Best portable light option for DSLR video?

[PatrickV]

Hi guys,

 

Im the owner of an GH2 with the 14-140mm Panasonic lens and the SLR magic 12mm lens.

 

I'm currently using the Rotolight rl48 light, but it gives me too little light. I'm about to make an event video in a club, and therefore i need more light then my Rotolight gives me at the moment.

 

So my question is:

 

Which (portable) light do you use when shooting video with your DSLR? And is it dimmable?

 

Hope to hear from you, guys!

[Zach]

There are tons of options!!! Do you have a budget in mind? 

[PatrickV]

Not exact. I'm just looking for a good light and im wondering which lights the members of Eoshd are using :)

[HurtinMinorKey]

Not exact. I'm just looking for a good light and im wondering which lights the members of Eoshd are using :)

 

These days, the marginal benefit per dollar spent on a lighting set up easily exceeds what you get from incrementally better camera tech.  I like to light things with a three light kit.

 

[url="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/527159-REG/Arri_571979W_650W_Fresnel_Compact_3_Light.html"]http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/527159-REG/Arri_571979W_650W_Fresnel_Compact_3_Light.html[/url]

 

You can always find cheaper generic versions of these too.

 

Most on camera lights these days are LED, and while they give you a nice soft light, they still don't have the best color.

 

I like this for on-camera:

[url="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/185678-REG/Lowel_ID_02_ID_Light_100W_Focus_Flood.html"]http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/185678-REG/Lowel_ID_02_ID_Light_100W_Focus_Flood.html[/url]

[nahua]

If you're looking for run-n-gun cheapy solution, look up the Z-96 LED light.  Either on fleabay or amazon, should be about $80.  Produces great light, can use AA or Sony F batteries for extended run times.  Bright, mounts on the hotshoe, and if you buy multiple you can link them together (although not too stable).

[Jon de Zwaan]

I just ordered a CN-70 LED light very cheap on eBay, while retailers in Holland are selling it under different brandnames for like 100 euro's. Don't know anything about it, but can't go wrong for something less than 40 euro's, otherwise I should smoke a little less for a couple of weeks.

 

It has barndoors, two filters and is powered by an internal battery. If you're curious I could write something about it when I get it.

[Zach]

For something a little different...check this out. For portability/flexibility I love it, and I love having a rechargeable or plug in option

 

[url="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/839342-REG/Westcott_5500_LED_Ice_Light.html"]http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/839342-REG/Westcott_5500_LED_Ice_Light.html[/url]

[Sebv]

just got this ring light from fotodiox comes with 2 batteries and as a usefull handle for stabilization

its dimable puts out plenty of light

 

[url="http://fotodioxpro.com/index.php/studio-lighting-backdrops-camera-support-systems/studio-location-lighting/led-lighting/fotodiox-pro-led-411a-cordless-ring-light-with-2x-li-ion-np-750-type-batteries-5600k-dimmable.html"]http://fotodioxpro.com/index.php/studio-lighting-backdrops-camera-support-systems/studio-location-lighting/led-lighting/fotodiox-pro-led-411a-cordless-ring-light-with-2x-li-ion-np-750-type-batteries-5600k-dimmable.html[/url]

 

i paid 349$

[PatrickV]

If you're looking for run-n-gun cheapy solution, look up the Z-96 LED light.  Either on fleabay or amazon, should be about $80.  Produces great light, can use AA or Sony F batteries for extended run times.  Bright, mounts on the hotshoe, and if you buy multiple you can link them together (although not too stable).

I red a lot about these led lights. Seems to be popular. The CN-70 LED could be an affordable option. I'm really curious about your findings! I hope more guys want to share their light equipment in this topic.

[EeeCeeGee]

I just ordered a CN-70 LED light very cheap on eBay, while retailers in Holland are selling it under different brandnames for like 100 euro's. Don't know anything about it, but can't go wrong for something less than 40 euro's, otherwise I should smoke a little less for a couple of weeks.

 

It has barndoors, two filters and is powered by an internal battery. If you're curious I could write something about it when I get it.

