I need your recommendations for a good light to use on top of my XL1S. I want something that will function as both a fill light or a main light when needed and gives me a softbox effect. The main uses will be for ENG and documentary work when a light kit is unavailable.

I'm considering the Cool-Lux SL-3000. Has anyone tried this light on the XL1S? Does it interfere with the MM-XL1 microphone isolator?

I also need some recommendations for a battery that will mount on the MA-100 and MA-200.

Greg

Greg,

You might want to take a look at the Frezzi 75w mini-fill w/dimmer and Soft Box diffuser. This might fit what you are looking for.

Thanks Paul! I'll take a look at the Frezzi lights.

Greg

Here is an interesting article on fluorescent lighting if you would like to try your hand at making your own.

http://www.studio1productions.com/Articles/FL-Lights.htm

I read that article on building your own flourescent studio lights, it has some great ideas! but I think that it may be a bit heavy to mount on top of the XL1s...

Greg, I always hear great stuff about the Frezzi although I have never tried one, It seems to be the light of choice. I use the Anton Bauer UltraLight 2 which is also a very versatile system, it has a softbox attachment as well and I love mine! The nice thing about the Anton Bauer setup is that you can pop the bulb head off and leave the mount, this also gives you the ability to carry a few spare heads with different bulbs in them. The mount folds down out of the way and is nice becasue you dont have to keep mounting and unmounting the light, you just pop on a head.

http://www.antonbauer.com/44-b-UL2.htm

hope this helps some!

Chris

Thanks Nathan!
The fluorescent light article comes at a perfect time. I've got my first Chroma-Key project coming-up and I've been racking my brain as to how I would light a group of about 10 people against a blue screen. The fluorescent lights may be the answer.

Thanks Chris!
I'll add the Anton Bauer lights to my list of on-camera lights to look at.

If you do decide to roll your own lights, give yourself lots of time. Its pretty hard to get some shops to look up the CRI and color temp for the bulbs as they are use to doing this.

The plus side to all of this is that you can build a pretty nice setup for not a lot of money, and it won't use much power. You can build one that is portable (but not quite mobile) powered by a couple garden tractor batteries and an inverter.

anyone know of a portable battery powered fluroescent ligth system?