super strong LED flashlights as lighting source

J

Jackson Miller

Well-known member
Hi guys. I have been contemplating/needing a way to light without power sockets and preferably via battery. So basically LED light sources. The problem is I am broke. The 600 LED panels from cool lights and other places look awesome, convenient etc. However, like I said, I am low on money.

Now, I have an upcoming shoot. I am pretty handy, but I don't want to be putting in LED's to a panel one by one and soldering and wiring etc.

So that got me wondering about LED powered flashlights. There are some INSANELY bright LED flashlights. And I just happen to know of some sites that sell chinese made ones for very cheap. Many of them are good build quality as well. There are hundreds and hundreds and it is a nightmare to sort through, but I am going to post some example links here, though if and when I actually purchase, the ones I choose may be very different.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1205

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.19767

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.485

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12060


Most of you have probably never seen a FL even 1/10th the power output of these I think, so it may be hard to imagine one as a light source, but just read the reviews.

As you can see, there are some FL's with wide heads and a shizload of LED's which give off a soft floodlight, and then there are lights with only one or a couple LED's which seem to be super bright (I have one such light). Anyways, these are the thinner ones up above with the claimed outputs of 900 Lumens. I hear that is an exaggeration and that it is actually around 400-500 lumen, but still, shizza! That is sooooo bright.

So basically, I was thinking of buying a variety of these for my upcoming shoot and working out a mounting system with cheap stands or something. When I need more light, use more. If I need even more diffusion than the wide heads are giving me, then I can create some sort of small softboxes. I can picture it now. Tiny softboxes and flags to control the light. Even gels would only have to be a couple of inches wide. So this is obviously not a professional solution, but do you think that it could be ideal for shooting around the streets in places where you don't necessarily want to draw too much attention and you want to stay lightweight etc. But the main thing to me is actually that I won't need power sockets. Most of these babies use rechargeable batteries. So buy a bunch of extra ones and you are set.




So, please tell me what you think of my idea and give me advice/ tell me potential problems you see. The only ones I see are that they may overheat, but I think I just have to carefully read the reviews to avoid the ones that do overheat, and that the color temp may be undesirable I guess. It may be blue tinted etc, but I don't think the ones I listed are, based on reviews.


Also, he is a more general link to all of the flashlights and light toys etc:

http://www.dealextreme.com/products.dx/category.999

As you can see there are thousands, so make sure you look through the subsections.
 
hehe.. it would be funny if you duck tape a flash light on top of a camera... I think it will work. but you will need to make sure to gel the light. Otherwise, the final video will be very blue-ish. People will look like corpse.
 
Do it all the time in the field and in the dark asylums , with xenon bulbs as well, gelled as we need to.
They work great as long as they don't move around on the subject too much.
Cheers
 
that first one linked looks like it would fit in the mic holder of the Canon A1..haha...might work...would love to see footage
 
This thread was right on time! I needed a night shooting light to take to Russia next week. We are shooting a documentary over there. I just bought the 128 led light. I'll let you know how it works out. I may have to diffuse this light a bit for interviews, we'll see. Thanks very much for this info, it really helped!
 
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Hey man. YOU WILL NOT GET YOUR LIGHT IN TIME! I have to warn you. The company has great prices but it not very reliable. shipping to the US usually takes about a month. It's outrageous but that's how it is. Also, if it is something I really need, I tend to order two just in case. Some things are cheaply built, some are not.
 
i saw the exact flashlight in the Fingerhut catalog i just got in the mail. if they have it in stock, you'll get it fast. same price i believe.
 
We have used numerous LED lights in STRICKEN, from small push button spots strategically gaffered in hidden locations next to actors to Black and Decker LED hand held shop lights. The are all good for close in work, but do not cast far. They are very blue and if you white balance to them they are OK.

-Gary :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)
 
I once used a Streamlight Stinger as a follow spot. It's not LED, but it worked exceptionally well for a tight spot. I've got a 3-watt 4-D Maglight, which puts out nearly as much light as the Stinger, but is a much cooler light. (probably 6500K as opposed to maybe 3000 for the Stinger). I'd definitely consider using the Mag on set, but not as primary illumination. It'd make a great effect light though.
 
Try this, 3 Watt, 5500k, easy to wire up, up to 12 volts. The driver is already built in so you dont have to worry about burning it out. At 3 watts, they should be bright as heck!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350133932675&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT


They also have a little Dimmer on this sellers site. Looks pretty tempting, I have been thinking about buying a few and making up a small panel. The seller swore that these are rated at 5500k.

I bought some 5 watt leds but the life expectancy is not all that great and I still had to buy a driver. I made a few and they were really really stinking bright. However, for the price, these are a better deal. Probably for under 100 bucks you could make up a very nice panel that would compete with those in the 300 dollar range, or better. It comes pre-wired ready to install into something.

Wallmart has a 30 LED Recharchable hand-held light that is VERY bright. I found mine at a truck stop for 7 bucks, I went back to buy more and they were gone. Wallmart sells the same darn thing for 20 or 29 bucks. It is a no-namer. Black, slightly bent, comes in a clam-shell plastic package, about a foot tall and also has a little flashlight in the end. *adding another 5 leds total) The light is quite Blue, but throws a round beam??? and is incredibly bright. I have used it on our farm for well over a couple years, and I bring it to some of my productions. Very nice. It is worth the 29 bucks IMHO. It is also a stick style light not a flashlight. 3 rows of 10. Dont understand why it throws a round beam. At night, It throws quite a far distance. I love the darn thing.
 
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