Which Low Budget Led Lights for Outdoor Use?

K

Ken1212

Well-known member
I am on a budget and need some input on decent Led lights that are strong enough for outdoor use. I generally shoot in shaded areas but need something with a long throw for wide angle shots, at least 10ft throw distance to be out of the shot. Ideally it would have a 12vdc xlr to use my existing battery belts. I am primarily looking at 5600k or so lights as the bi color would reduce power output. The link below of Cam-TV 1024 panel might be a good option, what other low budget panels do you recommend for outdoors?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/351423336986?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Also this Camtree set looks good for a real decent price.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CAMTREE-2x-...625?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4197b97f61

What's your input?
 
I actually own the first ones (Came TVs) and while they are more powerful than something like a Litepanel 1x1, I wouldn't say they would be very helpful outside, even in the shade. Maybe from about 3 feet away for some fill, but they aren't anywhere powerful enough to do anything from 10 feet away. Hell, I have a couple 575w HMIs that don't really do much from 10 feet away outside.
 
I figured so, but wasn't sure since I don't own a larger one. I have a 160 led small unit and it works perfectly for close ups and medium shots of people outdoors. I really need it mainly as fill to get rid of shadows on people for wide shots. It seems a large reflector might do more for me than led's !!! Any other portable suggestion beside HMI's and a generator?
 
I remember a really long thread about those 72-LED "Beam Lights".
I almost got some but the prices were WAY more than that $197 on eBay.

Seems they are VERY bright and much more narrowly focused (25 degrees) than typical LED panels.
Nobody mentioned any bad green spikes, but they will obviously give you the "72 micro shadows" and everyone was shooting them through a small umbrella or other diffusion panel to smooth them out.

Honestly - at $197 I'd grab those just as an experiment. That's like 1/4 of what they used to cost. I'd bet they are the last of the stock on a blow-out sale. This 72-light configuration just wasn't very popular.

Heck, I may get them myself for that price.
 
My guess is YES, but with a lowed maximum brightness.
Provided your belt connector adapts to that V-Mount plate of course.
Or if it connects to the DC power input connector.

My Aputures drop when I put the Sony NP 970's on them because their voltage is a couple volts lower than what the Aputure DC supply feeds in.
Like I said, it works completely normally just with a lesser maximum brightness that will correspond to the voltage difference.
 
Last edited:
Dude...now I want to get them again... They have their issues that need to be worked around of course, but they would be the brightest lights I would have that could run on battery-only power.

That's a function that just cannot be matched sometimes, ya know?
I'd be willing to gel-correct them and lightly diffuse them even permanently...at that price??? Fuggedaboudit!
 
Ken1212 said:
I figured so, but wasn't sure since I don't own a larger one. I have a 160 led small unit and it works perfectly for close ups and medium shots of people outdoors. I really need it mainly as fill to get rid of shadows on people for wide shots. It seems a large reflector might do more for me than led's !!! Any other portable suggestion beside HMI's and a generator?
Click to expand...

HMI and a generator...

I know it's not the answer you're looking for, but sometimes there is no other real, viable option besides big, powerful lights.

Stuff like you linked above(even name brand versions) are a waste of money for what you're saying you want to do. The lighting equivalent of spitting in the wind. You may be able to fill in something with them at ten feet AT NIGHT, but not in the day.
 
Reflectors. Bead board will do wonders. That and shooting with the sun behind the subject so the light not he face is flattering.

The second link is intriguing though. 15º LED. That should be punchy without feeling too hard.

Also a Joker Bug 800 will cut through daylight in some cases. But really this is why people take to the 18K HMIs (plural) for day exteriors. Without money, better to embrace a more natural look and use reflectors and/or neg than poorly emulate something very expensive and very refined.
 
Ken1212, if you are seeing "some" of the effect you are after with only that little 160-LED light you've got, then those Beam-Lights will definitely give you a whole lot more of it.

An HMI and a generator is a great tool but I suspect some of us might have misinterpreted exactly what you're doing.
Again, if you are getting any effect at all from that little 160-LED light then you must be doing shoots that are on a smaller and tighter scale then the type of thing one generally uses an HMI for. So in your instances I think these will work. And you sure as hell can't beat that price. That's like FREE compared to other common light options.

If I didn't just drop a ton of cash on a bunch of new grip...I'd snatch a set of those things right now.
 
Use reflectors outdoors for crying out loud! LED wont do you any good outdoors. Acutally I've used LED outdoors but in winter time with a cloudy sky to provide som fill. A sunny day LED are useless and a reflectors are the way to go.
 
