On-camera lighting for the VX2100 at DVinfo.net

Ross Jones · July 21st, 2004, 09:08 AM

I'm considering an on-camera light for the VX2100 for shooting dimly lit locations out to say 10 feet. I'd prefer variable output / battery-pack operated rather than one which drains the camera's battery.
Any recommendations? What are folks using?
Thanks.
Ross.

Tom Hardwick · July 21st, 2004, 10:20 AM

you might care to look at the Sony HVL-20DW2. It runs of NP-F batteries and you can have it in 10 watt or 20 watt mode. It'll run for 75 mins in 20 watt mode with a 960 battery - amazing.

tom.

Ross Jones · July 21st, 2004, 10:41 AM

Looks interesting..
Is this what you use on your cam? If so, any downsides of not being able to infinitely vary the putput?
Rgds,
Ross.
~~~~

Ray Echevers · July 21st, 2004, 10:51 AM

<<<-- Originally posted by Ross Jones : Looks interesting..
Is this what you use on your cam? If so, any downsides of not being able to infinitely vary the putput?
Rgds,
Ross.
~~~~ -->>>

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=162282&is=REG

I got the same one, and it's nice to be able to use either the 10 watt or 20watt setting. I got if from them too, great prices, service, shipping.
It's nice that this model uses the same batteries as the ones on the camera, but to use the 20 watt mode, you have to have a NP-F750 or NP-960. With those batteries, you can go either 10 watt or 20 watt.
Haven't had to use the light too much, but it's worked well for me.

Tom Hardwick · July 21st, 2004, 10:56 AM

Yes, it's what I use. No dangly wires, uses the same batteries, is small, light (ha!) and pretty cheap vs the competition. Locks down onto the intelligent shoe. No problem with light output because the exposure wheel takes care of that. I tested it for a British magazine, gave it the thumbs up. At full wide-angle the coverage is so-so, though for the dancing couple at weddings that's not a problem. Of course you can add diffusion -
www.lumiquest.com - but you'll have to open up a stop or two.

tom.

Ross Jones · July 21st, 2004, 12:26 PM

Thx Tom..
So, with the F960 battery all should be well - so I guess that with judicious use shortening of battery life should not be too much of a problem..?
Just saw that you're over in Blighty.. (We're Brits abroad... ...and learning to come to grips with Never The Same Colour video...)
Rgds,
Ross.

Tom Hardwick · July 21st, 2004, 02:11 PM

Yes Ross - with the 960 battery all is well, though it looks a lot neater with the 750 and is less weight on that shoe. The 750 runs the 10w bulb for a staggering 1 hour 45 mins, and it has an automatic cutout that shuts the light off before the battery gets too low.

I think you'll find that it's spelt "Never The Same Color" over there. Shame you went to NTSC and lost 94 horizontal lines from every frame.

tom.

Anthony Mooney · July 23rd, 2004, 01:04 AM

The Sony otpion seems good and very practical.
The only consideration is that does not move/bend up or down.

For this reason i also use(besides the sony) a bescor which is similiar and it gives the option of 10,20 or 30 watts. It has 2 barn doors and it can also moves up or down. It comes with a small reg battery. The downside is that it does not have the quality of the Sony.

check it out on B&H : KLK-623D

Anthony

July 21st, 2004, 09:08 AM	#1
Ross Jones Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Harvard, MA Posts: 155	On-camera lighting for the VX2100 I'm considering an on-camera light for the VX2100 for shooting dimly lit locations out to say 10 feet. I'd prefer variable output / battery-pack operated rather than one which drains the camera's battery. Any recommendations? What are folks using? Thanks. Ross. __________________ XH-A1; HV-20; Miller DS-10; Manfrotto 695/3229; SD302/702; PCM-D50; FCS2; MacPro; 2.25TB

July 21st, 2004, 10:41 AM	#3
Ross Jones Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Harvard, MA Posts: 155	Looks interesting.. Is this what you use on your cam? If so, any downsides of not being able to infinitely vary the putput? Rgds, Ross. ~~~~ __________________ XH-A1; HV-20; Miller DS-10; Manfrotto 695/3229; SD302/702; PCM-D50; FCS2; MacPro; 2.25TB

July 21st, 2004, 10:51 AM	#4
Ray Echevers Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Location: Somerville, MA Posts: 148	<<<-- Originally posted by Ross Jones : Looks interesting.. Is this what you use on your cam? If so, any downsides of not being able to infinitely vary the putput? Rgds, Ross. ~~~~ -->>> http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=162282&is=REG I got the same one, and it's nice to be able to use either the 10 watt or 20watt setting. I got if from them too, great prices, service, shipping. It's nice that this model uses the same batteries as the ones on the camera, but to use the 20 watt mode, you have to have a NP-F750 or NP-960. With those batteries, you can go either 10 watt or 20 watt. Haven't had to use the light too much, but it's worked well for me. __________________ Sony VX-1000 G5 1.8 dual 91 Turbo MR2

July 21st, 2004, 12:26 PM	#6
Ross Jones Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Harvard, MA Posts: 155	Thx Tom.. So, with the F960 battery all should be well - so I guess that with judicious use shortening of battery life should not be too much of a problem..? Just saw that you're over in Blighty.. (We're Brits abroad... ...and learning to come to grips with Never The Same Colour video...) Rgds, Ross. __________________ XH-A1; HV-20; Miller DS-10; Manfrotto 695/3229; SD302/702; PCM-D50; FCS2; MacPro; 2.25TB

July 21st, 2004, 10:20 AM	#2
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	you might care to look at the Sony HVL-20DW2. It runs of NP-F batteries and you can have it in 10 watt or 20 watt mode. It'll run for 75 mins in 20 watt mode with a 960 battery - amazing. tom.

July 21st, 2004, 10:56 AM	#5
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	Yes, it's what I use. No dangly wires, uses the same batteries, is small, light (ha!) and pretty cheap vs the competition. Locks down onto the intelligent shoe. No problem with light output because the exposure wheel takes care of that. I tested it for a British magazine, gave it the thumbs up. At full wide-angle the coverage is so-so, though for the dancing couple at weddings that's not a problem. Of course you can add diffusion - www.lumiquest.com - but you'll have to open up a stop or two. tom.

July 21st, 2004, 02:11 PM	#7
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	Yes Ross - with the 960 battery all is well, though it looks a lot neater with the 750 and is less weight on that shoe. The 750 runs the 10w bulb for a staggering 1 hour 45 mins, and it has an automatic cutout that shuts the light off before the battery gets too low. I think you'll find that it's spelt "Never The Same Color" over there. Shame you went to NTSC and lost 94 horizontal lines from every frame. tom.

July 23rd, 2004, 01:04 AM	#8
Anthony Mooney Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Long Branch NJ Posts: 69	The Sony otpion seems good and very practical. The only consideration is that does not move/bend up or down. For this reason i also use(besides the sony) a bescor which is similiar and it gives the option of 10,20 or 30 watts. It has 2 barn doors and it can also moves up or down. It comes with a small reg battery. The downside is that it does not have the quality of the Sony. check it out on B&H : KLK-623D Anthony