Z1 with Lite Panels

Gabor Lacza · May 12th, 2005, 09:06 AM

We had this discussion over a month ago and I wonder if anybody has a better solution than Lite Panels....They should be great but the on camera kit with bettery is already $1000....I am rethinking my original idea because may be it is a bit too pricey...ANy other GOOD solution ???
Thanks

Alex Raskin · May 12th, 2005, 09:09 AM

KinoFlo seems to have a beauty light that is around-the-lens ring.

They have it in both indoor and outdoor light settings by changing the fluorescent bulbs. I remember they advertised the unit to be powered by the camera's battery.

Is that what you're after?

Gabor Lacza · May 14th, 2005, 08:00 AM

Thanks Alex for your quick answer....I usually will use the matte box on the camera so the ring will not be a good idea....
Any good on camera light recommedations by anyone ??? I got my Z1 yesterday and I am pretty excited...I just need a good light.. for example in a museum where I need to light the person I am intervieing that sort of use I need it for...

Len Gilday · May 15th, 2005, 09:31 AM

I have been using a Lite Panel and find it puts out a very soft light with enough punch to work as a fill light in overcast outdoor light or as a camera/eye light mounted on a Noga arm. The thing I particularly like is that I can power it from my Z-1 batteries through a power transformer available from Lorne Lapham Sales and Rental (www.llsr.com). I have found that the NP-F570 which came with the Z-1 will run my Lite Panel for about 1 hour 50 minutes before the Lithium Ion battery shuts down. Li-ion batteries have a factory shut-down circuit when they get warm. The battery and transformer setup is small enough to fit in a shirt pocket and weight only 220 grams or almost 8 ounces. When shooting on the Z-1 I only need one type of battery and charger, which is a great advantage when you are travelling light.

By the way, I believe that LEDs are often dimmed by limiting current and not voltage. I am not certain if this is the case with Lite Panels, which will run on voltage from 5 - 24 volt. Dimming is achieved in many LED devices by chopping the current, essentially turning the LEDs on and off at very high frequency. This is possible because they come to peak output almost instantaneously. You can't see the very high frequency strobing but the perceived light level is reduced.

Size of the whole rig is a great advantage. The Lite Panel, LLSR power adapter and 4 feet of curly cable all fit into a Pelican 1060 Micro Case weighing 2 lb 8 oz including case.

Comparison to Kino-Flo 12 inch Mini Flos: I have used the Mini Flos for several years, both mounted on a stand and velcroed to a matte-box. Until the Lite Panel came out they were my favourite on camera lights. Mini-Flos are great, a single unit can be run from the NP-F570/LLSR power adapter described above. Mini-Flo draws about 0.8 amps in comparison to the Lite Panel 0.6 amp. A Lite Panel without any diffusion puts out about 50% more light than a 12 inch Mini Flo. Soft frost on Lite Panel is pleasing. The real drawback for travelling doc shooters, in my experience, is that the Mini-Flo tube is fragile (so you will want to pack and cary spares, and the unit, while light, is relatively large compared to L-Panel.

Lite Panel seems very robustly constructed other than the dimmer switch, which is flimsy and the tiny 1.3mm power plug which also seems fragile. Make up spare cables in different lengths and also one with a male cig lighter plug that can be plugged into a 110V AC to 12 volt 1000mA Class 2 transformer available from Radio Shack in Canada as Model SCP48-121000. This gives a light kit you can run off the wall or from your Z-1 batteries.

I am enjoying the DVINFO.net conversation.
Len

Gabor Lacza · May 15th, 2005, 12:48 PM

Thanks Len...can you please give me a direct link to this power adapter???
I was told that the Z1 battery cannot power the Lite panel so I need to buy the battery,charger and the all one lite kit instead of the camera kit...I would pay $795 for the camera kit but has no intention to pay $1300 for the battery and charger etc....
Thanks
Gabor

Chris Jothi · May 15th, 2005, 07:12 PM

So does anyone know if LED panels were shown around at NAB? These Lite Panels are too expensive for me at the moment however I am receptive to alternatives...

