LitePanels Micro Update at DVinfo.net

Andrew McWeeny · May 28th, 2008, 07:14 AM

I used my LP Micro at a wedding on Saturday. The VX2000 is excellent in low light situations and with the diffuser and 1/4 warm filters I only had to use it at half power to get a nice glow. With the Canon WD58 wide-angle lense there was a soft hot spot at the wide end. A slight zoom fixed this. I used 2650maH rechargables and had no change in brightness after 2hrs.

I'm impressed!

Peter Manojlovic · May 28th, 2008, 07:45 AM

Yeah, i've been wondering about these....
I'm currently using NRG beltpacks to power my 30watt light source...The cord is a big PIA...

A huge hassle, especially when you go to tripod..

I'm waiting to see more feedback on these lights...

Don Bloom · May 28th, 2008, 09:34 AM

I've been using one since they came out and love it. Search for some of my post's about it. I've got a freeze frame posted.
Yeah there's a little drop off on the edges with a WA lens attachment on my 170 but I can live with it.
No more battery belts and no more hot light on the camera.

Don

Nick Avdienko · May 28th, 2008, 10:05 AM

I just ordered mine and will be using it this weekend. Can't wait!

Zach Stewart · May 28th, 2008, 11:36 AM

Andrew - can you post a sample or a frame so we can see the results. I've been renting a LitePanel Mini and want to see how well the Micro would work out instead but no one rents one around here. much appreciated.

Andrew McWeeny · May 30th, 2008, 07:24 AM

Wish I could Zach but I was shooting for a studio and don't have the rights.

Zach Stewart · May 30th, 2008, 07:45 AM

bummer...thanks anyways

Don Bloom · May 30th, 2008, 01:16 PM

here's one. about 8 to 10 feet away WA lens attachment on PD170-1/60th@f/1.6 0 gain, lite is a little bit under full power with the diffusion filter and 1/4 warm on it.

Don

Dawn Brennan · May 30th, 2008, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Bloom

here's one. about 8 to 10 feet away WA lens attachment on PD170-1/60th@f/1.6 0 gain, lite is a little bit under full power with the diffusion filter and 1/4 warm on it.

Don

Just ordered one today... hoping to try it next week. It seems great and hopefully it'll work for my purposes. Being a female in the business, I am just tired of lugging around the 15lb battery pack. That pic looks good though and I'm hoping this is my soltion! Thanks for sharing!

Travis Cossel · June 2nd, 2008, 01:38 AM

I shot my 2nd wedding this weekend with the Micro. I love not having a battery pack and love that the light doesn't get hot.

However, I nearly lost my diffusion filer during the preps. It just fell out at some point. I know you can rig the filter holder with tape, but for a $300 light it should have a better design. One of my batteries also won't stay in its slot, but closing the battery door locks it in place. Again, for a $300 light the construction is not that impressive. I also found that adjust the angle on the light was a bit of a pain, and I felt like I had to be very careful so as to not break the light off. Once again ... $300 light.

As for the light's performance. It seemed to work pretty well. I found it to work best when the subject was within 5 feet. Beyond 5 feet the difference that the light made didn't seem to be all that much.

I did also notice that turning the dimming/on/off knob does nothing for the first 25% or so of the turn, then I get low to full light in the middle 50%, and the final 25% of the knob turn again does nothing. Is this normal???

Overall, I'm fairly happy with the light. I'm conflicted only by the fact that it costs $300 but feels like a light that should cost $150 or maybe less. I'm quite concerned that something is going to break before I get my $300 of use out of it.

Don Bloom · June 2nd, 2008, 05:22 AM

BTW, I my camera rooled off a bench the past weekend with the LP on it. OH OH NO!!!! I don't have a clue as to why it happend BUT I will say that the camera was fine and 2) so was the lite. No damage-nothing wrong at all. It took a lickin' and kept on tickin'.

Now I don't recommend doing this at all an granted while it was the luck of the Irish (which I'm not but...) that kept me from having a major problem it did prove to me that the light is tougher than many think.

I think the LED technology plus the LP name will keep the price pretty much where it is.

Enjoy the light!

Don

Nick Avdienko · June 2nd, 2008, 09:16 AM

I used mine this weekend and I was happy with the results. I flipped it on only twice - during the bouquet toss and the couple getting into the limo at the end of the reception. Glad I bought it.

Jonathan Bufkin · June 2nd, 2008, 03:16 PM

I have used mine for two wedding in the last 2 weeks and it certainly fits my needs. I shoot it with an XH A1 and an Hv30 and it works best with my A1. I say this because in darker receptions the Hv30 would probably benefit from a stronger light. I will probably purchase another at some point so that I can use 2 of them simultaneously. This might do the trick for the Hv30. I am swamped but will try to post a pic.

