What on-camera light do they use on xxx tv show? at DVinfo.net

Annen James · December 8th, 2009, 11:02 PM

So just seeing what on camera light they use on say:
Dirty Jobs
Anthony Bourdain
Ace of Cakes
etc...

whats the industry standard?

Viktor Carlquist · December 9th, 2009, 01:56 AM

Not the thread i expected...

:-D

Don Bloom · December 9th, 2009, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Annen James

So just seeing what on camera light they use on say:
Dirty Jobs
Anthony Bourdain
Ace of Cakes
etc...

whats the industry standard?

Hard to say without seeing it. It could be Anton Bauer Ultralight, any one of a number of Frezzi's, could be any one of LitePanel products.
There is no industry standard per se in TV work for on camera lights not even in the news business. Some use AB, some Frezzi, a few use LP stuff.

Dan Brockett · December 9th, 2009, 12:52 PM

In my experience in shooting TV, the most popular light lately have been the LitePanels. I shot a cocktail party with impromptu interviews for Paramount last year and used the LitePanels on camera, it worked out great. Reasonable size and weight, long battery life, little heat.

Tungsten, as Don says, it still pretty popular but they suck down the power much quicker than LEDs. Also, most the shows you are mentioning don't use on-camera lights that often. Dirty Jobs does for tight interiors where there is no room to light it with traditional lights. Bourdain rarely uses on-camera lights from what I have seen and read. Ace of Cakes is lit much more like a studio show since most the action takes place in the main workplace. They might use an on-camera light or two when they deliver the cakes to functions?

Typically, as a sole lighting source, on-camera lights look terrible and most DPs don't use them except as an Obie/eye light or when they just can't physically fit real lighting into a location. I know that Bourdain uses an entire traditional small lighting package including Flos and some homemade sources that run off of DC since they are traveling and moving.

Dan

Sam Young · December 13th, 2009, 05:23 PM

On Dirty Jobs, it seems like one of the cameraman uses something like the Litepanel miniplus, at least some sort of a rectangular LED light.

Ed Kukla · December 28th, 2009, 01:45 PM

I frequently shoot doco style tele programs. For on-camera fill, the most common light is the litepanel.

December 8th, 2009, 11:02 PM	#1
Annen James Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ogden Posts: 161	What on-camera light do they use on xxx tv show? So just seeing what on camera light they use on say: Dirty Jobs Anthony Bourdain Ace of Cakes etc... whats the industry standard?

December 9th, 2009, 01:56 AM	#2
Viktor Carlquist Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Stockholm (Sweden) Posts: 30	Not the thread i expected... :-D __________________ Canon EOS 7D, Canon XM2, MA-300, Azden SGM-1x

December 9th, 2009, 12:52 PM	#4
Dan Brockett Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 2,109	In my experience in shooting TV, the most popular light lately have been the LitePanels. I shot a cocktail party with impromptu interviews for Paramount last year and used the LitePanels on camera, it worked out great. Reasonable size and weight, long battery life, little heat. Tungsten, as Don says, it still pretty popular but they suck down the power much quicker than LEDs. Also, most the shows you are mentioning don't use on-camera lights that often. Dirty Jobs does for tight interiors where there is no room to light it with traditional lights. Bourdain rarely uses on-camera lights from what I have seen and read. Ace of Cakes is lit much more like a studio show since most the action takes place in the main workplace. They might use an on-camera light or two when they deliver the cakes to functions? Typically, as a sole lighting source, on-camera lights look terrible and most DPs don't use them except as an Obie/eye light or when they just can't physically fit real lighting into a location. I know that Bourdain uses an entire traditional small lighting package including Flos and some homemade sources that run off of DC since they are traveling and moving. Dan

December 13th, 2009, 05:23 PM	#5
Sam Young Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Dallas, Texas/Hong Kong Posts: 154	On Dirty Jobs, it seems like one of the cameraman uses something like the Litepanel miniplus, at least some sort of a rectangular LED light.

December 28th, 2009, 01:45 PM	#6
Ed Kukla Major Player Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: All over, USA Posts: 512	I frequently shoot doco style tele programs. For on-camera fill, the most common light is the litepanel.