Curious about the little light Canon sells for the XL-1. I do a fair amount of corporate event people videos...often dark cocktail party environments probably similar to a wedding reception. I currently use a old Peg lighting system with a belt pack. It works O.K. but is very heavy and drains fast.

Would like to hear what you think...about how much time on one charge? What's an ideal subject to camera distance. I have both the standard lens and wide Canon wide angle. Thanks!!

I was thinking about getting the same light. Not sure if anyone here has one. I'll probably get one anyway, because I can't afford the $600 light that most would say to get!

This might help...

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3233&highlight=10li

Looking at that past thread, Chris said he was going to find out it the Canon VL3 could have the bulb changed. Did you find out?

Also the Canon VL3 works fine with the XL1s? Most ads say it is for other camcorders.

<<<-- Originally posted by Zimvg304 : I was thinking about getting the same light. Not sure if anyone here has one. I'll probably get one anyway, because I can't afford the $600 light that most would say to get! -->>>

What are the two lights yo uare talking about? VL-10 and a Fizzler SunGun?

mark the Frezzi lights is the other one I was talking about. Real nice, but they cost alot. I'll get one down the road.

The VL3 will not work with the XL1S, as that camcorder lacks the required Advanced Accessory Shoe. The VL3 is compatible only with the Canon GL2, Optura Pi, 100MC, Optura 10, Optura 20, ZR30MC, ZR50MC and ZR70MC as they are the only Canon camcorders with the Advanced Accessory Shoe.

To my knowledge it is not possible to replace the VL3 bulb. However, since the VL3 costs only $50 (pocket change compared to other on-baord lights), it should'nt be an issue to simply replace the entire unit. Keep a spare VL3 handy.

Yes, thanks and sorry, I meant Frezzi.

Chris: You can get a much better light (for example a Hama 10W/30W switchable incl. battery) for $50.

Mark, do you have a link for that item?

The primary advantage of the VL3 is that it is very small and lightweight, three watts (perfect for eye-light) and needs no on-board battery. However since it will not work with XL1 / XL1S, I would like to know more about the Hama. Thanks,

Thanks for the info Chris.

Hi Chris,

I don't know if the light is available in the US or if you can order it directly at Hama, but here's a link to their German Website (the English one is not complete): http://www.hama.de Then click on Photo/Video/Digital | Video-Aufnahme | Leuchten. You can translate the site with Altavista if you want to. The first item in the list is the light I meant (Videoleuchtenset 30W / video light set 30W). I bought it for 65 € (nearly the same in US$). If you would click on it you would get an extended description but Altavista is unable to translate it - the big picture: http://www.hama.de/bilder/00006/abb/00006342abb.jpg. So I will try to tell you the important things:

It has two bulbs (10W and 20W), you can either switch on the 10W-bulb or both together (which will be 30W equivalent I think). In my opinion the light is very good for its price, clear and smooth, and has the same temperature as any other artificial light (3200 K). The illumination-angle is very wide (nearly 180° i think but it gets a bit darker at the edges). I use the 10W as an addition to the normal lamps everybody has in his rooms and for illuminating and pointing out things near the camera (i.e. persons, what works very well!). The 30W is good and bright enough for big rooms and outdoor-filming at night if you set the shutter to 1/25s or 1/30s - another way is to use 6db gain. Sometimes it's hard for the GL2/XM2 to focus when the 30W light is the only illumination, so I use manual focus in pitch dark. It's hard to damage the videolight, mine fell down several times and was still working perfectly. I wanted to open the front cover once because I wanted to see the bulbs but I was only holding at the back of the light and so the cover flew away - together with the 10W bulb (so always hold the whole light when you open it). I found the bulb 4 or 5 feet away and put it back in the light - everything was still functioning as if nothing has happened. The only thing I have to complain about is that the light sometimes switches off automatically, because it runs too hot after several minutes when you use both bulbs (30W) in a normal temperated room.

It comes with a 1800 mAh NiCd battery which can be loaded through the videolight itself. Because this will only last for approx. 40 minutes (10W) / 20 minutes (30W), I also ordered two Sony equivalent batteries (6V) with each 4000 mAh at Sabah Oceanic (they always sell two batteries together) for $64 - plus they are NiMH. They last double the time. Good that I still have an old Sanyo charger for them, because you can't use the light if you load a battery with it. It will also accept Panasonic, Sharp and other batteries with 6V.

So I think this is everything I can tell you about this videolight. The Hama-description at their webiste only tells about the pure numbers (W, V etc.).

If you have any questions, tell me. I can add some pictures I made of the light itself if you want.

Most helpful! Many thanks, Mark.

I forgot: With attached battery it weighs about 400 gramms (0.8 pound).

Mark,

Thanks for your input; I check it out.

Another post here too!

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3394


(I still have my VL-10 light!)

I was planning to get one of these Canon VL-10Li for my XL1s as I do lot of Wildlife and want to shoot some during night. I had used a regular torch before, but it was quite directional and very shrp at one point,
How soft is this Canon VL-10Li video light and does it suck too much battery power?
how far can it illuminate?
Is it worth paying that much or is it better off designing our own?
Experts please enlighten me.

Hello Rajesh,
The VL10 is handy to have in some situations where limited fill light is needed. But it's only 10 watts; you're not going to be able to light an outdoor scene with it.

I don't know what type of wildlife shooting you do. But you'll need much more horsepower to light an outdoor scene reasonably well.

Thanks for the info Ken.

My outdoor subjects will be mainly smaller mammals (like jungle cats, mouse deer, jackals,etc)

I did a few minutes of shooting a civet with a normal regular home torch with 4 'A' size batteries, but the light was beam type so it could not illuminate the whole body of the civet forget about its partner and a young one. due to low light i could not capture all three in a single frame. Later I tried with a 12v dry battery which is used in UPS's and a small Bike headlight with 55Watt bulb, though this was powerful and wide i felt it was too harsh and disturbed the subject. also i had the problem of fousing the light & lens simultaneously.

Is there any other models which i can fit on the camera flash shoe and power it by external source?

Rajesh,

For very small mammals (ex:housecat-sized) in small scenes the VL10 will be better that nothing..

But for more power and flexibility consider the Frezzi. There's a current thread (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5843&highlight=frezzi) on the subject.