Need advice for shoe lighting. at DVinfo.net

Joe Cirino · June 20th, 2004, 08:13 PM

I mostly do weddings and now have some extra cash for a good light. I use the DM50 and need the light to allow for using both. Is there an additional shoe mount that will allow both?

What other alternatives do I have?

I have $250 to spend what do you recommend? I made a rhyme. ;-)

Thank you so much guys!

Don Palomaki · June 21st, 2004, 03:58 AM

SIMA offers an accessory grip (SVB-1) for around $10 that privides 2 (cold) shoe mounts on the side. It attaches to the tripod mount on the cmacorder bottol leaving the top shoe available. I've seen it at BestBuy and other outlets.

You can og up in price from there with othe rmakes/models. Check ads in the back of magazines like Videomaker.

David Yuen · June 21st, 2004, 11:32 AM

Do a search on "Hot Shoe" and/or "accessory shoe" - there are a few other products available that offer 2 and 3 cold shoes. However, I have not seen one that provides a double hot shoe.

Joe Cirino · June 21st, 2004, 12:23 PM

ok, so if I cant get a double Hot shoe, what lighting system would you recomend for a wedding reception setting? I am guessing I would have to use the mic in the hot shoe and find some additional cold shoe so that I can attach a powered lighting system.

David Yuen · June 21st, 2004, 01:32 PM

I can only advise you on cold/hot shoes. If you want keep using your DM-50, you'll have to go with one of the brackets that will take away your tripod capability.

If you do a search at B&H Photo on "camcorder bracket", you'll see some variations.

Joe Cirino · June 21st, 2004, 05:10 PM

so your saying that no one has devised a contraption that can allow for Canons hot shoe and additional cold shoes that can also accomdate a tripod? Sounds like a good market to me...

Thanks

David Yuen · June 21st, 2004, 09:46 PM

If anybody would have built it, I would have thought Canon would have with their DM-50 and VL-3 that both utilize the advanced accessory shoe, but no. Apparently not. I've searched this forum high and low and nobody seems to have found one.

Joe Cirino · June 21st, 2004, 10:24 PM

I guess I may have to sell the DM50

Chris Hurd · June 22nd, 2004, 05:35 AM

To the best of my knowledge, there is no such thing as a double hot-shoe adapter for the GL2. There's just no demand for it. Only you and me and maybe twenty other people would ever buy one.

I'd say your best bet is to sell the DM-50 and use some other stereo mic, such as the Sennheiser MKE-300, plugged into the GL2's audio input mini-jack and mounted on an external cold-shoe bracket. Then use the GL2's advanced accessory shoe for the VL-3 light. That's how I'd do it.

By the way, the DM-50 really holds its value well. You should sell it for no less than 20% under what you paid for it.

Brad Carrier · June 22nd, 2004, 06:08 AM

As far as I'm concerned the VL-3 is a pretty worthless item. The amount of light it produces compared to even an inexpensive external light is poor. Admittedly I'm spoiled with my Frezzi Mini-fill but at weddings I almost always need every bit of what it offers. I'd say keep the mic and save for a good external light. However, if it works for you I think Chris has the best idea.

Bob Harotunian · June 22nd, 2004, 08:12 AM

Cool-Lux makes a hot shoe adapter that can hold a mic and light. That's what I use. B&H sells it and I think the model number is M-3000.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=search&Q=&ci=3686

Save your money and get the Frezzi Micro-Fill. It's dimmable from 35W, tiny and lightweight. Works perfect with the GL2 and won't mess up your white balance.
Bob

Don Palomaki · June 22nd, 2004, 04:12 PM

For weddings be careful of light. Use maybe 10-20 watts, more will blind and irritate people, and 10-20 watts is adequate for people within 10 feet of the camcorder.

The Cool Lux models are nice, profesisonal. Ther are other models as well.

The SIMA product I mentioned may meet your need.

Beaware of dimmers on high wattage lamps. As they dim, the color balance shifts.

