Light for PD150/PD170? at DVinfo.net

Brandon Wood · April 28th, 2005, 05:11 PM

I am curious as to what brands of lights people are using for their Sony's hotshoe and what wattage works best. I still have an old Canon ES800 with a built in 3 watt light and I remember people screaming at me to turn it off it was so bright.

So now I see 3 watts, 5 watts, 10, 20....etc. etc. and I'm wondering what would be the best (at a decent price) to use for things like wedding receptions or darker venues that I may be recording in for my 170.

Let me know your thoughts. They are all appreciated.

Thanks!

Don Bloom · April 28th, 2005, 06:11 PM

If people thought a 3W was bright you might want to lay in a supply of sunglasses to sell or rent at the receptions ;-)

As for what I use, well lets see. If I 'm shooting my fullsize camera I use an Anton Bauer Ultralight 20W with a piece of Tough Spun to help soften it up-it's good for about 8 to 10 feet.
If I'm shooting the PD150s I use a Bescor 50W with a homemade softbox/diffuser that brings the level down to about 25W and softens up the beam very nicely. The throw on that at 25W is about 10-12 feet. At 50W which I have used on occassion because it was either pitch black in the room, ALL the lights off (no kidding-it happened twice last year) the only lighting was from the DJs colored lights-the throw at 50W is about 15-18 feet.

I've been using the Bescor for the last 4 years and only once did anyone complain-I told them to either turn up the room lights and/or sign off on the contract that they didn't want me to use a light so when they saw the footage they wouldn't complain to me.

A decent light is the Sony 10/20-but you'll need a couple of the big batteries to make it right.
Don

Brandon Wood · April 29th, 2005, 01:21 AM

Thanks Don.

Your always a great mine for great information. Any chance you could tell me how you did the homemade softbox?

Don Bloom · April 29th, 2005, 06:34 AM

I went to a local hobby store, Hobby Lobby, and bought a couple of sheets of 8.5X11 material. One is a translucent white milk color and one was frosted plastic. I cut them to the proper size and sandwiched them together, the milk white plastic to the outside of the bulb as it is not heat proof, taped them together with some white duct tape, made some "wings" for it with the frosted material, placed velcro on the wings and the light and BAM! All set to go. I had enough material to make 4 of them as over a period of time the heat from the bulb will kind of warp the plastic but by using either 2 or 3 pieces sandwiched together I have adjustable lighting. Well sort of.

2 pieces make it about 35W and 3 pieces make it about 20W with only a very very slight color shift. It actually goes a bit warm.

Check out your local hobby places, see what they have and go from there. Just try to find and use a piece of heat resistant plactic as your inside layer.

BTW, it took about 30 minutes to make and cost about $5.00. I still use it today.

Don

Brandon Wood · April 29th, 2005, 08:21 AM

That's good stuff Don. I gonna head over to my local Hobby Lobby this weekend!

Gareth Watkins · April 29th, 2005, 08:37 AM

I use the PAG light C6..
It comes with a large battery on a strap.. (but I stick it in a small Domke belt bag). This is supposed to last about 1.5 hours...

It's a 20W unit that I find fine with the FX1. Even in complete darkeness I only require 9db of gain.. so with a 170 you're laughing..
Cost in the UK about £175.

Cheers

Gareth

Tom Hardwick · May 3rd, 2005, 05:06 AM

It's really good to use the Sony HVL-20DW2 simply because it'll run both 10 watt lamps for well over an hour on a 960 battery. It locks down onto any conventional shoe and has no dangling wires or different battery packs to worry about. Small, compact, light, but not cheap.

I use it with a Lumiquest Mini Soft-box diffuser. It robs me of a good stop of light, but the effect is wonderful - soft, blurry shadowed even lighting that means I can use my powerful 0.5x converter with ease. Also the diffuser means no-one squints into the light. Perfect for my wedding shoots.

tom.

Ken Beals · May 28th, 2005, 03:41 AM

Tom -

Is that Lumiquest Mini Soft-box diffuser the LQ951D model ?

I just ordered the Sony 10/20 light and am a convinced diffused light is the way to go in most situations that need a few extra photons.

also am curious,will the softbox simply attach to the light with velcro ? clips? or a few dabs of super glue? <smile>

Todd Mizomi · May 28th, 2005, 03:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Beals

Tom -

Is that Lumiquest Mini Soft-box diffuser the LQ951D model ?

Ken, I have the same setup. Yes it is the LQ951D (got mine from B&H)

The Lumiquest comes with velcro that you use to attach it to the Sony light.

Pretty nice setup once you get used to the added weight of the light and battery.

Anthony Mooney · May 28th, 2005, 11:44 PM

Hi guys

Question : You are talking about the LQ951D on continious light or flash?

Thanks

Anthony

Tom Hardwick · May 29th, 2005, 01:11 AM

It's the 'Mini Softbox' (don't have the number to hand) and attaches via velcro. There's no 'flash' facility with the 20DW2 Anthony, it's either 10 watt or 2 10 watt lamps on. Use them both to soften the shadows even more - and you'll need both on anyway with the diffuser in place. The Soft Box gets a bit soft in the heat, but mine has survived many hours work, and folds up neat 'n' flat.

tom.

Anthony Mooney · May 29th, 2005, 03:04 PM

Tom, thanks man!

I never thought that i would find a soft box for my Sony 10/20. That is great, and yes i just found it on B&H FOR $18.00. I ve mention flash because it is for flash use. As long as it won't melt of my VX:) I ll try it this week. Happy man!

