Litepanel 1X1 ???

alexdias

alexdias

Well-known member
I'm looking for comments on the usage of the Linepanels 1x1.

I'm considering a very light package for interviews for an upcoming documentary. There will be a lot of traveling and small spaces.

The 1x1 will be my key light.
It looks to me like an amazing piece of hardware, but I've never saw one in action.
I remember Jarred mentioning the light being a bit harsh on the subjects.
Also, not so sure if I should choose the 3200k or the 5600K. Most of my subjects will be on day light situations but I usually prefer the fell of the 3200k and one can always gelled to day light.

My ideal package will also include 1 or 2 Zylights for bg and hair-light.
I’ve seen those and I was very happy with the versatility and results.

I’ll appreciate any input.
 
Hey Alex:

I work right up the street from LitePanels. The idea is great but the cost is fairly high. I believe that Barry might have used one and he said that there was some noticeable color shift when dimmed. That ruled it out for me. FWIW, I do think that LED and LCD are the lights of the future, I just think that the technology is not quite there yet.

Also, the fall off is very quick and as you can see, the light source is a big soft blob of uncontrollable key light. Don't see a way to do barndoors or a grid so how do you control the spill?

Nope, just not quite there for me. A Lowel V-light keyed through a small Chimera is hard to beat as a lightweight travel package and it's a heck of a lot cheaper and has a ton more output and much better wrap for 1/4th of the price. LEDs definitely have a cool factor (both literally and figuratively) but for me, not worth it, yet. I do think in 5-10 years, hot lights will begin to disappear but they need to make LEDS a lot more powerful, controllable and affordable for them to become mainstream.

I have been playing with Kinos and homemade Kinos but I like the end result and texture of light better from tungsten fixtures although I may buy a Diva 400 just for daylight interiors only. Just keep the 5,500K tubes in.

Good luck!

Dan

Dan
 
Dan, thank you so much,

Very helpful info.
Color shift is very hard to deal with and the spill can also be problematic in really small places.

I have one set of Diva Lights with both day lights and tung. bulbs, I like the source a lot but it's still pretty large to travel with.
Also, you have to use a lot of flags to control the spill in small areas and that takes time.

I'll look at some options.

Anyway, thank you a lot.
 
If you have to choose between Daylight or Tungsten, always go for the Daylight, and gel down to Tungsten. When competing with real daylight, you want as many lumens as possible, without any gel if possible.
 
I love the LitePanels, but I don't think I would key an interview with them. Use a nice soft source for key.
 
Me too.
The thing is, I'll be mostly by myself and although I can set up thing really fast, travelling will be an issue.

I've been keying i-views with a diffused Diva-Lite and it's great but a bit too much to carry around by myself (+ additional sources, stands and all).

I'm looking for a very light compact package for travelling.
The LED lights seemed like an option for a while, for its size and flexibility. I was planning on diffuse it the same way I do with the Diva.
But I don't have much experience using it.
 
I'm coming home from very small shoot, pretty much just helping a friend.

He has a Rifa Light from Lowell and it really surprised me in a very nice way.
It's small, extremely portable and produces a very soft manageable light.
His unit is a 250, but he told me they make it 'bigger' (he didn't know details...)

We keyed with it, use some reflector for a light fill and an old VPlight from Lowell for some backlight. Everything fit to a small gym bag, + stands (those flimsy ones from Lowell), cables, etc...

It's still a bit too much for a one person shoot, hence my presence today.
It's also quite hot for really small places, like bedrooms.
But feasible.

Anyway, one decent and much cheaper option.
 
Hi Alex:

The Rifas aren't bad. Your friend had the Rifa 44, they also make the Rifa 55 and 66, the higher numbers have a larger front element and a higher wattage light inside. The only thing that bugs me about the Rifas are that they are square rather than rectangular and I think that a rectangular soft source is more versatile. Also, they are costly for what they are and the eggcrate that Lowel makes that fits them is a total ripoff IMHO, way too expensive.

I have been using a small Chimera with a Lowel V-Light as my key when I have been one-man banding it lately. This as my key, a 36" Flex Fill as fill and an Arri 150 as a hair light and I am good to go unless I need to light backgrounds also. Then I bring an Arri 300 watt fresnel for that. The whole package is still compact and light (relatively).

BTW, those Lowel stands are a legal and safety liability, they are really flimsy and Lowel lights reach about 400 degrees farenheit after being on for 20 minutes. A recipe for disaster and burning down a room or building. Get better stands, never use the Lowels.

Dan
 
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