Have you ever found that noise from the Z90's heat sinks and fan is a problem when you shoot?

I've seen it described as everything from barely audible if you have your ear next to the light, to a deal killerf.

I don't live anywhere near a dealer, so I can't try it myself.

Thanks.

I have two Zylight Z90 that I've been using for over two years and didn't even know that there's a fan inside.

I am fairly sure there is no fan in a Z90.

What people have complained about is more of a high pitched tone that shifts when you dim the light. I haven't had issues with it myself in terms of it disrupting audio.

No Fan, no noise. There is a slight green shift that you have to dial out when you dim the light.

Thanks, all. Very reassuring info.

Here's another question: There are lots of small, universal soft boxes made for flash photography. This is an example:

Westcott Micro Apollo Softbox - 5 x 8" (13 x 20cm) 2200 B&H

Is there any reason something like this wouldn't work as a less expensive alternative to the Zylight/Chimera soft box?

The Z90 does generate some heat so I don't know how well a diffuser designed for flash will work with the heat of continuous light. If you have adequate insurance, try it.

Ned Soltz

If you're looking to soften and spread the source a bit try some Tuff Spun. I use it on all kinds of lights including Lowell DPs as well as my AB Ultralite, a 100W Bescor (AC Powered) and my LP Micro.

Don, what would you use to attach the Tough Spun to the light?

There is a barndoor accessory available for the Z90, which is probably the best way to attach diffusion to the unit.

Gotta say though--tough spun is pretty darn old school, Don!! I haven't seen it on set for many, many years (granted it was the go-to when I first started lighting back in the 80's). The percentage of transmission vs the diffusion effect is really not very efficient compared to, say, 216. Given the tiny footprint of the Z90's emitters and it's fairly low output, I would be inclined to say that spreading the barndoors to an approximate 45 degree position and diffusing with 250 would give you as much transmission as possible with a decent sized source.

If transmission isn't an issue (with DP lights and today's sensitive cameras, probably not), tough spun isn't a bad choice--it's durable and silent in the wind.

It's just a nostalgic concept! Thinking back to the Smith-Victor lights that came in a cardboard travel box, and tough spun clipped to those collapsible Lowel gel frames in front of Totas and Omnis--remember the big Lowel softlights with the silver-coated reflector bags that you slid over the hinged frame? Haven't seen one of those in a very long time, wonder if anyone is still using them!

I actually used the original Lowel Lights (later called the K5, now the L-light) for a tricky setup in a living room that required ceiling mounted hard lights for a period look with quick rigging. We gaff-taped the plates to the ceiling and used halogen screw in bulbs. Worked great. It's in this week's "Key & Peele", I'll post a link if Comedy Central releases that sketch online.

Anyway--back to the Z90; just used that and the Zylight IS3 on a recent spoof of "The Bachelor". I had a set of RGB LED theatrical units to create the super-saturated splashes of color they like to use around the mansion on that show and the Zylights were great to augment those colors as needed--really easy to dial in to match the hues of the theatrical washes.

Philip,
Gaff tape is my friend!

Charles,
Yeah Old school is right..Especially when you've got 2 extra sheets of 24X24 sitting in the supply closet and you can't kill the stuff. Yeah, it isn't great for the small lights. Actually I've got some vellium material that I "borrowed" from my wifes craft closet that works really well as diffusion material and isn't as big a drop off in effective output as the tough spun.
I always say necessity is the mother of invention and we use what we got. Hell, once a long time ago, I used a coffee filter (unused) although I know a guy that used a used one and he loved the nice warm color the light threw. What can I tell you.

0|0
\--/

am still a fan of spun, i always carry a roll of light, medium and heavy in the van.
i still have hot lights in my kit so i find it invaluable.
although if i am using frames i go with half or full white diff.

for led's i would use quarter or half white diff, pegged or gaffed to the barn doors.

cheers

What about parchment paper? Not the historic kind, but the stuff used in baking. Definitely heat resistant.

Ian, no reason you can't use the white diffusions right on barndoors--sounds like you are suggesting there is a heat issue that tough spun is better suited for?

re: parchment paper etc. The type of diffusion we are talking about is $6 for a 2x2 sheet--not exactly a bank-breaker, and you can use it on all types of lights.

hi charles,
my biggest incandescents are 2k blondies and if i have no room for frames
i use spun on them as white diff tends to turn a nice shade of "pharaoh sand"
spun is also handy for using on windows, easy to hang and is quiet if windy.
it is also handy if you need the light a little harder.

cheers mate,

I haven't noted the whine issue, but I also tend to use the Z90 as an accent light thus rarely near mikes. The IS3 doesn't whine.

The accessory holder is a little tricky to learn how to take on and off, but I rarely need to do this. Still, I haven't had a problem when I have had to remove.

Comparing the Zylight to the other units mentioned is somewhat irrelevant (in terms of the multi-colored shadows). It's an RGB LED, the others are not. They serve different purposes and have different functions--specifically, the Zylight has far more features, being able to create color washes and having adjustable control over the green/magenta spectrum, as well as remote operation of all functions. Comparing it to a 1x1 Litepanel makes no sense (more useful to do so with the Zylight IS3 as they are similar in size and function). Comparing to the Dedo Ledzilla is more sensible, but again, very different functionality.

If your requirements are an small unit that delivers 3200 or 5600 color temperature, there are numerous other options that may be better suited. If you need to be able to dial anywhere between those two, there are fewer options, but they are still out there. If you need the specific abilities of an RGB LED, then I believe the Zylight is it in this form factor.

