Hello,

I'm about to start doing wedding videography and all I'm missing is a good on-camera light when having to record the reception. I've been researching and I haven't found a truly convincing model. Unfortunately I'm on a tight budget and the most I can afford is the Litepanel MicroLite. But after reading some reviews about its poor performance in "throwing" the light to a reasonable distance, 5 Feet, I'm not too sure about it being worth it. Like I've read on other threads, I definitely don't want to be an annoyance to the guests with the light.

Well you've seen pros and cons for all products and you've probably seen my thoughts on the LP Micro-but in a nut shell, I love it. It throws more than 5 feet but keep in mind that ANY on camera light with anything less than a 100watt bulb will only throw effectively about 8 to 12 feet and only 12 with a 100 w bulb. MY Micro is about the same throw as my Anton Bauer Ultra light with a 35 watt bulb an a softbox, about 8 t 10 feet. The Micro is 25watts and with the diffusion filter and 1/4CTO I run on it that's the throw I get. I shoot with a PD170, 1/60th shutter and f/1.6 iris with gain generally set to 0 but will and have gone to +12 on the gain with no ill effect. Again keep in mind any oncamera light has a limited throw.

I saw this article in EventDV a while back. It's a review of the Switronix TorchLED TL-50, which they loosely wrap as a "search for the perfect reception light." Seems like it might pertain to your situation!

Here's the link: EventDV.net: In the Field: Switronix TorchLED TL-50 (http://www.eventdv.net/Articles/News/Feature/In-the-Field-Switronix-TorchLED-TL-50-52444.htm).

Hope that might help,
Glenn Fisher

Thanks for the response, it really helped a lot. I wasn't aware of the Switronix Torch LED TL-50 existence. And since Don pointed out the comparison between the Micro and the Anton Bauer Ultra Light, I have a bit more of faith in it now. I was a news photographer and I used the Ultra-Light...I enjoyed it a lot. But now that I have a clear perspective on their performance I can now worry on their practicality. The Torch LED with the rechargeable batteries and the Micro being able to run on AA or having the option to buy the plates to attach a compatible camera battery.

The TorchLED does indeed look good from that review, and comparing it with the ancient-but-able Sony 20DW2 is a good idea. I've just done a test of 3 LED on-camera lights ranging from the cheep to the dear (Mic Light to Pro-X to Swit S2000), and my conclusions are that the Sony still comes out tops. OK, it uses far more power and runs a lot hotter, but if it's light of the proper colour you're after - at a sensible price - the Sony still wins.

tom.

Hey guys, I wondering if anyone has used the MicroBeam 128LED Ultra Bright Camera Mounted Light, I found a link to it on one of the other threads and wanted to know if anyone has compared it to the Litepanels Micro.

I just pulled the trigger and bought a microbeam earlier today. If anyone's interested, I will report on it when it gets here. I can't find ANYTHING about this thing other than some guy's very unscientific account of how bright it is, and the specs on the company's site.

I recently got a light from The Wireless Wedding Reception Video Light - HOME (http://www.receptionlight.com/). That may be worth checking out.

That's neat. I wanted something on cam. . .most receptions don't WANT lights set up anywhere, I thought?

I went with the 'beam for several reasons: price, dimmer, color correction filters (comes with several), brightness (best out of all the ones I seriously considered), and runs off camera batteries (not the actual cam battery, but that TYPE). So even if I sell my XL2 some day, I keep the batteries and can use this thing. While I have the cam, the batteries I have will also power the light.

I purchaced the TL-50 before the article in Event DV came out from a dealer in Alabama which was the colsest to FL. Cost $230 shipped. At our local video meeting we compared with my Sony 10/20, 2- SIMA LED lights and the Lite panel Micro. The TL-50 was brighter the all of them. I use it with Sony Z7U and FX1. Works great and so far I have not even used the battery to where the mid warning light has come on. Of course I turn it off when I'm not shooting. The light weighs nothing , a lot less then the Sony and Micro. I use the CTO filter that comes with it and I also made my own by inserting a 1/4 CTO filter into the frosted cover that comes with it.

I also made my own by inserting a 1/4 CTO filter into the frosted cover that comes with it.

smart man! That's what I'm going to do... :)

I think the torch led will be my new on cam light and I'll get a couple of those microbeams for a "reception light" kind of setup and also for a quick and dirty lighting rig for run and gun interviews.. Seems like it might be bright enough to use in situations when you need to add a fill light for a subject standing in front of a window during the day.. might reduce the dynamic range needed just enough so you don't have to blow the window out completely...

We'll see...

