LED Panel Options

Eric Coughlin

Eric Coughlin

Veteran
Looking for a 1x1 LED that's say around 10 lbs or less, at least bi-color but RGB would be even better. What's the recommendations now?

I guess I'm pretty familiar with what's out there but interested in opinions.


As for my experience, let's see here. I have a Luxli Timpani that randomly died; maybe I accidentally plugged another light's power supply into it and that caused the death, or it just randomly died. Apparently out of warranty and Luxli quoted $500 to repair it. Not cool. The light sells new for $800.

Then one of my Astras is in the repair shop (third time I've sent in an Astra for repair) for some broken plastic on the XLR connection, and they quoted me a high $350 to repair it. This is the 4x version that can be found on Ebay for, yeah, probably around the same price as the repair quote. Not cool.

I'm leaning toward not paying to repair either but then would need some replacements.

I've got two Practilite 802 panels which have worked pretty decently but the Anton Bauer mounts have never really worked right. They're not compatible with fitting my Anton Bauer batteries. I ordered a replacement for one of them and still the same issue.

Another of my Astras has been having some issues turning on so it's probably getting ready to die.

My Litepanels Gemini, the knob to increase or decrease the brightness is finicky and malfunctioning, as it skips all over the place when turning it so it takes extra time to eventually get to the desired brightness level. Otherwise it's been working okay and is typically my main key light.

So, Luxli crapped out, Litepanels crapped out, Practilite battery mount doesn't work. All of my panel lights have issues.

I'm considering the Creamsoure Micro. Five year warranty. Now that's what I'm talking about! Biggest downside seems to be that as far as I can tell you can't have both the power supply and battery mount mounted on the light at the same time, which makes switching up between the two cumbersome as I often switch between battery or AC power while running and gunning in the field.

There's the Litepanels Gemini 1x1, but I'm skeptical of Litepanels' reliability.

BBS has an expensive $3300 RGB 1x1 panel light which is probably nice and reliable but also appears to have the choice of battery or power supply like the Creamsource. The Rotolight Titan 1x1 is a comparably priced option to the BBS but weighs almost twice as much, so is a bit heavy for my needs for a light weight 1x1. I saw different specs for the wattage, from around 220w to 350w; if the latter this could be a smaller form factor replacement for a Gemini which is 325 watts. I always like smaller.

Then there are the Profoto form factor lights like the Aputure 300D and 600D. I'll probably get an Aputure 600D, but it doesn't really fulfill the need of a 1x1. Like, a light you can easily Hollywood with a battery, that is already somewhat soft without a big softbox like what a 300D would need. There also aren't much affordable RGB options in this form factor at the moment, as the Hive 575 and Arri Orbiter are rather pricey.

I think the Creamsource Micro takes the lead, currently. Also, their 2x1 the Creamsource Vortex at 650w for a light that is similar weight and size to a Litepanels Gemini, but twice the power, and with a five year warranty...these two could be a good combo.
 
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rob norton said:
I'd do the timpani repair and try not to fry it again.
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Tempting, but apparently my Practilite 602's (which I still like) use the same amount of prongs on its power supply's XLR cable, which means even if I was careful, the random different new assistants I use throughout the country to help setup my lights at times won't always know not to plug which cable into which. Yeah, I could label them and hope they read labels, and always pep talk each new crew member on it, but that sounds like more of a hassle than getting a new light.

On top of that, I'm not sure that's the issue.
 
Eric Coughlin said:
Tempting, but apparently my Practilite 602's (which I still like) use the same amount of prongs on its power supply's XLR cable, which means even if I was careful, the random different new assistants I use throughout the country to help setup my lights at times won't always know not to plug which cable into which. Yeah, I could label them and hope they read labels, and always pep talk each new crew member on it, but that sounds like more of a hassle than getting a new light.

On top of that, I'm not sure that's the issue.
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Can't each power supply live with its corresponding light?

I'm not sure what else is out there for serious consideration. I'm personally not a 1x1 panel fan (anymore). If I was in the market I'd probably only be considering the timpani (I'm too cheap for the creamsource). But if you've had issues I understand wanting to reassess and the CS micro looks great.

I'm glad astras were never popular here - they sound like a headache at this point.
 
