Intellytech 3'x4.5' Mega LiteCloth

The cloth looks great. The frame/softbox/grid looks just OK. The grid looks like there'd still be lots of spill from the sides? Pretty solid, versatile, cheap standalone key light.

At the moment I'm using 4x LC-160s through a 6x6. I really like the light but the set up is a complete mess - not Intellytech's fault, there are just lots of cables because I'm using 4 for one set up.

Two of these would be tempting, though I'd rather wait for a single, close to 6x6 cloth that would clean everything up by only having one power supply to deal with. But maybe that'd be too heavy if it was tied in the same way rags are, at which point two of these could be the way to go.

I really like the holes on the side, which hugely increase mounting flexibility. Now it's time to give us some larger squares!
 
I'd really prefer an RGB version for versatility sake so I could use it more diversely for narrative filmmaking as well, and it's only a matter of time before Intellytech comes out with that since they already offer it for the LC-160, at a higher price, of course. The future is RGB lights, so aside from those whose filming style and market doesn't need RGB, any non-RGB purchases will eventually result in wanting to replace those lights with RGB lights, which makes bi-color lights harder to justify as a purchase if one can wait. But yeah, this looks like a good option for booming for interviews and other uses.
 
Eric Coughlin said:
I'd really prefer an RGB version for versatility sake so I could use it more diversely for narrative filmmaking as well, and it's only a matter of time before Intellytech comes out with that since they already offer it for the LC-160, at a higher price, of course. The future is RGB lights, so aside from those whose filming style and market doesn't need RGB, any non-RGB purchases will eventually result in wanting to replace those lights with RGB lights, which makes bi-color lights harder to justify as a purchase if one can wait. But yeah, this looks like a good option for booming for interviews and other uses.
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Replicating existing light sources from incandescent to daylight falls within the realm of bicolor lights, so I think there will long be a use for those alongside RGB units. There's a tradeoff to power, cost and output for units of similar size that add RGB to the mix (especially when they are RGBW in its various flavors, i.e units that can output a white light that is spectrally comparable to bicolor units). Obviously it depends on what a given project calls for but given the curent rate of advancement in lighting tech, I think we are several generations away at best from bicolor being entirely knocked out of play in favor of RGB.
 
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I've got the 160, friend bought the big one to punch thru a scrim. They seem to do the job quite well. My only quibble is that the screw fitting that holds the yoke to a light stand is insanely small for such a big light.
 
I get wanting to buy gear that's as versatile as can be and trying to buy gear that will have the longest shelf-life possible. A lot of the LED's that I've bought lately(Gemini 2x1's, Gemini 1x1's, Astera LightDrops, Hive 100 & 200 C's) are all RBGWW, RGBW or other variations on RGB, but I'm just using "white light" on my keys. Not saying that the need for a colored/gelled key or hair/edge won't ever be needed by me, but this only being bi-color doesn't really worry me. But, YMMV.
 
captslomo said:
I've got the 160, friend bought the big one to punch thru a scrim. They seem to do the job quite well. My only quibble is that the screw fitting that holds the yoke to a light stand is insanely small for such a big light.
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I picked up two of the 160 kits last year on the group buy and they are good looking lights(quality of light) that are easy to fly, because of the separate controller/PSU's, but partly because of that, they are a pain to put all together and is probably the biggest reason that I don't use them more often. They're just kind of messy, inelegant lights when in use.

I do like that they've combined the PSU/Controller for the Mega, though.
 
I figured a way to tie my LC-160 controller and PSU together and that helps a lot . Sometimes run 2 next to each other. The big one is tempting but I'm not sure how often I would use it. Re RGB, I just carry a 1/8 & 1/4 Green and 1/8 Magenta gel with the units and that solves all problems without losing all the output that an RGB fixture will have, let alone the expense.
 
My 160's came with plates with rubberized velcro straps so that you can attach the PSU's to the battery bracket on the controllers, but the whole thing is still messy. The quality of light is an A, but the set-up is a B-, at best. But given the price when I bought them and the compact size they pack up to, which allows them to always ride in the back, makes it more tolerable.
 
R&G: sorry, I was referencing the Lite Cannon 165 (not 160) fresnel, which is an all in one. I have two of Intellytech's smaller soft panels, and yeah, the separate controller and power supply is a pain. We've been using a fellow shooter's Aputure 300Mk2 a bunch recently, and having a single controller is really nice. It also has double V-mount battery mounts integrated, but we're finding even in double battery situations you have to have big ass batteries to make it work. A pair of 95s won't cut it.
 
I've traveled with the 160 for about a year and enjoyed it, looking forward to getting one of these big ones.
 
I bought a few of the 120s and 160s recently for some of our in-house videos. I like the quality of light and the units seem quite versatile, like a modern version of a Rifa. But they’re a bit fiddly to set up and I would worry about their durability with hired crew who can sometimes treat rental gear with a “drive it like you stole it” mentality. They’re owner-operator lights for sure. But I do like them.
 