If you could write a little review when you've received the light, would be much appreciated since i'm also looking for a portable light solution

[nahua]

Patrick, the Z-96 is cheap for the light it produces.  I bought some Sony F knockoffs ($3 on amazon, crazy) and they last almost 2 hours full power.  Yes they get hot, but they do throw a lot of light.  Lots of reviews on youtube, or you can check an old review on cheesycam.com.  Small, very portable, and can use 5 AA batteries in a pinch.  Oh yeah it has a dimmer, frosted filter and amber 3200K filter.  All works well.  Yes it might break, yeah there's no warranty, but at this price I'm just going to use and abuse them.  I can always order more.

[Jon de Zwaan]

Got my CN-70, can't say that much about it yet. Comes with three filters/diffusers, USB cable and schuko plug for charging.
 
Hot shoe mount tightens a bit hard, says a lot about the build quality, but the light itself looks ok, pretty bright actually.
 
This is what it looks like on top of a GH2; 

 

[attachment=316:CN70.jpg]

[sanveer]

Hi guys,

 

Im the owner of an GH2 with the 14-140mm Panasonic lens and the SLR magic 12mm lens.

 

I'm currently using the Rotolight rl48 light, but it gives me too little light. I'm about to make an event video in a club, and therefore i need more light then my Rotolight gives me at the moment.

 

So my question is:

 

Which (portable) light do you use when shooting video with your DSLR? And is it dimmable?

 

Hope to hear from you, guys!

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is 1 of the best lights I've seen. For the price, the size, the output, and the fact, that it can be both camera mounted (ring light, around the lens), as well as used otherwise. Also, its extremely bright.

And, for $199, its a Steal. 

 

[url="http://www.fvlighting.com/store/lighting/led/r300.html?acc=c81e728d9d4c2f636f067f89cc14862c"]http://www.fvlighting.com/store/lighting/led/r300.html?acc=c81e728d9d4c2f636f067f89cc14862c[/url]

 

 

And, yes, its Very Dimmable (almost down to glow-worm/ firefly brightness)   :P

[tomekk]

what about this one? [url="http://www.ebay.com/sch/tekksavvy/m.html?_nkw=312&_sacat=0&_odkw=&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3911.c0.m270.l1313"]http://www.ebay.com/sch/tekksavvy/m.html?_nkw=312&_sacat=0&_odkw=&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3911.c0.m270.l1313[/url]

 

[url="http://cheesycam.com/312-bi-color-changing-led-light-price-drop/"]http://cheesycam.com/312-bi-color-changing-led-light-price-drop/[/url]

[sanveer]

The one, I mentioned, is FAR better than Light Panels costing almost Twice as much, is much lighter, brighter, and is perfect for various kinds of mounting.

 

Also, I am assuming, that there are quite a few battery options. If the NP-F970 Sony battery, is compatible with it, you could get 12 hrs of battery life. There are cheaper battery options too (NP-F550, which retails for $19). 

 

Trust me, you won't have to bother with other brands. This one is Really bright.

[Ernesto Mantaras]

This is the one I have right now, although I never use it mounted on the camera, but on a light stand. It's the most powerful out of most of the mentioned lights and uses cheap NP-970 (as well as AA batteries). Also the color is quite there, it doesn't have a green tint.

 

[url="http://www.amazon.com/Aputure-AL-198-Camera-Lighting-Camcorder/dp/B008VKMLE4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1351190687&sr=8-3&keywords=aputure+led"]http://www.amazon.com/Aputure-AL-198-Camera-Lighting-Camcorder/dp/B008VKMLE4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1351190687&sr=8-3&keywords=aputure+led[/url]

 

Then one option I'd like to have (but I haven't tried yet) because of it's higher power and the fact that it can be plugged is this one:

 

[url="http://www.amazon.com/Fotodiox-Dimmable-Switch-Battery-Charger/dp/B0054EI79I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1354919069&sr=8-2&keywords=312+led+light"]http://www.amazon.com/Fotodiox-Dimmable-Switch-Battery-Charger/dp/B0054EI79I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1354919069&sr=8-2&keywords=312+led+light[/url]

 

This one up there could be bulkier, but it doesn't seem to be much bigger.
Both lights come in daylight and selectable temperature versions. In the latest there are 156 daylight balanced LEDs and 156 tungsten balanced ones, so supposedly it has the same power as the daylight LED light only when all of the LEDs are on (which is a color temperature that sits in the middle).

You sure have options!

EDIT: I think the 312 ones are the same as the ones Tomekk mentioned, but these from Amazon are branded as Fotodiox, which is a brand that hasnt't let me down yet (in the adapters department at least!).