Len Gilday · May 16th, 2005, 07:50 AM

Gabor,
Adapters for Sony InfoLithium batteries (one for style L for PDX170/170 and Z1, and another for the smaller style M used in PDX-10, etc) are made for Lorner Lapham Sales and Rental and info can be had from Brian Broz at brian@llsr.com I seem to remember paying a couple of hundred Canadian $ for the item. It is well built and the battery just snaps into it. With a 570 battery attached the whole unit can slip in a shirt pocket. Max output the batteries seem capable of seems around 1.5 amp. They have no problem handling the 0.6 amp draw of a light panel but are not reliable with a Marshall monitor.
Len

Alex Raskin · May 18th, 2005, 02:19 PM

This one seems like a low cost alternative - does anyone have experience with it?

http://www.idxtek.com/x3.htm

$350 buys it here: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=365696&is=REG)

Also check this one - KinoFlo Kamio, which is a ring light, at $780:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=294090&is=REG

Gabor Lacza · May 18th, 2005, 03:30 PM

How about this Frezzi ?? Is this a good choice?
http://www.adorama.com/FZ91030.html
Gabor

July 18th, 2005, 06:22 AM

John,

I'm relatively new to DV. I just picked up an XL2 and plan to shoot mostly interview / testimonial style video. I'm currently on page 75 of your book (found out about it in this forum), and wanted to know if you thought a nice lite panel kit would cover the majority of needs for indoor interview / testimonial style videos?

In your book, you seemed to look forward to advancements in LED technology - so is it advanced enough yet?

I like the thought of lite panels for their coolness, size and ease of using with electricity. Especially the later, as I have to admit that I probably would have blown the power out in my house if I had not read your Chapter 3 (Volts, Amps and Watts). Power requirements are important to me, as it seems the less power requirements you have, the less you have to carry around and have more options on locations to shoot (with ease).

I'd really like to hear what you think. I will probably be purchasing a nice lighting kit within a week or two. Thanks again for writing such a great book.

Kevin Wild · July 18th, 2005, 08:30 PM

Not sure if it was just my camera, but the LitePanels light when mounted directly on the hot shoe plate made a buzzing sound when using the on-camera mic. LitePanels was baffled by this and sent me another one and it still did it. So, for on-camera use, I had to buy an Israeli arm which is a great addition anyways.

I posted this in another thread, but know that it doesn't put out a ton of light. I find that in certain situations (some daylight already in the room), that it does almost nothing unless you are very close to the subject. That said, LitePanels has announced a new light that is more of a spot light. Go with that one and use the diffusion if you need to soften.

I love the light, though, don't get me wrong. Great setup...

Kevin

May 18th, 2005, 02:19 PM	#23
Alex Raskin Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,435	$350 This one seems like a low cost alternative - does anyone have experience with it? http://www.idxtek.com/x3.htm $350 buys it here: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=365696&is=REG) Also check this one - KinoFlo Kamio, which is a ring light, at $780: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=294090&is=REG

July 18th, 2005, 06:22 AM	#25
Guest Posts: n/a	Lite Panel Kit - For a Beginner? John, I'm relatively new to DV. I just picked up an XL2 and plan to shoot mostly interview / testimonial style video. I'm currently on page 75 of your book (found out about it in this forum), and wanted to know if you thought a nice lite panel kit would cover the majority of needs for indoor interview / testimonial style videos? In your book, you seemed to look forward to advancements in LED technology - so is it advanced enough yet? I like the thought of lite panels for their coolness, size and ease of using with electricity. Especially the later, as I have to admit that I probably would have blown the power out in my house if I had not read your Chapter 3 (Volts, Amps and Watts). Power requirements are important to me, as it seems the less power requirements you have, the less you have to carry around and have more options on locations to shoot (with ease). I'd really like to hear what you think. I will probably be purchasing a nice lighting kit within a week or two. Thanks again for writing such a great book.

May 12th, 2005, 09:06 AM	#16
Gabor Lacza Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Budapest , Hungary Posts: 194	We had this discussion over a month ago and I wonder if anybody has a better solution than Lite Panels....They should be great but the on camera kit with bettery is already $1000....I am rethinking my original idea because may be it is a bit too pricey...ANy other GOOD solution ??? Thanks

May 12th, 2005, 09:09 AM	#17
Alex Raskin Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,435	KinoFlo seems to have a beauty light that is around-the-lens ring. They have it in both indoor and outdoor light settings by changing the fluorescent bulbs. I remember they advertised the unit to be powered by the camera's battery. Is that what you're after?

May 14th, 2005, 08:00 AM	#18
Gabor Lacza Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Budapest , Hungary Posts: 194	Thanks Alex for your quick answer....I usually will use the matte box on the camera so the ring will not be a good idea.... Any good on camera light recommedations by anyone ??? I got my Z1 yesterday and I am pretty excited...I just need a good light.. for example in a museum where I need to light the person I am intervieing that sort of use I need it for...

