litepanel micro lite for A1 at DVinfo.net

Trish Kerr · June 24th, 2008, 08:12 AM

Has anybody used the little micro lite (4 battery version) on the top of their camera with good results?

http://www.vistek.ca/store/ProVideoL...icro-lite.aspx

Any idea if it's worth getting for the A1 or is the light more for the smaller cameras?

Trish

Prashanna Jayaseelan · June 24th, 2008, 10:13 AM

Hey Trish
Im an XL2 user (soon to be a XH A1 user) and i've used the microlite by litepanel, but I own the Swit LED by varizoom. With these LEDs you won't get a far throw on it but for close range its awesome also the length of use is very good.

The pros are (according to me): double AA batteries so if you ever switch cameras you can keep using those batteries (you can purchase rechargeable ones). They come with gels also, tungsten is one. Not heavy. No cables running.

Cons: Plastic body (gotta be gentle with it). Light throw range is not far. Kind of wobbly at times.

Those are all the things i can think of at the moment but for the price and for run and gun (close ups) its not a bad choice. Good luck with your choice.

Peter Wiley · June 24th, 2008, 10:25 AM

See the discussion at http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=124309

I have a post to some video I shot with the A1 with a lite panel micro

Trish Kerr · June 24th, 2008, 11:02 AM

Thanks everyone, for the info.

I'll check that video out now.

trish

David Thanh · June 25th, 2008, 12:44 AM

I have the Micro and love it- light weight, AA Batteries, long runtime, great 56k colour temperature, dimmer. Some of the cons, the mount is really flimsy for the money that the unit costs (it wiggles atop my shoe mount and I am always afraid that I'll hit something with it and it will break off), the filter holder for the coloured filters and diffuser is totally useless and always falls off.

I also posted a short video of a line dance demonstration inside.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqe5Kfy87Ho

Bill Busby · June 25th, 2008, 03:13 AM

Maybe it's me, but it's just too spotty for 16x9 for my eyes. When I first used the A1 I had a Frezzi mini fill dimmer with a 40 degree wide lamp & while it's always been fine for 4x3 SD, I had to frantically search for something that's even throughout the 16x9 frame and came across a MR16 lamp at Lamps Plus... a Sylvania 60 degree beam spread. No more spotty's or hot spots.

Trish Kerr · June 25th, 2008, 07:10 AM

do you have a model that runs on light weight batteries or does it need the big belt?

trish

Bill Busby · June 25th, 2008, 01:07 PM

The Frezzi needs a 12v power source. If you want to keep it lightweight all around (keeping weight down on the light & your waist) get one with a 4 pin xlr connector, hop on B&H's site & search for the latest NP1 style batteries. You can get a pouch the NP1's sit in that have an NP adapter that rests in the bottom of the pouch. Very lightweight

Philip Hinkle · June 25th, 2008, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trish Kerr

Has anybody used the little micro lite (4 battery version) on the top of their camera with good results?

http://www.vistek.ca/store/ProVideoL...icro-lite.aspx

Any idea if it's worth getting for the A1 or is the light more for the smaller cameras?

Trish

I would agree with the strengths and weaknesses mentioned here. I just got one and while I wish it didn't drop off so quickly at distance it works well for my use. We shoot mostly weddings and my wife's cam has a 100W varilux dimmable light (usually around 50W) and she shoots from a static tripod. I move around with the microlight. Her light is a good indirect source and my little light gives me that little extra I need for the closeups and fill. It isn't near as bright as my old Frezzi minifill with dimmer but I kept getting tangled in the cords and the battery was heavy for someone that is mobile most of the time. Overall I like the light but if you are planning on it being your only light and shooting alone I would recommend something else. For my use, mostly weddings, it fills the need I have and I love the weight. I have run it for 2+ hours on rechargeable AA batteries and it is still going strong.

Do I love it .... NO. Do I like it....YES. Do I want to keep it....YES.

Jorge Mendoza · June 26th, 2008, 02:07 AM

i dont recommend the litlepanels i buy the swit 2000C that is wonderful and the price not is different, and the construction y very hard not plastic, buy one forget the littlepanel is very poor for the price, im sorry with my english is limited,
bye

Vinny Flood · June 27th, 2008, 02:06 AM

I have to say I'm a little disappointed with my LP Micro, but it's my first on-camera light (swore I'd never buy one!) so I have nothing to compare it too. I had it on full blast and even from 3-4 feet away much of the footage I shot was unusable.

