Car Interior Night Light at DVinfo.net

Douglas Johnson · May 20th, 2004, 01:39 PM

Is there a specialty light for enhancing dash light for interior car shots. It would seem that the light should eminate from the dash. Do I need to build my own LED fixture? Suggestions...Thanks!

Rob Wilson · May 20th, 2004, 01:40 PM

Doug,

Not sure but I think compact florescents are commonly used in this application. May need to gel for balance.

Jean-Philippe Archibald · May 20th, 2004, 02:07 PM

I did a shot a few weeks ago in a minivan and, following the recommendations of another member, I used two sets of christmas minilights randomly placed on the dash and powered by a 175W 12v adaptor purshased for 20$ at home depot. It worked like a charm!

Mike Rehmus · May 21st, 2004, 04:12 PM

The nice thing about the christmas lights is that you can turn each bulb off or on as required so you can balance the light fairly easily. You can use frosted bulbs for a soft light or clear bulbs for a harder light. Beyond that, you can wrap them in any diffuser material you want..

Douglas Johnson · May 22nd, 2004, 09:29 AM

Rob, Jean-Philippe, and Mike:

Thank you so much for your quick answers.

Rob, I'm looking into the florescents....good idea, expensive.

Jean-Phillippe and Mike, the Christmas lights sound wonderful and I already have those lying around. I hope I have less trouble with them in the dash than I do on the tree.

If the decorations work, I'll save some money. I'll let you know how it works out.

Thanks,

Douglas

David Mesloh · May 24th, 2004, 01:35 AM

I went to the hardware store and bought 2 - 12V AA battery powered flouresent lights. They fit in the open glove compartment and on the instrument cluster quite well. They can be a little bright so some diffusion might be needed.

Regards,

David Mesloh

Rick Bravo · May 25th, 2004, 08:21 AM

We use the Kino-Flo system and we love them, but they are rather expensive.

http://www.kinoflo.com/sales_catalog...lo_system.html

I like the X-Mas lights idea though!

RB

Mike Gamba · May 25th, 2004, 09:56 AM

I have used the Mini Flos in the past.

Douglas Johnson · June 1st, 2004, 04:56 PM

Thank to all of you for quick replies and great ideas.

The micro flo is undoubtably the best for this situation. The expense will prevent me thinking about until the use justifies it.

The Christmas tree lights - wonderful, but what a mess.

David Mesloh - Thank you for the DC florescent suggestion. Home Depot indeed had a 13inch that fits perfectfully in the dash. It even comes in 4200K and 3000K with 450 lumens. Radio Shack supplied the gadget to get power from the cigarette lighter so that I can do a hundred takes without worrying about the 8 AA batteries.

I'm in business and thanks to all of you I have learned a lot.

Gratefully,

Douglas

Mike Rehmus · June 1st, 2004, 09:56 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Rick Bravo : We use the Kino-Flo system and we love them, but they are rather expensive.

http://www.kinoflo.com/sales_catalog...lo_system.html

I like the X-Mas lights idea though!

RB -->>>

Yea, they are worth the hassle. You can control them better than the flos because you can control their density. You can unscrew one if you don't want a light in that spot, you can ring a windshield with them if you want a broader light, or tape them to the windshield if you want, and you can bunch them up to get more power. And they are cheap and very reliable. I use the blue masking tape to fasten them to the dash and wherever I need them. If I need a bit more permanence, gaffers tape will do it too.

Of course the best thing of all would be to get a car body and cut it up so you had direct camera access. Put it on a trailer or truck frame and drive it around. Wonder how much a temporary rig like that would cost? $500?

Jeff Patnaude · June 2nd, 2004, 08:08 AM

I've used the mini flows too. They are great!

The Xmas lights are a fun work-around. Good idea

Jeff P.

Marc Sacco · June 23rd, 2004, 07:16 AM

just make sure you take the blinking one out!! he he he!

Mike Rehmus · July 12th, 2004, 12:02 PM

This one isn't bad for those who want to light inside vehicles:

http://www.ledtronics.com/ds/PLT100/

or this one if you want a panel of lights
http://www.ledtronics.com/ds/gdl002-200/

And they make direct replacements for auto light bulbs tool Look around their Web site.

Matt Irwin · July 30th, 2004, 05:53 PM

Good call. Check out LitePanels (www.litepanels.com) and the Kino Mini and Micro-Flos. Both are really cool designs.

May 20th, 2004, 01:39 PM	#1
Douglas Johnson New Boot Join Date: May 2004 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 20	Car Interior Night Light Is there a specialty light for enhancing dash light for interior car shots. It would seem that the light should eminate from the dash. Do I need to build my own LED fixture? Suggestions...Thanks!