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rob norton said:
Can't each power supply live with its corresponding light?
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I have a duffel bag which I put three 1x1 panel lights, two Practilite Fresnels, a Luxli 5" and 10", and various odds and ends (gels, dimmer, extensions cords, etc.). Having separate bags or cases for each of five to seven lights seems like a big hassle. The bag fully loaded weighs perhaps 30-40 lbs which is completely manageable. It can be a little bit of a pain to squeeze and organize all the lights in the duffel bag, but still seems easier than carrying 5-7 separate bags around.

I'd originally started with the duffel bag I inherited from my parents when I was too poor to get a professional bag. Then I later got a big long Kata bag for around $400, used it for awhile, but found it took up almost twice as much space as the duffel bag, went back to the duffel bag, then got another smaller $400 professional PortaBrace bag, but still found it was poorly shaped to easily fit in my vehicles, so yet again went back to the duffel bag, so now the expensive bags are sitting in storage while the cheap family duffel bag is back in play.

Don't even get me started on my hate for hard cases. I regretfully bought the Dana Dolly with the hard case and now need to return it because it takes up three times the size of the Dana dolly. Need to find a nice well fit soft bag for the Dana.

People are often surprised how much equipment I fit into my minivan or small SUV.


mcgeedigital said:
My Gemini 1x1 has been solid.
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The 4x and 6x Litepanels, aside from their plastic build, held up pretty well for the first year or two. It's once the warranty expires that they get you!

Considering I doubt the Gemini 1x1 is an improvement of reliability over the 2x1, and I've already got an issue with my 2x1, it makes me a bit skeptical of the 1x1. It is on discount, now, though, so tempting.
 
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Eric Coughlin said:
Not all Craigslist PAs know how to read.
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You can always colour code them.

I have the DD universal kit hard case too - way too big for the DD platform. I ripped out all of the foam and use it for misc. tasks e.g. fully rigged camera goes inside if shooting from a boat. I bought a pelican storm im2600, its one of the smallest possible cases that still fits the slider.
 
rob norton said:
You can always colour code them.
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Color code the Craigslist PAs? Like I could get black, white, and brown Craigslist PAs and then call them Blackie, Whitey, and Brownie, which is one way to organize Craigslist people, but it doesn't really stop them from plugging things into the wrong hole.
 
I was going to recommend the Aputure LS-1S if you don't need huge output, I have two and they have been great for a cheap 1x1 panel. But a few months ago, the control unit on one died and I am having a hard time scrounging up a replacement
so maybe not Aputure? I agree with the LitePanels assessment, the Astras have been a multi year car crash as far as reliability, recalls and issues. I reviewed the Gemini 1x1 and 2x1 and really liked both but I only had them for a few weeks so it
sounds as if you've proven that long term, possibly still not too reliable.

Ever since I bought, now five Godox COB lights (three VL300s and just scored two VL150s on Black Friday for $299.00 ea), I am not finding much need for a panel light anyway but it sounds like you still use them quite a lot? To me, panels were just
what I had to put up with before COBs came out ;-) If Intellytech has any 1x1 panels, I like the two light Light Cannon kit I bought earlier this year, they are really built well.
 
Love my Gemini's. I have a pair each of 1x1's and 2x1's. They look better than Sky Panels and are easier to set-up and lighter weight. My only real issue is the damn rotary encoder knobs, but I hate rotary encoders in-general. None of them are great. Not even Arri's. They're all jumpy or touchy or twitchy or some combination of some or all of the aforementioned.
 
puredrifting said:
I was going to recommend the Aputure LS-1S if you don't need huge output, I have two and they have been great for a cheap 1x1 panel. But a few months ago, the control unit on one died and I am having a hard time scrounging up a replacement
so maybe not Aputure? I agree with the LitePanels assessment, the Astras have been a multi year car crash as far as reliability, recalls and issues. I reviewed the Gemini 1x1 and 2x1 and really liked both but I only had them for a few weeks so it
sounds as if you've proven that long term, possibly still not too reliable.

Ever since I bought, now five Godox COB lights (three VL300s and just scored two VL150s on Black Friday for $299.00 ea), I am not finding much need for a panel light anyway but it sounds like you still use them quite a lot? To me, panels were just
what I had to put up with before COBs came out ;-) If Intellytech has any 1x1 panels, I like the two light Light Cannon kit I bought earlier this year, they are really built well.
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They do, but the 1x2 is cheaper and the 1x3 is only about $30 more.
 
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