Cheers,
Scott

How do you mean "reception light setup"? Do you mean setting them up on stands and just trying to light the dance floor or whatever? Those microbeams, while allegedly pretty powerful, are still meant to be used pretty close (within 10 ft of subject). . .they're not like regular video/movie lights. There are probably cheaper/more powerful ways to light a general area.

If you're going to leave lights on and blast an area of the reception with 'em (if the wedding folks let you, that is), you could get a couple fresnels, lowell omnis/dps/prolights, even a few softboxes, for the same amount or less (photoflex makes a softbox, and totas can fit inside instead of the more expensive starlights or whatever they're called). Maybe bounce a hard powerful source off the ceiling to raise the ambient level in the room without blasting anyone directly. Any of these things can be put on dimmers to make them more acceptable to whoever's running things, and will be way more powerful than the microbeams.

PUt your stands in corners of the room, sandbag 'em, you should be fine.

If you're going to have bright spots of light (that's how the guests will see it) on all the time, might as well get the most bang for your buck.

I know a bunch of people who do that with just the sony LED light that costs $500.... and it's output isn't near what that microbeam should be.. also the microbeam is a consolidated more agile setup.. no external battery that weighs a ton...

Cheers,
Scott

Just saying, if people in a generally dark area will be staring into a bright light, that light should be doing something to make itself worth the trouble, not just barely giving you an exposure.

I vote a couple of softboxes in the 1K wattage area for this type of setup. If you're allowed to do any of this, of course.

Also, I'm not real saavy with the more psychological aspects of video production, but I've HEARD that if you have lights on when people first enter the reception area, it's much less troubling to them than if starts dark and moody and then BAM you pop the lights on.

Soft boxes with 1Ks? Dude... not sure how they are in your market but a big ugly softbox is a tough sell to a bride in my market... I also don't have the desire to lug around a a full blown lighting kit... especially when the setup I suggested will work wonders compared to the majority of the reception footage I see. That torch led on real low will be great to fill in addition to the 'beams...

Also you said they are meant to be used at under 10 feet... they are apparently 85 lux at 9 feet... seems like they will work for a much greater distance than 10 feet...

85 lux at 9 feet for MY cam is not that great. . .I still have to open up all the way to get "correct" exposure, though I don't need gain.

You are probably right about the softboxes being a tough sell. ON those rare occasions I do weddings, I'm never the guy that got hired directly. . .someone else hires me after the B&G hires them. . .almost like I'm freelancing for a production company.

I also didn't think of the logistics of lugging a kit, so my bad there.

However, I'm sure you can find something cheaper (and again, punchier) than those microbeams for that specific application. If you just need a couple of small, light, portable, punchy sources to brighten up the area, there are any number of other solutions. You're mounting them on stands, right? So look for other video lights that are cheap, small, etc. that are punchier. Lowell, smith victor, companies like that make fairly low wattage lights (in the 150-250 watt range) that will still be brighter than the microbeams and cheaper too, and the size of the light itself, the bright spot that the guests would see, that is, would not be much different. You would of course have to plug those in, so if that's an issue, don't know what to tell you.

Hey John, please keep us updated with a review when you get the Microbeam. Did you order it from Prompter People? If so how was the ordering process, since they all have to be done by the phone and not just online.

Yes, I think you can only order from them. The process was fine, although the guy mentioned that the light was rated at 100 lux at 3 feet, which I hope was a slip of the tongue, since that is nothing like the specs on the site. Other than that, just as pleasant as could be.

I'm not sure who John is, but if he gets my light before I do, I'll be pissed.

Sorry Josh, got messed up with the names...I responded too early in the morning.

Happens all the time. Sometimes I just feel the need to be an ass.

Having never done a review, and knowing the things I care about are not necessarily the same as everyone else, what does everyone want to know SPECIFICALLY about the unit?

Photometrics, battery life, price, ease of use (i.e. I don't need a freakin' brick with a shoulder strap to run this thing) were what attracted me to it, but I know some folks are very focused on contruction (it's metal, not plastic) or other things.

I am of course curious as to how the color correction filters affect the output, though I can always just cut a sliver of gel myself if it's a problem. sAme with diffusion. . .though it's a softish source already, a little extra diffusion (216, 250, opal, spun, gridcloth etc.) never hurts. If they use it on Kinos it couldn't hurt on this thing.

Just to clarify, it's not HERE yet.

Josh how much was the light, I went to the web site and the chart looks impressive. If you get some footage post it somewhere for us to see. I'll look thru clips on my CF card to find the one where I tested the Torchlite-TL 50 with no light, light on full, half and 1/4 in a fairly dark reception. I'll post it when I can and give the link.

I will post footage (or at least stills. . .those should be okay, yes?) when I get it. I'll do with a color correction filter, without, maybe with some actual CTO if the filter seems overly dense.

It was $329 plus shipping (UPS, around $15 to HOuston TX).

