Led lighting kit at DVinfo.net

Derek Grimes · August 1st, 2011, 10:59 PM

Does anyone have any experience with the elation tvl-2000 as a stand alone 3point kit without a dmx controller? I am searching for lights and have been given an offer to buy these but I am not familiar with them. Thanks

Bill Davis · August 2nd, 2011, 11:20 PM

Elation is a brand from American DJ.

They're a huge manufacturer of inexpensive stage and disco lighting world wide.

Features like DMX control - which are extremely useful in fixed overhead mounting situations in a nightclub, are seldom seen in typical "run and gun" video lighting.

LED has advantages (low power consumption and low heat) and dis-advantages (hard to control since LED arrays con't "barn door" properly and can create weird shadows if you try to "cut" the beam with shaping tools. For those reasons most pros consider them more "special purpose" lights than main kit replacements. What they do well, they do WONDERFULLY. What they lack can be pretty important when you want to move your lighting from basic to really good.

Going in this direction means you've decided NOT to invest in a product that's been designed and proven over time for the needs of someone primarily shooting video and who wants to learn to "paint with light.". American DJ and Elation might be trying to move into the video lighting space - which is perfectly fine. But it's not their primary focus as far as I can tell. And their equipment has traditionally been the kind of stuff that's designed for low end users shopping at Guitar Center - rather than designed and constructed to the higher standards of the full-scale theatrical or video lighting communities.

None of this says it won't work fine. Just that it's not on the short list of "tools of choice" for those doing "bread and butter" video lighting.

In sum, nothing "wrong" with them. But not the first choice when it has to come off the truck and work every single time, no questions.

My 2 cents anyway.

Hope it helps.

Chris Ficek · August 3rd, 2011, 03:47 PM

Take a look here, I did a floor review on these from NAB last spring.

The Colour of Light - Home

August 7th, 2011, 06:07 AM

Hi Dereck,

We did some test shoots yesterday using LED lighting.

Just to point out I'm no lighting expert, but we had a hard time getting a nice look with the lighting.

I guess it depends what you are using it for, we were using for Green Screen footage using the Data Video LED system.

The light seemed very harsh although we didn't have any diffusers on the rigs, we shot with 4 spot lights and 2 flood lights.

I guess the only way to know will be to test them, we used Flolight LED'S and they have 10 day test period where if you are not happy you can send the lights back, so it may be worth getting in touch with them - FloLight - Fluorescent & LED Video Lighting

Looking at the rigs they are basically the same.

Hope this helps.

Bill Davis · August 8th, 2011, 12:27 PM

Dave,

I think you've just learned a very valuable lesson.

At their best, lighting gear is a tool. That tool can be operated in a wide range of fashions.

Think of any lighting kit a bit like the brushes in a portrait painters kit. Most fine artists have fine and wide brushes in many varieties depending on whether their creating wide color areas or fine details. If they were to set out to work on a small canvas or a cameo - they would rely primarily on fine brushes. If they set out to do a huge wall-size portrait, those same tools would be horribly inefficient.

Many people starting out seem to feel that if they could just find the "best" lighting kit, they could light anything. But that's simply not true. Each light (like a brush) has it's own nature. It will be GREAT for a particular use - and terrible for another.

Tungsten open face, Fresnel, Ellipsoidal, Fluorescent (spiral or long tube), LED, HMI, et al. They all have unique characteristics that make them a great solution for one job - but a poor one for the next.

And I'm sorry, but LEDs for wide background chroma-keying is a particularly poor combination in my opinion.

(that doesn't mean it can't be done - just that the nature of the output and the nature of the task are not a very close fit at all)

For what it's worth.

August 12th, 2011, 03:30 PM

Hi Bill,

Thanks for your comments, yes I understand that lighting is an art and a specialist one at that.

I wasn't using the LED's to light the screen just the talent, but we couldn't get it right.

I have resourced some lighting technicians who hopefully will help us.

Kind regards,
Dave.

