Video Ring Light Suggestions

[djkoz]

I am looking for suggestions for a good but, hopefully, not too expensive (cheap is good), ring light for a Panasonic AC130 video camera. (I will be purchasing it in January.)

I am after a soft, even, natural looking light that will be good for lighting models in a relatively close up shot. I'd like them to look like they came out of the pages of a Victoria Secret catalog.

I don't think I am looking for a typical LED light arrangement because my sense is that they will produce a hard, glaring light with hot spots.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Dan

 

[Michael Carter]

A minute or so on google should show you:

DIY stuff, either with plywood rings and ceramic sockets in a circle;
DIY stuff using round flo tubes;
There are several eBay sellers offering decent-looking flo units from $150 or so, last I noticed. I don't know what the color rendering is like on the round tubes - they may need some gel.

 

[Patryk_Rebisz]

The light should be a bit above the lens and not around the lens. You will be better served to invest intro a boom arm that attached to good stand can extend you soft light just above the camera's lens.

 

[David W. Jones]

I use a Kinoflo Kamio for that type work. You might be able to find one used for a better price.

Good Luck!

Dave

 

[vegas06]

Take a look at the Diva Ring Lite.
This should fit the bill for what you're looking for.

 

[djkoz]

Thanks, to everyone who replied.

With respect to this last post suggesting a light on a stand, this is a good idea, but in my case the camera will be moving a lot and I need the light to follow the lens. But, perhaps, mounting it above the lens rather than around it might be an option.

 

[Michael Carter]

Well, the ring light "look" is generally achieved with the light surrounding the lens for the specific catch-lights. You could just hand an LED panel or small flo over the camera if you're not looking for that.

 

[Bern Caughey]

The light should be a bit above the lens and not around the lens.

Agreed.

The current Victoria's Secret look is not achieved with a ring light, rather a specular source above the camera. Back when I worked for them I keyed with an 18k HMI Fresnel diffused with Hampshire Frost, but the source was usually off axis.