June 20th, 2004, 08:13 PM	#1
Joe Cirino Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: United States Posts: 101	Need advice for shoe lighting. I mostly do weddings and now have some extra cash for a good light. I use the DM50 and need the light to allow for using both. Is there an additional shoe mount that will allow both? What other alternatives do I have? I have $250 to spend what do you recommend? I made a rhyme. ;-) Thank you so much guys!

June 21st, 2004, 03:58 AM	#2
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,488	SIMA offers an accessory grip (SVB-1) for around $10 that privides 2 (cold) shoe mounts on the side. It attaches to the tripod mount on the cmacorder bottol leaving the top shoe available. I've seen it at BestBuy and other outlets. You can og up in price from there with othe rmakes/models. Check ads in the back of magazines like Videomaker. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

June 21st, 2004, 11:32 AM	#3
David Yuen Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 185	Search GL2 forum Do a search on "Hot Shoe" and/or "accessory shoe" - there are a few other products available that offer 2 and 3 cold shoes. However, I have not seen one that provides a double hot shoe.

June 21st, 2004, 01:32 PM	#5
David Yuen Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 185	I don't do weddings I can only advise you on cold/hot shoes. If you want keep using your DM-50, you'll have to go with one of the brackets that will take away your tripod capability. If you do a search at B&H Photo on "camcorder bracket", you'll see some variations.

June 21st, 2004, 09:46 PM	#7
David Yuen Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 185	No hotshoe extensions If anybody would have built it, I would have thought Canon would have with their DM-50 and VL-3 that both utilize the advanced accessory shoe, but no. Apparently not. I've searched this forum high and low and nobody seems to have found one.

June 21st, 2004, 12:23 PM	#4
Joe Cirino Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: United States Posts: 101	ok, so if I cant get a double Hot shoe, what lighting system would you recomend for a wedding reception setting? I am guessing I would have to use the mic in the hot shoe and find some additional cold shoe so that I can attach a powered lighting system.

June 21st, 2004, 05:10 PM	#6
Joe Cirino Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: United States Posts: 101	so your saying that no one has devised a contraption that can allow for Canons hot shoe and additional cold shoes that can also accomdate a tripod? Sounds like a good market to me... Thanks

June 21st, 2004, 10:24 PM	#8
Joe Cirino Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: United States Posts: 101	I guess I may have to sell the DM50

June 22nd, 2004, 05:35 AM	#9
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	To the best of my knowledge, there is no such thing as a double hot-shoe adapter for the GL2. There's just no demand for it. Only you and me and maybe twenty other people would ever buy one. I'd say your best bet is to sell the DM-50 and use some other stereo mic, such as the Sennheiser MKE-300, plugged into the GL2's audio input mini-jack and mounted on an external cold-shoe bracket. Then use the GL2's advanced accessory shoe for the VL-3 light. That's how I'd do it. By the way, the DM-50 really holds its value well. You should sell it for no less than 20% under what you paid for it. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

June 22nd, 2004, 06:08 AM	#10
Brad Carrier Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Greenville, TX Posts: 69	As far as I'm concerned the VL-3 is a pretty worthless item. The amount of light it produces compared to even an inexpensive external light is poor. Admittedly I'm spoiled with my Frezzi Mini-fill but at weddings I almost always need every bit of what it offers. I'd say keep the mic and save for a good external light. However, if it works for you I think Chris has the best idea.

June 22nd, 2004, 08:12 AM	#11
Bob Harotunian Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Somerville, MA Posts: 360	Cool-Lux makes a hot shoe adapter that can hold a mic and light. That's what I use. B&H sells it and I think the model number is M-3000. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=search&Q=&ci=3686 Save your money and get the Frezzi Micro-Fill. It's dimmable from 35W, tiny and lightweight. Works perfect with the GL2 and won't mess up your white balance. Bob

June 22nd, 2004, 04:12 PM	#12
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,488	For weddings be careful of light. Use maybe 10-20 watts, more will blind and irritate people, and 10-20 watts is adequate for people within 10 feet of the camcorder. The Cool Lux models are nice, profesisonal. Ther are other models as well. The SIMA product I mentioned may meet your need. Beaware of dimmers on high wattage lamps. As they dim, the color balance shifts. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com