The Cool Lights LED 1200

[Cool Lights]

You should make some video tutorial about LED because when we are talking about LED the very important thing is how powerful is it. Interview is ok but what about film scene when you need to stand it in 1,5-2 meters from the object?

You're right. Would love to do that and it is needed. With any new tool, you can't necessarily do things the old way to use the tool to its most effective use. Need to re-learn some things to optimize it and that's where good videos would come in handy. You don't use LED fixtures like you would a fresnel for example and expect it to behave in the same way that a fresnel does. Its more akin to a fluorescent unit in terms of the types of shadows it produces (or lack thereof) and with more throw. So anything you'd use a softbox or fluorescent for is a good use for LEDs in general. Might have to add a bit of diffusion in some cases to make it a bit softer. I think LED has become king in interview situations for its fast setup and easy battery use. CRI is often not as important in these ENG type uses. For narrative filmmaking LED is definitely used a lot in power challenged locations.

I had all kinds of intentions to do many videos over the last few years but I just got sucked into the product development and production process and that really eats up a lot of time.

 

[Efexone]

The 600 series LED fixtures are sold out on your site - any idea when they will be back in stock?

 

[Cool Lights]

Thanks for your interest. A while back we started a re-design of our LED series and coincident with that at one point I had the option of making a new batch of LED units to tide us over till the new ones could be finished and I didn't do it--being optimistic about the time. As with all development, it takes longer than you hope. So we probably won't ever have any more of the old LED 600s and others as they were before. We do have some of the LED 1200 now and bi-color 1200 will be back in limited stock mid December.

 

[jimagine]

Can you promo the new units a little Richard?
What's the new design like? New LEDs?
Just about to order a couple more 600 softboxes for a shoot. I'm assuming they're in stock in the US.

 

[Cool Lights]

We still have the LED 600 softboxes in stock so that's no problem. Here's a couple of pictures from the new 1024 Ring which can be used either as ring light or on a stand.



This picture shows the back when using it in a stand mounted configuration. With our quick-release detachable multi-axis mount and stand adapter.



And here mounted on a camera as a ring light. This should be usable on any camera that's mounted on 15mm or 19mm rails either from the bottom or from a top plate on the camera.



Yes its all brand new LEDs. No green spike and very good color rendering. 92 CRI for daylight and 96 CRI for tungsten.

This is one of four units in the new series. In terms of number of LEDs, one larger than this and 2 smaller units.

 

[jimagine]

We still have the LED 600 softboxes in stock so that's no problem. Here's a couple of pictures from the new 1024 Ring which can be used either as ring light or on a stand.

View attachment 63120

This picture shows the back when using it in a stand mounted configuration. With our quick-release detachable multi-axis mount and stand adapter.

View attachment 63121

And here mounted on a camera as a ring light.

View attachment 63122

Yes its all brand new LEDs. No green spike and very good color rendering. 92 CRI for daylight and 96 CRI for tungsten.

This is one of four units in the new series. In terms of number of LEDs, one larger than this and 2 smaller units.

Very cool Richard (pun intended).
How about wattage compared to the 256, 600, 1200...similar input/output ?

Any idea of avail...looking need to add some more lights.

For anyone reading, I can't recommend CL and Richard enough for the quality/value of their gear and the way they support it.

Oh, and have you gone completely round?

One more question - is that a simple XLR power input?

 

[Cool Lights]

Thanks for your comments. The ring is the only round one in the series. It will definitely be the most "changeable" of all of them and will be a bit over 18" in diameter. They'll all have softboxes. There will be a 256, 600 and 1024 (ring) and 1088 in all. All have just a bit less output compared to the earlier similar sized versions and similar wattage input. This would be due to the higher CRI LEDs as you lose a bit of efficiency with higher CRI.

The power input on the back is a military grade bayonet quarter turn type. All the units in this series have no electronics in the head other than the LEDs. Each unit has its own power/dimming box so its more modular. As we make "smarter" power units, you would be able to upgrade by just buying the new power unit and changing it out for the old one. When we get into microprocessor control versions of the boxes, those will be firmware upgradable so as new features are added, it's just a question of downloading the new software from our site. So there will probably be two types of every power unit--smart and simple versions, so to speak. Those power units will all have the external battery inputs (XLR), battery plates, dimmer control(s), etc.

 

[Efexone]

So I take it you'll have new systems for sale in the future that are similar/better then the 600's?

 

[jimagine]

There will be a 256, 600 and 1024 (ring) and 1088 in all. All have just a bit less output compared to the earlier similar sized versions and similar wattage input. This would be due to the higher CRI LEDs as you lose a bit of efficiency with higher CRI..

Well the rule of thumb regarding CRI and LEDs has been take them with a grain of thought. But you've always been very frank about the green spike with all the last generation lights including CLs and provided minus green filtering because of it.
So I have confidence in what you say about the high CRI and lack of spike with the new lights.

Also, and not to do your marketing for you <g>, the fact that there's "a bit less output" with the new generation will be offset by the lack of a minus green filter on the front. I'm guessing a net gain in output in that regard.

Looking forward to testing the new lights.

 

[Cool Lights]

Also, and not to do your marketing for you <g>, the fact that there's "a bit less output" with the new generation will be offset by the lack of a minus green filter on the front. I'm guessing a net gain in output in that regard.

Looking forward to testing the new lights.

That's the thing. No minus green does mean a net gain. Thanks for pointing that out. As far as quality of light, people with a camera capable of RAW output can pretty much see the details. As you know there is a control over something called "tint" which is the green/magenta balance. You'll be able to see the difference there. This is not just magenta correction built into the LEDs but rather a balanced phosphor mix. Key parts of these fixtures will no longer be made in China or even Asia. Some parts still will be.

 

[Cool Lights]

So I take it you'll have new systems for sale in the future that are similar/better then the 600's?

The LED 600 was meant as a budget fixture and it used the common components that all those fixtures in the budget class use in order to be competitive. Also, all the components were made and assembled in China in keeping with the idea of a budget fixture. It was optimized for high light output and battery use. These new fixtures are more optimized for quality of light--more for those that care about quality of light over quantity. And still optimizing for battery use as well which is important to many.

It took time to figure out how to do an LED like this--they simply aren't available off the shelf. Nor can you use the stock components that make up an LED that are commonly available in China (as of today). You have to make LEDs optimized for CRI (particularly for daylight versions but there have been some past exceptions in the tungsten colored range that were more readily available) if its important to you and the general lighting market doesn't consider CRI of the utmost importance at this time so this type of higher CRI LED is not available without serious study and experimentation. And use of some materials you can't easily get in China today.