I apologize for bringing up an old post but I'm pulling my hair out trying to find replacements for the Sony Original 10/20 watt Dual Bulb Video Light HVL-20DW2.

The bulbs I purchased recently give a yellowish cast to everything and aren't near as "white" as the original bulbs. Purchased both 10 & 20 watt and still yukky looking.

If you've had to replace the bulbs in this light, can you please forward to me where you purchased them and which kind?

Thank you very much~

Try this:

10 Watt - G4 Base - 6 Volt - Halogen - EiKO JCD6V10WH20 Light Bulb (http://www.1000bulbs.com/703/)

Thank you Ilya!!!!
I ordered them today!

...the most I can afford is the Litepanel MicroLite. But after reading some reviews about its poor performance in "throwing" the light to a reasonable distance, 5 Feet, I'm not too sure about it being worth it. Like I've read on other threads, I definitely don't want to be an annoyance to the guests with the light.

I had the same opinion about the Litepanel Micro, I thought it had no reach and was totally over priced however I shot a wedding with a friends MicroPro the other day - I'm totally impressed by it!! The MicroPro is the perfect oncamera light every wedding shooter should have in their kit. It's true LED has very little reach but after shooting with it I became aware that almost 90% of my shots are close up's and the MicroPro adds beautiful fill light to faces to all my shots. If you have any doubts about LED's borrow one for a shoot, it's really incredible how it fills your subject with colour minus any harsh shadows.

As for guests complaining about lights, I find that guests tend to understand and will let you do your thing if you act in a professional capacity.

I didn't like the MicroPro, too bad I didn't just buy one and test it first. I have 2. I find that is a great light for a "kicker" when you are using it in situations other than in weddings as I do this often, when there are other lights set up.

However, at a wedding it doesn't provide the light quality that I would like, and when looking directly at it looks like you are using a much brighter light that you are. So guests still get blinded and you don't get the quality of light you are looking for.

Last year I bought the Torchlight TL-50 for $230 comes with internal battery, never have run it down. I left it on full to see how long it would last -close to 3 hours. I don't even use it on half power. EventDV mag had an article on it and now Videomaker does . At Weva this year I bought another Led that even brighter and shoots further if needed. I paid show special $175 , since I showed it at our local videographers 5 people have ordered it off of ebay, it comes with a Sony or Panasonic battery and charger , I seen it on ebay for $189. These lights blow the light panel micro away and even the bigger lite panel, It has a dimmer also and barn doors, and gel to get to 3600, I just use a 1/4 CTO gel on the lens, this lets more light in. Anyway do search R-3 digital led video light on e-bay

Hi Guys

I just built my own light with an array of 48 x 10mm LED's (mine are 3200K as that's normally the ambient light at receptions and my cams are happier with a lower temperature light. This can easily cover 15' to 20' (normally the entire dance floor with both banks switched in) It's powered by a 12v Li-Ion CCTV battery on the back of the case and lasts at least 2 hours!!! Total cost was $50 and it's my lifesaver at receptions especially when they turn down the lights for the first dance!!!

For speeches I use a single 3' x 3' softbox with 3 x 28w CFL lamps and it lights up the speaker perfectly without any harsh shadows!!!

Chris

Chris, surely the ''lifesaver at receptions especially when they turn down the lights for the first dance'' somewhat defeats the object? They've turned down the lights for the romance, and you bump them up again. But I know what you're thinking - if they want this recorded there are sacrifices to be made.

Hi Tom

Over here when they turn down the lights they usually just switch them off!!! The only available light is the flashing coloured lights from the DJ!!! I have yet to see any mood setting done at a wedding in this part of the world!! The mood even with an LED bank is still very romantic and intimate, far better than the videographers who still snap on 4 x 100w halogens over the dance floor and turn night into day. The on-cam light mainly highlights the couple and the background is still romantic and I have never yet had anything but good feedback from brides about their first dance. Used correctly it works very well indeed and a far better solution than hi-powered lights.

My particular one doesn't dim as such but is made up of 4 banks of 12 LED's which can be switched in or out to give the couple decent illumination without killing the ambience.

Chris

I don't think that's the case. When they dim the reception hall light and you have your camera light, that makes the dancing couple become the focal point in the room. That's more of what they want.

Chris, surely the ''lifesaver at receptions especially when they turn down the lights for the first dance'' somewhat defeats the object? They've turned down the lights for the romance, and you bump them up again. But I know what you're thinking - if they want this recorded there are sacrifices to be made.

What I do for the first dance, is to use a dimmer on my lights that I just set it to the minimum illumination so the recorded image is acceptable but still to have the low light romantic mood. Ofcourse I have a low light sensitive Z5 camera.

Stelios