Thanks

April 28th, 2005, 05:11 PM	#1
Brandon Wood Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Mauriceville, TX Posts: 146	Light for PD150/PD170? I am curious as to what brands of lights people are using for their Sony's hotshoe and what wattage works best. I still have an old Canon ES800 with a built in 3 watt light and I remember people screaming at me to turn it off it was so bright. So now I see 3 watts, 5 watts, 10, 20....etc. etc. and I'm wondering what would be the best (at a decent price) to use for things like wedding receptions or darker venues that I may be recording in for my 170. Let me know your thoughts. They are all appreciated. Thanks!

May 28th, 2005, 03:41 AM	#8
Ken Beals Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Tempe, Az Posts: 172	Tom - Is that Lumiquest Mini Soft-box diffuser the LQ951D model ? I just ordered the Sony 10/20 light and am a convinced diffused light is the way to go in most situations that need a few extra photons. also am curious,will the softbox simply attach to the light with velcro ? clips? or a few dabs of super glue? <smile> __________________ Mediocrity is a disease...

April 28th, 2005, 06:11 PM	#2
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	If people thought a 3W was bright you might want to lay in a supply of sunglasses to sell or rent at the receptions ;-) As for what I use, well lets see. If I 'm shooting my fullsize camera I use an Anton Bauer Ultralight 20W with a piece of Tough Spun to help soften it up-it's good for about 8 to 10 feet. If I'm shooting the PD150s I use a Bescor 50W with a homemade softbox/diffuser that brings the level down to about 25W and softens up the beam very nicely. The throw on that at 25W is about 10-12 feet. At 50W which I have used on occassion because it was either pitch black in the room, ALL the lights off (no kidding-it happened twice last year) the only lighting was from the DJs colored lights-the throw at 50W is about 15-18 feet. I've been using the Bescor for the last 4 years and only once did anyone complain-I told them to either turn up the room lights and/or sign off on the contract that they didn't want me to use a light so when they saw the footage they wouldn't complain to me. A decent light is the Sony 10/20-but you'll need a couple of the big batteries to make it right. Don

April 29th, 2005, 01:21 AM	#3
Brandon Wood Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Mauriceville, TX Posts: 146	Thanks Don. Your always a great mine for great information. Any chance you could tell me how you did the homemade softbox?

April 29th, 2005, 06:34 AM	#4
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	I went to a local hobby store, Hobby Lobby, and bought a couple of sheets of 8.5X11 material. One is a translucent white milk color and one was frosted plastic. I cut them to the proper size and sandwiched them together, the milk white plastic to the outside of the bulb as it is not heat proof, taped them together with some white duct tape, made some "wings" for it with the frosted material, placed velcro on the wings and the light and BAM! All set to go. I had enough material to make 4 of them as over a period of time the heat from the bulb will kind of warp the plastic but by using either 2 or 3 pieces sandwiched together I have adjustable lighting. Well sort of. 2 pieces make it about 35W and 3 pieces make it about 20W with only a very very slight color shift. It actually goes a bit warm. Check out your local hobby places, see what they have and go from there. Just try to find and use a piece of heat resistant plactic as your inside layer. BTW, it took about 30 minutes to make and cost about $5.00. I still use it today. Don

April 29th, 2005, 08:21 AM	#5
Brandon Wood Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Mauriceville, TX Posts: 146	That's good stuff Don. I gonna head over to my local Hobby Lobby this weekend!

April 29th, 2005, 08:37 AM	#6
Gareth Watkins Major Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: France Posts: 578	I use the PAG light C6.. It comes with a large battery on a strap.. (but I stick it in a small Domke belt bag). This is supposed to last about 1.5 hours... It's a 20W unit that I find fine with the FX1. Even in complete darkeness I only require 9db of gain.. so with a 170 you're laughing.. Cost in the UK about £175. Cheers Gareth

May 3rd, 2005, 05:06 AM	#7
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	It's really good to use the Sony HVL-20DW2 simply because it'll run both 10 watt lamps for well over an hour on a 960 battery. It locks down onto any conventional shoe and has no dangling wires or different battery packs to worry about. Small, compact, light, but not cheap. I use it with a Lumiquest Mini Soft-box diffuser. It robs me of a good stop of light, but the effect is wonderful - soft, blurry shadowed even lighting that means I can use my powerful 0.5x converter with ease. Also the diffuser means no-one squints into the light. Perfect for my wedding shoots. tom.

May 28th, 2005, 11:44 PM	#10
Anthony Mooney Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Long Branch NJ Posts: 69	Hi guys Question : You are talking about the LQ951D on continious light or flash? Thanks Anthony

May 29th, 2005, 01:11 AM	#11
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	It's the 'Mini Softbox' (don't have the number to hand) and attaches via velcro. There's no 'flash' facility with the 20DW2 Anthony, it's either 10 watt or 2 10 watt lamps on. Use them both to soften the shadows even more - and you'll need both on anyway with the diffuser in place. The Soft Box gets a bit soft in the heat, but mine has survived many hours work, and folds up neat 'n' flat. tom.

May 29th, 2005, 03:04 PM	#12
Anthony Mooney Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Long Branch NJ Posts: 69	Tom, thanks man! I never thought that i would find a soft box for my Sony 10/20. That is great, and yes i just found it on B&H FOR $18.00. I ve mention flash because it is for flash use. As long as it won't melt of my VX:) I ll try it this week. Happy man! Thanks