I actually used the original Lowel Lights (later called the K5, now the L-light) for a tricky setup in a living room that required ceiling mounted hard lights for a period look with quick rigging. We gaff-taped the plates to the ceiling and used halogen screw in bulbs. Worked great. It's in this week's "Key & Peele", I'll post a link if Comedy Central releases that sketch online.

Weird to quote myself, but here's that link: Key & Peele: Das Negros

https://youtu.be/m1bLXk6UVts

I use my Zylight on camera a couple inches from the on camera shotgun. The only whining I hear is from the talent because it's "Too bright". The Zylight is completely silent.

A tip, the little soft boxes from AB Ultralights fit perfectly over the barndoors on the Z90. Once I figured that out, I didn't hear any more whining.

David,

Thanks. Is this the one you mean?

Anton Bauer UL-SB SoftBox UL-SOFT BOX B&H Photo Video

Yup! That's the one. I bought mine a long time ago so I forgot how expensive they were. I may have gotten it off of ebay. If you have an Ultralight already, use the softbox off of it. If you don't, It's not worth buying an expensive one made for high heat incandescent.

On a similar topic, a friend of mine went 100% LED and fluorescent last year. For diffusion, he uses regular parchment paper for baking. It's $6 a roll vs. $60

Yes, I'd asked about parchment in a previous post. Worth experimenting with, since I already have a roll. I figured I'd try wrapping one or two layers around the barn doors

I actually used the original Lowel Lights (later called the K5, now the L-light) for a tricky setup in a living room that required ceiling mounted hard lights for a period look with quick rigging. We gaff-taped the plates to the ceiling and used halogen screw in bulbs. Worked great. It's in this week's "Key & Peele", I'll post a link if Comedy Central releases that sketch online.

Here's that sketch: Key & Peele: Das Negros

https://youtu.be/m1bLXk6UVts

Interesting, I have a Z90 on backorder. The Zylight folks tell me there's a "worldwide shortage" of the kind of LCD they use. I wonder why.

I haven't noted the whine issue, but I also tend to use the Z90 as an accent light thus rarely near mikes. The IS3 doesn't whine.

The accessory holder is a little tricky to learn how to take on and off, but I rarely need to do this. Still, I haven't had a problem when I have had to remove.

Comparing the Zylight to the other units mentioned is somewhat irrelevant (in terms of the multi-colored shadows). It's an RGB LED, the others are not. They serve different purposes and have different functions--specifically, the Zylight has far more features, being able to create color washes and having adjustable control over the green/magenta spectrum, as well as remote operation of all functions. Comparing it to a 1x1 Litepanel makes no sense (more useful to do so with the Zylight IS3 as they are similar in size and function). Comparing to the Dedo Ledzilla is more sensible, but again, very different functionality.

If your requirements are an small unit that delivers 3200 or 5600 color temperature, there are numerous other options that may be better suited. If you need to be able to dial anywhere between those two, there are fewer options, but they are still out there. If you need the specific abilities of an RGB LED, then I believe the Zylight is it in this form factor.

I just joined DVInfo.net and came across this and post above that links to some comments I had made elsewhere. So, I thought I'd chime in.

The thought process here was pretty simple, as a still photographer transitioning into video at a client's request, I was looking to come up with a small light kit which would allow me to film some interviews. I wasn't looking to over power ambient light but work with it. IOW, use my color meter to match my small kit to existing light in terms of color temp.

I bought the Z90's based on web reviews and it seemed like a good way to go, sort of strobist in approach (e.g. similar to using speedlites for a still portrait instead of bringing out my Profotos.)

I did have the problems I list in that post -> the high pitched whine emitted by the lights as well the accessory adapter being impossibly tight to put or take off.

I knew going in that the Z90 would probably have multicolored shadows (if used with no diffusion.)

Zylight was extremely responsive to my post and I heard from them immediately. They did say, at that time, that the accessory adapter had been recently updated to make it tighter but they might have gone too tight. I'm sure it's been fixed since then.

As far as comparing the Z90s to Litepanel 1x1s - I wasn't really doing that. After returning the Z90's I spent some time at Abel Cine's showroom and it quickly became clear to me that the 1x1's were a much better fit for me and for what I was doing. I have three 1x1's and couldn't be happier. They get a ton of use on video as well as still shoots. I've got v-mount batteries and they are great with that setup. I also cut my own filters to expand on Litepanel's tungsten & diffusion filter pack, adding primarily fluorescent greens, so I can match just about any interior light.

I can see how Z90s would be the answer in some situations.

I have a couple of 1x1's spec'd in all of my electric packages (I like the Bicolors) because they are quick, handy, small and can be battery powered.

I had a great use for the Zylights recently where I had to duplicate the look of The Bachelor, which uses splashes of deep saturated color in the background for accents. I had several RGB theatrical broad lights that we lobbed around the set but occasionally I'd need something more delicate or shapeable closer to the action and the Z90 with barndoors was very handy...I could just dial it in to exactly match the color of the theatrical units.

I just received a new Z90 from B&H and there is no whine. With the softbox on, there is no color fringing. With it off, there is fringing starting at about 24" between the subject and the surface where the shadow falls.

Yup! That's the one. I bought mine a long time ago so I forgot how expensive they were. I may have gotten it off of ebay. If you have an Ultralight already, use the softbox off of it.

How are you attaching the Anton Bauer softbox to the Z90? I have the frame tabs stuck in the Z90 fins but that's hokey and not going to survive being mobile.

I take to fabric part of the softbox off and put it over the barndoors of the z90
Since reading this post, my z90 has started making a weird high pitched noise too. It only happens when it's plugged into my camera through a d-tap running at 14.4V. It doesn't happen when running off of external power. I'm using dionic 90s and a panisonic HPX2000. It's not very loud, but it can be heard if the light is placed near the mic.