Recommend a good top light? at DVinfo.net

Mark McCarthy · January 10th, 2008, 05:21 PM

Hello all
I currently use an IDX X3 LED top light on my F350. It's okay, but I wonder if anyone could recommend a better, 'brighter' top light I could use.
I did a shoot recently and there were a couple of other camera crews doing the rounds, and I am sure they had much more powerful top lights. Makes like a little easier shooting in low light. I think the IXD X3 has an equivalent of a 35 watt bulb.
I am going to the Broadcast Live show in London at the end of the month, probably the best place to get a new one. I am also going to bring along my f350 and ask a Sony guy to give it the latest firmware upgrade and I am very unsure how to do it!
Thanks
Sparky - www.sparkymedia.net

Mark McCarthy · January 10th, 2008, 05:45 PM

Just doing a little more research on this and the
anton bauer ultralight 2 seems to be an ideal solution ,using the 50 watt bulb with dimmer and a softbox.

Does anyone use this set up with their 350? Can this light plug straight into the camera?

Thanks again
sparky

Greg Boston · January 11th, 2008, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark McCarthy

the anton bauer ultralight 2 seems to be an ideal solution ,using the 50 watt bulb with dimmer and a softbox.

Does anyone use this set up with their 350? Can this light plug straight into the camera?

No it can't. If you use the dimmer, it won't run from the D-tap on the camera body. I have this very setup on my F350 and I am running from the d-tap on the AB adapter plate at the rear. The UL2 is nice for easy lamp change.

-gb-

Emanuel Altenburger · January 11th, 2008, 07:10 AM

I also have the AB Ultralight 2. For me it works great.
Power comes from d-tap on the ab-plate.
Changing bulbs is really easy and quick as well.

Peter Newsom · January 11th, 2008, 08:40 AM

I use the Ultralight2 as well and keep two heads in my kit, one bulbed at 25watts for scrums, and the other bulbed at 50watts for stand-ups, etc. The only negative about these lights is that they aren't focus-able, but they are light weight and quite effective for bringing up the colour of flesh tones and filling shadows under average indoor light.

I can only run my 50w using a Hytron140 battery, as the combined load of the camera and the light is too heavy for my Dionic 90. Both work fine off of the camera's power tap.

This system is pretty much the standard ENG rig around here.

Ivan Snoeckx · January 11th, 2008, 09:23 AM

I'm also using an Anton Bauer Ultralight2. They are, like Greg said, very easy and quick to change with another head module. I have one head module with the Anton Bauer softbox and the other with a diffuser and dichroic filter. The bulbs are also very easy and fast to replace.

Ryan Hollings · January 12th, 2008, 09:15 PM

This is what we use for our 350s

lite panels, the 3200 flood

works fantastic, has a dimmer, doesn't get hot.. pricey however

http://www.s131567196.onlinehome.us/...minisystem.asp

Ivan Snoeckx · January 13th, 2008, 07:56 AM

If you are very handy and do not have two left hands, maybe you can build your own $25 dimmer for the Anton Bauer® Ultralight2.

Take a look at this link!

www.ctshooter.com/dimmer.html

January 10th, 2008, 05:21 PM	#1
Mark McCarthy Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Westcliff-On-Sea, Essex, England Posts: 154	Recommend a good top light? Hello all I currently use an IDX X3 LED top light on my F350. It's okay, but I wonder if anyone could recommend a better, 'brighter' top light I could use. I did a shoot recently and there were a couple of other camera crews doing the rounds, and I am sure they had much more powerful top lights. Makes like a little easier shooting in low light. I think the IXD X3 has an equivalent of a 35 watt bulb. I am going to the Broadcast Live show in London at the end of the month, probably the best place to get a new one. I am also going to bring along my f350 and ask a Sony guy to give it the latest firmware upgrade and I am very unsure how to do it! Thanks Sparky - www.sparkymedia.net

January 13th, 2008, 07:56 AM	#8
Ivan Snoeckx Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Belgium \| Europe Posts: 441	Constructing a dimmer for your Anton Bauer® Ultralight2 If you are very handy and do not have two left hands, maybe you can build your own $25 dimmer for the Anton Bauer® Ultralight2. Take a look at this link! www.ctshooter.com/dimmer.html

January 10th, 2008, 05:45 PM	#2
Mark McCarthy Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Westcliff-On-Sea, Essex, England Posts: 154	Just doing a little more research on this and the anton bauer ultralight 2 seems to be an ideal solution ,using the 50 watt bulb with dimmer and a softbox. Does anyone use this set up with their 350? Can this light plug straight into the camera? Thanks again sparky

January 11th, 2008, 07:10 AM	#4
Emanuel Altenburger Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Innsbruck, Austria Posts: 134	I also have the AB Ultralight 2. For me it works great. Power comes from d-tap on the ab-plate. Changing bulbs is really easy and quick as well.

January 11th, 2008, 08:40 AM	#5
Peter Newsom Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 182	I use the Ultralight2 as well and keep two heads in my kit, one bulbed at 25watts for scrums, and the other bulbed at 50watts for stand-ups, etc. The only negative about these lights is that they aren't focus-able, but they are light weight and quite effective for bringing up the colour of flesh tones and filling shadows under average indoor light. I can only run my 50w using a Hytron140 battery, as the combined load of the camera and the light is too heavy for my Dionic 90. Both work fine off of the camera's power tap. This system is pretty much the standard ENG rig around here.

January 11th, 2008, 09:23 AM	#6
Ivan Snoeckx Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Belgium \| Europe Posts: 441	I'm also using an Anton Bauer Ultralight2. They are, like Greg said, very easy and quick to change with another head module. I have one head module with the Anton Bauer softbox and the other with a diffuser and dichroic filter. The bulbs are also very easy and fast to replace.

January 12th, 2008, 09:15 PM	#7
Ryan Hollings Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 118	This is what we use for our 350s lite panels, the 3200 flood works fantastic, has a dimmer, doesn't get hot.. pricey however http://www.s131567196.onlinehome.us/...minisystem.asp