Zacuto Plazma Light at DVinfo.net

Warren Kawamoto · April 18th, 2012, 08:11 PM

Today I played with the new Zacuto Plazma light, which is similar in size to Litepanels' 1x1. It's based on micro plasma technology, not LED. The result was a much softer, but brighter light! In profile, the panel was only .8cm or .3 inches thick. Will retail at $1350, which is less than Litepanels. They said it would be available for sale around June.
Here is a video link I found of it:
Zacuto Plasma Light : NAB 2012 Wide Open Camera

Sam Pat · May 10th, 2012, 12:30 PM

I'm very excited about this as well. Looks very promising.

Warren Kawamoto · November 24th, 2012, 09:49 AM

Looks like it will be in production soon! I'm still waiting for this, looks like it's on its 4th generation already. I was impressed with the 1st generation model as it was.
http://www.zacuto.com/plazma-light

Arthur Gannis · November 24th, 2012, 04:45 PM

Bravo Zacuto ! Finally we are starting to see something really new, and affordable in the quality panels.
I just hope that they will not try to "monopolize" their concept of using plasma light for film/cinema/broadcast industry use like the other ahem...panel company. This is an exciting technology and surely will see use in more powerful units to finally give the filament the boot.

Warren Kawamoto · November 25th, 2012, 11:22 AM

After reviewing the specs, my only concern is that this unit is power hungry. Input is 10 amps at 14.4 volts, which equals to 144 watts. That's quite a lot if you're running off batteries. Far more efficient than filamant for sure, but I hope they'll be able to increase it's efficiency even further in .the future.

Arthur Gannis · November 25th, 2012, 11:51 AM

Notice also that there is a sort of power supply or ballast box that has to be used with it. That is why the panel unit is so slim. The lumen figures of that light is 2200 at 3 ft. Somewhat like a 150 watt filament, and consuming like 144 watts ?????
At 6 ft. distance the lumens drop to around 550 ( the inverse square law ) and at 12 ft. , somewhat the average shooting distance, that will drop to like a paltry 138 lumens.
I would have expected that light to be in the area of 3600 lumens at 3 FT. Oh well.....

April 18th, 2012, 08:11 PM	#1
Warren Kawamoto Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 1,435	Zacuto Plazma Light Today I played with the new Zacuto Plazma light, which is similar in size to Litepanels' 1x1. It's based on micro plasma technology, not LED. The result was a much softer, but brighter light! In profile, the panel was only .8cm or .3 inches thick. Will retail at $1350, which is less than Litepanels. They said it would be available for sale around June. Here is a video link I found of it: Zacuto Plasma Light : NAB 2012 Wide Open Camera

May 10th, 2012, 12:30 PM	#2
Sam Pat Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Vancouver BC Posts: 29	Re: Zacuto Plazma Light I'm very excited about this as well. Looks very promising.

November 24th, 2012, 09:49 AM	#3
Warren Kawamoto Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 1,435	Re: Zacuto Plazma Light Looks like it will be in production soon! I'm still waiting for this, looks like it's on its 4th generation already. I was impressed with the 1st generation model as it was. http://www.zacuto.com/plazma-light

November 24th, 2012, 04:45 PM	#4
Arthur Gannis Major Player Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: New Jersey USA Posts: 504	Re: Zacuto Plazma Light Bravo Zacuto ! Finally we are starting to see something really new, and affordable in the quality panels. I just hope that they will not try to "monopolize" their concept of using plasma light for film/cinema/broadcast industry use like the other ahem...panel company. This is an exciting technology and surely will see use in more powerful units to finally give the filament the boot.

November 25th, 2012, 11:22 AM	#5
Warren Kawamoto Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 1,435	Re: Zacuto Plazma Light After reviewing the specs, my only concern is that this unit is power hungry. Input is 10 amps at 14.4 volts, which equals to 144 watts. That's quite a lot if you're running off batteries. Far more efficient than filamant for sure, but I hope they'll be able to increase it's efficiency even further in .the future.

November 25th, 2012, 11:51 AM	#6
Arthur Gannis Major Player Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: New Jersey USA Posts: 504	Re: Zacuto Plazma Light Notice also that there is a sort of power supply or ballast box that has to be used with it. That is why the panel unit is so slim. The lumen figures of that light is 2200 at 3 ft. Somewhat like a 150 watt filament, and consuming like 144 watts ????? At 6 ft. distance the lumens drop to around 550 ( the inverse square law ) and at 12 ft. , somewhat the average shooting distance, that will drop to like a paltry 138 lumens. I would have expected that light to be in the area of 3600 lumens at 3 FT. Oh well.....