Looking for a good portable light

[Jim Forrest]

I need a portable LED light for my EX3. I have found one and now I can't remember where I saw it on the web.
It has to have a diffusion filter. A dimmer would be nice and so would a plug to my Anton Bauer gold mount so I could run it off my camera battery.
I have a cheapo LED light now but it is too spotted and drops off quickly on the sides.
I am looking for somethng that will give a soft light and not too spotted. I have a couple of Anton Bauer porta lights but they are getting old and the bulbs keep slipping out.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

[Zoran Vincic]

do an ebay search with "hdv z96"

I run it of a D-tap from a swit battery and the coverage is great, no spotty tunnel effect.

And it's cheap!

[Jim Forrest]

Yes I see it...looks pretty good.
Where did you get the d-tap plug, I don't see it listed as an accessory. I suppose I could buy D-tap plug separately.

[Olof Ekbergh]

I just got my Sola light from my dealer, it was a demo and it is so good I told him I am not returning it and he laughed.

It is fantastic LED, 30w at full power equal to 300w tungsten.

And it is a fresnel, my favorite type of light.

The build is really rugged, and it will make a great on cam or stand light. It comes with a bunch of gels and a D-tap plug.

This is the best most versatile light I have ever seen. Don't take my word for it get a demo.

[Chad Johnson]

I just got one of these Poteka VL-126 for 59.00 on Amazon. It gives great light, comes with 3 filters, has a dimmer, and can use sony batteries or AA. It's a bit big, and the mount is flimsy, but for tripod jobs this is great. A lot of bang for your buck.

Amazon.com: Opteka VL-126 Ultra High Power 126 LED Digital Camera / Camcorder Video Light: Camera & Photo

 

Amazon.com: Opteka VL-126 Ultra High Power 126 LED Digital Camera / Camcorder Video Light: Camera & Photo

Opteka VL-126 Ultra High Power 126 LED Digital Camera / Camcorder Video Light

[Jim Forrest]

Originally Posted by Olof Ekbergh

I just got my Sola light from my dealer, it was a demo and it is so good I told him I am not returning it and he laughed.

It is fantastic LED, 30w at full power equal to 300w tungsten.

And it is a fresnel, my favorite type of light.

The build is really rugged, and it will make a great on cam or stand light. It comes with a bunch of gels and a D-tap plug.

This is the best most versatile light I have ever seen. Don't take my word for it get a demo.

Do you have a link for it? All I seem to be turning up is underwater lights.

[Don Bloom]

Jim if you want an LED with an AB power tap and one that has some guts to it you might look at the Bescor LED150PT. It's equal to 150watts, has a power tap and is dimmable. I know a couple of guys that use it and really like it. Especially if you're doing news style interviews outside. 150watts can come in real handy for that.
They also have a 70W that you can get a power tap cable for.

[Olof Ekbergh]

Originally Posted by Jim Forrest

Do you have a link for it? All I seem to be turning up is underwater lights.

Here you go:

Litepanels | Award Winning LED Lighting for Video, Still Photo & Motion Picture Production

[Les Wilson]

Olof, It's about the same price range as the Lowel Blender. Have you used a Blender to compare with the Sola?

[Jim Forrest]

Thanks for all the input, you have given me some great choices.

[Olof Ekbergh]

Originally Posted by Les Wilson

Olof, It's about the same price range as the Lowel Blender. Have you used a Blender to compare with the Sola?

I have not tried the Blender. I am sure it is a fine light.

I like the Sola for its ruggedness and the fact that it is a fresnel (optically focusable).

[Steve Kalle]

Dedo LEDzilla - LED and Fresnel with Diffusion & Barndoors...
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/624594-REG/Dedolight_DLOBML_Ledzilla_Mini_LED_Daylight.html
Here is a good review and link to a video showing it in action with a Canon XF305. http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/photon-m...ht-review.html

This review sold me on it as I am ordering it tomorrow and powering it with their D-tap cable.

Olof,

I am so glad I found someone who has the SolaENG 3. How would you compare it to an Arri Fresnel 300w tungsten. I was looking at the Sola for backlights in place of Arri fresnels in order to reduce heat in the studio.

For on-camera, how do you power it and how much run time can you get and with which camera?

Any chance you could put it on the rear shoe of your EX3, snap a picture and post it here for me? I wonder if a shotgun mic would get in the way and make a shadow.

Does it come with Barndoors or are they extra? Does it come with a Diffusion filter?

[Zoran Vincic]

Originally Posted by Jim Forrest

Yes I see it...looks pretty good.
Where did you get the d-tap plug, I don't see it listed as an accessory. I suppose I could buy D-tap plug separately.

That's how I got it, I think from Hawk Woods.

just made a cable with 2.5mm power connector and I was set to go!

[Dana Kupper]

This thread reminds me of a joke the grips loved to say on the features I used to work on:
Cheap, Fast, and Good. Pick any two!

[Olof Ekbergh]

Originally Posted by Steve Kalle

Dedo LEDzilla - LED and Fresnel with Diffusion & Barndoors...

Olof,

I am so glad I found someone who has the SolaENG 3. How would you compare it to an Arri Fresnel 300w tungsten. I was looking at the Sola for backlights in place of Arri fresnels in order to reduce heat in the studio.

For on-camera, how do you power it and how much run time can you get and with which camera?

Any chance you could put it on the rear shoe of your EX3, snap a picture and post it here for me? I wonder if a shotgun mic would get in the way and make a shadow.

Does it come with Barndoors or are they extra? Does it come with a Diffusion filter?

Steve, when setting it up on my EX1R or EX3 In use the front shoe otherwise you will get shading if you dont put it on a long arm.

It is equivalent to a 250w fresnel but it is daylight. The exact specs are in the link I gave you.

It draws 30w at max power, so a 90wh battery should give you 2-3 hrs. It works great with my IDX and Swit batteries. You have to do the calculations for other batts, batteries also have max w ratings.

Sola comes with difuser and 3200K filters and barndoors.

I will snap a photo when I get a chance.