VL-3 light too tight? at DVinfo.net

Bill Shore · July 4th, 2005, 12:29 AM

Hi - I just got my GL2 and have carefully slid the Canon VL-3 light into the accessory shoe. I have made sure the threads to tighten it were backed off and loose, but it is not easy to get on and off. I kind of have to gently fish tail it back and forth to get it come off.

Is this normal?

Thanks.

Graham Bernard · July 4th, 2005, 01:49 AM

It was for me too. Scared me rigid when it wouldn't "slip-off" with ease. Been there, done that. But you are correct to treat it with care and respect! All those tiny multi-pins within the hotshoe! Oh yes . . .. .

Tell me - do you find it is at all effective? How near do you have to get? How much GAIN do you pump up the Camera setting to?

Grazie

Bill Shore · July 4th, 2005, 02:17 AM

Ah, so I am not alone. Wonder if some of the other goodies that go on the accessorie shoe are just as hard to get on and off - anyone?

_________________________________________________________________
Tell me - do you find it is at all effective? How near do you have to get? How much GAIN do you pump up the Camera setting to?

_________________________________________________________________
Well Graham, I am quite a novice (just got my GL2 two days ago), but yes, the little VL-3 light is very effective. For three watts, it's brighter than you'd assume and it does a nice job of giving back detail to faces and eye sockets in humans.

I am in a dark office room now and managed to snag some nice footage sitting 11 feet away from some Celtic drums I have hanging on a wall. I am a rookie using the following settings:

Manual
S1/60
F2.0
18dB (gain is floored all the way up)

Graham Bernard · July 4th, 2005, 03:08 AM

Aha! 18dB . . yup. Now try it without the light on? See a difference? - G

Alan McCormick · July 4th, 2005, 06:53 AM

Grazie, I think you have the Pag C6 light.

When I got mine last year I found it very fiddly to put on or off the hotshoe or MA300 adaptor (my fingers are not that big). I emailed the PagMan (can't remember his name now) and he could only suggest an accessory, the metal shoe plate is all you get.

I leave mine on the MA300 permanently now, how did you get on using it?

Graham Bernard · July 4th, 2005, 08:53 AM

Yup! C6 here . .. Now 2 batteries! Hah! Wouldn't leave home without 'em!

Grazie

Bill Shore · July 4th, 2005, 02:13 PM

Yes, Graham. I should have mentioned, when I turn off the mighty little VL-3 the footage in my dark office was useless. After I turned it back on using the settings I mentioned, it's pretty impressive.

I have seen several of the GL2 users, and moderators on this site highly recommend the VL-3, and they are so right!

I just shot some footage of a neighborhood parade this morning, and was viewing it back. Man, the GL2 is really something! Such warm, and kind of film-like footage for video. I usually assume video is going to look kind of harsh and too sharpened. But the GL2 (with some fiddling) really captures depth of field well - and looks like braodcast quality to my eyes!

Back to the accessory shoe, have you ever used a microphone or anything else on it, and had the same difficulty getting them on and off?

July 4th, 2005, 12:29 AM	#1
Bill Shore New Boot Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 8	VL-3 light too tight? Hi - I just got my GL2 and have carefully slid the Canon VL-3 light into the accessory shoe. I have made sure the threads to tighten it were backed off and loose, but it is not easy to get on and off. I kind of have to gently fish tail it back and forth to get it come off. Is this normal? Thanks.

July 4th, 2005, 06:53 AM	#5
Alan McCormick Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Chatham, UK Posts: 282	Nearly same topic Grazie, I think you have the Pag C6 light. When I got mine last year I found it very fiddly to put on or off the hotshoe or MA300 adaptor (my fingers are not that big). I emailed the PagMan (can't remember his name now) and he could only suggest an accessory, the metal shoe plate is all you get. I leave mine on the MA300 permanently now, how did you get on using it? __________________ Alan McC

July 4th, 2005, 01:49 AM	#2
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	It was for me too. Scared me rigid when it wouldn't "slip-off" with ease. Been there, done that. But you are correct to treat it with care and respect! All those tiny multi-pins within the hotshoe! Oh yes . . .. . Tell me - do you find it is at all effective? How near do you have to get? How much GAIN do you pump up the Camera setting to? Grazie

July 4th, 2005, 02:17 AM	#3
Bill Shore New Boot Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 8	Ah, so I am not alone. Wonder if some of the other goodies that go on the accessorie shoe are just as hard to get on and off - anyone? _________________________________________________________________ Tell me - do you find it is at all effective? How near do you have to get? How much GAIN do you pump up the Camera setting to? _________________________________________________________________ Well Graham, I am quite a novice (just got my GL2 two days ago), but yes, the little VL-3 light is very effective. For three watts, it's brighter than you'd assume and it does a nice job of giving back detail to faces and eye sockets in humans. I am in a dark office room now and managed to snag some nice footage sitting 11 feet away from some Celtic drums I have hanging on a wall. I am a rookie using the following settings: Manual S1/60 F2.0 18dB (gain is floored all the way up)

July 4th, 2005, 03:08 AM	#4
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	Aha! 18dB . . yup. Now try it without the light on? See a difference? - G

July 4th, 2005, 08:53 AM	#6
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	Yup! C6 here . .. Now 2 batteries! Hah! Wouldn't leave home without 'em! Grazie

July 4th, 2005, 02:13 PM	#7
Bill Shore New Boot Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 8	Yes, Graham. I should have mentioned, when I turn off the mighty little VL-3 the footage in my dark office was useless. After I turned it back on using the settings I mentioned, it's pretty impressive. I have seen several of the GL2 users, and moderators on this site highly recommend the VL-3, and they are so right! I just shot some footage of a neighborhood parade this morning, and was viewing it back. Man, the GL2 is really something! Such warm, and kind of film-like footage for video. I usually assume video is going to look kind of harsh and too sharpened. But the GL2 (with some fiddling) really captures depth of field well - and looks like braodcast quality to my eyes! Back to the accessory shoe, have you ever used a microphone or anything else on it, and had the same difficulty getting them on and off?