Z1 with Lite Panels at DVinfo.net

Gabor Lacza · March 26th, 2005, 11:37 AM

Anybody can please tell me if I can use these lite panels (http://www.litepanels.com/main.html) as an on-camera lighting for my future Z1?
Can they be fitted ? Arr they any good ???
Thanks for any help.

Douglas Spotted Eagle · March 26th, 2005, 11:42 AM

http://www.dvformat.com/articles/vie...e.jsp?id=30655
I liked em'.

Gabor Lacza · March 27th, 2005, 09:27 AM

Douglas,
thank you so much...great review...Looked like a great buy but now I will for sure buy it !
Gabor

Greg Jacobson · March 30th, 2005, 01:33 PM

That price is insane. I would go for a Kino ring light instead. ( also high but better value)

Gabor Lacza · March 30th, 2005, 01:58 PM

I guess the single light for $700 is not that bad...the package for over $2K is a little deep...

David Cherniack · March 31st, 2005, 12:59 PM

I have to agree the pricing is insane. But LED lights should be coming out of the woodwork like mice at NAB

Sean M Lee · March 31st, 2005, 06:27 PM

I hope so David, I've been wanting litepanels since we met a crew using them in St. Louis last Summer.

John Jackman · April 1st, 2005, 10:28 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Greg Jacobson : That price is insane. I would go for a Kino ring light instead. ( also high but better value) -->>>

I disagree, the Litepanels are much more flexible and handy in the field than a Kino ring. See my DV Mag review at

http://www.dv.com/reviews/reviews_item.jhtml?category=&articleId=159905070

Khoi Pham · April 1st, 2005, 10:51 PM

John, do you know how much light you loose if I add a 3200K filter to it?

John Jackman · April 3rd, 2005, 08:21 PM

A typical 3/4 CTO (convert 5500°K daylight to 3200°K) has a transmission of 58%.

Going the other way, a full CTB (3200°K to nominal 5500°K) has a transmission of 36%.

Khoi Pham · April 3rd, 2005, 08:57 PM

Thanks for the info.

David Cherniack · April 4th, 2005, 07:41 AM

Though it lacks barndoors till NAB, here's a solution from IDX. It throws a lot of light from what appear to be 3 LEDs. They must be a newer generation form the dozens used in the litepanel.

Lot cheaper too.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=365696&is=REG

John Jackman · April 4th, 2005, 09:50 PM

The IDX web site has no photometry information other than the claim that the unit is as bright at as 35 watt halogen. I wouldn't hasten to compare it to the Litepanels without a hands-on test and more photometric info. The build also looks like cheap plastic as opposed to heavy cast aluminum.

Part of the reason that Litepanel uses an array of LEDs is to slightly soften the light -- the IDX will be hard light, and if you put a diffuser over it the diffuser will eat up a lot of the light.

David Cherniack · April 5th, 2005, 07:29 AM

I checked it out over the weekend. It throws plenty of light. Plastic housing yes, but not at all flimsy. I felt it could be a lot smaller. But its 3 led's throw much more light than the led's on the litepanel. It needs barndoors, with a swing on diffuser and W85 filter.

I'm just suggesting that while the litepanel is a heck of a good idea, it IS expensive and it does have it's weight issues when used with an NP1 on a small camcorder.

What we NEED is a Frezzi micro pro form factor with leds running on 7 volts and powered by a tap on a 7 volt camcorder battery. Who gives us that will rule.

If those who are going to NAB see it there, please post immediately. (I leave for a shoot in India on the 28th.) If you don't see it, work on the lighting manufacturers by appealling to their profit motive.

David

George Griswold · April 8th, 2005, 12:51 PM

I am trying to source a handful of white LEDs to build a litpanel... there is no reason that they need to cost $2K.

I am guessing that the dimmer is wired up to an adjustable 3 pin voltage regulator. I will post results when I get the first one built. I think a wide array with a pice of Opal diffusion would beat the heck out of a Anton with less power consumption to boot.

George
www.videonow.info

March 26th, 2005, 11:37 AM	#1
Gabor Lacza Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Budapest , Hungary Posts: 194	Z1 with Lite Panels Anybody can please tell me if I can use these lite panels (http://www.litepanels.com/main.html) as an on-camera lighting for my future Z1? Can they be fitted ? Arr they any good ??? Thanks for any help.