August 1st, 2011, 10:59 PM	#1
Derek Grimes Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: nashville, TN Posts: 107	Led lighting kit Does anyone have any experience with the elation tvl-2000 as a stand alone 3point kit without a dmx controller? I am searching for lights and have been given an offer to buy these but I am not familiar with them. Thanks __________________ tayproductions

August 2nd, 2011, 11:20 PM	#2
Bill Davis Trustee Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Scottsdale, AZ 85260 Posts: 1,538	Re: Led lighting kit Elation is a brand from American DJ. They're a huge manufacturer of inexpensive stage and disco lighting world wide. Features like DMX control - which are extremely useful in fixed overhead mounting situations in a nightclub, are seldom seen in typical "run and gun" video lighting. LED has advantages (low power consumption and low heat) and dis-advantages (hard to control since LED arrays con't "barn door" properly and can create weird shadows if you try to "cut" the beam with shaping tools. For those reasons most pros consider them more "special purpose" lights than main kit replacements. What they do well, they do WONDERFULLY. What they lack can be pretty important when you want to move your lighting from basic to really good. Going in this direction means you've decided NOT to invest in a product that's been designed and proven over time for the needs of someone primarily shooting video and who wants to learn to "paint with light.". American DJ and Elation might be trying to move into the video lighting space - which is perfectly fine. But it's not their primary focus as far as I can tell. And their equipment has traditionally been the kind of stuff that's designed for low end users shopping at Guitar Center - rather than designed and constructed to the higher standards of the full-scale theatrical or video lighting communities. None of this says it won't work fine. Just that it's not on the short list of "tools of choice" for those doing "bread and butter" video lighting. In sum, nothing "wrong" with them. But not the first choice when it has to come off the truck and work every single time, no questions. My 2 cents anyway. Hope it helps. __________________ Classroom editing instructor? Check out www.starteditingnow.com Turnkey editor training content including licensed training footage for classroom use.

August 3rd, 2011, 03:47 PM	#3
Chris Ficek Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 113	Re: Led lighting kit Take a look here, I did a floor review on these from NAB last spring. The Colour of Light - Home

August 7th, 2011, 06:07 AM	#4
Former Member #56430 Posts: n/a	Re: Led lighting kit Hi Dereck, We did some test shoots yesterday using LED lighting. Just to point out I'm no lighting expert, but we had a hard time getting a nice look with the lighting. I guess it depends what you are using it for, we were using for Green Screen footage using the Data Video LED system. The light seemed very harsh although we didn't have any diffusers on the rigs, we shot with 4 spot lights and 2 flood lights. I guess the only way to know will be to test them, we used Flolight LED'S and they have 10 day test period where if you are not happy you can send the lights back, so it may be worth getting in touch with them - FloLight - Fluorescent & LED Video Lighting Looking at the rigs they are basically the same. Hope this helps.

August 8th, 2011, 12:27 PM	#5
Bill Davis Trustee Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Scottsdale, AZ 85260 Posts: 1,538	Re: Led lighting kit Dave, I think you've just learned a very valuable lesson. At their best, lighting gear is a tool. That tool can be operated in a wide range of fashions. Think of any lighting kit a bit like the brushes in a portrait painters kit. Most fine artists have fine and wide brushes in many varieties depending on whether their creating wide color areas or fine details. If they were to set out to work on a small canvas or a cameo - they would rely primarily on fine brushes. If they set out to do a huge wall-size portrait, those same tools would be horribly inefficient. Many people starting out seem to feel that if they could just find the "best" lighting kit, they could light anything. But that's simply not true. Each light (like a brush) has it's own nature. It will be GREAT for a particular use - and terrible for another. Tungsten open face, Fresnel, Ellipsoidal, Fluorescent (spiral or long tube), LED, HMI, et al. They all have unique characteristics that make them a great solution for one job - but a poor one for the next. And I'm sorry, but LEDs for wide background chroma-keying is a particularly poor combination in my opinion. (that doesn't mean it can't be done - just that the nature of the output and the nature of the task are not a very close fit at all) For what it's worth. __________________ Classroom editing instructor? Check out www.starteditingnow.com Turnkey editor training content including licensed training footage for classroom use.

August 12th, 2011, 03:30 PM	#6
Former Member #56430 Posts: n/a	Re: Led lighting kit Hi Bill, Thanks for your comments, yes I understand that lighting is an art and a specialist one at that. I wasn't using the LED's to light the screen just the talent, but we couldn't get it right. I have resourced some lighting technicians who hopefully will help us. Kind regards, Dave.