ballroom and have no other lighting available, what's wrong with using a on-camera light. Or should a successful videographer be happy with a dark and grainy video?

Comer 900+F770 battery isn't heavy. It's abotu 15 oz.
 
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