Received mine on Monday. It's a big beast of a system. It all comes in a rolling light case, that standing up, comes almost to my chest. The case seems fairly decent (but not in the realm of PB, Petrol, etc.) and even though it does come with custom cut/molded foam, the foam is not heavy duty and is cut VERY, VERY (almost paper)thin in some places and will probably tear/break. But it also comes with some covered/padded/velcro'd hard dividers, if you wanted to pull the custom foam and go that route. I'm presuming whomever makes the cases for them, the dividers are standard, so they just leave them in the case for the end customer. The ballast/controller is pretty big and weighty, but uncluttered with a clean logical design and actually feels pretty well made. The diffusion is wrapped around an internal collapsible frame(like Chimera and Snapbag do with their grids/egg crates, now) and the grid/egg crate is much more heavy duty(and larger all around) than what they use for the LC-160's, but rolls up for storage just the same. The bad problem with the diffusion having an internal frame though, you can't use it on the mat in any type of curved/rolled set-ups.

Unfortunately, the frame that shipped was incorrect(too small), but they contacted me right after the kit shipped to inform me that they knew it and the correct one is supposed to ship this week. I'm presuming this is probably an issue with all the kits that shipped, but maybe I was just a little unlucky and others received the proper one. Anyway, I do like the idea and execution of the frame and the way it deploys and packs quickly, staying fully assembled. The mat itself is pretty damn big(~3'x4.5'), but unlike the 2x2 LC-160 mat, which has a hard backing in each section, the Mega is fully flexible, which opens up lots of possibilities for its use and helps quite a bit with packing and storage, as well. Not having the correct frame for it, I haven't been able to fully evaluate it as a system, but I did hang it from the included frame and gave it a quick once over. As far as light quality, to the eye it seems just like it's smaller predecessor, which is very good, in my opinion. Hopefully the correct frame will be here next week so that I can see how it's all going to play together. Call me crazy, but I think it's gonna set-up at least as quickly as the 160's. And the only thing that's really not in the kit, is a light stand.
 
Run&Gun said:
Received mine on Monday. It's a big beast of a system. It all comes in a rolling light case, that standing up, comes almost to my chest. The case seems fairly decent (but not in the realm of PB, Petrol, etc.) and even though it does come with custom cut/molded foam, the foam is not heavy duty and is cut VERY, VERY (almost paper)thin in some places and will probably tear/break. But it also comes with some covered/padded/velcro'd hard dividers, if you wanted to pull the custom foam and go that route. I'm presuming whomever makes the cases for them, the dividers are standard, so they just leave them in the case for the end customer. The ballast/controller is pretty big and weighty, but uncluttered with a clean logical design and actually feels pretty well made. The diffusion is wrapped around an internal collapsible frame(like Chimera and Snapbag do with their grids/egg crates, now) and the grid/egg crate is much more heavy duty(and larger all around) than what they use for the LC-160's, but rolls up for storage just the same. The bad problem with the diffusion having an internal frame though, you can't use it on the mat in any type of curved/rolled set-ups.

Unfortunately, the frame that shipped was incorrect(too small), but they contacted me right after the kit shipped to inform me that they knew it and the correct one is supposed to ship this week. I'm presuming this is probably an issue with all the kits that shipped, but maybe I was just a little unlucky and others received the proper one. Anyway, I do like the idea and execution of the frame and the way it deploys and packs quickly, staying fully assembled. The mat itself is pretty damn big(~3'x4.5'), but unlike the 2x2 LC-160 mat, which has a hard backing in each section, the Mega is fully flexible, which opens up lots of possibilities for its use and helps quite a bit with packing and storage, as well. Not having the correct frame for it, I haven't been able to fully evaluate it as a system, but I did hang it from the included frame and gave it a quick once over. As far as light quality, to the eye it seems just like it's smaller predecessor, which is very good, in my opinion. Hopefully the correct frame will be here next week so that I can see how it's all going to play together. Call me crazy, but I think it's gonna set-up at least as quickly as the 160's. And the only thing that's really not in the kit, is a light stand.
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Thanks for the initial thoughts.

In the meantime you should clip it in portrait orientation to an armed out c-stand then use another c-stand for a diffusion waterfall (borrowing the term term from Bill T).
 
Any more reports on the use of this light? I'd love to hear from someone that's been using it for a couple months now. How's it been working out? My one worry with this light is that the diffusion looks like it has to be installed rather close to the LED's. It doesn't appear to stand off that much. Seems like that might impact the softness a bit.
 
robotfist said:
Any more reports on the use of this light? I'd love to hear from someone that's been using it for a couple months now. How's it been working out? My one worry with this light is that the diffusion looks like it has to be installed rather close to the LED's. It doesn't appear to stand off that much. Seems like that might impact the softness a bit.
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Yeah I'd definitely prefer if the diffusion had more distance. I'd take a hit in weight for a more rigid tray style, closer to a poor man's litemat.
 
rob norton said:
Yeah I'd definitely prefer if the diffusion had more distance. I'd take a hit in weight for a more rigid tray style, closer to a poor man's litemat.
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Do you own any other Intellytech lights? In comparison to other models, is the MegaCloth's light quality noticeably harder with the diffusion mounted on it?
 
I finally used mine a few weeks ago for some interviews. I was pleased with the results. We were shooting inside with two frosted windows in the background, ISO 500, 2-stops of ND to open up to almost T1.5 and running at about 10% with just the diffusion panel on. It's a beast. And I think we're gonna use it tomorrow mixed with a couple of Gemini's on a large multi-cam with nine subjects/two hosts.
 
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