C100: XLR Powered lighting

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draculr

Well-known member
I am looking for an on-camera lighting solution for the C100 for use when doing filming in some dark reception halls/night clubs etc.

Not a big fan of the traditional LED panels so I'm trying to find what will offer me the softest light possible for making people look great close up. I've narrowed it down to the following lights:

Zylight Z90
Rosco Litepad (3x6" or 6x6")
Rotolight

Of those lights only the Rotolight seems to be able to operate battery powered. However, the other two lights offer XLR power adaptors. The Rosco says it needs 12V DC of power and the Zylight needs 7-24V.

It seems almost too good to be true that I can plug those into a free C100 XLR port, not use that channel for audio and still have it provide phantom power for those lights...

...so, is it too good to be true?
 
In any case, I still would like an answer to the XLR power question. I'd rather not have to have another set of batteries so if the camera can power the lights that would be amazing.
 
draculr said:
In any case, I still would like an answer to the XLR power question. I'd rather not have to have another set of batteries so if the camera can power the lights that would be amazing.
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I have never heard of a camera with XLR connectors that could power a 12VDC device. The only power I have seen from these is Phantom power for condenser microphones....which is probably only a few milliamps of current.

The issue I think you are running into is that some power bricks and devices use the XLR or Barrel connectors for their power connections. They share the same physical plug types but are not electrically compatible. You do not want to mix these up as you can damage your equipment.

To be more specific I'd say don't plug anything into your XLR connectors on you C100 other than microphones and audio equipment. No lights.

If I am wrong (which I doubt) someone please re-educate me. I just don't think what he is suggesting is possible.
 
icicle22 is absolutely right. The phantom power is a few milliamps, not nearly enough to drive a light. The XLR power inputs are 4 pin for a reason, so they don't get messed up with audio XLRs. These lights are designed to be powered from a d-tap connection from a gold mount or v-mount battery plate. The Rosco has a AA battery box available for it. There's no way you're going to power these lights from your camera unless you already have an external battery solution.
 
edinc90 said:
icicle22 is absolutely right. The phantom power is a few milliamps, not nearly enough to drive a light. The XLR power inputs are 4 pin for a reason, so they don't get messed up with audio XLRs. These lights are designed to be powered from a d-tap connection from a gold mount or v-mount battery plate. The Rosco has a AA battery box available for it. There's no way you're going to power these lights from your camera unless you already have an external battery solution.
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Thanks for the replies. I wonder why those two lights are not available with Sony battery mounts?
 
I use Canon compatible batteries from Swit that offer a 12V out for this. I´d also consider the F&V Z96 gelled with minus green. The new F&V R-300 Stephen mentioned are better color wise, but I´ve only used mine once on camera, since they created nasty hotspots on people with less than perfect makeup. But on stands they are gold.
 
Spartacus said:
I use Canon compatible batteries from Swit that offer a 12V out for this. I´d also consider the F&V Z96 gelled with minus green. The new F&V R-300 Stephen mentioned are better color wise, but I´ve only used mine once on camera, since they created nasty hotspots on people with less than perfect makeup. But on stands they are gold.
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I was briefly looking at the Switronix bolt also. How do you find this as an on camera light? It seems like one of the most powerful out there but also that it would need some serious diffusion to create a soft light?
 
Dude! XLR power cables have 4 pins !!!. And XLR audio cables only have 3 !!!!
There is no way to power he light since the cable is different and there is no adapter !
 
Glad others chimed in. I knew that some power options used XLR connectors but I never used them, so I had no idea there were 4 pins on these. You learn something new everyday I guess!
 
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