Low light

Barry Green · June 2nd, 2007, 09:41 PM

The HVX200 is going to be about 2 stops faster than the V1, and about 2 stops slower than the PD170.

Even so, how hard is it to have at least an on-camera light? A $5 camping LED light would do more for your video than all the "low light performance" arguing that goes on out there... look at this link:
http://flolight.com/miclight.htm

Those guys are charging $149, but you can buy it for $5 off ebay; just search for 48 LED camping light.

I'm not saying this is a "good" light, it's not. I'm saying that the idea of "I can't have any lights" doesn't have to be true; this $5 camping LED light is *infinitely* better than not having enough light to get a shot with. Cameras are light-gathering instruments; if you feed them enough light they'll reward you, if you starve them they won't deliver their best results.

It's quite blue, for daylight rendition you'd want to gel it with something like a 1/2 or full CTO gel, but for a total investment of under $10 (light, gel, and some AA batteries) you'd have a small portable in-pocket solution that could bail you out of unacceptable lighting conditions. Obviously you should get a proper video light if at all possible, I'm just showing an extreme example here to show you that it's possible to get a workable solution for extremely little money that will bail you out of otherwise prohibitively-low-light shooting scenarios.

Steve Nettleton · June 2nd, 2007, 10:02 PM

Thanks Barry...

That's a good point. I've got a good wired light kit but haven't yet made a proper investigation into camera mounted stuff. I hate those spot lights that wash out the foreground. That LED looks interesting. I'll have to see what's available over here.

Antoine Fabi · June 3rd, 2007, 07:54 PM

Oh boy...I learn something new every day...

It's amazing for the price...i mean, it looks decent even with only one light source (from the camera).

I imagine it could look very good using 3 or 4 of those little light kits. (with gels for correct color temp).

thanks Barry!

Not a bad idea at all !!!!!!
VERY USEFULL

June 2nd, 2007, 09:41 PM	#16
Barry Green Barry Wan Kenobi Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,863	The HVX200 is going to be about 2 stops faster than the V1, and about 2 stops slower than the PD170. Even so, how hard is it to have at least an on-camera light? A $5 camping LED light would do more for your video than all the "low light performance" arguing that goes on out there... look at this link: http://flolight.com/miclight.htm Those guys are charging $149, but you can buy it for $5 off ebay; just search for 48 LED camping light. I'm not saying this is a "good" light, it's not. I'm saying that the idea of "I can't have any lights" doesn't have to be true; this $5 camping LED light is infinitely better than not having enough light to get a shot with. Cameras are light-gathering instruments; if you feed them enough light they'll reward you, if you starve them they won't deliver their best results. It's quite blue, for daylight rendition you'd want to gel it with something like a 1/2 or full CTO gel, but for a total investment of under $10 (light, gel, and some AA batteries) you'd have a small portable in-pocket solution that could bail you out of unacceptable lighting conditions. Obviously you should get a proper video light if at all possible, I'm just showing an extreme example here to show you that it's possible to get a workable solution for extremely little money that will bail you out of otherwise prohibitively-low-light shooting scenarios.

June 2nd, 2007, 10:02 PM	#17
Steve Nettleton Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Beijing, China Posts: 30	Thanks Barry... That's a good point. I've got a good wired light kit but haven't yet made a proper investigation into camera mounted stuff. I hate those spot lights that wash out the foreground. That LED looks interesting. I'll have to see what's available over here.

June 3rd, 2007, 07:54 PM	#18
Antoine Fabi Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: sherbrooke (Quebec) Canada Posts: 108	Oh boy...I learn something new every day... It's amazing for the price...i mean, it looks decent even with only one light source (from the camera). I imagine it could look very good using 3 or 4 of those little light kits. (with gels for correct color temp). thanks Barry! Not a bad idea at all !!!!!! VERY USEFULL