On camera light

Mark Shea · April 6th, 2006, 05:51 PM

I wish to get an on camera light to put atop my XL1.

Should I go a 20W light or a 50W light?

Any suggestions for good kits?

Marshall Staton · April 8th, 2006, 06:26 PM

I would definately go for 20w, as a long time news shooter lights will kill your battery in a hurry. I was using nice big anton bauer batteries and still had to be very cautious with the light. On camera lights really aren't good if you have any other choice to use. I would often times point mine almost straight up since they are so hard of a light.

Marco Leavitt · April 9th, 2006, 12:31 PM

35 watts with diffusion has been the magic number for us. Make sure the light you get has a dimmer.

Martin Duffy · April 10th, 2006, 05:47 AM

Hey Mark

I reckon the dud who suggested getting a light with is a dimmer is spot on

Duff.

Mark Shea · April 10th, 2006, 07:31 PM

I've narrowed it down to the paglight C6 Portable lighting kit (20W) with own lightweight battery kit see http://www.videoguys.com.au/scripts/...idproduct=1433

or the videoguys kit that takes either 50W or 100W globes seehttp://www.videoguys.com.au/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=1433 it has it's own (bulky) battery

If people are suggesting using a globe less than 50 W, the first option, the lightweight C6 is probably my best bet.

Anyone have a C6? Recommend it?

Mark Shea · April 10th, 2006, 08:54 PM

I've narrowed it down to the paglight C6 Portable lighting kit (20W) with own lightweight battery kit see http://www.videoguys.com.au/scripts/...idproduct=1433

or the videoguys kit that takes either 50W or 100W globes seehttp://www.videoguys.com.au/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=1433 it has it's own (bulky) battery

If people are suggesting using a globe less than 50 W, the first option, the lightweight C6 is probably my best bet.

Anyone have a C6? Recommend it?

Steve Roark · April 11th, 2006, 02:46 AM

You didn't mention your subject matter, however unless you are shooting outdoors at night, with no AC outlets, I strongly encourage you not to put 50-100 watts of blinding light on top of your XL1. In most cases, 20w is more than enough for the XL1 to work with (at short distances). If you need more power, it should come from other sources, such as a 500 watter bounced off a white ceiling/wall. Besides the considerable power draw mentioned earlier, having a powerful spotlight just a few inches above the lens creates the same cheap-looking results that a built-in flash on a consumer still camera does. Most people don't react well to having a blinding light pointed at them. At the very least, expect a lot of squinting, hand shielding and possibly even some violent confrontations (I've seen a few).

Marco Leavitt · April 11th, 2006, 06:19 AM

Frezzi dimmer mini-fill with soft box. It accepts lamps from 20w to 100w.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search

If you do go with Frezzi, don't get the shoe mount pictured. They make a better (more secure) one. It has a locking ring instead of that weird screw.

Here's a setup for the XL series.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search

April 6th, 2006, 05:51 PM	#1
Mark Shea Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: no fixed address Posts: 119	On camera light - 20W or 50W I wish to get an on camera light to put atop my XL1. Should I go a 20W light or a 50W light? Any suggestions for good kits?

April 10th, 2006, 07:31 PM	#5
Mark Shea Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: no fixed address Posts: 119	the paglight C6 20W oncamera kit I've narrowed it down to the paglight C6 Portable lighting kit (20W) with own lightweight battery kit see http://www.videoguys.com.au/scripts/...idproduct=1433 or the videoguys kit that takes either 50W or 100W globes seehttp://www.videoguys.com.au/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=1433 it has it's own (bulky) battery If people are suggesting using a globe less than 50 W, the first option, the lightweight C6 is probably my best bet. Anyone have a C6? Recommend it?

April 10th, 2006, 08:54 PM	#6
Mark Shea Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: no fixed address Posts: 119	the paglight C6 20W oncamera kit I've narrowed it down to the paglight C6 Portable lighting kit (20W) with own lightweight battery kit see http://www.videoguys.com.au/scripts/...idproduct=1433 or the videoguys kit that takes either 50W or 100W globes seehttp://www.videoguys.com.au/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=1433 it has it's own (bulky) battery If people are suggesting using a globe less than 50 W, the first option, the lightweight C6 is probably my best bet. Anyone have a C6? Recommend it?

April 11th, 2006, 06:19 AM	#8
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	Frezzi dimmer mini-fill with soft box. It accepts lamps from 20w to 100w. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search If you do go with Frezzi, don't get the shoe mount pictured. They make a better (more secure) one. It has a locking ring instead of that weird screw. Here's a setup for the XL series. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search Last edited by Marco Leavitt; April 11th, 2006 at 06:55 AM.

April 8th, 2006, 06:26 PM	#2
Marshall Staton Major Player Join Date: May 2004 Location: Myrtle Beach, SC Posts: 241	I would definately go for 20w, as a long time news shooter lights will kill your battery in a hurry. I was using nice big anton bauer batteries and still had to be very cautious with the light. On camera lights really aren't good if you have any other choice to use. I would often times point mine almost straight up since they are so hard of a light.

April 9th, 2006, 12:31 PM	#3
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	35 watts with diffusion has been the magic number for us. Make sure the light you get has a dimmer.

April 10th, 2006, 05:47 AM	#4
Martin Duffy Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 156	Hey Mark I reckon the dud who suggested getting a light with is a dimmer is spot on Duff.

April 11th, 2006, 02:46 AM	#7
Steve Roark Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vilseck, Germany Posts: 89	You didn't mention your subject matter, however unless you are shooting outdoors at night, with no AC outlets, I strongly encourage you not to put 50-100 watts of blinding light on top of your XL1. In most cases, 20w is more than enough for the XL1 to work with (at short distances). If you need more power, it should come from other sources, such as a 500 watter bounced off a white ceiling/wall. Besides the considerable power draw mentioned earlier, having a powerful spotlight just a few inches above the lens creates the same cheap-looking results that a built-in flash on a consumer still camera does. Most people don't react well to having a blinding light pointed at them. At the very least, expect a lot of squinting, hand shielding and possibly even some violent confrontations (I've seen a few).