I think you are right. The reason those small ones worked for me on tighter shots is I schedule my shoots after 6:00 pm, use shaded areas and go to more open areas 30 to 60 minutes before sunset, at that point the power of the sun is reduced and with the proper angles you can get some nice shots. I would never try to compete with the sun with led's, I got acceptable fill from them as far as 6 feet. The other day I was shooting a music video and used a jib, the angle I wanted to capture the back scenery ended up with dark shadows around the talent eyes with proper exposure (talent was in a shaded area), I could have got it more acceptable by increasing exposure or changing angles but the background would have been over exposed and that would beat the purpose of the shot. I asked the seller about the 15vdc and they claim that I would need the same voltage battery for it to work, so I can not use my 12vdc battery belts. I am considering this as I don't have a budget for a set of V 14.8vdc batteries and charger.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251767428565?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

I am trying to decide whether to go with the 15 degree or 25 degree, leaning towards the 15 degree to get more punch and distance, some people complained about harsh shadows from those lights, I am assuming they used them indoors only. For my purpose and the distance I will use them will be more of a fill (by the time the light travels to my subject the beam should be much wider, but wondering if the 25 degree would be better specially if I had several people in the shot), ideally for the jib shot I did, I needed the light placed about 15 feet from the subject and with the way I use lighting outdoor I think I can get enough fill to make my talent on wide shots better.

Policar, HMI's are definitely the way to go, and I plan on renting those with a generator for shoots that have a better budget. With Hmi's I will also need to hire more help in the field.
 
So I went ahead and bought a two piece set of the 25 degree spots. Comes with yokes and stands for $300. It's such a good deal makes me a little suspicious !!!!!!!!! They have the 60 degree floods same model for $700 total for a set of two. My guess they are discontinuing the spots as most people would want the floods. However for my outdoor needs I am hoping that I would get enough punch out of them to replace using reflectors. If any of you interested in the spots let me know and when they get in I will let you know how they perform. You can see the floods here

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Camtree-led...504?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item416d65aa40
 
I never shoot in the sun, primarily shaded areas unless it's a cloudy day. I am not looking for a key light just need a fill. down here in Texas if you put a talent in the sun with the humidity they will never stop sweating. The only time I shoot in open areas is during sunset again unless it's cloudy. I figured at $300 for a set of two it is worth a try, and ended up getting the 25 degree beam instead of the 15 so I can use them indoors too. I already have a couple large reflectors which will do more than led's in the sun, but in the shade they don't have as much of a throw and the led's should do better, how much better I will find out soon:)
 
If I'm doing interviews outdoors with limited setup time, I still try to fly a 6x6 or 4x6 Scrim Jim panel with diffusion, or 1/4 stop net, to soften the blow. (I'm in Texas too…)

In those cases, you'll blow out the BG unless you can align on a shaded area. Same as subject-in-the-shade - if the BG is sunlit, it's a blown out mess.

So reflectors are great in that regard, if you get them outside the shaded area or outside your scrim. And the bigger the better of you want a natural look.

But a 575 HMI par can really help, shot through some diffusion. Even if it gives you one more stop, that can often let you dial down a background to be acceptable.

I use one of those 575 Source 4 exhibition mods that are all over the market now. They need 1/2 CTO unless you spring for the $250 bulbs (my par was $150). Or balance to the par and see if going warmer on the sun and BG works for another 1/2 stop or so.

Of course, you need mains power or a generator - close to an outlet, it's good if you have a minute to set it up.

For reflectors, a 4x4 sheet of 1/4 plywood with a bolt through it to a griphead is about as cheap as things can get. Paint both sides white, and then stipple one side with gold or silver spray paint. Not as fake as silver or gold foil reflectors but a nice look.
 
Ken1212 said:
So I went ahead and bought a two piece set of the 25 degree spots. If any of you interested in the spots let me know and when they get in I will let you know how they perform.
Click to expand...

For sure man!

Let us know how bright they are - I suspect VERY.

Thanks Ken.
 
David W. Richardson said:
Someone explain to me how the light output of 72 LEDs can be the equivalent to the light output of 1,500 LEDs. Doesn't seem logical to me.
Click to expand...

It's a different type of hardware.
I haven't had a chance to dig into them to snoop around and see exactly what the setup is, but this company offered 2 light fixtures that had these "different" LEDs in them - these and one they call the "Aura Light".
They might be larger, or at least mounted differently (in small domes that house each LED) perhaps to use more power per bulb - I don't know.

Here's a link to the "Aura Light". I have seen behind the scenes pictures of a guy using 2 of these shot through small umbrellas to light an interview and they were BRIGHT even at more than 10 feet away.
http://www.thecinecity.com/eshop/PROAIM-Aura-2412-Led-Light-with-Power-Bank.html

But it's definitely not like 72 regular typical LEDs on these panels.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top