May 15th, 2005, 09:31 AM	#19
Len Gilday Tourist Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 3	I have been using a Lite Panel and find it puts out a very soft light with enough punch to work as a fill light in overcast outdoor light or as a camera/eye light mounted on a Noga arm. The thing I particularly like is that I can power it from my Z-1 batteries through a power transformer available from Lorne Lapham Sales and Rental (www.llsr.com). I have found that the NP-F570 which came with the Z-1 will run my Lite Panel for about 1 hour 50 minutes before the Lithium Ion battery shuts down. Li-ion batteries have a factory shut-down circuit when they get warm. The battery and transformer setup is small enough to fit in a shirt pocket and weight only 220 grams or almost 8 ounces. When shooting on the Z-1 I only need one type of battery and charger, which is a great advantage when you are travelling light. By the way, I believe that LEDs are often dimmed by limiting current and not voltage. I am not certain if this is the case with Lite Panels, which will run on voltage from 5 - 24 volt. Dimming is achieved in many LED devices by chopping the current, essentially turning the LEDs on and off at very high frequency. This is possible because they come to peak output almost instantaneously. You can't see the very high frequency strobing but the perceived light level is reduced. Size of the whole rig is a great advantage. The Lite Panel, LLSR power adapter and 4 feet of curly cable all fit into a Pelican 1060 Micro Case weighing 2 lb 8 oz including case. Comparison to Kino-Flo 12 inch Mini Flos: I have used the Mini Flos for several years, both mounted on a stand and velcroed to a matte-box. Until the Lite Panel came out they were my favourite on camera lights. Mini-Flos are great, a single unit can be run from the NP-F570/LLSR power adapter described above. Mini-Flo draws about 0.8 amps in comparison to the Lite Panel 0.6 amp. A Lite Panel without any diffusion puts out about 50% more light than a 12 inch Mini Flo. Soft frost on Lite Panel is pleasing. The real drawback for travelling doc shooters, in my experience, is that the Mini-Flo tube is fragile (so you will want to pack and cary spares, and the unit, while light, is relatively large compared to L-Panel. Lite Panel seems very robustly constructed other than the dimmer switch, which is flimsy and the tiny 1.3mm power plug which also seems fragile. Make up spare cables in different lengths and also one with a male cig lighter plug that can be plugged into a 110V AC to 12 volt 1000mA Class 2 transformer available from Radio Shack in Canada as Model SCP48-121000. This gives a light kit you can run off the wall or from your Z-1 batteries. I am enjoying the DVINFO.net conversation. Len

May 15th, 2005, 12:48 PM	#20
Gabor Lacza Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Budapest , Hungary Posts: 194	Thanks Len...can you please give me a direct link to this power adapter??? I was told that the Z1 battery cannot power the Lite panel so I need to buy the battery,charger and the all one lite kit instead of the camera kit...I would pay $795 for the camera kit but has no intention to pay $1300 for the battery and charger etc.... Thanks Gabor

May 15th, 2005, 07:12 PM	#21
Chris Jothi Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 74	So does anyone know if LED panels were shown around at NAB? These Lite Panels are too expensive for me at the moment however I am receptive to alternatives...

May 16th, 2005, 07:50 AM	#22
Len Gilday Tourist Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 3	Gabor, Adapters for Sony InfoLithium batteries (one for style L for PDX170/170 and Z1, and another for the smaller style M used in PDX-10, etc) are made for Lorner Lapham Sales and Rental and info can be had from Brian Broz at brian@llsr.com I seem to remember paying a couple of hundred Canadian $ for the item. It is well built and the battery just snaps into it. With a 570 battery attached the whole unit can slip in a shirt pocket. Max output the batteries seem capable of seems around 1.5 amp. They have no problem handling the 0.6 amp draw of a light panel but are not reliable with a Marshall monitor. Len

May 18th, 2005, 03:30 PM	#24
Gabor Lacza Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Budapest , Hungary Posts: 194	How about this Frezzi ?? Is this a good choice? http://www.adorama.com/FZ91030.html Gabor

July 18th, 2005, 08:30 PM	#26
Kevin Wild Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 540	Not sure if it was just my camera, but the LitePanels light when mounted directly on the hot shoe plate made a buzzing sound when using the on-camera mic. LitePanels was baffled by this and sent me another one and it still did it. So, for on-camera use, I had to buy an Israeli arm which is a great addition anyways. I posted this in another thread, but know that it doesn't put out a ton of light. I find that in certain situations (some daylight already in the room), that it does almost nothing unless you are very close to the subject. That said, LitePanels has announced a new light that is more of a spot light. Go with that one and use the diffusion if you need to soften. I love the light, though, don't get me wrong. Great setup... Kevin