May 20th, 2004, 02:07 PM	#3
Jean-Philippe Archibald Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Saguenay, Québec, Canada Posts: 1,051	I did a shot a few weeks ago in a minivan and, following the recommendations of another member, I used two sets of christmas minilights randomly placed on the dash and powered by a 175W 12v adaptor purshased for 20$ at home depot. It worked like a charm! __________________ Jean-Philippe Archibald http://www.jparchibald.com - http://www.vimeo.com/jparchib

May 21st, 2004, 04:12 PM	#4
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	The nice thing about the christmas lights is that you can turn each bulb off or on as required so you can balance the light fairly easily. You can use frosted bulbs for a soft light or clear bulbs for a harder light. Beyond that, you can wrap them in any diffuser material you want.. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

May 22nd, 2004, 09:29 AM	#5
Douglas Johnson New Boot Join Date: May 2004 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 20	CAR INTERIOR NIGHT LIGHT Rob, Jean-Philippe, and Mike: Thank you so much for your quick answers. Rob, I'm looking into the florescents....good idea, expensive. Jean-Phillippe and Mike, the Christmas lights sound wonderful and I already have those lying around. I hope I have less trouble with them in the dash than I do on the tree. If the decorations work, I'll save some money. I'll let you know how it works out. Thanks, Douglas

May 24th, 2004, 01:35 AM	#6
David Mesloh Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 94	car lighting I went to the hardware store and bought 2 - 12V AA battery powered flouresent lights. They fit in the open glove compartment and on the instrument cluster quite well. They can be a little bright so some diffusion might be needed. Regards, David Mesloh

May 20th, 2004, 01:40 PM	#2
Rob Wilson Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Flagstaff, AZ Posts: 473	Doug, Not sure but I think compact florescents are commonly used in this application. May need to gel for balance.

May 25th, 2004, 08:21 AM	#7
Rick Bravo Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 574	We use the Kino-Flo system and we love them, but they are rather expensive. http://www.kinoflo.com/sales_catalog...lo_system.html I like the X-Mas lights idea though! RB __________________ "The future ain't what it used to be." Yogi Berra. www.rbravo.com

May 25th, 2004, 09:56 AM	#8
Mike Gamba Tourist Join Date: May 2004 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 4	I have used the Mini Flos in the past. __________________ Mike G.

June 1st, 2004, 04:56 PM	#9
Douglas Johnson New Boot Join Date: May 2004 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 20	Car Interior Light Thank to all of you for quick replies and great ideas. The micro flo is undoubtably the best for this situation. The expense will prevent me thinking about until the use justifies it. The Christmas tree lights - wonderful, but what a mess. David Mesloh - Thank you for the DC florescent suggestion. Home Depot indeed had a 13inch that fits perfectfully in the dash. It even comes in 4200K and 3000K with 450 lumens. Radio Shack supplied the gadget to get power from the cigarette lighter so that I can do a hundred takes without worrying about the 8 AA batteries. I'm in business and thanks to all of you I have learned a lot. Gratefully, Douglas

June 1st, 2004, 09:56 PM	#10
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	<<<-- Originally posted by Rick Bravo : We use the Kino-Flo system and we love them, but they are rather expensive. http://www.kinoflo.com/sales_catalog...lo_system.html I like the X-Mas lights idea though! RB -->>> Yea, they are worth the hassle. You can control them better than the flos because you can control their density. You can unscrew one if you don't want a light in that spot, you can ring a windshield with them if you want a broader light, or tape them to the windshield if you want, and you can bunch them up to get more power. And they are cheap and very reliable. I use the blue masking tape to fasten them to the dash and wherever I need them. If I need a bit more permanence, gaffers tape will do it too. Of course the best thing of all would be to get a car body and cut it up so you had direct camera access. Put it on a trailer or truck frame and drive it around. Wonder how much a temporary rig like that would cost? $500? __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

June 2nd, 2004, 08:08 AM	#11
Jeff Patnaude Major Player Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Duluth, Georgia Posts: 248	I've used the mini flows too. They are great! The Xmas lights are a fun work-around. Good idea Jeff P.

June 23rd, 2004, 07:16 AM	#12
Marc Sacco Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Location: new fairfield, CT Posts: 65	just make sure you take the blinking one out!! he he he! __________________ www.zenimage.com The brave may not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all....

July 12th, 2004, 12:02 PM	#13
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	Here is a better idea maybe This one isn't bad for those who want to light inside vehicles: http://www.ledtronics.com/ds/PLT100/ or this one if you want a panel of lights http://www.ledtronics.com/ds/gdl002-200/ And they make direct replacements for auto light bulbs tool Look around their Web site. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

July 30th, 2004, 05:53 PM	#14
Matt Irwin Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 327	Good call. Check out LitePanels (www.litepanels.com) and the Kino Mini and Micro-Flos. Both are really cool designs.