March 26th, 2005, 11:42 AM	#2
Douglas Spotted Eagle VASST Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockton, UT Posts: 5,648	http://www.dvformat.com/articles/vie...e.jsp?id=30655 I liked em'. __________________ Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot Author, producer, composer Certified Sony Vegas Trainer http://www.vasst.com

April 1st, 2005, 10:28 PM	#8
John Jackman Great DV dot com Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Lewisville, NC Posts: 78	<<<-- Originally posted by Greg Jacobson : That price is insane. I would go for a Kino ring light instead. ( also high but better value) -->>> I disagree, the Litepanels are much more flexible and handy in the field than a Kino ring. See my DV Mag review at http://www.dv.com/reviews/reviews_item.jhtml?category=&articleId=159905070 __________________ John Jackman www.johnjackman.com

April 1st, 2005, 10:51 PM	#9
Khoi Pham Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Dallas Posts: 747	John, do you know how much light you loose if I add a 3200K filter to it? __________________ Khoi Pham www.proeditproductions.com

April 3rd, 2005, 08:21 PM	#10
John Jackman Great DV dot com Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Lewisville, NC Posts: 78	A typical 3/4 CTO (convert 5500°K daylight to 3200°K) has a transmission of 58%. Going the other way, a full CTB (3200°K to nominal 5500°K) has a transmission of 36%. __________________ John Jackman www.johnjackman.com

March 27th, 2005, 09:27 AM	#3
Gabor Lacza Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Budapest , Hungary Posts: 194	Douglas, thank you so much...great review...Looked like a great buy but now I will for sure buy it ! Gabor

March 30th, 2005, 01:33 PM	#4
Greg Jacobson Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: New York Posts: 141	That price is insane. I would go for a Kino ring light instead. ( also high but better value)

March 30th, 2005, 01:58 PM	#5
Gabor Lacza Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Budapest , Hungary Posts: 194	I guess the single light for $700 is not that bad...the package for over $2K is a little deep...

March 31st, 2005, 12:59 PM	#6
David Cherniack Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Toronto Posts: 186	I have to agree the pricing is insane. But LED lights should be coming out of the woodwork like mice at NAB

March 31st, 2005, 06:27 PM	#7
Sean M Lee Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indy Posts: 160	I hope so David, I've been wanting litepanels since we met a crew using them in St. Louis last Summer.

April 3rd, 2005, 08:57 PM	#11
Khoi Pham Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Dallas Posts: 747	Thanks for the info. __________________ Khoi Pham www.proeditproductions.com

April 4th, 2005, 07:41 AM	#12
David Cherniack Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Toronto Posts: 186	Though it lacks barndoors till NAB, here's a solution from IDX. It throws a lot of light from what appear to be 3 LEDs. They must be a newer generation form the dozens used in the litepanel. Lot cheaper too. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=365696&is=REG

April 4th, 2005, 09:50 PM	#13
John Jackman Great DV dot com Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Lewisville, NC Posts: 78	The IDX web site has no photometry information other than the claim that the unit is as bright at as 35 watt halogen. I wouldn't hasten to compare it to the Litepanels without a hands-on test and more photometric info. The build also looks like cheap plastic as opposed to heavy cast aluminum. Part of the reason that Litepanel uses an array of LEDs is to slightly soften the light -- the IDX will be hard light, and if you put a diffuser over it the diffuser will eat up a lot of the light. __________________ John Jackman www.johnjackman.com

April 5th, 2005, 07:29 AM	#14
David Cherniack Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Toronto Posts: 186	I checked it out over the weekend. It throws plenty of light. Plastic housing yes, but not at all flimsy. I felt it could be a lot smaller. But its 3 led's throw much more light than the led's on the litepanel. It needs barndoors, with a swing on diffuser and W85 filter. I'm just suggesting that while the litepanel is a heck of a good idea, it IS expensive and it does have it's weight issues when used with an NP1 on a small camcorder. What we NEED is a Frezzi micro pro form factor with leds running on 7 volts and powered by a tap on a 7 volt camcorder battery. Who gives us that will rule. If those who are going to NAB see it there, please post immediately. (I leave for a shoot in India on the 28th.) If you don't see it, work on the lighting manufacturers by appealling to their profit motive. David

April 8th, 2005, 12:51 PM	#15
George Griswold Major Player Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 218	Build them I am trying to source a handful of white LEDs to build a litpanel... there is no reason that they need to cost $2K. I am guessing that the dimmer is wired up to an adjustable 3 pin voltage regulator. I will post results when I get the first one built. I think a wide array with a pice of Opal diffusion would beat the heck out of a Anton with less power consumption to boot. George www.videonow.info __________________ George T. Griswold, Jr. www.videonow.info New Orleans