May 28th, 2008, 07:14 AM	#1
Andrew McWeeny New Boot Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Nepean, Ontario Posts: 18	LitePanels Micro Update I used my LP Micro at a wedding on Saturday. The VX2000 is excellent in low light situations and with the diffuser and 1/4 warm filters I only had to use it at half power to get a nice glow. With the Canon WD58 wide-angle lense there was a soft hot spot at the wide end. A slight zoom fixed this. I used 2650maH rechargables and had no change in brightness after 2hrs. I'm impressed!

May 30th, 2008, 01:16 PM	#8
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	here's one. about 8 to 10 feet away WA lens attachment on PD170-1/60th@f/1.6 0 gain, lite is a little bit under full power with the diffusion filter and 1/4 warm on it. Don Last edited by Don Bloom; August 26th, 2009 at 08:24 PM.

June 2nd, 2008, 01:38 AM	#10
Travis Cossel Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 2,933	I shot my 2nd wedding this weekend with the Micro. I love not having a battery pack and love that the light doesn't get hot. However, I nearly lost my diffusion filer during the preps. It just fell out at some point. I know you can rig the filter holder with tape, but for a $300 light it should have a better design. One of my batteries also won't stay in its slot, but closing the battery door locks it in place. Again, for a $300 light the construction is not that impressive. I also found that adjust the angle on the light was a bit of a pain, and I felt like I had to be very careful so as to not break the light off. Once again ... $300 light. As for the light's performance. It seemed to work pretty well. I found it to work best when the subject was within 5 feet. Beyond 5 feet the difference that the light made didn't seem to be all that much. I did also notice that turning the dimming/on/off knob does nothing for the first 25% or so of the turn, then I get low to full light in the middle 50%, and the final 25% of the knob turn again does nothing. Is this normal??? Overall, I'm fairly happy with the light. I'm conflicted only by the fact that it costs $300 but feels like a light that should cost $150 or maybe less. I'm quite concerned that something is going to break before I get my $300 of use out of it. __________________ Black Label Films www.blacklabelweddingfilms.com

June 2nd, 2008, 03:16 PM	#13
Jonathan Bufkin Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 253	I likes.... I have used mine for two wedding in the last 2 weeks and it certainly fits my needs. I shoot it with an XH A1 and an Hv30 and it works best with my A1. I say this because in darker receptions the Hv30 would probably benefit from a stronger light. I will probably purchase another at some point so that I can use 2 of them simultaneously. This might do the trick for the Hv30. I am swamped but will try to post a pic. __________________ Jon Bufkin focalpointcinematic.com

May 28th, 2008, 07:45 AM	#2
Peter Manojlovic Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Hamilton Ontario Posts: 769	Yeah, i've been wondering about these.... I'm currently using NRG beltpacks to power my 30watt light source...The cord is a big PIA... A huge hassle, especially when you go to tripod.. I'm waiting to see more feedback on these lights...

May 28th, 2008, 09:34 AM	#3
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	I've been using one since they came out and love it. Search for some of my post's about it. I've got a freeze frame posted. Yeah there's a little drop off on the edges with a WA lens attachment on my 170 but I can live with it. No more battery belts and no more hot light on the camera. Don

May 28th, 2008, 10:05 AM	#4
Nick Avdienko Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 54	I just ordered mine and will be using it this weekend. Can't wait!

May 28th, 2008, 11:36 AM	#5
Zach Stewart Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 176	Andrew - can you post a sample or a frame so we can see the results. I've been renting a LitePanel Mini and want to see how well the Micro would work out instead but no one rents one around here. much appreciated.

May 30th, 2008, 07:24 AM	#6
Andrew McWeeny New Boot Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Nepean, Ontario Posts: 18	Wish I could Zach but I was shooting for a studio and don't have the rights.

May 30th, 2008, 07:45 AM	#7
Zach Stewart Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 176	bummer...thanks anyways

June 2nd, 2008, 05:22 AM	#11
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	BTW, I my camera rooled off a bench the past weekend with the LP on it. OH OH NO!!!! I don't have a clue as to why it happend BUT I will say that the camera was fine and 2) so was the lite. No damage-nothing wrong at all. It took a lickin' and kept on tickin'. Now I don't recommend doing this at all an granted while it was the luck of the Irish (which I'm not but...) that kept me from having a major problem it did prove to me that the light is tougher than many think. I think the LED technology plus the LP name will keep the price pretty much where it is. Enjoy the light! Don

June 2nd, 2008, 09:16 AM	#12
Nick Avdienko Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 54	I used mine this weekend and I was happy with the results. I flipped it on only twice - during the bouquet toss and the couple getting into the limo at the end of the reception. Glad I bought it.