That said, I was shooting black people with particularly dark skin tones in an exceptionally dark basement room, so perhaps I was simply expecting too much from it.

As a couple of other people have mentioned, it's useful as a fill light, nice and light (there is a reason for the flimsy plastic!), and with the AA's you'll never have a battery crisis.

I regret not buying something more powerful first and then maybe bought the LP Micro to use on more brightly lit jobs.

June 24th, 2008, 08:12 AM	#1
Trish Kerr Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 294	litepanel micro lite for A1 Has anybody used the little micro lite (4 battery version) on the top of their camera with good results? http://www.vistek.ca/store/ProVideoL...icro-lite.aspx Any idea if it's worth getting for the A1 or is the light more for the smaller cameras? Trish

June 24th, 2008, 10:13 AM	#2
Prashanna Jayaseelan Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 100	Hey Trish Im an XL2 user (soon to be a XH A1 user) and i've used the microlite by litepanel, but I own the Swit LED by varizoom. With these LEDs you won't get a far throw on it but for close range its awesome also the length of use is very good. The pros are (according to me): double AA batteries so if you ever switch cameras you can keep using those batteries (you can purchase rechargeable ones). They come with gels also, tungsten is one. Not heavy. No cables running. Cons: Plastic body (gotta be gentle with it). Light throw range is not far. Kind of wobbly at times. Those are all the things i can think of at the moment but for the price and for run and gun (close ups) its not a bad choice. Good luck with your choice. __________________ Prashanna http://p-yourvision.com

June 27th, 2008, 02:06 AM	#11
Vinny Flood Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: London Posts: 51	I have to say I'm a little disappointed with my LP Micro, but it's my first on-camera light (swore I'd never buy one!) so I have nothing to compare it too. I had it on full blast and even from 3-4 feet away much of the footage I shot was unusable. That said, I was shooting black people with particularly dark skin tones in an exceptionally dark basement room, so perhaps I was simply expecting too much from it. As a couple of other people have mentioned, it's useful as a fill light, nice and light (there is a reason for the flimsy plastic!), and with the AA's you'll never have a battery crisis. I regret not buying something more powerful first and then maybe bought the LP Micro to use on more brightly lit jobs. __________________ The Brown Cow Project http://www.browncowproject.com

June 24th, 2008, 10:25 AM	#3
Peter Wiley Major Player Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lewisburg PA Posts: 752	See the discussion at http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=124309 I have a post to some video I shot with the A1 with a lite panel micro

June 24th, 2008, 11:02 AM	#4
Trish Kerr Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 294	Thanks everyone, for the info. I'll check that video out now. trish

June 25th, 2008, 12:44 AM	#5
David Thanh Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 36	I have the Micro and love it- light weight, AA Batteries, long runtime, great 56k colour temperature, dimmer. Some of the cons, the mount is really flimsy for the money that the unit costs (it wiggles atop my shoe mount and I am always afraid that I'll hit something with it and it will break off), the filter holder for the coloured filters and diffuser is totally useless and always falls off. I also posted a short video of a line dance demonstration inside. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqe5Kfy87Ho

June 25th, 2008, 03:13 AM	#6
Bill Busby Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 959	Maybe it's me, but it's just too spotty for 16x9 for my eyes. When I first used the A1 I had a Frezzi mini fill dimmer with a 40 degree wide lamp & while it's always been fine for 4x3 SD, I had to frantically search for something that's even throughout the 16x9 frame and came across a MR16 lamp at Lamps Plus... a Sylvania 60 degree beam spread. No more spotty's or hot spots.

June 25th, 2008, 07:10 AM	#7
Trish Kerr Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 294	do you have a model that runs on light weight batteries or does it need the big belt? trish

June 25th, 2008, 01:07 PM	#8
Bill Busby Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 959	The Frezzi needs a 12v power source. If you want to keep it lightweight all around (keeping weight down on the light & your waist) get one with a 4 pin xlr connector, hop on B&H's site & search for the latest NP1 style batteries. You can get a pouch the NP1's sit in that have an NP adapter that rests in the bottom of the pouch. Very lightweight

June 26th, 2008, 02:07 AM	#10
Jorge Mendoza New Boot Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Spain Huelva Andalucia Posts: 9	i dont recommend the litlepanels i buy the swit 2000C that is wonderful and the price not is different, and the construction y very hard not plastic, buy one forget the littlepanel is very poor for the price, im sorry with my english is limited, bye